Christmas Lights at Longwood Gardens

I can't begin to tell you how long I have been wanting to photograph the Christmas lights at Longwood.  I went a few years back and was not allowed to bring in my tripod.  You just can't do it without a tripod at night.  Then I saw a CLASS at Longwood, specifically on photographing the lights.  I went to sign up, immediately, but the class was full.  I waited another year and tried to sign up for the November class in June.  Class was full by June, so I wait listed.  No dice.  The next year, the class was not offered.  I was so disappointed.  When last years catalog came out in November 2013, I saw the class and immediately signed up, a year in advance.  Phew! Made it.  Now I just had to wait a year.

Well, it was worth the wait.  The class (maybe 15 people) started at 4PM.  After a 1/2 hour briefing, we were sent out on our own to do our thing.  I got to meander the gardens alone, in the dark, lit only by the Christmas lights and an occasional lamp post.  No crowds to get in your way.  It was wonderful.  And I did end up getting a Christmas card out of it.

GAZEBO AT LONGWOOD

WAITING FOR NIGHT FALL

FOURTH OF JULY

MAIN STREET

MAIN STREET W/O STREET LIGHTS

REFLECTIONS

WHITE LIGHTS

FOCUS, MAN.  FOCUS!

MULTI COLORED LIGHTS

STUCK IN THE PINES

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

CHINESE LANTERNS

CHAIN FOREST

RIDE THE LENS

JUST A SCHMEAR

MURPHY'S AUTUMN FROLIC

After viewing some animal photography by a Polish photographer, Alicja Zmyslowska (see her stunning work here  http://www.boredpanda.com/dog-photography-alicja-zmyslowska/ ),  I was inspired to get a dog.  After smacking myself in the head several times, I remembered that I can always borrow one from my sons.  Both boys have labradors.  So, I called up Jort and invited him to bring Murphy over to play in the leaves.

The plan was to use my Lens Baby lens to create pictures with those dreamy backgrounds.  So, with Lens Baby attached, we went outside and tried to get Murphy to lay in the leaves like a good boy.  Murph is a very calm, docile creature when he's inside, but when he gets outdoors, he has one thing in mind.  Well, several, actually:  ducks, balls, or bumpers.  All involve running at full speed to retrieve.  So, with much reluctance, I removed the Lens Baby and got to work with some straight photography.  I'll get artistic with it in the post production phase.  It is rare to see Murphy more than 5 steps away from my son's side, but he gave us a good sitting.

Lacking any real ducks...

Jort thought it would be a good idea to have some props, so he set up some decoys.
Murph thought this was an excellent idea and after the shot, 
crunched the head on the brown one.

Then we began throwing leaves on the poor boy and
we ended up with this hysterical rendering.

And this.

After the brown decoys demise, we added a pumpkin because Murph couldn't get it in his mouth.  

Back to chasing leaves.  He really liked this.

Poor baby.  The leaves are attacking.

After the trauma of the attack, he required a belly rub. 

See, he couldn't get the pumpkin in his mouth?  
A good try, though.

"Murphy, NO PUMPKINS!!!!"  Murphy puts on his 
I hear you, but I'm ignoring you face.

Portrait in the leaves.

Doesn't he look calm and docile?  
You had to have been there.

Panting because he's out of breath from 
running circles around us.

Murphy's silly face sea otter look.  
My grand dog is so multi-talented.

"You're catching this, right?  My master loves ONLY ME."

MY FAVE OF THE DAY...Now the real fun begins.  

Rolling in the leaves with his ball. 

At full speed...

HAPPY DOG, HAPPY DOG!

As the tongue grew longer and longer, we called it a day.