Day’s End
Colors erupting, Branches waltzing in the wind, Welcoming the night. —Janet Haiku #2 Word of the Day Challenge: Waltzing
All posts tagged: trees
Carpe Noctem
I realized this evening that I stay up much later than I used to. I wanted to work on this image tonight because I just love the trees. The next thing I knew it was after midnight again! If you ask me, I think all of the lines from the leafless branches seem to make their own art. I love how nature does that; flaunts its beauty without shame, even in the most vulnerable and unexpected places. I was never quite sure if the trees were even alive when I took the photograph, because as far as my eyes could see, it looked like sticks… upon sticks… upon sticks! Still, it looked beautiful to me. I think it has to do with growing up in the city. When all you really know of nature is what’s in your own backyard—or in the neighborhood park—glimpses of natural landscapes, untouched by man, create a sense of awe and wonder that’s truly unforgettable. I love that. Anyway, the later it got, the more I thought about how I’m becoming a night …
Goodbye Summer!
And all at once, summer collapsed into fall. Oscar Wilde This may be a little premature—there are still leaves on the trees—but this year I’m so happy to see summer go that I really don’t care. Yahoo! It’s been a very, very hot summer. With no A/C in our house, and one that’s been out of commission in my car, some days I wonder if I’m going to melt away before I make it to school. I LOVED summers when I was younger. I’m not sure what happened, but I can only assume that it must be an age thing. Anyway, I was experimenting with another tree shot today and (although this isn’t what I had in mind) I thought it looked a little Halloween-ish—so it seemed like the perfect way to say goodbye summer, hello fall! Have a beautiful week everyone— Peace and Love!
Upside Down
Sometimes you have to let life turn you upside down so you can learn how to live right side up. I’ve been having some weird feelings lately. I think I’d call it “lack of joy,” but at the same time I keep reminding myself to stay grateful. What I’m REALLY grateful for is the fact that I have the wherewithal to remind myself of that! What I’ve been catching myself doing a lot lately is living everywhere but in the present, and I realized today that this is the reason my joy has slipped away. Believe it or not, I still have eleven weeks left in this semester and I’ve spent hours—if not days—trying to plan my schedule for spring. I even met with someone at the university I’ll be transferring to next year so that I could start planning ahead for those classes too! I know it’s smart to have goals and plan ahead, that’s not the issue. For me, the problem occurs when—in making those plans—I lose sight of where I am right …
Sunkissed
No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart. Have a beautiful day!
Perfectly Imperfect
Even imperfection itself may have its ideal or perfect state. Thomas de Quincey It’s the first day of “spring break” here in California, and I wanted to share a photograph I took last year, just before fall. I shot this while I was working on a project for my photography class, but I ended up changing my subject to water and I never turned this one in. The tree may look familiar to some of you; it’s the Ginkgo that sits in the backyard. I wanted to do something in black and white today, and I’m crazy about all of the organic lines. Everything is going really well these days! I celebrated 2 years sober on March 7th – and a full load of classes this semester is keeping me busy (and out of trouble). I’ve been exploring different majors, and have been told that this is actually par for the course; most students change their majors up to 4 times before they finally find what fits. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter! I’ve …
The Mirage
Important encounters are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other. Paulo Coelho
Shady Dreams
A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. -John Barrymore I found this quote not long after I wrote my bit about TIME. It sure makes sense! It doesn’t exactly fit with the featured image here, but considering I’m still dreaming of cooler places, the dream theme kind of works for now. I’ve posted images of this location before. I finally googled it tonight and found out it’s Deerwood Arboretum and Nature Area in Brentwood, Tennessee. From the 2011 road trip. Boy, it’s time for another trip so I can get a new stockpile of images! Anyway, I did a light paint effect, and added a lens flare just for the heck of it. The way the sun was shining on the water made me think of that little addition. I thought this place was lovely. I think this image kind of looks like a jungle! I’ve worked on several photographs for my new series, but so far I haven’t like any of the results… But, I’m working on it. I hope you …
New Reflections
After working on my last image The View, I got an idea for a new series I want to try. And I’m going to try and stick to my guns this time! I’m going to focus on images that have views or reflections within the photograph, similar to when I set out to do that “frames within frames” project some months ago. But I’m going to do varying effects on one image- like my featured image that retains the photograph in the window reflection, but a sketched effect for the building and trees. I’ve been wanting to jazz things up, and this will give me some great practice and a new approach to some old images as well. I love change!
A Good Start
Rise up and attack the day with enthusiasm! It’s already 11:45 a.m. here in California, so this quote is a wee bit tardy… but it’s a good one nonetheless. And I had an extended coffee time, so it’s still morning in my eyes. 😉 I did some wandering around the backyard earlier and shot this bloom in our Crepe Myrtle. I was actually tracking a squirrel… but having camera in hand got my creative juices flowing and I decided to focus on the colorful flower instead. I did a little Photoshop work, to mimic a painting (again). I guess I’m kind of stuck on doing exaggerated effects at the moment. It’s so fun! I picked up another library book, called Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots. Looking at it last night got me itching to get out and walk the streets again. I just might later this week! Anyway, I thought I would share some Wednesday enthusiasm with you all. Have a beautiful day!! (or evening for some of you!) Blessings, Peace and Love!
Nature’s Collage
Well, I had a great time visiting my sister! Not quite the photo ops I had anticipated, but hanging out with her was the real treat, so I’m not complaining! I was asked to be on a panel Tuesday night—at a recovery center—and I’m really looking forward to that. If it wasn’t for the commitment, I would have stayed in Riverside a little longer… but it’s nice to be home. I shot this today; the loquat tree as a backdrop to the pansy redbud. Just something to do. Today is my first day back and the backyard has changed quite a bit in a week! Anyway… Spring is such a great time for change. Cleaning, reorganizing, new activities, getting rid of things, and fresh starts. Every day! Peace and Love to you! —Janet
Spring Fling
Our backyard is absolutely blooming with color these past few days, and the Ginkgo is coming to life. Just about a week ago we could practically count the leaves on it! One thing I am really grateful for this past year is living with my mom. Besides the fact that we keep each other company (and I have a roof over my head!), I’m really coming to appreciate the nature that is here. I think it took the onset of spring for me to realize it too. I’ve known this backyard since I was about three years old and this was probably the first year I can remember where I actually watched this tree go from green to yellow, to completely bare… and now here we are again. These leaves are actually very small by the way. This shot is up-close and personal. I haven’t been out around town much lately, so this morning I wandered around the yard to see what was new, and decided to share this little portion of our gigantic tree. Blessings!!
Out On a Limb
The Corner Office
“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill
Purple People Eater
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it. Danny Kaye
Simplicity
Simplicity Makes Me Happy. Alicia Keys
Rainy Days
Trees, by Joyce Kilmer I think that I shall never seeA poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is pressedAgainst the earth’s sweet flowing breast. A tree that looks at God all day,And lifts her leafy arms to pray. A tree that may in Summer wearA nest of robins in her hair. Upon whose bosom snow has lainWho intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me,But only God can make a tree.
Dancing Trees
Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances. Maya Angelou
Creatively Composed
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. Henry David Thoreau
The Parrots Were Out!
A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song! – Maya Angelou
Stepping Out
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable- that is when change is going to happen. Jillian Michaels I took my camera to the park to get a little sunshine and see some new scenery. It seems my little friends were everywhere!
Crow & Associates
I just can’t help myself. Every time I go outside the birds are everywhere!
Signs of Life
The Redbud tree in our backyard is coming to life!
The Lemon Tree
After Last Night’s Rain
Floating Notes
My persistence is starting to pay off and I finally caught a few leaves mid-air. I did it! The leaves are everywhere today. It’s a stretch, but I think the tree resembles a person playing a violin, and the leaves are the music notes, floating up to the heavens. Oh, and what’s even more exciting is that it’s supposed to rain here soon. I’m looking forward to puddle hunting later, or tomorrow. And to top it off, we lit the fireplace. God is great, and life is good!
Joy in the Trees
With this huge Ginkgo, the yard is now covered in leaves, and I’ve had it up to my eyeballs in yellow. So in this photo I tried to make it look more like snow. Who knows where we’ll find her next! Until later- Blessings!
Art is Everywhere
“Every Child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” -Picasso
Bad Hair Day
Late night attempt at humor
Inside Our Ginkgo
Our Ginkgo is too tall to get the whole tree into a good photograph, so I decided to get inside of it and look up. I kind of like how it came out! Below is a black and white, from another angle. I’ve always loved black and whites, but there’s so much color around lately, it’s hard not to show it. I really DO like this one! Except it’s really hard to see the details or outline of the leaves. I realized today that I lost my glasses awhile back and am so used to not wearing them that this is probably the reason I have a hard time seeing through the lens! Go figure.
Purple Rain
What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary. George Bailey, It’s a Wonderful Life
Walk of Serenity
I STARTED to move old files to online storage tonight- and then got sidetracked when I found some photos of Tennessee.
The Wash
The banks of the L.A. flood control channel (the wash) near my house were bare years ago, so we had a birds eye view of cement, piping, and other unappealing apparatuses. Close to twenty-five years ago my dad planted a handful of trees to give us—and the people in the neighborhood—something prettier to look at. Some of them are nearly fifty feet tall now. Anyway, the Ginkgo tree got boring when I was chasing the wind today. So, I changed my direction and took this from our porch. I guess it looks like a hodgepodge of leaves, but I think the colors are awesome—and somewhere on the other side of that hole in the middle is the wash. Sure beats staring at a bunch of concrete!
Chasing The Wind
We had quite a bit of wind this morning, so I thought I’d go out and see if it’s possible to capture the breeze in photos. This is the top of our Ginkgo swaying. I took so many shots, and I’m sure this isn’t the best pick, but I lost patience and just went with this one. I’m thinking I need to work on the patience thing. I’m no expert, but it’s my best guess that photography requires a lot of patience. More than I have anyway. I don’t know what the hurry is but I’m always rushing. I need to slow down. That will be my mantra for this next week. SLOW DOWN… EASY DOES IT. Anyway, while looking UP all morning I caught this next shot. I had to just aim and shoot because these guys were in a hurry too! I thought it was kind of cool. I get excited when I get a bird in my shot because they move fast. The wind got pretty crazy; doors were slamming, things were falling—and I …
Colorful Colorado
The Birdhouse
Kind of Gnarly
A Pop of Color
I get sidetracked so easy. There I was—getting into my story—talking about how my life is being transformed, and BOOM! Now I’m going through all my old photographs. I took this photo in colorful Colorado and did an interesting black and white, but the fall colors there are so beautiful I couldn’t share without showing that one as well.
