Spring/Easter: Lilies and Bee Ceramic Ornament

The lilies are from a bunch that my sister sent to console me for a personal tragedy. These are two blooms that came off their stems prematurely as buds. They were still fresh and lovely. I put them in water in a miniature tankard, and they bloomed fully. The dark background is the night sky. I used a studio light to bring out the warm glow of the lilies while capturing every detail. Getting the studio light onto my porch while it was attached to an outlet in my kitchen was a major project. On the flip side is a very small bee enjoying Lantana blossoms at Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA. There was a stiff, intermittent breeze, and my shutter speed should not have been fast enough to freeze the action. Sometimes the shots that work out by dumb luck are among the best. (c) 2016 Miriam A Kilmer