Butterflies Go Free

Wow. I don't post anything to my blog for weeks and then BAM! -- Two entries in a row. Mind you, I did threaten yesterday that I'd be posting some butterfly shots. (Big Grin)

So far this year, I visited the Butterflies Go Free exhibit twice; First on the day it opened then a month later. I wouldn't go on the first day again as there were very few butterflies flying about. But that totally changed my second visit. There were butterflies, caterpillars and butterfly eggs everywhere you looked.

One of the first butterflies I captured was this Sulphur (Phoebis sp.). I love the yellow against the purplish background

Sulphur butterfly (Phoebis sp)Also managed to capture a Zebra Longwing, one I've not seen for a few years.
Heliconius charithonia (Zebra helicon or Zebra longwing)
Another I've not seen in awhile is the Great Eggfly Bolina. (Seen here is a female.)

Great Eggfly Bolina (Female) (Hypolimnas bolina)
I managed to grab a couple of 'First Timers' for me -- a Rusty-tipped Page (Siproeta epaphus) and a Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)

Rusty-tipped Page (Siproeta epaphus)
Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae)

I'm hoping to get back to visit the buttereflies again in the near future. So you can expect more photos to come.

Hope you enjoyed these images.

Remember that clicking on any image on this page will open the image in my Smugmug site, where you can view a larger version. Please use your browser's "Back" button to return to the Blog.

Other butterfly images taken during my visits to the Botanical Gardens this year can be seen in either my 17 February visit or my 17 March visit galleries. Please feel free to leave comments here on the blog, in my Guestbook or in the photo gallery.

Thanks for looking. And please stop by again.

Spring has Sprung

Okay I know. I'm really bad at this blogging thing. But I'm hoping you'll enjoy today's entry so much, you'll overlook how bad I am in doing this on a regular basis.

Spring has once again Sprung. (At least that's what the calendar states. One would not be certain of that fact if one was to rely on what one sees out the window.) And it being Springs means that the Butterflies have returned to the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Yay!

But this blog entry is not about the flutterbys, but about some of the beautiful flowers I saw while visiting the Gardens to see the butterflies. (Don't worry. there will be a separate blog entry about the butterflies.)

The first thing you see as you head to the butterfly hothouse is the begonias. Pink, blues, white, they are a cheery sight to see.

Begonias

I came across a new to me flower - Calathea - tiny little pink flowers that didn't measure two inches across.
Calathea
And each time I visit, I am eager to see if any of the cactus in the next room are in bloom. I was not to be disappointed this trip.

Pink Cactus Flower
Came across a flowering Aloe plant standing in front a blue door. Just couldn't pass up the opportunity to record the colour combination.
Flowering Aloe
After the butterflies, I always go check out the Orchid hothouse. Not sure, but I think they had problem about four years ago, because from one year to the next, the orchid population on display drastically shrunk. But since then, the exhibit has been stronger each year.

My favourite orchids - Phalaenopsis -- were in abundance again this year. I had fun attempting some clear sharp macro close-ups. I'll let you be the judge if I was successful or not.
Pink Phalaenopsis
They have a good variety of different types of orchids. This one is a Paphiopedilum.
Enchantress
Enchantress is available for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here


Visiting the Botanical Gardens during February and March is a great way to spend several hours away from the blustery Winter weather outside.

I must add that some of the prettiest flowers I saw on my last visit weren't in any of the hothouses, but rather were for sale in the Garden's Boutique located in the front of the building.

Pale Yellow Gerbera

Hope you enjoyed the images.

Remember that clicking on any image on this page will open the image in my Smugmug site, where you can view a larger version. Please use your browser's "Back" button to return to the Blog.

Other floral images taken during my visits to the Botanical Gardens this year can be seen in either my 17 February visit or my 17 March visit galleries. Please feel free to leave comments here on the blog, in my Guestbook or in the photo gallery.

Thanks for looking. And please stop by again.

First month on RedBubble

A month has passed since I joined RedBubble and I thought I'd update how that month has gone.

Have I sold anything? No. Did I expect to? It would have been real nice, but to be honest, no, I didn't expect to. So what did I expect? Not so much expect. But rather hope . . . I hoped for greater exposure. And I feel I have gotten that.

RedBubble has literally thousands of groups, each one having a different 'raison être'. Some are about black & white images. Others about Canadian historical sites, Some are for flowers in general while others are for a particular flower such as a peony. There are groups for painters, some for those who use a brush and canvas and some for those that use software to create their masterpieces. There are groups for landscapes, cityscapes or seascapes. Think of a topic, and you'll likely find one or two groups existing just for it.

Since I joined RedBubble, I have joined 45 different groups. When you are in a group, you are asked to enter an image that meets the group's guidelines and complies with their rules. Others may comment on your image from time to time as you may on images of others.

Each group has a Host, often several, who moderate the group, establish the guidelines and rules, post challenges, and regularly feature works from group members. To be featured is an honour. In my first month at RedBubble, I have been honoured to have 7 of my images featured in 7 groups.

The following are those images that were featured in a group on RedBubble during my first month there.

La Sauvagine watercolour was featured in RedBubble groups ‘Before and After’ on January 9 and in ‘Enhanced Photos’ on January 12
La Sauvagine watercolour is available for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here

Tailed jay butterfly was featured in ‘A Bug’s Kingdom’ on January 12
Tailed jay butterfly is available for sale as Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here

The Dock was featured in ‘New to Vintage’ group on January 14
The Dock is available for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here

1929 Packard Coupe watercolour was featured in ‘Photo Painters’ on January 18
1929 Packard Coupe watercolour is available for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here

The Marsh – triptych was featured in ‘The Landscapes of Our World’ on January 22
The Marsh – triptych is available for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here

Green was featured in ‘Amazing Orton Effect’ on January 24
Green is available for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here

Orange Tulips watercolour was featured in ‘Photo Painters’ on February 3
Orange Tulips watercolour is available for sale as Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters on my RedBubble site here


All in all, a very good first month. And I look forward to what the next month brings.

Some new Photo Art images

I recently discovered a wonderful tutorial for creating watercolor images in PhotoShop. I've really liked the results I've been achieving with the new technique as well as the numerous compliments I've received on images I've created with this new technique. So I suspect I'll being keeping it in my digital art toolbox.

I am often asked if I sell my images, both photographs and digital artwork. While I have had one or two sales, I've not done much to promote the sale of my work. In an attempt to increase my chances of making a sale, I have recently joined RedBubble.

What is RedBubble I hear you ask? RedBubble is an online community of creative people that allows them to exchange ideas and knowledge and sell their art through a common marketplace where RedBubble handles packaging and shipments.

I've completed a new batch of Photo Art. Below are three images that are now available for sale through RedBubble. Clicking on any image will bring you to the RedBubble page where that image is available for sale as greetings cards, matted prints, laminated prints and more.

Pink Begonia watercolour


Clipper (Parthnos sylvia)


La Sauvagine, Rue St-Paul, Vieux Montreal

If you have time, please check out my profile and portfolio at RedBubble. You can do so by clicking on any of the images above or this RedBubble icon.