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Yesterday we decided to visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden to see the Christmas lights. We got there early and it was still light outside. Some of my photos have digital noise, there was not enough lighting and I bumped the ISO up to 6400. My camera doesn’t do too well at a high ISO, and for me I rather have some noise than blurry images. All images and video clips were shot with a Canon T2i and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.
The Orchid tree composed of more than 300 orchids.
At 16 feet tall the tree only includes orchids and ferns on a metal frame. One of the most spectacular aspects of the tree is the vast number of varieties of orchids.
My sister by the palm trees.
I was photographing my niece, she is right in the center of the waterfalls.
To get a clean sharp image of the Christmas lights a tripod is a must and I saw many photographers walking around with a tripod last night. The next 4 images of the Christmas lights were shot at manual mode, f/6.3 to f/8, exposure time 15 sec to 30 sec, ISO100, and tripod mounted.
The coffee bar area is a lot warmer than outside. I only stayed in here for a few minutes and headed back outside to shoot some videos.
Hot chocolate
They have crafts for the children also.
Lee purchased a dragonfly wooden ornament.
Orchid night shots
- Charlie Brown O Christmas Tree
We didn’t get this tree in the 80s but it is over 10 years old. We got it before Lee was born so it has a lot of memories for us. Lee couldn’t wait so we had the tree up and decorated before Thanksgiving. I took these photos on Sunday after I cleaned my camera. I still don’t have the right cleaning kit but so far it’s working okay, the q tips, alcohol and dust remover seems to do the trick.
The first thing that went up was the faceless straw angel, and she is holding my mom’s memorial Christmas ornament. It will be 5 years this January since her passing.
Then I received a gift from the Hospice of Catawba Valley after my mom passed away. It is a handcrafted porcelain ornament and if you hang the ornament in the window, light will shine through its intricate design. The Hospice team are very caring people and it was very thoughtful of them to send this to our family.
This ornament was given to us back in 1997, not sure if the giver would remember it.
Lee grew up with the sesame street gang, Big bird and Elmo.
She collects these along the way.
Her latest collection is the RV.
And several porcelain angels hanging on the tree.
Her Halloween mask is still up.
So where are the 80s Christmas decorations? Here are some of the original ornaments that came with the tree. Bo had won this Christmas Tree at the March of Dime auction at the hospital over 10 years ago.
And so far 2 gifts underneath the tree.
Last Sunday was the first night we lit the Christmas tree.
- Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
It’s kind of odd to see the seagulls Ring-billed Gulls at a shopping mall when we are miles away from any lake and not to mention the ocean. They are a few that perched on top of the street lamp post.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/22, 1/50sec, ISO 100, focal length 58mm, evaluative metering,
And hanging out by the parking lot.
Manual, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, f/4, 1/800sec, ISO 100, focal length 70mm, evaluative metering
I’ve never seen one this close before, one great thing about a zoom lens. It’s interesting that the beak has a black marking on it.
Manual, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, f/4, 1/2000sec, ISO 100, focal length 200mm, evaluative metering, closeup cropped
Manual, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, f/4, 1/1600sec, ISO 100, focal length 200mm, evaluative metering, closeup cropped
We usually visit my dad on Saturday, and my sister Bee of Bee’s Design is making some Christmas decorations. This one is a velvet rose for Lee.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/15sec, ISO 100, focal length 105mm, evaluative metering
Lee loved them.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/15sec, ISO 200, focal length 80mm, evaluative metering
Bee was making bows for a church for their Christmas poinsettias, 100 red bows to be exact and she still has a long way to go.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 84mm, evaluative metering
Her tools of trade are wire cutter and scissor.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 105mm, evaluative metering
Sticks and ribbons
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 105mm, evaluative metering
She has many helpers, but I can’t say that my niece (picture below) and Lee has been a good helper.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/25sec, ISO 200, focal length 47mm, evaluative metering
Bee had made a leather handbag for me a while back and I loved it. She started making handbags now, this is one of her favorites and it was perfect for Halloween, I guess for Christmas also if you are a scrooge.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/4sec, ISO 200, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering
It’s a real eye catching.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/5sec, ISO 400, focal length 73mm, evaluative metering
This is a church that I passed on the way home, Lee was afraid of the passerby cars noises and the dark so I had to hurry and only got this shot.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/22, 30sec, ISO 100, focal length 24mm, cropped, white balance cloudy, evaluative metering, tripod mounted
And I finally hung my mom’s Christmas memorial ornament. The golden ornament has the year 2007 written on the back and it sits on the angel’s lap. Have you ever wondered why most angels don’t have a face? This one doesn’t have a face either, but she sure is beautiful.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/22, 15sec, ISO 100, focal length 24mm, evaluative metering, tripod mounted
I have to give all the credit to Bo, he is an excellent shopper and most of these gifts will be delivered in the next day or so.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/22, 30sec, ISO 100, focal length 24mm, evaluative metering, tripod mounted
Our family came to the US in December, arriving in New York City on December 8th and the city was decorated with Christmas lights. You could imagine the culture shock when I first saw the sparkling trees inside people’s apartments in Brooklyn New York. It seems like a long time ago and we don’t have high-rising apartments here in Hickory. What I missed the most about NYC at this time of the year is the Christmas decorations, especially the Rockefeller Center Christmas lights and storefront Holiday window displays.
- Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Our Christmas lights here are not as grand, and one of the biggest trees in town is not as big but very sparkling in my opinion. I was able to capture the beauty of it this year, unlike last year of this same tree.
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/22, 30sec, ISO 100, focal length 105mm, closeup cropped, cloudy, tripod mounted
Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/22, 30sec, ISO 100, focal length 47mm, white balance cloudy, tripod mounted
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