• Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  landscape,  natural areas,  reflections,  sunrises

    Predawn Colors

    February 20, 2024

    early morning light
    nature choosing her colors
    predawn delight

    mws

    My day began earlier than usual and not by choice. I awoke precisely at 4:31 am. Not sure my body said that’s enough sleep or some inner voice was telling me to get outside and accept the gift of the new day. Maybe I need to listen to that voice more often. After scraping ice from the windshield I chose to drive east towards Arapaho Bend Natural Area. I like coming to this natural area as it’s easy to get to and the ponds provide an opportunity for reflections. As I’ve mentioned before the only negative here is having the traffic noise from the interstate, which is just beyond those trees. I felt excitement well up inside me and a tinge of promise as I drove closer because of the shape of the clouds. When I arrived at the south pond I quickly set up my camera and tripod just as nature pulled out her red paintbrush and began creating on her blue sky canvas. I stood along the water’s edge sipping on my pour-over coffee with a “giddy grin”. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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  • leaves,  Plants,  poetry,  writing/reading

    Entice the eyes…

    January 18, 2023

    again amazed at nature’s flair
    as she creates her shared gifts
    the earth becomes her canvas while
    spreading a tapestry of leaves
    that entice the eyes of the heart

    mws

    A major winter storm is impacting our area. Snow began falling yesterday evening. Looks like we have 3-4 inches this morning and it’s expected to continue snowing throughout the day. Seems the worst of the snow will be farther east. I have an appointment for a CT scan this afternoon and hope the roads are in good condition by then. I took this image a couple days ago outside my condo. I was drawn by the color and pattern. Right now I’m watching it snow from the chair in my bedroom’s bay window. May you have a super Awesome day!

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  • Black and White,  Documentary/Street,  shadows

    Fellow Travelers

    June 13, 2019

    I am a man of solitude, enjoying and relishing in silence away from the crowds. Yet, I believe the journey through life is not to be traveled alone that people are vital. I’ve discovered there are times in life we will need to walk alone while at other times we will travel with others. Some of those travellers will be family, friends and some will be strangers. Some will share similar visions and dreams. Some will support us in times of need while at other times we will support them. My hope is we do not see one another as other than and erect walls. I also believe when we’re free from the shackles of our fear of others we will we never get the sense any mountain is too high to scale, or any horizon is too far to conquer. When free from the shackles of fear the storm clouds on the horizon will not deter us from continuing on. May we believe that as we create relationships with all of creation we are also in the act of creating our world.

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  • architecture,  quotes,  shadows,  window

    Noon Shadows

    March 28, 2010
    Noon Shadows

    It’s not about moving pixels, it’s about pictures that move us.

    John Weiss

    It feels good knowing how often I look for light. It tells me I’ve grown as a photographer, no longer just shooting but looking for images which stir me inside. Not everyone will like this image or others I will take but that does not matter to me. This image is for me. I saw the light, the shadows and then took the steps to create an image that is appealing to my eye. in fact, I took several images until I got the one I wanted. When the opportunity arises, I will shoot it again. And, I’ll share it on this blog, just in case someone else may enjoy it.  Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

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  • Photography,  Plants

    Zoomed In

    August 30, 2009

    Morning Sunlight
    Morning Sunlight

    As photographers most of us have an assortment of lens to to choose from. Depending on what we are photographing we will use a wide angle, a telephoto or maybe a macro. By selecting a specific lens we have control of what we place in our view finders, vital to our vision. At one point I was carrying an assortment of lens that covered from 18mm to 400mm, just to make sure I had it all covered. Over the past couple of years I have decreased that range (and the weight of my camera bag) by narrowing down to 18-200mm and using 4 lens. I discovered having a wide range of focal length did not make me a better photographer.

    In the above image I used a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 at 200mm to crop out the surrounding distractions. It helped me to create the image I wanted but that’s not the only thing that helped make this image. In order to eliminate all the background I needed to move in closer. To do that I used my feet. 🙂

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  • leaves,  quotes

    Intoxication

    November 13, 2008

    Autumn Leaves

    “Photographers must be intoxicated with their subject and dive into its universe. That’s the only way the viewer will be able to see and feel the work. When you believe strongly in something, you stop creating art and start releasing art. It’s all about the will, not only the skill.”

    Voices of Light by Yousef Khanfar
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