Blanket Flower Images - "Go Lower Perspective"

Yesterday I was at the GSO Arboretum. It was a bright sunny day--had to stop down my exposure on these blanket flower images. Images taken with my DSL-R Sony A700 with 50 mm prime macro 2.8 lens.  Love using the Carolina blue sky for background.  The back view you see a lot of texture in the flower.and corolla.  Used the Windows 10 editor for minor editing, cropping.  The "Go Lower Perspective" was one of the theme topics for the TOPS camera club this month, but I had already submitted my images.  I could not have done this with my iPhone without a Tripod as it takes two hands and getting it right with self-timer would have been more time consuming.  

Riverbirch Leaves after Japanese Beetles Meal

This looks like it could be some graphic design.   About 3 weeks ago I pressed some Riverbirch leaves knowing I wanted to photograph them to show the filagree texture made by Japanese beetles leaving just the skelton of veins.  Images taken with iPhone 6s.  An ivory piece of cardstock was used as a background on the left image.  To make the leaves more colorful I did ink with distress inks.  The purple one I used the new distress wilted violet oxide ink which gives a more chalk- like appearance.  I will admit to increasing brightness and contrast to get the look I wanted in PSE 11.  The image on the right is using the invert filter which almost gives this a neon appearance with the black background.  I want to experiement with some other artistic apps.   The beetles have moved on...so will have to wait until next year for more specimens.  These images were shown at the August TOPS meeting for the "Delicate Theme".

Jellyfish at Fort Fisher Aquarium 7/05/2017

 Went to Fort Fisher Aquarium  which is near Kure Beach.  My P & S camera was in a bag of rice due to moisture issues with humidity.  So,  I decided to test my luck with taking photos with my iPad.  I knew that low lighting would be an issue.  You can't adjust shutter speed, etc-- digital noise definitely present.  I was lucky to capture the jellyfish considering they were constantly in motion.  I did edit out artifacts aand applied slight vignette in PSE 11.  If you zoom in on these images you will see the digital noise. I still like the images.

Kure Beach 7/05/2017 - Toad & Seagull

Managed to capture this image of a toad close up on the boardwalk at Kure Beach just after I took sunrise images.  The seagull  I was able to use the telephoto zoom on my P600 camera. I had wanted to capture a Penguin on the rail of the Kure Beach pier but that opportunity did not happen.
It was very hot and humid and after the sunrise, my camera "died".  So, I bought a 2# bag if rice and let my camera rest in it for about 30 hours.  Then the camera worked fine the rest of the trip.  

Fireworks at Carolina Beach, NC 7/6/2017

 I went to Kure Beach for a few days the week of 4th of July.  We had to go to Carolina Beach too as more tourist shops & restaurants. Britts has great donuts --be prepared to stand in line.  On Thursday night they had fireworks.  I have never been good at capturing them.  But this time I did try shutter priority.  The bad thing about a digital camera is the delay.   At least I captured a few images that demonstrate the moment.   Used my Nikon  P & S P600-- only minor editing. Cloned out a few artifacts so sky black and added slight vignette.