Just getting to the point where I can post anything on my blog right now has been a monumental task. Sometimes just taking the course of least resistance is the best way to get to where I want to be. For Patti’s challenge I offer three shots of wide-open places worth seeing. No wide-angle lenses anymore and no time to play with panoram
Wishing everyone safeĀ travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
These photos were all selected, watermarked and ready to post – then I wasn’t able to get into my WordPress account. AAARRRGGH! Still, I want to provide a few snaps of Ups and Downs and thank our guest hostess for suggesting this theme!
This bridge is impressive in so many ways. I like this photo because it indicates we are entering the state of Washington, plus the light blue sky and white cloud make an interesting background.
Trees provide many beautiful opportunities to enjoy looking up!
My favorites – birds and the ever-changing clouds in Pacific Northwest skies.
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Yes, it’s not quite the “long view down,” however I find joy in the little things that I encounter in the world around me.
Deep dive into the basalt canyon worn over time by the river running through it.
Mesmerizing, refreshing, amazing these natural wonders!
I’ll conclude with a photo taken a couple springs ago looking down at the rock garden from the deck of my home in Vancouver, WA.
Wishing everyone safeĀ travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
When I was younger, I was a runner. Then my knees started to give out and I decided walking was better suited to my body. Since joining our family six years ago, Jello has made sure I get at least one walk a day in Vancouver, and two walks daily at Long Beach. For Amy’s challenge, I offer some shots of our walking adventures.
“To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.” Milan Kundera
Wishing everyone safeĀ travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
Light on the west coast USA changes every day, all day long, all year through. In response to Tina’s challenge, this week I offer a few case-in-point examples, starting with the effect of fog compared to clear bright sunlight.
āIn nature, everything has a job. The job of the fog is to beautify further the existing beauties!ā Mehmet Murat Ildan
Both these shots of drifted tree branches were taken in the morning. Fog adds a hint of mystery and wonder to the photo above, while bright sunrise brings out the lovely tone in the wood while casting impressive shadows in the photo below.
Sighting flocks of migrating Brown Pelicans is always hit-and-miss. Fog was not going to stop me from taking photos when I stumbled into this flock. To me, the muted light enhances the ancient pterodactyl heritage of these beauties!
In June the pelicans were passing through in a hurry north to their breeding grounds. Light dapples the ocean surface and makes it possible to see more birds flying in the distance.
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āAnd when the fogās over and the stars and the moon come out at night itāll be a beautiful sight.ā Jack Kerouac
Both the above and below photos were taken from the same vantage point. Daylight and dark make quite a difference in what we can see and the mood created.
In the next three shots, the Pacific Ocean is viewed at different seasons and times of day through the screen of dune grass.
āIn the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.ā Aaron Rose
Wishing everyone safeĀ travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
Wishing everyone safeĀ travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
Most summers of my childhood I spent barefoot. Even today, the freedom my feet feel when out of socks and shoes is a relief I sense throughout my body. Pedicures became essential as I aged, and now are a ritual I look forward to, whether done professionally or on my own.
At a reunion with my graduating class (above), three of us ladies were enjoying wine and conversation when I noticed how pretty all our toes looked. Just had to take a picture!
Micah was pretty reluctant to let the surf wash over his feet, however after much coaxing and playing at water’s edge, he began to relax.
Currently, I’m finishing a chapbook of photos and poems about eagles. Though not as graceful on land as they are in the air, Bald Eagle claws allow them to stand upright – and much more!
Four paws and one shoe. Jello naps in the boat next to brother-in-law Les, as we troll Odell Lake.
Please mask-up again, even if you are inoculated. It’s hard to go through this upsurge after the hope the virus was under control. Wishing everyone safeĀ travels – be kind and stay safe.š¾
Thanks to Leya for a fresh theme that took me searching way back into my archives!
https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2021/08/14/lens-artists-photo-challenge-161-feet-and-shoes/
This week Patti asks us to explore what inspires us personally. Of course, I could simply say Nature, however I made myself dig a little deeper. What in nature pulls that cord of imagination, what stirs me to delight?
Light ~ natural light…
…bright light, diffused light, blue skies.
Colors ~ all colors…
…intense shades, tender tones, happy hues.
Water…
…cool fresh streams…
…roaring waterfalls…
…bracing ocean waves…
…gentle splashes.
Birds ~ in the wild…
…and at my feeders.
In conclusion, I am also inspired by human kindness; a hand when needed, a smile and wave, a warm hello hug. In the absence of human contact, I am comforted and encouraged by Beagle love; a wagging tail, gentle eyes, a nudge to go for a walk.
Please mask-up again, even if you are inoculated. It’s hard to go through this upsurge after the hope the virus was under control. Wishing everyone safe travels – be kind and stay safe.š¾
https://pilotfishblog.com/2021/08/07/lens-artists-photo-challenge-160-your-inspiration/
Wishing everyone safeĀ travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
In years past, whenever Creighton and I traveled we’d make a point to send postcards to family and friends – postcards with images that reflected the spirit and beauty of the places we were visiting. Selecting the postcards was part of the fun!
Postcards with images featuring the natural beauty of the place, still are my favorites. Above is a shot I took a few years ago on a quiet morning walk on the western shore of Lake Tahoe.
Another kind of postcard image tells the history of a place, like this one of Silver Beach Resort at Spirit Lake, Idaho – well off the beaten path.
Then there are monuments and buildings – structures that define a place. A lovely winter sundown provided the soft tones for this shot of the Washington Monument, taken from the Lincoln Memorial.
A marvel of human engineering and cooperative financial planning, this bridge spans the mouth of the Columbia River, connecting Astoria, Oregon to the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington State.
When I first saw the above image captured on a visit to Crater Lake, I thought to myself this is Picture Postcard Perfect!
Orcas Island, Washington was our vacation destination for over thirty years. We bicycled all the San Juan Islands that were accessible by ferry, and visited state parks, found places to get the best cinnamon buns and ice cream, and waited for hours at Lime Kiln (San Juan Island) to see if the resident pod of Orca Whales would pass by.
Sunsets over Waldron and Saturna Islands almost always are stunning. A paddle boarder silhouetted in the glow added another dimension of perfection to this scene.
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I hope you enjoy this virtual visit to some beautiful sights in the USA. Thanks to Ana at Anvica’s gallery for suggesting this fun challenge!
Wishing everyone safeĀ travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
https://anvicaphotos.wordpress.com/2021/07/31/lens-artists-photo-challenge-159-postcards/
Wishing everyone safe travels. Please be kind and stay safe.š¾
