This week I share a few more images that I created at the first Seeing with New Eyes Photography retreat.  In last week’s post, I shared about my dream of leading a retreat for photographers and how that dream came true.

Here are just a few more of my favorite images from my time at New Skete Monastery while leading the first advanced retreat.  

As you may see from the first three images, I really enjoyed playing with a very shallow depth of field to create beautiful bokeh.

Oregano has this beautiful blossom that the bees just love.

Oregano has this beautiful blossom that the bees just love.

With an extremely shallow depth of field, just the edge of this leaf is in focus.

With an extremely shallow depth of field, just the edge of this leaf is in focus.

This Echinacea blossom is beautiful even in it's fading.

This Echinacea blossom is beautiful even in it’s fading.

The texture of the bark on this beech tree was quite interesting.  One of the exercises the retreat participants were given was to search for interesting textures in their surroundings. I joined them in the search and really liked this particular texture.  Reminds me of an elephant’s leg.

Very interesting patterns in the bark of a beech tree.

Very interesting patterns in the bark of a beech tree.

Because the first retreat was with advanced photographers, we did quite a bit of Photoshop work.  I shared with them how I create mandalas with photographs.  The beech bark texture created this most interesting, monochromatic mandala.

Beech Tree Mandala_©GSHaile

Beech Tree Mandala_©GSHaile

A beginner’s retreat is scheduled for October 2-4 at the monastery.  Perhaps you’d like to join us?  Click here for more information.