Micro-Photography - This Time...Sand

Growing up on Long Island Sound, I've always loved the sandy beaches.  And now, being a glass artisan, I've continued on with sand being a major component of glass.

So it didn't surprise me when I saw some of the micro-imagery of sand, by Dr. Gary Greenberg, that I enjoyed it so much.  This photo is of sand 250 times larger than life.  It's pretty,  isn't it?

Dr. Greenberg has a website, sandgrains.com, in which you can see more.  He is an artist, inventor, scientist and pretty well rounded guy.  He has several books out, including one I'd like to see.  "A Bug's Eye View of Flowers".  Sounds great.  He has another that you will have to see for yourself.  Lips are sealed on it.

Molly the Barn Owl and Babies...Still Watching

I have to admit I am still addicted to watching owls on the internet. There is something so wondrous to me, to see the babies hatch and their Mama, Molly taking such good care of them. This is her second brood this year, which I hear is the limit for barn owls.

Recently, one of the babies passed away. It was hard thinking about it, but often, nature has its sadness along with its happiness. So I've got my fingers crossed that the remaining three thrive and are able to fledge.

So if you haven't had a chance to watch them grow, tune in to your internet Owl channel right here and watch a little. If they're snoozing, come back later. The babies look a little like fluffy pteradactyls right now, but they grow into downright gorgeous little barn owls. Whose coloring will eventually tell us if they are male or female.

And of course they have provided me with lots of Molly Owl bead inspiration. You can check out my Etsy shop here, and see if there are any currently in stock. They tend to go quickly.

Hope your day is full of wondrous inspiration too. We all have a lot to be thankful for.

Meet Molly the Barn Owl

If you haven't had a chance to follow the live camera on Molly the Barn Owl, you're missing out. Please click HERE, to watch her in real time. Molly lives in an owl box about 15 feet up in the air. You can read more about her, her eggs and enjoy a little owl life up close and personal. There's something almost magical about watching her every movement. Is it glass, not at all, but to me, seeing this beautiful natural element is definitely art.

My Photo Set Up

With my colorful little beads being a bit quirky, I prefer a very neutral background. I've tried different colors and still resort to them once in a while, but personally, I prefer for the beads to be on a minimalist background.

So here is my low tech photography set up.

Yep, that's right. Two sheets of white paper on my old kitchen table next to a window.


I prefer to take pictures on cloudy days. When it's sunny, I am sure that there isn't any direct sun
coming through the window.

It's that simple.

I check my white balance on my little Cool Pix camera, and make sure it's on macro and away I go.

I do a tiny bit of editing in Photoshop Elements, and voila, I'm done.

I think my hardest part is trying to hold my camera still. Sometimes I rest my hands on nearby boxes or other sturdy items.

That's it. Easy peasy. Now let's hear whether you've got some tips and tricks for our readers. I know I've got a lot to learn.