Yesterday's photography mission was to get a shot that I could enter into @papa-pepper's Combination Photography Contest. As always, it was getting late in the afternoon by the time I got outside, but it didn't take long to find exactly what I wanted to capture.

Nostalgia

For my wife, the mimosa tree brings back fond memories of child-like innocence and afternoons at grandma's house. Every time we see one in bloom, she comments about how beautiful the little ballerina flowers are. That's what she imagined them to be when she would play with them in her grandma's yard. Even now, those fuzzy pink flowers take her back to a time when it was okay for to have an imagination; when we were encouraged to make believe.

My Wife & Her Ballerina Flower

Image taken using Canon Rebel T3; Lens Model: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II; post processing performed using Darktable

My wife's grandmother passed away a few years ago, and my wife wanted to plant a mimosa tree in our yard in her memory. I went out several times and found saplings to bring home and transplant, but none of them would ever take. Eventually, she told me to just give it up, because I obviously didn't know what I was doing. A couple of weeks went by. Then, she spotted it right at the edge of our back patio. A mimosa tree had sprouted up as if it were a sign from heaven. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled about its proximity to the house, but I knew it meant a lot to her so I left it alone. Here it is after just two seasons of growth.

Image taken using Canon Rebel T3; Lens Model: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II; post processing performed using Darktable

Like many mimosa trees do, this one forked into two main branches very close to the ground. I didn't want it growing into the house (and I thought it would look cool), so I twisted the two branches around one another early on. One day, I think they will grow together, and this will be a very unique looking tree.

Image taken using Canon Rebel T3; Lens Model: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II; post processing performed using Darktable

Our mimosa began putting on ballerinas for the first time this summer! I could tell that it made my wife happy to see them, and that made me happy. Which brings me to yesterday's photos. As I looked outside the back glass debating whether or not I even had enough light left to find and capture anything worth sharing, I noticed something interesting. Yes, this would be my first entry into @papa-pepper's contest! I grabbed for my camera, and...

Lady Bug On A Mimosa

Image taken using Canon Rebel T3; Lens Model: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II (with a cheap screw on macro adapter); post processing performed using Darktable

I have mentioned before that I consider myself well below an amateur level photographer. Right now, I am using cheaper gear and focusing on learning technique and developing an eye for detail. My "macro lens" is actually the kit EF-S18-55mm that came with my camera and a screw-on macro adapter. I have found that zooming the lens all the way out causes the outer edges of the adapter to be visible in the frame and creates a bit of a fish-eye effect. At first, I hated it! But, I am beginning to grow a little bit fond of it in certain situations. I kind of like the effect it had on this particular image.

Harmonia axyridis - The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle

Image taken using Canon Rebel T3; Lens Model: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II (with a cheap screw on macro adapter); post processing performed using Darktable

I am fairly positive about my identification of this specimen. According to bugguide.net, there are only three species of ladybugs that occur in the US, and H. axyridis is the only one that is reported to be in this area. There are also a few physical characteristics that lean me in this direction. For example, neither of the other two species exhibit prominent white markings on the head in the photos that I have seen.

I have not made up my mind which of the two photos I am going to enter into the contest. Please let me know in the comments which one you like better (Lady Bug On A Mimosa or Harmonia axyridis - The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle)

****BONUS****

You have no idea how much begging it takes to get my wife in front of a camera! She is drop-dead gorgeous, and I definitely out-kicked my coverage, but she hardly ever lets me take pictures of her. I only got the partial picture of her for this post because I let her get one of me. So...

Turnabout Is Fair Play!!

Image taken by my wife using Canon Rebel T3; Lens Model: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II (with a cheap screw on macro adapter); post processing performed using Darktable