Just an entry level DSLR (Canon 450D) and a good macro lens (Canon 100mm, which went quite cheap when it was obsoleted by a new model).

The background blur is inherent to this kind of shot with a "big" sensor (actually it's hard to have all the subject in focus).

Use a DSLR once and you never get back to compact digital cameras, until you get too old to carry them

Thank you for your input, I must look into that. I have the specs written down.

I used to have a great point and shoot that had a macro setting as well as several depth of field settings, it was an Olympus. It died, an I got a tiny, but large screen, point and shoot Sony because I wanted something easy to stash in a pocket, as I am just a casual photographer these days. It's great for quick pics, but I haven't learned where the different settings are yet.

mom's iris just starting to unfold

Wow! First lilies, now an iris. I'm off to find me some Foxgloves!

Beautiful, water drops and all.

Water drops are great. I had a Photoshop Creative magazine once that showed how to create water drops for flowers and it was easily transferable to Gimp.

fortunately, Mother nature provided the water drops. We Finally got some rain. May showers instead of April showers


and while it's not as colorful, here are the beginnings of the green apples (I posted the flowers a few pages ago.)

I love all of nature and Spring is my favourite time of year. Lovely to see new life and a lovely photo Cecilia.

hopefully this tree will yield apples - one year we had 90 !!!