Beech Grove – Yakima Arboretum, WA
Sunlight on the trunks of a beech tree grove pull my eyes into the tunnel created by the overhanging branches. Filtered light through the upper branches provide a gentle glow on the ground. The natural archway beckons me to walk through.
“Nature’s Abstract”
Beautiful abstracts abound in the natural world around us. I am constantly amazed how much of nature’s art I see when I just take my time to peacefully look around me. Moments before I recorded this image, I was admiring a beautiful reflection of trees with their full fall glory in a pond at the Bloedel Reserve. I turned around and immediately saw gentle rays of sunshine peeking through two aspen tree trunks. I gasped at the beauty and quickly took an image before the sun went behind a cloud. That brief moment was a wonderful gift!
Tree Overlooking Meadow, Longwood Gardens, PA
I have walked by this tree overlooking the meadow at Longwood Gardens many, many times. I must have over 100 images of it, taken over the years. On my last visit, I stopped again. It was a nondescript overcast day. I recorded an image anyway. Maybe, I could do something interesting in post.
I created this peaceful overcast feeling by simply adding a texture. It captures the way I was feeling at the time. It reminds me a little of the Hudson River painters of the late 19th century.
Neighbor’s Trees
After the excitement of receiving the view of the gold patches shown in my post yesterday, I turned around and saw my neighbor’s trees silhouetted against the clouds. Quickly, I pulled out my I-phone again and received this additional gift. Seconds later the beautiful sunset pastel disappeared.
I am thankful to have my I-phone camera ready at all times. I can never anticipate when a gift will present itself.
“Morning Sun Rays”
I was exploring another area of the Heceta Lighthouse Park most of the morning. I had not come up with anything interesting. I felt a little “down” because nothing had “come to me”. Walking back to my car I saw a couple of our workshop participants shooting into the woods. I walked up and saw the beautiful filtered light they had observed. Usually I do not like to “copy” an image/view that another has discovered. But, I could not help myself this time.
Terry, this is your image. It just happened to appear in my camera as well. Thank you!
“Struggling for Life”
These two trees struggling for life caught my attention while I was doing some long exposure photography. My interest quickly focused on them. I walked around to get the best perspective I could find. I focused on keeping the angle of the trees leaning to the center, maintaining a separation between the small sea stack and the cliff, and eliminating some distracting rocks and dirt on the right edge. I blended two images together to achieve a tonal range between the sky and the cliff. I did a little dodging on the tree trunks and a little burning in the sky to get the contrast I was looking for.
I am getting better at taking my time to look around before becoming engrossed in shooting.
Wildflowers on Johnson Ridge (Mt. St. Helens)
This image was taken on Johnson Ridge with Mt. St. Helens at my back. It shows the path of the destruction caused by the hot gases from the eruption. Trees were blasted down for miles. The little toothpicks on the far ridges were once towering firs. Wildflowers and grasses have rejuvenated life in the area. The contrasts between devastation and renewed life are beautiful and uplifting to my spirit.
Mammoth Hot Springs – Upper Basin
Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs area is also an area of unbelievable stark beauty. How can life exist in such a harsh environment of boiling hot mineral springs. I wonder how long these trees made it.
The day was hot around 90 degrees, we were tired and on our way back to photograph wildlife. We only took a few moments to walk around and take a couple of shots. My creativity was at a low level, so I feel that I missed some wonderful opportunities to explore. Well, next time …