A Day in the Sun

IMG_2120 (16 of 54) – Version 2, a photo by victry1 on Flickr.

With this gorgeous spring weather (I’m so afraid it’s not going to last), everyone is coming out of their shell.

Even this little guy who must have gotten separated from the rest of the family.

It was so nice on Sunday this squirrel didn’t flinch as I took his picture:

This guy thought it a perfect day to come in for a perfect landing.

 

 

A Surprise in the Sky

IMG_1195 (103 of 103) – Version 2, a photo by victry1 on Flickr.

One of the reasons I started this blog was in the hopes that it would help me to see the beauty that is around me. Not on some breathtaking mountaintop or some far away place, as beautiful as those might be.

I was going through older photos tonight on a fruitless search for a certain one and came across many photos taken with 2 miles of my home. I enjoyed seeing the many varied and pretty images of things from herons to flowers to sunsets and many more. Anyway, I came across this one and it brought back the memory of leaving the park and turning to see this great mountain of billowing clouds tinged with pink. I was so glad I had my camera with me.

I did a slight saturation adjustment and added a vignette, though I think I could have backed off the vignette a tad.

I am grateful for the reminder.

A Herald of Winter at Hedden Park

As I stole a few minutes today, just before 5 pm, the dark hues of the sky, the barrenness of the trees and the nip in the air reminded me that Old Man Winter is just around the corner. I snapped a couple quick shots with my iPhone in the hopes of freezing (no pun intended) the moment.

This tree always looks like it is welcoming whatever comes along:

A few weeks ago, in the same park, we had these beautiful scenes and mild temperatures:

Orton effect applied. This effect is one of my favs.

But, then, on October 29th and following, we had scenes like these:

Snowstorm in north Jerzy on 10/29

The Morning After

Hanging On

Fortunately, we had warmer weather the week following the storm.  We had almost a million people who lost power as a result of the storm.  Today, 8 days later, there are still a few without.  I can only be grateful that this didn’t happen in the dead of winter.

The return

Hipstamatic shot

The older I get, the less I like winter and the cold and snow that accompany it.  Perhaps this winter, I will learn to see the beauty that is not as apparent or as easily appreciated.  Winter does have a dark beauty that speaks to life of a different sort.

Butterflies, Birds and Flowers in Hedden Park

I love that there are little pockets of nature and beauty all around.  One thing that’s happening because of photography is that – I SEE more.  I may  not be able to translate what I see but I notice and appreciate more.  Who can complain about that?