Cloudy Vision

The experts say the first step in overcoming a problem is admitting it.  I feel it's time I admit that I am completely obsessed with clouds.  

We've been having another hot and humid weather system, and I've not been up to battling the heat or headaches to get out and take pictures.  I hate that.  But, as I drove hither and yon, here to there and back again, I noticed that for the last week or so, we've had a LOT more clouds than normal, and they've been awfully pretty.

I had planned to go out a little earlier to visit Mom today since I knew it was going to be another scorcher, so on the off chance the weather wasn't too oppressive when I left her place, I put the camera in the trunk and off I drove.

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I missed my turn to the street Mom lives on because I was checking out the clouds and didn't realize I was there already.  I may need an intervention.

All of the photos above were taken from the very posh and elegant location known to the locals as the Friendship Village parking lot.  The remaining photos were all taken from the very posh and elegant location known to the locals as the Huber Heights Target parking lot.  Maybe I need a parking lot intervention, too . . .

One of my "issues" in taking pictures of the clouds is that I usually see shots I want while I'm driving.  Part of that is because there are fewer wires ruining the view, but also because there's a larger panorama to view.  Stopping in a parking lot sometimes allows for the larger view point as well as the lack of phone/cable/electrical wires.  In my case, the locations were also relatively close to the highway, and more likely to afford the views I'd been watching while driving.

I don't know if any of the Target shoppers noticed me in the back corner of the parking lot, but I hope not.  I'm sure if they did they thought I was bonkers - what the heck could I be taking pictures of?  There's nothing interesting out there; it's a parking lot, for Pete's sake!  I prefer to believe they were so focused on getting out of the heat (either into the store or getting the car started so the A/C would work) that they never knew I was there.

But what's so spectacular about the clouds that I'm constantly checking them out?  Part of it is the contrast between the white of the clouds and the blue of the sky; other times it's the contrast of light and shadow on the same cloud.

Sometimes it's a dark cloud next to a cloud so brightly white it seems to glow that captivates me.  Other times, it's a whole palette of subtle shades and colors blending and merging together as the cloud dances past.

Sometimes it looks like an artist has been trying to carve the clouds, but finds them difficult to work with and puts it aside for the time being.

Sometimes I just look up in awe at the expanse of the sky and the ethereal beauty before me, completely at a loss for words.

Wegerzyn Gardens

I visited one of our metro parks today that I haven't been to in about 2 years.  It was nice to go back, and I'll have to make sure I go back in another month or so; it will have changed again by then.


It was really nice to have a relatively fresh perspective, as well as new material to photograph!  I was in no hurry (well, at least until the reality of drinking Diet Pepsi all afternoon hit) and just strolled along, looking for the birds I was hearing (owlthingsfirst.blogspot.com's Jenny is a good influence on me!) watching for butterflies (after I scared off 3 of them), and looking for the names of the plants I was shooting.  Alas and alack, I don't have a clue as to the name of the plants!  If you do, please comment to edjimicate me.


I'm trying to pick only the best of the photos I took today - but when taking over 200, it's really hard to pare it down quickly.  I managed to pick 80+ for facebook, then got it down to 40+ initially for this post, but you're stuck with 17 (if I counted correctly!). 

I'm not a huge fan of lavender, but I did like the contrast of the colors and how it looked waving in the breeze.

I thought this looked as if the wind was blowing the plant; it wasn't when the pic was taken.  I liked the curves and the imagery of flow and movement.

When I first saw these, I wondered who had dripped paint all over the leaves.  Upon closer inspection, I realized it wasn't paint at all, but the way the plant was naturally.

 This, I do know, is a rose.  Yellow roses are my favorite, especially when they are still in the process of blooming.

This was an experiment, and I like the outcome!  I used the trunk for balance for the camera, shot straight up, resting the camera against it.  This doesn't quite give the full impact of how tall the tree is, but it is better than the other shots I took.

 I have a thing for textures.  I like to do extreme close-ups and I like pictures that make me think I could  feel the texture of the photo subject if I touched the photo.  I liked the different textures here when I took the picture, but now, when I look in the upper left corner, all I see is an alligator or crocodile head . . . go figure! 

I don't have a clue what this is, but I loved how it seemed to be almost magically changing form.  Initially, it looked like a pinecone, but I've never seen a purple pinecone before . . . 

I liked the contrast of the dark purple bud with the light purple of the flower. 

I like small flowers.  These were VERY small, so I must like them a lot.  Plus, they are a very pretty shade of blue.

This tree was blooming like crazy!  It was absolutely beautiful, but this was as close as I could get to the blossoms.  

Loved the color, and the detail of this flower.  Initially, the color caught my eye, but as I zoomed in, I found the structure of the flower more interesting.

 Beautiful butterfly.  I'd moved too suddenly several times before I finally caught this one.  Honestly, this doesn't do it justice.

More small blue flowers.  Like, like, like!

Love the look of the plants growing out of the wall, as well as the contrast between the rigidity of the rock and the fluidity of the plant; the sharp lines and edges of the rock/wall and the curve of the plant.

I saw this and immediately thought it belonged in a Japanese garden; the bamboo helps give that flavor, but the whole scenario just about screams oriental.

The pansies looked so sunny and inviting on my way out that I almost apologized to them for leaving.  The brightness of some of the colors was astounding, and I'm always a sucker for contrast.


Just getting out and walking around is a good mood enhancer, but seeing these beautiful plants and breathtaking blossoms has me thanking God for the beauty he provides in so many ways.  It's all around us when we decide to look for it.  Amazing what happens when I keep my eyes, not just the camera lens, focused on the beauty.

Ducks and Serendipity . . .

I was going through some of my older pics today, and ran across some that were taken as a result of serendipity.  Yup, using that word again!  LOVE it.  The following nature shots were all taken at a park where my niece had a soccer tournament (in Middletown, OH).  I hadn't even seen this area the first two or three times because it was lower than the parking lot.  We all ate lunch up by the parking lot, then I wandered down to see what all else was in this park (it was a nice alternative to sweaty teenage girls who had a BAD case of the giggles).

I liked the way this tree branch had rotted out - I couldn't quite get the right angle to see from the main opening through the smaller opening on the right out onto the water . . . believe me, I tried!

I was absolutely thrilled when I saw how nicely the reflection turned out.  I'd tried it a couple of times before this shot, and none of them were decent.

I like watching the ducks, and I liked catching the ripples they created.

I couldn't decide if the one duck was being picked upon or not.  I finally decided (for my own peace of mind) that they were involved in some sort of duck synchronized swimming performance.

As  you can see, the "beach" area was not quite litter free, but it did provide nice contrast for me to see this beauty.

This duck was just kind of scary; I loved the colors, but he was kind of mean to the other ducks.  I kept a very wide path between us!

This one cracked me up.  It seems to be trying to claim to be shy . . .

I think the only way I would have liked this photo better was if I'd caught it from the front, not a profile view.  I wasn't sure as I was clicking away what I would end up with.  I was VERY happy.

Nobody in the family was surprised when I posted the soccer photos on the team photo site and these (and several more) photos of the flora and fauna were included.  The girls didn't know I was going to include them and thought I was nuts.  They may be right, I may be crazy . . . but I'm entertaining, and they loved the soccer photos, so they put up with me.

It's kind of funny that so many of the photos I've taken and loved the most are those that were not planned.  Not just these, but most of the nature shots are ones I've just happened upon.  There are a few where I waited and waited and waited for a bird to show up, but those are very atypical.  Even my favorite pictures of people are the candid pictures - not the least bit posed.  I prefer everything be open and honest, without artifice.  Who needs artificial when the natural is beautiful in its own right?

Captured in Time

Way back twenty-some days ago when I started blogging, I featured a picture taken when friends were having a pole barn raising for their alpaca farm.  I'd forgotten how many pictures I took to chronicle the event for them (I ended up keeping about 400 of the shots I took). 

It was a fun day, and a wonderful opportunity for me to do a little experimenting.  I'm in no way, shape, or form a morning person, but since they were beginning the day early to get as much work in as possible, I grumbled my way to their house until I saw what I've come to think of as the canvas before me.  I was quickly excited by all of the possibilities for many different kinds of pictures (artistic, geometric, action, setting, etc.).  It lasted pretty much all day.

The fog was pretty heavy when I arrived . . . it took several
hours to clear up and start warming up.

I liked the lines created by the braces, as well as the pointy pieces
(no, I do not think that is the technical term!).

Posts in place in their holes, getting things ready to start the real work.

Sharp.  Amazing tool.  I best keep my distance.

This is to hopefully prevent one of my pet peeves.  Concrete  was
used in the post holes, NOT cement.  Cement is an ingredient
in concrete.   That's a lot of concrete, too.

I liked the almost silhouette look.

Then, I turned around for some reason,
and saw this.  I must have taken about
10 shots, but this is the best.  I loved the way
the beams of light broke through the fog
and trees. 

It's kind of silly how excited I was to capture the "action" of the
wood falling here.  I'm still very glad I caught it!

There were plenty of angles and geometric shapes to catch.

But I couldn't forget the setting around us!

Every time I found myself starting to think I was getting the "same old pictures," I would turn slightly or catch a movement, and I'd notice a more intriguing angle, or a beam of light that I'd swear wasn't there before.  Or, I'd yawn (I told you, I'm not a morning person!), and then I'd notice more of the nature around the work being done . . . a few minutes photographing it, and my eyes were ready to "see more creatively."

This was a long day for everyone, but it was also fun, and it helped to stretch my creativity.  There were several "God moments" throughout the day that had me unable to do more than soak in the wonder of His creation (man, nature, animals).  It was a challenge to chronicle the day in a way that showed the totality of the experience.  Not only was this the physical construction of a pole barn, but it was also the expression of friendship and love by all who participated.

A photograph captures a moment in time.  I go for the pictures that capture the mood of that moment in time as well.  Sometimes that happens in a single picture; those are the pictures I cherish.  That's why the following picture is my favorite shot of the entire day (and why I'm sharing it again).