Yesterday about a half-hour before sunset, I went out with my camera.  My goal was to capture an image of the beautiful red rose that is in full bloom.

I chose that time of day for the soft light.  On a cloudless day with the sun high in the sky, outdoor scenes will have very high contrast.  While our eyes handle this well, it is not an optimum situation for capturing a photographic image.

Also around sunset the breeze usually stills.  Nothing like trying to capture an image of a long-stemmed flower in a gusty breeze.

Mission accomplished.

It even looks soft!

There was more to see while I was in Sylvia’s flower gardens with the camera.

Reminds me of a star

I’m amazed at the contrast in this back-lit blossom.  It seems to call out for attention.

This next one is not high in contrast, but I like the fullness of the flower.  You can also see some of the other colors on the “lower level.”

You see this and know that somebody loves you

I like the quality of the light in these photos.  It gives a soft texture to the image.

It was nice to have no breeze while shooting photos.  The down-side is that there is no hindrance to the mosquitoes that love to dine on our blood.