hello macro :o)

well, i got a new toy yesterday...a super fun macro lens :o) this thing is amazing! so i took him for a test drive today at the lovely garfield park conservatory and sunken garden. this place is beautiful..and a great place to get married by the way! my brother had his wedding there this past june! but anyways, the conservatory is breathtaking. they have a HUGE variety of orchids... and if you know me well, you'll already know that i'm obsessed with orchids! :o) they are my absolute favorite flower...i can never keep the things alive...but otherwise i'd have tons of them.

well i learned a few things on my little photo shoot today. first, macros are almost impossible to use in full manual mode, haha. second, don't visit an extremely humid and hot conservatory when its 95+ degrees outside...unless you don't mind sweat pouring off you haha...and finally, and most importantly, i was reminded that we serve a most brilliant God, who has created such incredible, breathtaking beauty...simply for our enjoyment!! i will never understand how someone can deny a creator after seeing this beautifully intricate nature all around us.

well anyways, i hope you enjoy these images :o)
p.s. there are a few desktop/background capable images at the bottom of this post!

i have no idea what this plant is called...but it retracts its leaves when you touch it!
i remember seeing it in science books back in the day. pretty cool in person :o)

gosh they are gorgeous...i loveee orchids!

each one is soo unique!

ok, these next 5 images below, i left large enough for a desktop background.
just click to make them larger, then right-click save. :o)