Silke Schaffner Photography

28/02/2023

I really think that it's time for a spring photo!🌱

I like to introduce Crocus chrysanthus 'Cream Beauty'! It is a tiny flower maybe just about 5 centimetres (2 inches) in hight - so it is easy to walk past it when it comes up through the grass.

These little early crocuses look so delicate like little porcelain cups, but on the contrary they are quite hardy. Just make sure that the grass like leaves, which come out during and after flowering, are not cut by the lawnmower ... and let them wither naturally. this way the tiny 'Cream Beauty' will come up every early spring!

I love these little stars which are the first signs of spring just being around the corner!🥳

21/02/2023

Ice - the frozen pond surface🧊is reflecting trees and a rare blue winter sky...🌨
Spattered over the ice are the tiny seeds of a birch tree nearby in different hues of burnt umber, which generate little warm spots on the cool colours of the ice.

I love how the frost transforms our garden, especially the pond. Usually, the waters surface looks dark and, at times, really gloomy. But once the pond freezes over, it becomes bright and shiny, almost always like a piece of art.

I hope that you enjoy my photo and that it will send your thoughts on a little enchanted journey!✨

21/12/2022

13/12/2022

The beautiful South Donegal coast!✨

On a recent trip to the Atlantic i came across this beautiful scenery. The waves were crashing over the rocks and made a lot of noise...🌊 yet to stand and watch makes me very calm inside and puts my mind at ease. I hope that you can feel at ease too!😊

I shot this photo with the technique called long exposure - even as the waves came pretty close - but it contributes to carry the calming effect that I felt being there!

09/12/2022

Sometimes I get carried away... loosing myself in the magic of colours! Here I present you my new Colour Exploration image!🥳

I nearly put the original photo into the bin...😮I am so glad that I didn't! The original photo of an Astilbe had not turned out as I had expected - but the colour abstraction impressed me a lot! 🤩

06/12/2022

These are photos of a dragonfly which has just emerged from her nymph last summer. It's clinging to the empty shell of the leftover of her life under the water surface and is developing its wings and filling out its body.🌞

When I had discovered the dragonfly I was immediately fascinated and decided to try and document its development immediately. I managed to take photos for around 50 minutes. By then it had started to rain heavily and I had to leave. If you look closely, you can spot a few tiny water droplets on the front legs and the eye.🌧

I felt very happy to have witnessed the 'birth' of this dragonfly and I hope that you enjoy it too!😀

30/11/2022

This image of the Dahlia (variety 'Zingaro') is part of a series which I call 'Colour Exploration'.🎨

What I love about these works is how a little change of some of the colours of a photo changes the mood and can enhance an image in a wonderful way!

I will soon post a few more of these - so watch this spot!👀

29/11/2022

The beautiful texture on the back of this spent Ivy leaf is revealed by some rare Winter sunshine.🌞

I walk this little path everyday and it is amazing how I probably walked past this little leaf already a few times without noticing its wonderful texture - but I was at the right time in the right spot! A few seconds later and the light had moved on!🍂

26/11/2022

I really love Cosmos flowers! Especially this white variety which is called 'Snow Puff', no garden should be without it!

When I walked through my garden and saw this gorgeous blossom dancing in the wind. 💨I quickly got my camera. Mind you, it took a few attempts as the wind made it tricky to get a photo perfectly in focus...📷 I succeeded at last - so here it is: I hope you like it!

24/11/2022

Rain, rain and more rain... that's the weather right now here in Co. Donegal.

But yet, without it, this photo would not have been possible! If you look closely 👀 you can see that the berries of a Cotoneaster appear as if they have been coated with thick layers of varnish - actually they are water coated!😁 The little 'roof' made up of spiders web is not very waterproof...😉

24/11/2022

I found this gorgeous specimen of a Pine tree at Murvagh Beach when I actually looked back👀 to see where if it would start raining... I had just walked passed the tree - which is called Pinus contorta, Lodgepole Pine - and had not payed much attention to it.
The tree looks as if it is floating above the brown fern leaves and the grasses. Enjoy!

21/11/2022

Hello and welcome to my new page!

This me with my old little Nikon camera which has done wonderful work for me in my adventures in my garden, nature and in the studio.

I am sure that we will have great fun on our journey together!

Enjoy!