One: Nubs

Two: Worm

Three: Tulip To Drip

Four: Wormhead

One: Nubs
Temple Grounds, Rexburg Idaho; May 8, 2011 12:35 p.m. F/2.8 (+Macro) SHUTTER: 1/1250. Exposure adjustment -.67 ISO 100. Canon Powershot SX 120 IS

In Photoshop, I adjusted the levels to enhance the contrast to increase the visibility of the budding nubs. The bright orange trunk of the tree was natural and is what attracted me to the shot in the first place.

Two: Worm
Stake Center/Temple Grounds, Rexburg, Idaho; May 8, 2011 12:42 p.m. F/2.8 (+Macro) SHUTTER: 1/250. Exposure adjustment: -.67 ISO 100 Canon Powershot SX 120 IS

With the pitter-patter of rain, long earthworms were everywhere as we walked about the Rexburg Temple. My wife, Elizabeth, was the secondary subject. I used the Macro setting and the largest aperture possible to capture as much detail as possible on the worm. In post processing I balanced the levels some to enliven some of the colors and contrast.

Three: Tulip to Drip
Temple Grounds, Rexburg, Idaho; May 8, 2011 12:39 p.m. F/6.3 Shutter: 1/60 Exposure adjustment: -.67 ISO 100 Canon Powershot SX 120 IS

The night before I had spotted these red-pink tulips as we visited the temple. I returned the next day to grab this picture. The collected rain drops provided additional “target practice.” To compose this shot, I aligned the main flower to cross between two intersecting rule of thirds lines. In post production I boosted the levels to give the pink more of the full color I saw with my natural eye when there.

Four: Wormhead
BYU-Idaho Fourth Stake Center, Rexburg, Idaho; May 8, 2011; 12:45 p.m. F/2.8 (+Macro) SHUTTER: 1/640 Exposure Compensation:-.67 ISO 100 Canon Powershot SX 120 IS

I again adjusted the levels in this picture to maximize the contrast and detail in the worm compared to the hands holding it. The clarity of the water with a slight glimmer of light was an added bonus. The worm provided great practice at focusing on constantly moving target and waiting for the right moment to capture.