Dreamy look continues

I couldn't resist a few more images done to dreamy perfect....

Flower Effects

I was processing an image of a flower recently and wanted to make it really glow... but how?  I re-called an image of a crocus that a fellow photographer friend of mine had showed me not too long ago and wanted to duplicate that effect, so I sent him an e-mail and it turns out I'm not the only one who has wondered.  He shared this blog post with me that makes it ridiculously easy to create this effect and clearly I was eager to try it out tonight... enjoy.

This afternoon I hiked a section of Hubbard County Park in Flanders in pursuit of a particular osprey nest which I was unsuccessful in finding.  I did, however, find two previously unknown (to the NYS natural heritage program anyway) populations of Sabatia stellaris (salt-marsh pink), a small pink flowering plant that is fond of brackish marshes and is on the NYS endangered list.  I previously had found a location near my house of this species which was unknown to the NYS natural heritage program two summers ok so this was a nice find.   Unfortunately the mosquitoes were unbearable so it was a quick few shots and then I left.  More photos (probably of the population that's closer to home) to come.

This Fowler's Toad was spotted on the other side of the property... it probably is a yearling as it was not the size of an adult. 

And some sunsets from Patchogue after a wild storm tore across the island:

And across the river: