sharleenstuart30 Minutes in the Life: March 2017
Posted on March 27, 2017
This month I got to spend 2 days traveling to and from and 3 days in Columbus, Georgia on a staff conference. We were up there two years ago and it was a great conference to attend and I was glad to go again. The difference this year was that more of us went and so I drove my car up as well.
Like the last time I wanted to get to the Riverwalk. Columbus has a 15 mile river walk that spans the Chattanooga River. Last time we were there we went on this wild ride, to find it, crossing into the next state. However, this time we went straight down the main road and it was there at the bottom of the road.
So off we went to the Riverwalk. It was chilly outside and my collegues were not walking down the steps to the waters edge. While they stood huddled at the top, I went down and sat down on the amphitheater steps, to take some photo’s. Mind you, I was hesitant how I was actually going to get down those steps without doing major injury to myself. Fortunately there was a fencing system I could hold onto to step down. The steps were higher than my foot to knee, and it was not a natural step down. I had these wonderful ideas before going up there that I would stagger staff on the steps and get a photo looking up. That sure was not happening. However, it became apparent that the staff at the top of the hill were cold and wanted to go shopping. So I quickly took my images and went back up. Here is the first part of my river walk trip.
This was some sort of observation tower with a giant bird’s nest on the top of it. We also saw some folk abseiling down the side of the tower.
A close up on the giant birds nest at the Riverwalk.
A selfie to remind me that I was actually in Columbus Georgia.
Red Berries were in abundance on the trees.
Just to prove that I was actually there, here is a cell shot taken by my work colleague from the top of the hill. Lorie taking a photo of Sharleen taking a photo lol.
The Cormorant where hanging out on the rocks of the Chattanooga River, probably drying out their wings.
The riverwalk that follows the Chattanooga River in Columbus, Georgia, goes for 15 miles. This is just a small portion of it around the Old Mill.
A part of the Old Mill.
Walking along the river walk in Columbus towards the Old Mill. Everything is still so stark with very little signs that spring is just around the corner.
Despite the lack of signs that spring was just around the corner I managed to find a few trees that had buds on them.
Even the grasses looked dead.
Heading back to the upper road levels. I can only imagine how stunning this area will look in spring.
My colleagues who did not want to walk along the riverwalk.
I loved the light shining through these trees and the flare that it created.
Since I was one of the designated drivers, I needed to take everyone in my car to the shops. Driving over I realized that there was on perk to being a designated driver. I decided that I would drop them off at the shops and head back to the river. I am really not one to meander through shops knowing I am not going to buy anything. I would much rather be out taking photos. So I arranged the pick up time and headed back down to the river. By accident I took a wrong turning and this time arrived at the opposite side of the river and an area that I had photographed previously. It was here that I had 3 interesting conversations. The first with a young woman exercising on the walkway bench, then with a woman dancing in the walkway. She had purple hair and big purple earings. Lastly I spoke with a young homeless, drunk man, about an owl and an eagle that he saw in the trees the previous evening. Running out of time I declined to walk under the bridge as I was not sure what my next encounter may be. So it was turn around time to go and pick up the ladies from their shopping meander.
The Chattanooga River was restorative for me. I love the flow of the water.
Rocky waterways along the Chattanooga River, Columbus Georgia.
Looking up the river away from the Old Mill
The Chattanooga River runs through Columbus, and there is a 15 mile pathway that runs along the waters edge. I only did a short part of it due to time constraints but I love seeing all the rapids and churning water
Pedestrian viewing bridge over the Chattanooga River in Columbus Georgia.
I loved hearing the rushing water of the Chattanooga river, Columbus Georgia, as it churned over the rocky surface.
The outdor amphitheater taken from the opposite side of the river. I had climbed down to the amphitheater to take photos of the Old Mill shown in the earlier part of the post.
Columbus is pretty dead in winter but as spring comes I can only imagine what all the cherry blossom filled trees would look like. There are hundreds of them about the city. Thanks for joining me from my wintery walk along Columbus’s famous Riverwalk.
And thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 Minutes in Life. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend and fellow blogger Stacey Markel Photography | MD Photographer and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
30 Minutes changed their name to Journey to an Artist. If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their Facebook page, or to the blog page. There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Viewbug and Google+
Artists Inspired: March 2017: Green
Posted on March 14, 2017
I am really enjoy posting on the different color themes that we are going through with the Artist Inspired blog group. This month is green. I have a love hate relationship with Green. Green is the beauty of nature and I love nature, but sometimes the green is a yellow green and I am not crazy about that. I love muted greens, soft peaceful greens. The color green is often associated with nature, energy, freshness, growth, harmony and various other ideas.
Green is new life as opposed to the dying brown of a plant, often reflected in my house. My father had a green thumb growing numerous orchids, and anthiriums. Not so in my house. I have one green plant in the kitchen and it’s life cycle depens greatly on how much I water it. Fortunately it is a hardly plant that recovers fairly quickly.
Fortunately I love nature and I love to get out and walk in it. So here are a few images taken on my walk about that reflect the color green.
Just a reminder that this is a circle blog and I would encourage you to click to continue on reading what they other photographers in this group have for you. Please stop by my friend and fellow photographer Lindsey Bramlett’s page and read her blog. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Google+ and Viewbug
The Artists Inspired Blog Circle is made up of an exceptionally talented group of photographers from all walks of life, from all over the world. They are wives, mothers, friends, daughters and visual storytellers who draw from their own experiences to create art that is inspiring, unique, beautiful and thought-provoking.
Share Six: March 2016: Restore
Posted on March 6, 2017
This is an exciting month for Share Six. The group has now been running for a year and we have had the beautiful opportunity as a blog group to get to know each other so much better. Sadly over the year we saw 2 bloggers leave the group for various reasons and we were sad to see them go, 2 new bloggers joined us. This past month Kim left the group and we were really sorry to see her go. As a result we made a decision to add 4 more new bloggers to the group. We are excited about where this new blog group is going.
In addition we have had the opportunity to share on both Facebook and Instagram images submitted to both pages, as well as highlight various artists and guest feature the artist of choice that month. You can read all about these happenings on the Share Six webpage.
I love this community and am excited to see how 2017 progresses. Keep following and sharing with us. We love to see your art is in our feed.
This month Tori or Roots and Twigs Photography chose the theme RESTORE. Mmm, I am all about restore. Many occasions have called me to restore my body and soul and I typically choose nature, self time and my faith to do that. So here are some images that will show how I restore harmony back into my life.
I always have to chuckle – it is funny to watch Richard and I restore our energy when we travel. Richard rides his bike, goes off kayaking or paddle boarding, even flying a kite. Me – I want to be left alone with my chair and my book or my tanning blanket, my book and my suntan oil. He exhausts me just watching him restore.
I am a people person, but when I need to restore I need solitude. I need to huddle on my office couch with music playing softly in the background, a book in my hands and Simba in my lap. Alternatively, I need to get out and walk in the wetlands, or in the Japanese Gardens. I need to connect with the peace and beauty of nature. Of course, in an idle world speedwalkers are not on my nature meander .
I have learned over many years that restoration of my soul is essential.
When my day starts out blurry, and if I can, I will head to the wetlands or the Japanese Gardens to meander in the quiet of the day. Restoration for me is being in nature, alone with the quiet. The Japanese Garden is perfect for this if one allows oneself to find the balance in the settings. The wetland is beautiful if one can ignore the speed walkers or walk in the heat of the day.
My faith has been a strong part of my life from a teenager and I know that I have leaned on my faith during challenging times in my life. During the 17 surgeries that my son had my faith was my rock and my cornerstone, and it is to my faith that I go to restore my troubled mind, especially when I developed shingles as a result of one of the surgeries. My favorite verse in the Bible is “Be Still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. Being still is an important part of my life. Over the years I have learned how to carve out those me times.
The beauty of a sunset restores my soul. I love watching the sunset on the closing of the day. And as it closes I hope and pray that I let the troubles of the day go and focus on the starting of a new day. Sunrises are always a joy to me however, they are much harder to find that inner peace. I am not a morning person and getting up to watch the sunrise is more about a desire to get photo’s than to find inner beauty and solitude.
We travel a lot of short weekends away. Spending time on the beach and hearing the waves restores my soul. There is some kind of trance like reaction to the sound of the waves. I recall a friend doing a lesson on relaxing and restoring and she had an instrument that had tiny beads in that made a sound very similar to the waves action on a beach.
Ahh this little man restores my soul. He is our street rescue cat. He came to live with us just on 2 years ago, and he is my shadow. It does not matter where I am, he is there. Unlike our other cat, Moonshine, Simba is a cuddler. The first day we brought him home, he leaned up against my chest and found his way into my heart. We often share my office couch together and throughout my bed bound surgery recovery period he was my constant companion. He can be a bit mean to the other cat though so don’t let that innocent looking face fool you. He seems to have developed a perimeter around me that indicates that this is his turf and Moonshine is not to enter in it. Despite that I do love this little man.
Books and I are favorite friends, until you have to move them all to do flooring. I love my books, we are old friends. I love the smell of a book. I love to hold a book in my hands. Reading is just another way of finding peace and restoring the balance in my day. I very rarely go to sleep before reading for an hour.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Share Six. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend Katherine of Cobert Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their page as well.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Google+ and Viewbug.
Now it is your turn. Don’t forget to like us on facebook at Share Six and come and share your images on the theme Restore throughout the month of March. A new theme will come out on April 6.
Remember you can follow us on Instagram at @sharesix and tag your images #sharesix_restore.
You can also find the Share Six webpage at http://www.sharesix.wordpress.com
We look forward to seeing your images on the theme restore
Tell Me a Story: March 2016
Posted on February 28, 2017
Tell me a Story is live once again and on this particular day I attempted to walk the entire route of the wetlands. First stop is the rookery and the Woodstorks have moved back in again and taken over. Late winter is mating season and the Woodstorks are doing their mating dance and building nests. And yes, one or two little ones have already been spotted. Their mating dance is interesting to watch. Like the Great Blue Heron they have an interesting process to their dance. Below are some of the images taken while this was happening.
I was watching these two Woodstork when just below them another pair started their dance.
Bills go up
Then to the side. Their dance is intriguing. They are not the most coordinated birds.
Then Woodstorks went back to picking at their nest. This process was repeated a couple of times.
They continue to work at the nest until they are happy with it and ready to lay eggs.
Of course, they have to do this before any eggs are laid. Woodstork doing the tango. New chicks on their way.
Finally the female will settle down onto the nest.
While I was watching these two I noticed that a pair of Woodstork had flown from the rookery to the wooden railing of the pathway. These birds almost seem prehistoric to me.
The Woodstork did not seem too worried about the people around him although he kept his eyes wide open.
I love the texture of the skin on their neck.
In keeping with my bird foot fettish – these are the feet of a Woodstork
I am looking at you with that big camera in my face.
Another foot image. Look at the long nails the Woodstork has. Can I say I am envious
Lastly there was something about this image that just captured me. I loved those skinny legs with the light in the background.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Tell me a Story. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my fellow blogger LUPJi Photography | North Virginia Event Photographer and see what he have for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Google+ and Viewbug.
30 Minutes in the Life: March 2017
Posted on February 27, 2017
My blog is going to be a little different this month. Instead of 30 minutes of photo’s I am re-editing old photo’s and doing 30 minutes of thoughts.
When we moved to the USA from South Africa in 2001, we moved as a 4 member family. While there were a number of South Africans living here we had no family. Richard thought he had a cousin in a remote part of the US but that was it. One of the things I knew to do, since this was the second big move we had made, was to get connected to a local church and a local woman’s group. My parents had always been involved in the local church and I saw the beautiful lasting friendships that my mother had with the women in her church.
For the 3 years that followed, I did not work and so I did just that. I attended a Tuesday morning study group and got to know different ladies, and made some new friends. Then in 2004 my work authorization came through and before I knew it Richard found me a half day job at the local newspaper. Well that interfered with my Tuesday morning group and so I decided I would switch out for an evening group. No problem. So along I went. On this one particular night, the group that I had been sitting in did not arrive. So I figured that I would watch the video and duck out. While I was sitting at the table waiting this lady came along and said “Why don’t you come and join our group” Of course, you have to be inside my head – I don’t know you, I plan to leave straight after the video, in fact I do not know anyone at your table, I speak funny……and on and on my mind was going. I kindly thanked her and said I would sit at my table and if no one arrived I would join them. Meantime I am thinking…I’m outta here.
The lady’s name was Beverly and she is the dark haired lady in the image below. Just as I was about to sneak out, she came over and re-iterated the welcome at their table. Caught now, the sneaking out was not an option, and this began the beautiful journey of love, and friendship with these amazing ladies.
Each group has a facilitator that directs the conversation and watches out for gossip and asks the questions and encourages and loves on all the ladies in the group. Little did I know this evening how much those ladies would all come to mean to me, and little did I know that one of those ladies would touch my life in such a profound way, that makes me want to get on my knees each day and thank my Lord for the beautiful blessing in my life. This is my friend Midge.
How do you begin to share how much a person means to you. She reached out to a woman so much younger than herself, and formed a bond that I believe will have lasting repercussions in my life. She helped me to grow into the person I am today. First of all she showed me love – love of a friend, love of a mother, love out of the very depth of her heart. She grew in me a love for her that I feel cements our lives. No matter how far apart we are I know that my love for her will remain.
She was my go to person when I struggled with things. I can think of 2 people other than my mother, whom I could go to when I struggled. Whether it was family issues, work issues, friend issues, or any other issues. I knew that when I went to her, it was a safe place. It was a place where I could open my heart and voice my fears, It was a place where tears were cleansing and I knew that there was no judgment. Midge had learned the art of listening. Very rarely would she tell me what to do. She just let me talk, let me pour out my heart. And in her wisdom, she would re-direct my thoughts to scripture. What does Mark say or what does James say, or even Paul. Or she would head into the old testament.
She was my mentor in life. I loved how she came alongside me and encouraged me to walk alongside her as a group facilitator. And when she felt it was time for her to step down, she encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and do for others what she had done for me. Never did she leave my side. I loved the years that we were in the same group together. Times change, and Midge and many of the ladies that I had been in a group with felt that it was time for them to transition to the morning groups. None of them really wanted to drive at night. The loss was palpable but the friendship remained.
She was my theology discussion partner. I loved talking theology with Midge. We did not always agree, but we always agreed to go and do some research and then come back together and talk about the answers we had found. I loved that I was able to think outside the box and have a safe place to voice those thoughts, to discuss them, and to ponder on them. It was always such a pleasure to go to her home just to sit and talk. There was always a lively discussion and a meeting of the minds.
Midge is a beautiful soul with a heart of gold. I am thankful that the Lord brought her into my life, and that for the longest time she has stayed. Her life pathway is now on a different route. She has moved closer to her daughter, and her granddaughters. I am so happy for her, but I would be lying if I said I am not going to miss her.
Thank goodness for Skype. I look forward to the days when we can “chat” and share our friendship through technology. Along with my family, she has a portion of my heart and always will.
Midge, I love you. You bring joy to my heart, and peace in my soul. Your smile radiates your love. You are a blessing in my life that I had not expected and you mean the world to me. You are a really good example to live by. I hope that I can continue to give back in the same way that you have given to me.
A true friend knows your weaknesses
but shows you your strengths,
feels your fears
but fortifies your faith,
sees your anxieties
but frees your spirit
recognizes your disabilities
but emphasizes your possibilities
~William Arthur Ward
Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 Minutes in Life. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend and fellow blogger Hayley Hay photogrpahy/Lausanne, Switzerland and see what she has for you this month. I love seeing Hayley’s beautiful photo’s of Switzerland. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
30 Minutes changed their name to Journey to an Artist. If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their Facebook page, or to the blog page. There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Viewbug and Google+
Artist Inspired: February 2017: Red
Posted on February 14, 2017
This month the theme is red. Of course, it’s the hearts and roses kind of month, but my roses are dead and the hearts are not out and about just yet. Valentines day is the day the blog goes live and my out of office meeting where I would typically capture something like this is only at the end of the month. So I was kind of struggling with what I would do.
I recently started heading up the road about 15 minutes from my home to the Loxahatchee National Park. I had not gone there at sunset before because it is a kind of lonely park. However, a few friends have been heading there and so I decided to go and join them. Truthfully there was about 6 of us, and it was fun to hang out with friends and meet new people. The sunsets always vary and what really attracted me was watching the mumuration of the birds. I believe they are Boat-tailed Grackles that swarm in mass to make these amazing patterns in the sky.
This particular night the birds were not out in mass but the sky fitted the theme of the color red. I had 4 different lens with me – my 28-135mm, my 70-300mm, my lensbaby sweet 35, and the lensbaby double glass.
Enjoy the setting sun!
Starting out the evening, I thought it would be a good sunset but not as good as we got. This friend was sitting watching the sun set and so I got behind him to try and get the silhouette
Slowly as the sun got lower the color of the sky began to change.
Using the 70-300mm I was able to get up much closer to the sun.
Then I began to play with the Lensbaby Double Glass and got this effect.
Next I played with the Lensbaby Sweet 35 and loved this bokeh effect.
Sunsets, like childhood
are viewed with wonder
not just because they are beautiful
but because they are fleeting
~ Richard Paul Evans
Just a reminder that this is a circle blog and I would encourage you to click to continue on reading what they other photographers in this group have for you. Please stop by my friend and fellow photographer Ellie Meachem of Live Life Inspired Photography’s page and read her blog. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Google+ and Viewbug
The Artists Inspired Blog Circle is made up of an exceptionally talented group of photographers from all walks of life, from all over the world. They are wives, mothers, friends, daughters and visual storytellers who draw from their own experiences to create art that is inspiring, unique, beautiful and thought-provoking.
Share Six: February 2017: Shadows
Posted on February 6, 2017
Shadows!! Wow, this topic stumped me. When I go out there is generally me, myself and I, and shadows with people in it is not always possible. I took a walk at Morikami Japanese Gardens the other day thinking I would find these awesome shadows. Well not so much. But here are two that I liked from that walk.
I am not up to walking the whole of the Japanese Gardens but the bamboo garden created some fun shadows.
Sitting in the shadows of this amazing tree always appeals to me and so I waited until this man sat down and then I snapped away.
I walk alot in the wetlands and come across all sorts of birds. I loved the shadows of a Boat Tailed Grackle.
This was taken on a day out with my daughter, who is also a photographer. Her absence and the shadows in the walkway remind me that this time of her being away is temporary and that she will be home within the year. I do miss her though and was blessed to have her home for Christmas.
Shadows can also come in the form of a reflection. This is the husk of a palm tree the I sent floating down the river. I felt like there should be an elf steering his raft down the canal this evening. Something out of Lord of the Rings.
We were visiting Denver and woke up on the 3rd day to a vision of white. I love Richard shadow as he walked through this icy vista. It did not last long before he headed inside and out of the cold. I continued to walk the city.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Share Six. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend Kathy of KG Ledbetter Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their page as well.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Google+ and Viewbug.
Now it is your turn. Don’t forget to like us on facebook at Share Six and come and share your images on the theme Shadows throughout the month of February. A new theme will come out on March 6.
Remember you can follow us on Instagram at @sharesix and tag your images #sharesix_shadows.
You can also find the Share Six webpage at http://www.sharesix.wordpress.com
We look forward to seeing your images on the theme Shadows
Tell me a Story: January 2017
Posted on January 31, 2017
Two months ago I shared an encounter with a Cormorant. This month I had a noisy encounter with two Egyptian Geese. They were definitely engaged in the activities unlike the Cormorant who just gave me a lazy look. Clearly used to people, and possibly used to being fed, these Egyptian Geese wandered up to the railings, made a few sqawks and then flew up to the top of the wooden railing and proceeded to engage. Below is my encounter with these two.
Egyptian Geese on the move. I am sure that the thought was that people equals food. Not so lucky here.
The Egyptian Goose is a stunning looking bird and it brings back great memories of my childhood and visiting friends. Their mother used to feed the Egyptian Geese every day. At about 4pm in the afternoon she would go out and wait for them to fly in and sure as heck they did. It was always fun to watch.
Tired of being away from the activity, they both flew up on top of the wooden railing to engage with the people who might potentially have foot.
We were up close and personal and I have discovered since I took the Cormorant’s feet that I love getting down low and close so as to be able to photography their feet. Recently a painter thanked me for doing that as he used the Cormorants feet image to finish off his painting.
I must have moved and got it’sattention and then the focus was on me.
I am not sure if it could see itself in my camera lens or if it was just a glint it saw but it really looked me in the face. At the same time the birds were sqwaking loudly. All I know is that geese chase you and would not be adverse to taking a nip.
I’m still watching you.
I think the only thing that is unattractive about the Egyptian Goose is its nose. But there is amazing color in it.
It kind of looks like a bad lipstick day.
I wanted to get it’s feet front on but it did not stop moving.
Of course, these birds have no shame and what does my camera lock onto – oh year, poop. Sorry guys.
Finally my foot fettish is satisfied and besides having stopped for that brief second, the bird was no moving forward towards me with a purpose. Time for me to get out of it’s way.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Tell me a Story. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my fellow blogger Kim Sidwell Photography and see what they have for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Viewbug and Google+
30 Minutes in the Life: January 2017
Posted on January 30, 2017
I started blogging with this group of ladies in July 2013. Time goes quickly when you are having fun. I am thankful for each of these ladies and for the encouragement and inspiration they give me each month. It has been a wonderful journey.
For this months blog I decided to go to the local Japanese Gardens to be part of their Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration. The place was crowded and there were different events to watch. I decided to head to the drum event to take some photographs. My intention was to walk in the gardens afterwards but that fell by the wayside very quickly when I realized that there were too many people walking the grounds. I wanted to find those images that were quiet and alone. Perhaps I will go back on Friday.
Here are some of the images I took of the drum group.
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Oshogatsu: A New Years Celebration
Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 Minutes in Life. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend and fellow blogger Stacey Markel Photography | Maryland Photographer and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
30 Minutes changed their name to Journey to an Artist. If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their Facebook page, or to the blog page. There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Viewbug and Google+
Artists Inspired: January 2017: Gray
Posted on January 14, 2017
Tis months color theme for Artists Inspired is Gray, and we recently had a few gray days down at the beach. I love the color gray. It fits well into my winter colors of black, red & white. I had a look at the meaning of colors and found this particular line that resonated with what I am going to share today. It is a relief from a frenetic world. Composure and calm is what is felt through seeing this color.
I am all about finding peace and quiet. My day job is busy and at times stressful, so I actively seek to find peace. You will find me curled up with a book, walking in the wetlands, or relaxing on the beach. All three settle my chaotic senses and give me calm.
This series of images was taken down at Long Key State Park in the Florida Keys. We will often head down there for a 3 day weekend. This year has been a little harder to get out due to my foot surgery but these of the kind of breaks that we like.
Heading down into the Keys the day is overcast and breezy, but there is always that feel of letting go, as you pass through Miami.
There a beautiful pier belonging to one of the houses that sits adjacent to the state park.
I played around with my Lensbaby Sweet 35 optic very early morning to try and catch this boat bobbing in the water.
As I sat there so the sky lightened and the sun rays radiated down towards the ocean.
Another version of the boat bobbing in the water. The lensbaby sweet 35 blur effect is one of my favorites.
This was a different boat sitting in the water. They had power instead of paddle.
Sitting at the edge of the ocean and just enjoying the view. This makes my worries just disappear.
Life happens at the beach, and this was an early morning exercise walking through the water to get these rocks with the boat. Don’t trip, don’t drop the camera was my mantra.
This is perhaps one of my favorite images that I have shared before. I love the stillness of the ocean and the peace and quiet of the morning.
Of course, there was a tiny breeze and these little weeds certainly felt it.
Gray may be deemed dull and boring, but for me it is peaceful in a busy day. It calms my soul.
The gray area,
the place between black and white –
That’s the place
where Life happens.
~ Justin Timberlake
Just a reminder that this is a circle blog and I would encourage you to click to continue on reading what they other photographers in this group have for you. Please stop by my friend and fellow photographer Ellie Meachem of Live Life Inspired Photography’s page and read her blog. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+
The Artists Inspired Blog Circle is made up of an exceptionally talented group of photographers from all walks of life, from all over the world. They are wives, mothers, friends, daughters and visual storytellers who draw from their own experiences to create art that is inspiring, unique, beautiful and thought-provoking.
Share Six Blog Contributor
30 Minutes in the Life Blog Contributor
Tell Me a Story Blog Contributor
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101 Ways to Shoot…
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PBH (Voice, Vision, Soul) Project 52
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