“Pure Energy”
How can I make a simple branch covered with frost pop out from its surrounding??? Just move around to position something interesting behind it. I found a faded clump of Japanese Forest Grass for a background. Using a shallow depth of field caused the grass to look like a radiating energy force field. I could feel the energy emerge as I recorded the image.
“Don’t Pass Me By”
Brilliant beauty is everywhere. This single red maple leaf, edges covered with hoarfrost, made me stop in my tracks. It was just hanging there waiting for me to discover. Just a few ice crystals held it captured on the branch. After taking several photos, I turned around to look for other treasures. I glanced back, the red was not there. The leaf had fallen to the ground.
Lesson Learned: Never pass up a gift!
Hoarfrost
The leaves have fallen. A few stragglers remain. Hoarfrost on the remaining vegetation is a mild reminder that winter is on its way. Walking around our yard in the midst of beautiful branches and leaves covered with ice crystals was like walking through a wonderland. It was a gift from above.
“Falling Leaves”
Miracles happen. I saw leaves gently falling. Quickly. I brought my camera to my eye and froze these two leaves on my first shot. Sometimes I just get lucky.
A gentle breeze rustles by
The leaves, soon they fall,
Covering the ground below.
Happy Halloween!
Yakima Arboretum, Yakima, WA
Full fall color is all around us. For the next several posts, I will share some of the autumn wonder that has caught my eye.
Summer beauty has past.
Fall gradually flows to winter.
The memory remains.
Impressionistic Adaptation of Pink Orchid
I have been to Longwood Garden’s orchid display dozens of times. On a recent visit I wandered through looking for a different way to capture the beauty of the display. I thought a double exposure of some orchids rotated about 45 degrees might be interesting. I added a little Topaz Impression to achieve the final result. It is a bright image to start a bright new September. Have a good one!
I enjoy experimenting from time to time. It inspires me to look a little deeper.
Spent Flower on Desert Walk
The beauty in the desert is everywhere. As I walk along, I see volcanic rock outcroppings, struggling junipers, cragged old trees, blue-grey sagebrush, patches of colorful wildflowers, beautiful blue sky with billowing white clouds. I look down at my feet, magic appears.
Philodendron Leaf, Hawaiian Botanical Gardens
I enjoy photographing botanical subjects. When reviewing my work, many times I quickly pass over an image that at first does not catch my eye as a “select”. I was going through some images that I photographed a year ago in Hawaii. This image just grabbed me. Instead of a leaf, I saw bright lines radiating out, I saw shadows and voids. I saw a triangular shape inserting itself into a void. The green color did not add anything to the image, I thought black and white. The image emerged.
“Reflection”
Today is a special day to reflect. Life’s timeline is multidimensional. The past, current, and future intermingle. As I look back and reflect on loved ones who have passed, a warm, peaceful, and grateful feeling comes into my heart. That feeling transcends into a contemplative outlook of what is yet to come.
Color of Life
“The color of life —
Older under emerging,
as laughing lines play.”
One of the most insightful lessons I experienced during my retreat at Hui Ho’olani was an exercise of creativity. Groups of three were formed. We were told to create a “haiku-type” poem of what we were experiencing at the moment. A little twist was injected; member #1 would write down the first line, #2 would write down the second line, then #3 would finish with the third line. Each member would build on the other. It totally amazed me what beautiful and creative poems were composed in a short time of less than 15 minutes. It all goes to show that there is creative talent in each of us if we just let it flow freely out!
I tried a derivative of this process with a dear friend. I sent her the above photograph. She jotted down several short poems expressing her feelings. The above 3 lines are hers.
Thank you, my dear friend!