It took 2ish hours to get to just the one garden once we left the freeway…so alas, we made it a good one…

Some may remember images from my last trip in 2008 – I was taking my then new Rebel XTiand lenses for a tour, to figure out how to use them…the difference this time, less time, less fields, more sun, less clouds, no droplets, more sun(yeah, it was bright!), and oh yeah, I actually now know how to use a camera, lol…I took my 5d, my 15mm fish, 70-200 2.8 and my 50 1.4 to see what we could see this time. I tried to stick with the extremes at 200, and 15mm wide open at 2.8 – figured noone wants to see just another flower portrait – but eh, they are pretty flowers, so…Anyway, because it was so bright, I figured, extreme perspective would be able to capture some drama in what would otherwise be, just more flower pictures – though, that is what they are! And that’s all ok:)

When I say I know how to use (now) – it sounds silly – and I was really happy with my 2008 images – you might even like some of them better than this years! (and that’s ok:)  But I barely knew how to use the focusing system, didn’t quite understand what I would get through the various lenses (10-22, 50, 100 w/my 2008 rebel)…I like to think I had an eye and a bit of style – which has always been a little like my cooking – by feel and senses…These days, new gear, and I at least in my head a bit more of a sense of – hey I know what I’m after – how to shoot it, and well, never forget to just enjoy it.

So with all of that said – here are some of the colors admist the brightest sun – gotta love the pretty!

Archive (alternative view – non flash)

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2011 – Images by Elisa Sherman