Wild About Wildflowers…
Spring brings on new experiences…
I enrolled in a Wildflower Photography Workshop with the Dallas Arboretum.
We traveled to Brenham, Texas for a 3 day learning experience.
Our instructor, Allen Rokach served 10 years as a Senior Photographer for Southern Living Magazine.
Along with commissions including PepsiCo, Royal Cruise Lines, Air France Airlines, Chase Manhattan Bank etc.
After reading his bio, I figured I could learn a thing or two from this photography legend.
I did learn something!!! Landscape photography doesn’t speak to me…in the way portrait photography does.
There is nothing like being out in God’s country and capturing it’s beauty.
BUT, there is a problem…you get no reaction back from the flowers, trees, grass etc.
NO smiles or laughs, they don’t even think my jokes are funny. They are void of emotion.
Now, don’t get me wrong…I enjoy an hour here or there with nature.
What I don’t care for, is expecting to be in the same little area for hours and still be captivated with taking the same shots.
One of Allen’s Commandments for Better Photography…
“The more you learn about photography, the more you will understand about yourself!”
What I truly understand…“This soul needs change or it gets weary.”
But, when we did change sceneries…my heart would bubble up all over again.
This tree, in all of it’s balanced beauty…just made me stop in my tracks.
But, the height of the trip, is when we made our instructor stop here at this farm.
He wasn’t crazy for this idea, because the wildflowers in this area weren’t ideal.
We told him…we need some interaction!
He looked at us, like we had horns on our heads! Smile.
See, we all dance to a different tune.
When this baby calf, kissed his mama…we all went bonkers!!
I was one of the few, that actually caught the kiss. It was very quick.
Bless his little heart!
So while, you will still see landscape and nature on this blog…
The real message I will be conveying…HUMANITY BRINGS JOY!
Can you imagine this as your driveway? Do you see the small mailbox on the left side?
It was a wonderful and soul searching experience, one I am thankful for.
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Blessings,
Laurie
Pride in Photos 
I’m not sure I agree that landscapes don’t speak to you Laurie. I’m sure that your classmates (and probably the instructor) were envious of the cow/calf shot. As always, wonderful photos. ~ James
I have to agree with you, Laurie, that the calf is the scene stealer 🙂 What a brilliant day!
What a pretty field of flowers. 🙂
Hello Laurie
Super pictures.
Thank you for the nice visit on my blog.
I greet and wish you a happy weekend.
Fantastic photos Laurie and such a beautiful place!
Gosh, this looks gorgeous! You have a great eye, Laurie. I’d love to join a group like this. I haven’t found any workshops in Norfolk, so I’m having a workshop session on my own with a photographer.
Looks like I’m missing a lot of fun. 🙂
Thank You Dina!
Really beautyful photos! Great work! / Rozie
What an incredible experience!
The tree, the mama / baby, and that fenceline with wildflowers are all just stunning, Laurie
It was a great experience Laurie
I normally pick the posts I read in these linkies randomly but I just couldn’t resist your photo of the purple and red wild flowers…..how beautiful Nature is and how wonderfully you captured it with your camera.
So lovely!
Beautiful images Laurie.
Wow wow wow – how gorgeous!
Amazing photos. I especially love the one with the fence.
These were just stunning. I never tire of seeing photos of flowers and the one with the fence line really was beautiful. Loved the mama cow & calf shot too, just precious.
Laurie, your flower pictures are looking like impressionist painting. Pieces of Art!
Thank You!
Superb photos, Laurie. Your wildflowers look like paintings. Well done on catching the kiss. It’s an adorable photo. 🙂
Wow, beautiful photos! Those kissing cows are very sweet, but I love the fields of lupins.
oh my goodness Laurie…I’m totally jealous! Such beautiful images. I am long overdue for a Texas trip and these pics, especially the wildflowers make me homesick for sure.
Yes, you must make it back here.
Ohh Laurie , how awesome, yes I agree with you, flowers are nice…. For awhile;). You gave some really awesome shots here, the best thing about going in a group.. No one (or mostly) will ever have the exact shot you do.
How lovely you were all set up to get the calf getting a kiss from momma.
And that d/w… A dream shot for sure!!! Really I loved them all, the field of spotted color. All amazing, but like you said there is just something missing;) I do like the interaction with “other ” types of photoging much much better as well. Glad you learned, glad you had a great time. And hope life is getting better for you all down there .
Enjoyed your comments!!
I am going to have to do one of these workshops someday. I understand the lack of feedback can be offputting to a portrait photographer. 🙂 On the other hand, when I take landscape shots, the only subject movement I worry about is caused by the rustling of the wind in the flowers.
The best thing of the workshops John, is meeting and bonding with the other photographers!
Amazing! these images are breathtakingly beautiful! they literally took my breath away! have a beautiful day!
Thank You Jandi!
I love looking at your photography each week. What a great time you must have had at the class. I love the trees going down that driveway, wish it led to my house.
Thank You Pamela.
These are just beautiful, Laurie, and the photograph of the calf could not possibly be more wonderful.
Those are pretty awesome photo’s….great job.
Lovely – am jazzed you took time to link with SEASONS! Hope to see you back next week:) Have an enjoyable one:)
Stunning photos, Laurie! Leave it to you to get the best shot of a baby! Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope you do more nature photos. My favorites are the first one and then the cow and calf.
Beautiful renditions of these stunning flower landscapes! You have come several times to my blog, so I’m inviting you to the meme/challenge started two months ago, called SEASONS. Anything and any experience is a great subject, as long as it has taken place during the season at hand. Does not need to be a separate post. Photo link is open Sunday through Wednesday till 7pm, Pacific time , so there is still time this week:) Have a great one, and hope to see you there!
Absolutely stunning- I know what you mean about interaction, though. I need to have taken that class for my recent trip to Austin.
Wow… what a treat to see these wildflower photos! The baby calf, kissed his mama is priceless, I’m in tears. Can’t imagine driving through green driveway…The messages are very touching. Thank you so much for the beautiful, moving post, Laurie. 🙂 ❤
Your photos are beautiful – I love the one with the fence. If you are really interested in Texas wild flowers – you may want to take a look at this bloggers site – he posts something just about every day –
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/a-different-sort-of-paintbrush/
For someone who isn’t a huge fan of landscape photos, you sure do a lovely job of creating them!
Your photo’s are gorgeous!!!!! Good for you for learning what you did.
Wonderful photos, Laurie!
Great photos sweetie! That is so cool you went out of your comfort zone on photography!!! I love all of them! The cows and the headstone are my favorites! Have a wonderful week my friend! Hugz Lisa and Bear
So lovely spring pictures!
Wow, Laurie, these photos are awesome! Never say they have no emotion. These photos are filled with emotion and evoke emotions in the viewer. Well, I guess I can’t speak for every viewer, but I know how I reacted to them! 😀
What beauty and a wonderful reflection of your experience. Beautifully stated!
What beautiful images, Laurie. Love the cows kissing and that tree in the other image is beautiful!
These are simply stunning!!
My Grandparents had such a driveway, Laurie. Not personally, you understand; however, the road leading to their last home was like this. I remember it so fondly! I guess it’s ‘each to their own’ with photography, and with life. We each see something slightly different through the same lens. Love the images… 🙂
Thank You Carolyn. It is amazing, how we can see images and memories come flooding in>
Just Beautiful! Love the cows!!!
Thank you Miss Ashley!
Beautiful photos Laurie! Glad you had a good time on the shoot. The cows are so adorable. The black and white of the giant tree is amazing, such a broad tree, must be three hundred years old. ❤️
Wow, 300 years old and still kicking, amazing huh?!
Yes! Just a guess of course. I will look at least that good when I hit 300!