Valfal's photos

A dahlia bloom in my garden after a summer rain. This plant is very special to me as it came from the garden of my dear friend who died earlier this year. I think of her every time I see it. It is a beautiful representation of life that springs from death. Today I was able to renew my Club membership, and I feel like a new day has dawned for Ipernity. May our community grow and prosper! This image is dedicated to the members of Ipernity Members Association as a thank you for all the tremendous amount of work, time, and endurance to save this wonderful site from certain death!

A shot of the fabulous fountain display bordering the main display at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA USA. HFF and a wonderful weekend to all my friends on ipernity; may we share many more together! :-)

Two of my favorite teddy bears from a collection of antique bears. I found them for sale together on ebay several years ago, and just had to have them! They are each about 100 years old. I don't know how long they have been together, but the character they acquired from lots of hugs and time is very appealing. :-) Have a wonderful week ahead, my friends!

Long shadows of fence railings at the end of a beautiful day in Havre de Grace, Maryland. I wish you all a HFF and a wonderful weekend, my friends! ;-)

This beautiful "English" garden path is one of the many delightful sights at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.

I love looking at the dahlias at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. :-) A new day truly dawns for Ipernity; many thanks to IMA and to all the members who gave of their money and time to keep it alive!

First look at the newly renovated Main Fountain at Longwood Gardens. It is a remarkable feat of engineering that would make Pierre S. DuPont proud. A small example of the light show is included in comment below. The photos do not do justice to the amazing show I saw last night. HFF to all my ipernity Friends, and have a great weekend!

Playing with selective color processing on this image of my cat, Flame.

I had the great pleasure of visiting Longwood Gardens with my sister and her significant other last week. One of my best surprises (besides the beautifully refurbished main fountain) was how well my new iPhone 7 Plus camera works. It has two lenses instead of one, enabling a wonderful telescopic ability, and a new setting (called "portrait") that simulates bokeh, which was the thing I was most excited to try. The photo above was shot with this in-camera setting. I have not processed it any further so that you can see how well this bokeh setting works. It won't replace DSLR's, but it works far better than any point and shoot camera I ever owned! :-)

An antique bisque head doll poses with a cute antique "stick" bear (so called because of the stick shaped arms and legs). The doll once belonged to a dear friend of mine who recently passed away. Both doll and bear are well over 100 years old. ~Thank you so very much for your lovely and encouraging comments and faves, friends, most appreciated!~

A black and white version of an image I posted several weeks ago.

Three geese swimming in formation near Havre de Grace, Maryland USA. I wish you all a tranquil week, my friends! :-) Thank you all for visiting and for your comments/faves, they are much appreciated!

I was getting ready to take a shot of these two gulls each sitting on its own pole when suddenly one chased the other away...not exactly the image I wanted to take. That being said, there is something about it that keeps my attention; maybe it's the drama of the moment. ;-) Thank you so very much for your comments and faves, my friends; most appreciated! It is wonderful to know that ipernity will be here for us all to partake in as a community!

Flowers blooming on my Hen and Chicks plant. Here's info from Wikipedia about these interesting succulents: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen_and_chicks

On the bridge pedestrian walkway looking toward Brooklyn, New York. HFF and a wonderful weekend to all my ipernity friends! :-)

My grandson, Logan, in a daydreaming moment at the playground of Benji's, one of the last drive-in theatres in America. HFF to all my ipernity friends on this start to the summer season! :-)

" Let me sail, let me sail, Let the Orinoco flow Let me reach, let me beach on the shores of Tripoli Let me sail, let me sail, Let me crash upon your shore Let me reach, let me beach Far beyond the Yellow Sea Sail away, sail away, sail away... " From the song "Orinoco Flow" by Enya www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTrk4X9ACtw

HFF to all my ipernity friends from the Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA! :-)