Lindy Low LeCoq

Welcome to Bren, of Brashley Photography who is our guest host this week. She challenges us to show softness in our photos by lowering clarity and with the use of software. All the photos I feature in this post are “straight” shots; the image that my camera captured in the moment, straightened and cropped for clarity and balance.

Softness comes from the natural light of the Pacific Northwest, where clouds, mist and fog are perennial. This view from Fort Columbia State Park, across the Columbia River toward the community of Astoria, OR, is an ethereal landscape. Big clouds and hazy mountains in the distance add to the hushed feeling here.

Early morning mist rises above Crescent Creek, as sunlight accentuates wildflowers on its bank. This image is one that conjures in my mind, a vision of “the land of dreamy dreams.” (Willamette Pass, OR)

Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), refresh in the surf at the Breakers beach, Long Beach, WA, with their ever-present companion gulls. A very gray overcast sky, restless ocean waves and birds in constant motion meant this batch of photos all came out blurry. What I love most about them is their natural velvety quality.

Hydrangea thrives in my Vancouver, WA gardens. In late spring to summer their gorgeous alluring colors invite me to come out and play with my camera. This close-up features many hues of blue and lavender in the blossoms, as sunlight provides just enough clarity, while keeping the whole image “soft and gentle”.

Many of my better photos are a consequence of being in the right place at the right time. When I saw the sun blazing on and through this small patch of cyclamen, I ran for my camera. The radiance of each tiny blossom set upon the shaded background of the pond waterfall, is one that truly does make me “feel alive and blessed.”

On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾