• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Photography,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    Nostalgia

    June 12, 2023
    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area

    nostalgia: a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

    I was cleaning out a drawer when I came across a set of graduated neutral density filters, a filter holder and adaptor ring. Not sure how long ago I used them. But, nostalgia took over and I took them with me to play with one morning. That was all it took for me to remember why they were in the drawer and not in my camera bag. They were awkward, brought on frustration and reminded me that I’m not a professional photographer selling wall size prints. I shoot because of my love for the craft, its creativity, the time it offers me in nature and its simplicity. The improvement in Lightroom masking has made it easier and better to bring forth the images I want for my enjoyment and this blog.  No need for graduated neutral density filters or the nostalgia.

    They had some major flooding east of here yesterday and we are expecting more rain today. Stay dry!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    … to be a part of it

    June 8, 2023

    The morning temperatures this time of the year are comfortable enough for me to stand or sit as I watch and wait for the sun to crest that horizon. I like to think the birds are singing because they are happy to see me again, which in turn makes me happy. This morning I sat on a favorite rock and I let everything soak into the ground of my very being. The only words needed in this silent prayer is just my presence. As I sit here a thought runs through my mind, “What if I’m not so much of an observer of this moment but more of an essential part of it.” Some voice within me suggests that this scene would be incomplete, definitely not the same, if I was not here to be a part of it. I apologize for another sunrise image, yet each one is so uniquely different. Thinking I need to write a post about that statement. Have a wonderful day!!

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  • gratitude,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    One of my favorite…

    May 26, 2023

    Sitting on this rock, watching the sunrise with awe and wonder. The grass around me is wet from the mornings dew and also from the rain we had yesterday. The temperature is perfect. There is almost no wind. I take sips of my chai latte, listening to a meadowlark perched atop the fence singing its morning praise. The sun rises behind the clouds, offering hints of pink and letting me know the new day is here. I’m grateful for this moment, this place, this experience, this life, all the green that surrounds me, the clouds, the new day, even the cold hard rock I’m sitting on. This is one of my favorite times of the day… one of my favorite places…

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    Those Edges

    May 14, 2023
    Storm clouds over Pineridge Natural Area

    The most interesting parts of the natural world are the edges, places where ocean meets land, meadow meets forest, timberline touches the heights.

    Galen Rowell

    I have been interested in horizons for many years and never really thought of them as edges, where a sky of clouds or stars meets the land, water, forests, prairie and those lovely song birds. Maybe the edges are the most interesting thing for me in my horizons. Could it be that is what the birds are singing about, those edges?

    This morning we have no visible edges on the horizon. Nor are there any dramatic clouds as we had yesterday afternoon in the above image. Instead a fine mist and low clouds sits over Pineridge Natural Area, while the city is shrouded in mystery. Even without the sight of those edges we know of there existence and if we are courageous enough, venture towards them. What discoveries will we find? And those song birds continue to sing reminding us there are edges to discover, maybe even urging us on.

    Happy Mother’s Day!

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  • clouds,  haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Photography,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Our Buddha Nature

    May 10, 2023
    Sunrise this past Sunday morning

    haiku is not a poem,
    it is not literature;
    it is a hand beckoning,
    a door half-opened,
    a mirror wiped clean.

    It is a way of returning to nature,
    to our moon nature,
    our cherry blossom nature,
    our falling leaf nature,
    in short,
    to our Buddha nature.

    R. H. Blyth

    I normally crop all my landscapes in 16 x 9 but this image is cropped in 16 x 10. It’s a subtle difference. So, fair warning as I may be on a new kick for awhile.

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  • clouds,  Humor,  landscape,  musings,  natural areas,  Photography,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area

    May 6, 2023

    I’ve read where we should never place the subject in the middle of an image because placing the subjects off-center yields a stronger, more natural-looking composition and allows us to make creative use of negative space. Well I do did will break that composition rule technique. I’ve also read that we should not should on ourselves, so I suppose I should stop that.

    The top image is predawn light over Dixon Reservoir taken at 5:49 am and the second image was taken seven minutes later at 5:56 am about 40 feet from the first one. Again, showing us how nature continuously creates. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  reflections,  sunrises,  sunsets,  Uncategorized

    A Good Decision

    April 29, 2023

    Each decision we make, good or bad, offers an opportunity to learn.

    ms

    This morning as I stepped out of my car and loudly shut the car door, I startled two Great Blue Herons feeding along the banks of Dixon Reservoir. As they flew away I realized I was rushing into this scene, looking for the image rather than being there. So, I took a deep breath, relaxed and watched the sunrise unfold, which brought a smile to my face. That was a much better decision than when I arrived. Lesson learned. Weather forecast is predicting 72 degrees today. Enjoy your Saturday! 1The decision to write this post was inspired by my friend Deb.

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