The Quiet Monday.....

It is very quiet, this August fog that greets me in the early morning. A buffer to the noise from roads a mile or more away.....

....I watch the sun come up and light the land with gold, reflecting in the  moisture-rich air....

....The view framed by porch posts as if by a paper easel used to print photos....

....Shadows and boards become an interesting mix of abstract line....a simple pleasure magnified....

....A visitor, sunning to dry off. (it has been years since I have been graced with a Walking Stick  in my garden....and the butterflies have returned in abundance)

....Lilies sweet adding scent to the moment. A bundle most lovely; a bouquet by Nature herself....

....And charming, graceful, the hearts so damp with dew....Redbud, yes, but so much more....

....Mallows, fashionable with glittering water drop necklace....bright frilly skirts waiting to dry and dance in the breeze....

....As my horizon clears, I pull myself back into the real world of studio and work. But saving all these little miracles, and sharing near and far.
May your Monday be magical.
See the beauty that surrounds you; capture the moment.


Pax....

Rising......

(taken before a foggy morning....still cool and comfortable)

I am opting for a single photo today. This one is so lovely, I don't want to detract from it with others.
I had considered no words too, but then, that would be too much of a strain... ;-)
Heading for the porch with coffee and going to enjoy the break of day. We are blessed with a cool morning, and this is when High Summer becomes both bearable and beautiful. Haze and damp followed by heat to escape from. The world a mix of shadows and sun in the early hours. All for those who are intrepid enough to wake and carry camera.
A moment of quiet meditation before the start of a hectic day.
Join me.


Pax....

New Morning.....Light Through The Fog

(click to enlarge)

Only a small offering today friends.

I am better, and naturally, since I *had* to go out to haul garbage, the camera was in hand! It has been very cold in the morning with daytime temps rising almost to 80, so we are having beautiful fog that floats just above the land~~enough that is it beautiful to see and still safe to drive.

The camera I was using had a hard time trying to figure out what the fog was, as there was nothing to focus on. (hmmmm, I know that feeling!) Thus, this was about the best of the shots taken.

I love this time of year! Sick or well--and preferably the latter--every morning seems to present the opportunity for more beautiful color and skies that don't appear any other time of year.

Hoping you all are doing well.....

Pax....

Sunrise......

(click for larger view)

I had planned to quietly slip into the day of work ahead without a blog-post, and then I stepped onto the porch and was greeted by this wonderful sunrise.....everything golden and magical with a hint of red tinge.
How could I pass it up?
How could I not share?
May you day be bright, glowing and worthy to remember.....

Pax....

August Haze

This is a typical Indiana August morning. The heat and humidity combine to produce colors that the camera cannot capture. Light is gold with a hint of pink, everything takes on a magical glow, even the weeds and far off treeline. It is magic to stand and watch; mesmerizing to the point of being motionless.

Lens flare captures the feel of the coming day better than walking though the heavy air; it seems to part like water while languidly strolling. The heat is upon us early, and the old saying of "Red sky at dawn, Sailor be warned" is exceptionally true. These are the conditions that produce super-cells and occasionally duratios; they pop up in the afternoon as tiny thunderstorms and suddenly become massive, roiling creatures with great speed and vengeance.

After storms of this nature pass, there is occasionally a glow that, though I have tried and tried, I cannot capture. When I stood taking the photo of the corn tassels, they were sparkling as if gilded. Color becomes unreal---you cannot trust your eyes. Something in the water and the light; the dense air and the sun dropping to the horizon......everything is rich with intense hues.

We are a land of big skies; clouds not to be contained within a viewfinder. Cumulus that goes on and on, and bears remnants of the earlier threats. Blues that border on black. Shades of grey that do not cooperate with the photographer.

Striking silhouettes of simple trees against the last remaining puffs and rumbles of the storm. Impressive visions from the common. The feeling of being enveloped at any moment by cloud or dark, should the creature turn and strike again.........

And then, as if a promise to behave better tomorrow, a hint of shell-pink blush and the sun says goodnight. Another setting, intensified by the wrath of mother nature, a moment to linger in the peace of birds singing, water droplets finding the ground and the scent of the world scrubbed clean.

How small and insignificant we really are!

Pax....

Morning.......

The other day, well, probably about a week ago now (how time flies!), I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to grab a few shots of the sun coming up. It was exceptionally cold, and I --as usual-- had no coat, hat or gloves on.

None the less, the contrast in color between the burning rising sun and the frigid landscape kept me enthralled and I was able to get quite a few variations of the above photo.

Sunrise shots fascinate me due to the miniscule amount of time it takes for everything in the sky and landscape to change....there is no dawdling....you must be quick on your feet, agile with the camera and shoot as the amazing color opportunities present themselves.

I lucked out this day. I felt my old self, completely back to normal, scuttling about trying different shots through the screen of shrubs and trees in the yard and on the porch. Using branches to crop the pictures, allowing the soft focus to bring to viewer directly into the moment. It was wonderful and beautiful.

I do have an option on both cameras for multiple shots, which I have never used.

I am determined to do it myself.

Mother Nature and I......having a small morning greeting and then running our seperate ways.

Someday I might drag myself into this new century of technology, but for the moment, I like taking the longer road, the slower path, the steps that let me linger those few seconds more.

To see every amazing color even for that millisecond whether or not I capture it.

Perhaps those are the images meant to remain fleeting; that we as artists are to keep in our memory until they emerge within our media of choice.

Just a thought.......

Pax. 

Winter Color

As everyone else is posting beautiful photos of snow, all I can offer is the brilliance of a winter sunrise, ruddy and glowing through the bare branches of the trees. No snow to cover the soil and mud, only frost covering the farmland south of our acre. Awaiting the beauty of winter can be most difficult for me! I have no patience......I want the clean white and glistening magic of the dark months, the wind whipping snowflakes past like a snowglobe being shaken by a child.

But, I wait.......

Pax.

A Late Good Morning!

(sorry this is late.....the body is not cooperating today.......hmmmph! can't even get a smart remark out!)

This was what I woke to yesterday morning; a golden glowing sky that lasted for a few short minutes, if that long....just enough to run out with the camera and take a slew of shots. My feet were wet and frozen from the dew-soaked grass, the chill in the air had my hands cold but the camera comes first!
It was one of those fleeting things----everything became yellow and orange and golden-warm, like an iridescent paintbrush swiped across the landscape. We had a front moving in and the clouds were progressing rapidly. I shot as quick as I could.
One stellar, beautiful moment captured in a simple silhouette.
I may post some of the other photos later in the week. Work to be done and I am not moving well.......
Keep your eyes open and record all you can. It is inspirational material for other art projects, and nice to look at when the weather has turned sour!
Have a creative day!

Pax.

Sunrise For Sunday

The other morning as DH was leaving for work I saw the beginnings of a dark and stormy looking sunrise. Incredibly hard to shoot, if enlarged, the pic will be grainy and slightly out of focus. I use the auto focus feature, but there was little to focus on!
At any rate, standing in the morning chill in my nightclothes, holding my breath to try and get a good photo was enough to get me awake quickly---I just wish I could have found the tripod for a longer exposure!
Well, enjoy! I love the variety of color in the shot and it is rather restful and something nice to start a Sunday with!

Pax.

Sunrise Through A Lazy Fog........

In Indiana, morning fogs like this are a sure sign that Autumn will soon be peeking around the corner. DH was leaving for work early the other day and as I was opening the garage door for him, I was greeted with this amazing sight; fog so very thick, hanging in an elevated blanket and the sun reflecting through it and off it!
I promptly ran into the studio, nightclothes flying, house shoes flopping, grabbed the camera and burned off several shots. In the moments I was out there, the sun was slowly rising, making each picture distinctly different. Some had lens flare, some didn't, but all were beautiful in their own way. It was tough to pick ONE for the blog......and I figured posting all of them would insure you that I am OCD. (ahem) I prefer to think that I was just trying to preserve each moment of a spectacular event, a gift from the universe. Sounds better that way, yes?
With the fungus popping up in the yard and leaves falling from trees, I am wondering if we will have a colorful Fall or if the rains will move in and end this dry Summer with wet and dreary days. No matter; I have work piled up to do. Yesterday my banner sewing turned into a surprise visit from a friend, and thus my day was spent not working but talking, reminiscing and e-mailing.
That's okay.
The thing I need to teach myself is there are only so many hours in a day, and so many times I get the chance to laugh with lifelong friends. The work will be done, the house can wait, dinner is always fixed for hubby.............everything moves on.
And every morning that I can, I check for sights like this one, to remind myself what a marvel this great globe is and what a small and infinitesimal part I play. Yes, I record events, make art, decorate sanctuaries with banners, but ultimately, a sunrise like this one puts it all in perspective.
I am content with being *small*.
And pleased that I get to share something this *big*.
I hope your day is brilliant!

Pax.