As most of you know my brother and his family live in South Africa, so we do not get to see them too often.  However, for the last few years my brother has come to the US for a conference.  This year when he said he was going to be in Seattle I was a little unsure whether we would be able to meet up with him there.  My desire this year is to go to Macedonia in the summer to see my girl.  However, Richard decided that we would go to Seattle.  Macedonia does not appear to be in his plans, although it is still in mine.

Once my brother starts his conference we see very little of him.  However, for the 2 days before the conference and the 3 days afterwards, we were able to hang out with him and his wife.  During the conference, Richard, Enid and I walked the city of Seattle.

Having done a bit of research I knew that there was one place that I really wanted to visit.    Obviously if you start to add up all the costs you eventually have to pick and choose.  It was not a hard choice for me.  I really had no desire to put myself on an external lift and head up to the top of the Space Needle.  However, the Chihuly Gardens really appealed to me.

After paying the entrance fee I wandered into the “shop area” and was exposed to my first of the glass works.  Beautiful, colorful objects of art.

Walking into the actual exhibition, there were two area that were absolutely my favorite.  This was the first.  What I did not realize was that everything would be so dark and that I did not have a flash.  However, the Canon D6 has a great low light capability and I decided to test it out.

In another room I found various shaped art work of rich colors and artistic shapes.

I then walked into what had to be an underwater theme.  Beautiful octopus statues made of glass, and the incredible tower of what appears to be reeds with tiny starfish, jellyfish, shrimp and various other sea life that surrounded the base of the tower.

After passing through the room I entered a passageway where the ceiling was an explosion of color and the color seeped down the walls.  Stunning! So much so that I sat on the floor to get these images.

Leaving that passageway I entered this garden of color.  I cannot begin to image how much time goes into creating something as beautiful as this.  From what I understand each piece of glass is connected to a central frame of these big towers to enable them to take them apart to move them.  I am not sure I would ever move the display.

I then moved into an area of boats and balls and leaves and hearts.  I decided to play here with my lensbaby.

The next room showed glass in the form of stalactite hanging from the ceiling.  Different colors, different shapes, all so amazing.

The last room I entered had lighted vase like bowls of multicolored patterns.  Beautiful and detailed artwork.

And finally I walked out of the darkened rooms and into the light.  This atrium of beautiful glass flowers was just so stunning.  This was definitely my second favorite of the rooms, and I did pull out my lensbaby to play here.

Chihuly Gardens in Seattle

Chihuly Gardens in Seattle

If you are in Seattle, or if you see a Chihuly display in your neighborhood, I would certainly encourage you to visit it.

Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 minutes.    This is a circle blog.  Please take time to visit my fellow blogger Hayley of Hayley Hay Photography / Lausanne, Switzerland 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 recently 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.

For the outside photo’s taken at Chihuly Gardens click here on Tuesday March 29.

For more on our visit to Seattle watch out for Thursday March 31 visit to the Pike Place Market.

If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.

Hard to believe another year has gone by.  Our last date for posing was December 28, and so on December 31, 2015, I got up really early and headed down to the beach to watch the sun rise on the last day of the year.  I was glad to see the end of it to be honest.  It was a tough year all round, with the highlight being Cameron and Kathryn getting married.

There was another high for me. I jokingly asked Richard how much he loved and was it in the area of around $1400.  Suprisingly he said yes.  So as a combination of birthday and Christmas, and for the rest of my birthdays and Christmases until eternity passes, I was give the money to buy the Canon 6D camera. At my own expense I bought the 70-300mm lens.  The zoom lens has always been my go to lens but I will have to start saving soon for the next lens.

Then a friend was selling a lens that I have been looking at for a while.  Just as I decided to buy it my little cat was tested and diagnosed with diabetes.  I debated whether or not I should get it and finally decided yes.  She was very accommodating and by the end of November I had the Lensbaby Composer Pro with the Sweet 35 optic, in my hands.  I was dying to go and play with it.  After a rather stressful payroll, I decided to get up and head to the beach.

Not being an early morning person, I dragged myself off with a cup of coffee, a chair and my camera bag.

I love the effect of the Lensbaby and cannot wait to play with it some more.  The first two images were taken with the 70-300mm and then I switched out to the Sweet 35.

Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 minutes.    This is a circle blog.  Please take time to visit my friend Hayley Hay Photography / Lasuanne, Switzerland family 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 recently 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.

If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.