Inspiring Photo: My Hidden Garden #6175385

My Hidden Garden

Uploaded: May 13, 2008

Description

I really had fun doing this
Dried Flower Project.
I took a macro shot of it
and it came out better than
on my digitals auto settings.

Comments

Bill Knaps May 13, 2008

Laura this is so beautiful. Great work. Bill #920641

Nancy (Peaches) Harker May 13, 2008

WOW, AWSOME Laura, so pretty!!! #5918793

Toni Riggs May 13, 2008

Beautiful and creative! #5918863

Laura E. Swan May 13, 2008

Gee whiz. I just posted this and already you are here! :) Thank You Bill and Peaches and Toni! I'm thrilled that you saw this and liked it. On two levels because I made this by hand and by camera! -Laura :) #5919017

Graham Robards May 13, 2008

Beautiful Laura, very clever. Did you get my email asking for your address?

~Pat #5919926

Laura E. Swan May 13, 2008

Hi Pat! Well my hidden garden has no address. Well, it's ~MIGHT~ but it's HIDDEN.

You must mean the dream home at the other end of the property? The rock faced property for rent??? Ha! Thanks lots. Always fun to read your comments! -Laura

P.S. Your doggie would love the hidden garden...but it would be hard to find him once he goes in. #5919954

Ellen Powell May 14, 2008

So you are multi-talented. Beautiful shot and beautiful dried flower creation, too. #5920964

Laura E. Swan May 14, 2008

Hi Ellen! How nice of you to say I have talents! I just fumble along really and sometimes I come up with something worth keeping! but it's sure nice to hear it. -Laura #5924075

David Van Camp May 15, 2008

Lovely work, Laura! You certainly do have talents :) #5926366

Laura E. Swan May 16, 2008

Thank you David. Very kind of you! -Laura #5929363

Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna May 16, 2008

Very artistic, Laura!!!!! Great high-key image!!!!! ♫ k #5931793

Laura E. Swan May 16, 2008

Hi Kitty! Thanks you very much! You're tops! :) -Laura #5932587

Rajeev 270293 Kashyap May 17, 2008

Wonderful & So creative Work Laura~ Well done! #5933496

Laura E. Swan May 17, 2008

Thank you very much, Rajeev. It took me a while but it was worth the process. Collecting and drying/pressing the flowers is rewarding as well. Have a great day! -Laura #5935089

Kathleen R. Struckle May 19, 2008

Wonderful work Laura. Very pretty. #5942488

Laura E. Swan May 19, 2008

So kind of you, Kathleen. Thank you! -Laura #5947069

Aimee C. Eisaman May 20, 2008

What made you want to do this? It turned out really lovely! You definitly have many talents! I love it! #5953094

Laura E. Swan May 20, 2008

I met a lady who owned her own craft shop in a small sleepy town and she showed me all of her dried flower projects she did and they were so beautiful. She inspired me to try it. It's fun and easy but time consuming and you have to be careful. I use tweezers to place things around before gluing, etc...GREAT therapy if you have the patience for it. I think I GREW patience once I made a few things and saw the end results. VERY GRATIFYING!!! #5953399

Joan E. Hoffman May 20, 2008

This is wayyyyyy cooool Laura, and that much more so since it was a truely self-created image! How satisfying that must be. Congrats on your inspired vision... I love it! #5954386

Laura E. Swan May 20, 2008

How very sweet. I am humbled Joan. You are a dear lady! -Laura #5955205

paola A. Jofre May 22, 2008

Very creative Laura!!! :) This is awesome!! :) #5963413

Laura E. Swan May 22, 2008

Why thank you Paola. Maybe even as creative as your blue car image that was folded up in a top shirt pocket that wins awards? (Or am I pushng my luck?!?!) Thanks for taking the time to stop in. -Laura #5963502

Cassandra A. Fontaine May 23, 2008

Love this..the high key looks great! How creative!!! Thank you so much for your support! :) It came out beautifully!! #5969240

Laura E. Swan May 23, 2008

It was really an adventure to make and I was glad the digital came out so clearly, too! Thank you Cassandra! (I enjoyed your gallery). #5969278

Ulysses A. Villamin May 24, 2008

P-R-E-T-T-Y! #5969840

Laura E. Swan May 24, 2008

W_H_Y...

T-H-A-N-K- Y-O-U!

H-E-Y- T-H-I-S I-S F-U-N!

:-) #5969855

Mary K. Robison May 24, 2008

So much work, but clearly worth it, Laura!
Lovely colors and arrangement, especially that arch that invites you to enter this pretty scene. The high-key treatment is perfect for this. Easy to see why the bp judges added it to their First Pic Gallery. #5970253

Laura E. Swan May 24, 2008

Thanks so very much Mary! :) There was a day I moseyed through my garden picking things to dry and do projects with. BUT NOW I CHASE BUGS through the same garden. Leaving the plants in tact.

We sure do change as we get older. I wonder what mischief I will cause in the next stage of life in the garden? I shutter to think. Learn to pull weeds perhaps??? -Laura #5971815

Renata Gusciora May 28, 2008

Interesting presentation,nice effects,Laura!Congratulations! #5988489

Laura E. Swan May 28, 2008

Thank you Renata! :) Sure nice of you to drop in. -Laura #5989895

Dawn M. Schneider May 29, 2008

this is such an amazing image!!! You are a true artist!! #5995326

Laura E. Swan May 29, 2008

Hi Dawn. :) How nice of you! Thanks so much for enjoying the entrance to my little hidden garden! -Laura #5995370

Aimee C. Eisaman May 30, 2008

See all that hard work paid off two fold.....congrats on the EP girl! #5997692

Laura E. Swan May 30, 2008

Why thank you Glamor Girl! Love your new SP Thumb Nail. :) #5998383

Laura E. Swan May 30, 2008

Confession time. A few of you said you loved the HIGH KEY effects on this image and because I am fairly new to photography (been 30 years since seriousness)I hadn't a CLUE what you meant, so I studied up a bit and tried it out on a SP. I will insert it here and thanks for sparking my interest in it people! -Laura Swan #5999405

Amanda D. Austwick June 02, 2008

Laura, I LOVE the creation you made out of the dried flowers. Congrats on the EP! #6008650

Laura E. Swan June 02, 2008

Thank you so very much!!! :) #6008820

Dianna Hauf June 06, 2008

Laura, this is by far my most favorite of yours! I love the simplicity AND creativity of this! You are a lady full of many talents! Impressive! I do so love this though!! I don't get around much anymore in many galleries due to work and Sara and my photography but I have definitely missed some incredibly wonderful images! It has been nice to browse through your gallery and I will be back again! #6029103

Laura E. Swan June 06, 2008

Thank you Dianna! I feel EXACTLY the same way about yours. I will be back! :)

What an honor that you liked this best. That means a lot to me. Thank you again! -Laura #6029180

Molly E. Baldwin June 10, 2008

This is so unique looking! It looks like something you would find on some stationary. #6044530

Laura E. Swan June 13, 2008

Thank you Molly! You just gave me a great idea! Humm....I think my printer allows me to use heavy paper. Maybe I can make cards out of this one to give as gifts! COOL! I bet you could do that too with YOUR work! Like your BEACH TOWEL on the sand! What a great card that would make! -Laura #6057539

Stanley J. Contrades June 26, 2008

Excellent work on this very creative image, Laura! And this certainly would be perfect as a greeting card! You might want to check out Photographer's Edge for creative cards stock!
Aloha,
Stan #6110657

Laura E. Swan June 27, 2008

Aloha and Thank You SO MUCH Stan! What a huge compliment. I'll check it out. So glad that you liked my D.F. Project!!! It was fun to make. -Lala #6115026

Sherry McClead July 16, 2008

Lovely... you are so talented!
still dancing...
Sherrybear :} #6187032

Laura E. Swan July 16, 2008

"Patient" is more like it Sherry! These dried flower projects are tedious work. Thanks for doing the EP dance with me! -Laura #6187359

Irene Colling July 19, 2008

Excellent art project Laura, very good design and nice photo work.

I have also seen very good scenes like this done on a scanner. Maybe you will try that next. #6197996

Laura E. Swan July 19, 2008

Hi Irene! :) Happy you like this one! Speaking of scanners you know what I did once? I laid beautiful little garden flowers and greenery right on top of the glass on the scanner and arranged them with dried moss at the bottom and in some scanning I used an olive green pillowcase for a colored background.

OH MY GOSH did they ever come out pretty! The colors were more crisp than I have ever seen with any other avenue of capturing images. Try it sometime but you will need glass cleaner afterwards to get the pollen and colors from the glass that the flowers left behind. (Not bad however).

Is this what you meant sorta? #6199716

Dawn M. Schneider July 31, 2008

wow all I can tell you is I love it. love the look and feel! what a wonderful creation and work of art, very very nice. congrats on the EP #6253585

Laura E. Swan August 01, 2008

Thank you so very much Dawn! I hope I was able to take you somewhere special even if just for a moment or two! -Laura #6258173

Wendy Stevenson October 07, 2008

Very artistically done with great results!! #6565526

Laura E. Swan October 07, 2008

This was fun to make and fun to shoot! Thanks for peeking with the one eye there! ;) -Laura #6565623

John Connolly October 27, 2008

Love this unique presentation, Laura! Your darkroom technique is fantastic! I can see photography is a real passion with you! #6668946

Laura E. Swan October 27, 2008

It really is, John! Being creative really makes it all worth while to me. Thanks for the kind words! -Laura #6669583

Nancyj E. Hovey January 13, 2009

Well this is supurb, and don't know how I could have missed it...

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
on your EFP - 8o) #7024657

Laura E. Swan January 13, 2009

Thanks Momj. Well, I know how you missed this one. You weren't rescued from that island of bananas yet when this one was created. No fault of your own, I assure you! :)

So glad you like it. -Your daughter who loves you, Laura #7027071

Nancyj E. Hovey January 14, 2009

Ya, those Pirate rascals! 8o) #7028716

Laura E. Swan January 14, 2009

:) #7029403

Mary K. Robison April 24, 2009

Another gallery discovery, Laura ~
This is magical, and I love the high-key treatment.
I read your description of the scanner project that includes the pillowcase. Do you have that in your gallery somewhere? If so, what's the title?
Have a super weekend! #7443508

Laura E. Swan April 24, 2009

HI MARY!!! :)

So nice to see you snooping around!!! :)

I don't have it in my gallery
but I MIGHT have it in my master
gallery on my computer. Let me look.
If I do I will attach it here! Thanks for asking! You're tops!

-Laura

P.S. It was a really interesting thing to do...Scanning FRESH CUT FLOWERS. It was a brave new way to take a PICTURE of them! And in a natural 8 1/2 by 11 setting because of the scanner size! #7444483

Laura E. Swan April 24, 2009

These aren't great Mary.
I just took them with my camera.
The quality through the gass is poor.
They are in simple frames
that I hang in my 1970's room.

You'll get the idea however. I also used a turquoise T-shit of my husbands as an alternate BG. You'll see it here.
#7444638

Mary K. Robison April 25, 2009

Laura, I am impressed BIG-TIME with your talent using scanned flowers. You must have a gorgeous garden, judging from the colors in your images.
I love your first image, "Scanner Example", particularly because you've included purples and yellows. They happen to be my favorite colors, so much so that I used them for my wedding --- whose anniversary just happens to be today!
(I waited till you posted after midnight tonight, so you wouldn't feel obligated to scramble around for a dedication photo. :-D
Which reminds me: I need to post an image for Scott, my better half, so I better get crackin' !! )
#7447347

Laura E. Swan April 25, 2009

If you are still connected here Mary I just wanted to say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and I hope you like what I left you on your dedication to Scott today!

-Love Laura #7448417

Mary K. Robison April 25, 2009

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for posting your beautiful "Scanner Example" in today's photo thread, Laura! I can't think of a nicer floral image to dress up this happy day! #7449982

Laura E. Swan April 25, 2009

You are so very welcome, Mary! Hope you two had a very happy Anniversary! :)

Love, Laura #7449986

Carol Engstrom April 28, 2009

Wow, Laura! Glad I found this one. I love the main photo, and it was interesting to see your scan pictures. I also love the high key self-portrait. I'm wishing you lived closer so you could teach me how to do the dried flower pictures. Not that I really have time to do it, but I have always loved things like that. #7463121

Laura E. Swan April 28, 2009

Shockingly it only took me about 2 hours to make this dried flower project!!! A pair of tweezers (Never handle the dried leaves with your fingers! They can break because they are brittle), and a nice piece of big heavy white paper, some paper glue and you are set!

It's really a blast! In the time we take having coffee with a friend we can make something cool like this!

What took all the time was picking all the little flowers and leaves and vines and carefully pressing them all in a huge stack of phone books I kept for this purpose alone! It takes weeks for them to dry.

I PURPOSELY dried the archway in that position (in the phone book) when it was still flexible and fresh.

The rest is easy and fun! If we lived closer we'd be having coffee AND making fun stuff. Anyone can do it. I am living proof!

Thanks lots Carol! :) #7463135

Nancyj E. Hovey April 29, 2009

Hope you are resubmitting this awesome DDR photo... it is awesome!!! Glad you got an EFP the 1st round. 8o) #7464019

Laura E. Swan April 29, 2009

DDR? How about MACRO? I didnt really do any DDR I dont think? Humm...Or catch all would work? #7464600

Stephen Zacker May 07, 2009

A woman of many talents. Great job on creating and photographing this wonderful looking place #7495088

Laura E. Swan May 07, 2009

Thank you VERY MUCH Stephen!!! So kind of you! Just don't tell anyone where this garden is...It's a SECRET! :)

-Laura #7495500

Nancyj E. Hovey May 07, 2009

Still one of my favorite.... 8o) #7495523

Laura E. Swan May 07, 2009

That's because you understand what a secret garden is all about! :) xx

#7495598

Nancyj E. Hovey May 07, 2009

te he he...now THAT would be a wonderful game on the computer, Laura!!! 8o) #7495974

Laura E. Swan May 07, 2009

HEY! NOW YOUR ON TO SOMETHING!!! I'm leaving in a few minutes, Mumj. I'm bringing my Camera since the building is so pretty. It was raining out... #7496602

Karen Kessler May 13, 2009

Amazing! Your creativity is so much fun to see! Great work on your "Hidden Garden" and congrats on the EP - even though it's about a year late from me! :) #7516090

Laura E. Swan May 13, 2009

Hi Sister Karen!!!

I can see I need to hit your gallery and hit it HARD! HA! So fun to see you here this morning. I miss the old style of gallery (Like I left it this morning!). Isn't it MUCH easier to view than the new way?

You're such a sweetie. I always smile huge when I see you around! If we lived near each other we'd be doing these projects together. They are really fun!

(OKAY...IT'S SETTLED. YOU'RE MOVING TO CANADA!!! OKAY? I'll start collecting leaves and flowers to press.)

-Lala

#7516435

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