The Cathedral of Summer

"I walk without flinching through the cathedral of the summer.  My bank of wild grass is majestic & full of music.  It is a fire that solitude presses against my lips."  Violette Leduc (1907-1972), France

If you look hard enough, you can find beauty almost everywhere.  All you have to do is look at the world through the eyes of a child, because children see beauty and wonder in the simplest things.  So, try to find that child-like quality  in yourself when you look at the world.  It will look like a better place if you do.

A Better World

Have you improved someone's day today?  Have you made someone's life a little brighter? Have you made someone feel important?  Think how much better the world would be if each of us tried to do that each day.  You may be thinking "I don't have time." or "I don't know what to do."  Well, if you think about it, you probably have a friend or family member who would appreciate it if you spent 5 minutes talking to them on the phone or stopped by for a short visit.  Or perhaps the checker at the grocery store would feel better if you just smiled at her.  If someone is having a bad day, something as simple as a smile or a kind word can make them feel like there is hope, that life isn't so bad, after all.   Often the simplest things can make someone feel better & turn their day around.  So, join me in trying to make at least one person feel better each day.  And, while we're at it, let's not forget that those closest to us need those positive vibes each day too.  For now,  I hope these flowers improve your day.  :-)

The Simple Beauty of Nature

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God.  Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simply beauty of nature."  Anne Frank (1929-1945), Netherlands.

If you ever feel like things are too crazy and that your life is spinning out of control, find a beautiful spot outside where you can relax and commune with nature.  It will help to put things back into perspective and rejuvenate your soul.

I wish you a day filled with beauty, love and inspiration.

The Negative and the Score

"The negative is comparable to the composer’s score and the print to its performance."  Ansel Adams.

It seems like Ansel Adams is trying to tell us that if we take pictures, but don't share them, so others can enjoy their beauty, it's like having beautiful music that never gets played.   So, don't just leave those wonderful photos on your hard drive, share them with others, so they can enjoy the beauty that you saw when you took the picture. 

Enjoy your day!

Meditation

"Meditation is a time of quiet when the mind is free from its attachment to the hysterical ravings of a world gone mad.  It is a silence in which the spirit of God can enter us and work His divine alchemy upon us."  Marianne Williamson

Camp of Man

"How hard to realize that every camp of man has this glorious starry firmament for a roof! In such places, standing alone on a mountain-top, it is easy to realize that whatever special nests we make - leaves and moss like the marmots and birds, or tents or piled stone - we all dwell in a house of one room - the world with its firmament for its roof - and we are sailing the celestial spaces without leaving any track." John Muir (1838-1914) Scotland/USA

This picture was taken in Hawaii. It's part of the Waimea Canyon. It's a beautiful area with a variety of colors. There was a haze present most of the time we were in Hawaii and I should have used my polarizer to cut through the haze, but I didn't. So, if you're in a similar situation, get out your polarizer and put it on your lens. It'll give you a better picture.

Mountains

"Mountains are to the rest of the body of the earth, what violent musclar action is to the body of man. The muscles and tendons of its anatomy are, in the mountains, brought out with force and convulsive energy, full of expression, passion and strength." John Ruskin (1819-1900) England

If you follow this blog or visit my website very often, you've probably seen this picture before. I shot this one at Glacier National Park last year, late in the evening as the sun was setting. I used my tripod and took several shots so I could process the images in HDR. Some of the colors that you see in this image, were not even visible when I looked at the scene. Processing in HDR, however, brought out the colors that were hidden from my eyes. I processed this particular image a little differently from the previous version to accentuate the warm colors.

Beauty of the Sea

"I asked the earth, I asked the sea and the deeps, among the living animals, the things that creep. I asked the winds that blow, I asked the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars and all the things that stand at the doors of my flesh ....

My question was the gaze I turned to them

Their answer was their beauty."

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), North Africa

The beauty of the sea is boundless. When we were in Hawaii recently, I could have spent days just gazing at the sea, each wave being different from the one before. Whether or not I took pictures was irrelevant, because it was the beauty of the sea that was important. I did, however, take as many pictures as I could, because I wanted to document the beauty & share it with those who weren't there to experience it.

The Strength of Water

"Nothing in the world is more flexible than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it."Lao Tzu (c.604 - c.53/BCE), from the Tao Te Ching, China

Have you ever tried walking across a river? My husband's a fly fisherman and, a few years ago, he decided that we needed to cross the Madison River, in Yellowstone, so we could fish & picnic on the other side. So, we both started out with our walking staffs, hoping they would tame the wild water & allow us to cross. My knuckles were white, not only from hanging onto the walking stick, but from fear as we made our way carefully across the river. There were many times when I thought I was going to fall, be rushed downstream & slammed into a large rock. Lukily, although the water was powerful, it wasn't deep, so we did make it across, but I have a very healthy respect for rushing water & hope to avoid crossing another river. I'll just fish & picnic on the "safe" side of the river.

Have you tried paddling out to catch a wave when the surf is coming in? Have you tried swimming

against the tide? Water is stronger than we are. We cannot conquer it. We may be able to channel its' strength at times but, when it comes right down to it, we have to change our actions in order to work with.

Love Isn't Easy

Love isn't always easy but, even with the occasional scrapping and squawking, it's worth it. So, cherish the relationship you have, and work to make it better. After all, anything of significant value usually requires effort and continued dedication to retain its' splendor. So, give your loved one a kiss and tell him or her how important they are to you. For those special words can never be said too often and they're always appreciated.

Photo tip: As you probably already know, in order to get the type of wildlife pictures you want, you have to be patient. Unfortunately, animals don't pose for us according to an appointment schedule.

Simplicity

Sometimes the simple things make the best photographs. As you go through life, take time to enjoy them.

Simplicity. Beauty. Serenity.

These are the words I thought of when I viewed this scene. What words come to your mind when you see the picture?

Simple things bring beauty to our world.

Life is just a bowl of cheeries. You just have to make them last. Have a great day.

Too Short

Remember, don't sweat the small stuff. Life's too short, and the older I get, the shorter it gets. So, just enjoy your life, do the best you can, live according to the Golden Rule and LIVE, LOVE & LAUGH. Have a GREAT day!

No Limits

Your limits are defined by the agreement you've made about what's possible. Change that agreement and you can dissolve all limits. By: Dr. Wayne Dyer

This is a photo I've had for several months, but hadn't messed with until a few days ago. I downloaded a trial version of Snap Art and applied the oil painting option. I thought it gave the picture an interesting texture. You'll probably need to click on the picture to see the details. What do you think!