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Joe_Lorenzini · **The Battle of Arboretum... -** 03-23-2009, 11:22 PM

So the MIL has never been to the Dallas Arboretum, the kids were on spring break and it was supposed to be a nice day out. It all sort of fit together and besides, how many people in the metroplex could possibly have the same idea??

Turns out the answer was: All of them.

So let's start out this day of color and wonder with the hot, dead, long line in the overflow parking lot waiting for bus after bus to pick us up and take us to Arboretumland:

Then after waiting in the loooooooong line for the bus we get a 5 minute bus ride to the front gates where we get to wait in the next loooooooooong line for tickets:

NOW... I must say, the Arboretum people were fantastic. They were quick to respond to everyone's needs. They took care of patrons, they opened new ticket lines, they walked the long line with bullhorns assuring people they would not wait long to get in and then they had people come out with tickets who could take cash. So what I thought would be at least an hour wait turned out to be only around 10 minutes. Kudos to the fine employee's of the Dallas Arboretum!

So once inside you can guess two things:
1. My kids took off running (who could blame them!)
2. There were people everywhere...

I took a few test shots and realized I wasn't going to get any keepers:

So I went low and shot up. Each of the following shots were taken "blind" (ie. without looking through the viewfinder). They won't win any awards but came out looking good enough for the MIL to pay a compliment or two.

All in all, we spent more time in the car than in the Arboretum but the time inside was well spent and in the end, very relaxing.

Joe

jeffro20 · 03-23-2009, 11:31 PM

Great story and picture guide. I really like the first two from the ground shots....especially the first. The layers of colors work well.

Roy · 03-23-2009, 11:36 PM

Relaxing is a good thing!

I guess the people were either at the Arboretum, or the Zoo. Spring break is something one must obviously prepare for.

I like the low angle on the flowers. Looks like y'all had a bright, colorful and relaxing day!

bauerknight · 03-24-2009, 01:36 AM

I arrived at the Arboretum at 9:07am on saturday and half the parking lot was filled up. The place were pretty empty until around 10:30am when it was getting abit too crowded for me.

Whumbahcumba · 03-24-2009, 01:40 AM

Great shots.

The arboretum was quite popular this last weekend. I was out there Saturday with my FlickR group and we meet there a bit before open. By the time they opened, there were probably 50 people in line. It filled up really quickly. However, it is well worth the wait. The colors this year are fantastic, just like last year. The key is to get there early for landscapes, then focus on macro/people when it gets busy.

sdenman · 03-24-2009, 07:06 AM

Joe Great series. Thanks for giving us the whole story. I really like the looking up angle. I tried that a couple of weekend ago and mine did not turn out nearly as well as yours. Good Job! I have been the last three saturdays being that the wife and I are members. I had a blast the cold rainy saturday morning. Got some great macro shots with the water drops and had the place to ourselves.

*~Karena~* · 03-24-2009, 03:12 PM

Joe, when did you arrive at Arboretum??? I also went there last Sunday, arrived around 11:30am....we did have to park at the off-site lot, but the line wasn't as crazy as yours.

J Eddington · 03-24-2009, 06:48 PM

That is some fine lemonade you made!

Davidtxs · 03-24-2009, 09:25 PM

great colors awesome stuff

jeffkohn · 03-24-2009, 10:09 PM

I think you did a good job making the best of what could have been a frustrating situation. I especially like the first of your "blind" shots, the layers of color are great.

Bet it made you wish for a flip-out LCD though, eh?

toverman · 03-24-2009, 10:13 PM

We were among the dumbies who tried to go to the Fort Worth Zoo last Wednesday, which was not only Spring Break for our half of the world but also half-price admission day. There was a record number of visitors to the FWZ. We went to Trinity Park (right next door) instead, and all day met people who had also tried to go to the zoo.

Joe_Lorenzini · 03-24-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Bet it made you wish for a flip-out LCD though, eh?

Yeah it did. Live view was no help at all.

But just wait. I'm waiting for the release of something that combined with live view might be better than a swivel...

ahightower · 03-25-2009, 03:40 PM

Well, thanks for the warning! We went to the FW Botanic Garden on Friday, which was pretty full, but we found a shady spot under a tree and enjoyed a picnic and a nap while the kids played in the field. I didn't dare try anything but a few close-ups of flowers. Portraits or landscapes would have been out of the question. I can only imagine what the weekend was like. I'll have to take a half day off of work in the middle of the week and try again for portraits of the kids. (Home schooling is quite convenient when you want to visit these types of places that are swamped on weekends!)

BTW, I like your third blind shot, with the sun coming into the tulips, as well as the others. Thanks for sharing!

bauerknight · 03-25-2009, 03:47 PM

I took some shots at the arboretum as well if anyone wants to look at them here:

http://tranxp.smugmug.com/gallery/76...95996139_SNCFM

lyncca · 03-26-2009, 03:02 PM

These are quite beautiful :) I love the yellow and red low angle shot. I think you just convinced me to make the drive out there!

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The Battle of Arboretum...