Lake Hayes

This is Lake Hayes in southern New Zealand. I was here about six months ago and I already miss it. I think the thing I miss the most is the amount of wide-open space with amazing landscapes.  Certainly we have beauty in North America, it’s there, waiting, not going anywhere. My ambition is changing a little bit and I'm craving more and more landscapes. I guess it’s one of those things that once you get hooked on you keep looking for new vistas wherever you go. That’s probably not a bad thing.

This is Lake Hayes in southern New Zealand. I was here about six months ago and I already miss it. I think the thing I miss the most is the amount of wide-open space with amazing landscapes. Certainly we have beauty in North America, it’s there, waiting, not going anywhere. My ambition is changing a little bit and I’m craving more and more landscapes. I guess it’s one of those things that once you get hooked on you keep looking for new vistas wherever you go. That’s probably not a bad thing.

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Slice of Beauty

I'm constantly on the lookout for landscape, scenes, visual beauty; I suppose its part of the rewiring of my brain as a photographer, an artist. In truth there's beauty all around, it’s just that maybe we miss it, don’t know how to see it, aren't practiced.  I resemble that.  But it’s there if you know where to look.  For instance, I love this sky, these clouds, the way the tree reaches up from the bottom. I don’t even know if this is a good photo, but I see something I like here. This could be anywhere really. But here’s a little secret. Below these trees are telephone poles, a parking lot, and a busy freeway.  Only I decided to look up and see a little slice of beauty, and then click the shutter button.

I’m constantly on the lookout for landscape, scenes, visual beauty; I suppose its part of the rewiring of my brain as a photographer, an artist. In truth there’s beauty all around, it’s just that maybe we miss it, don’t know how to see it, aren’t practiced. I resemble that. But it’s there if you know where to look. For instance, I love this sky, these clouds, the way the tree reaches up from the bottom. I don’t even know if this is a good photo, but I see something I like here. This could be anywhere really. But here’s a little secret. Below these trees are telephone poles, a parking lot, and a busy freeway. Only I decided to look up and see a little slice of beauty, and then click the shutter button.

Click on photo to enlarge

Two Palms

I've been taking a lot of autumn shots lately, mainly because I live in Florida and fall colors is something we miss out on. However what we don't miss out on are palm trees, they're everywhere. What I never realized before is how many species of palm there are. Not that I'm any good at identifying them, but the more you look the more you begin to notice the differences. Growing up watching Gilligan's Island I basically thought that all palm trees had coconuts. Boy was that ever wrong. So I decided to take a break from fall colors and post this image of a couple of palms near my home. Just don't ask me what kind they are.

I’ve been taking a lot of autumn shots lately, mainly because I live in Florida and fall colors is something we miss out on. However what we don’t miss out on are palm trees, they’re everywhere. What I never realized before is how many species of palm there are. Not that I’m any good at identifying them, but the more you look the more you begin to notice the differences. Growing up watching Gilligan’s Island I basically thought that all palm trees had coconuts. Boy was that ever wrong. So I decided to take a break from fall colors and post this image of a couple of palms near my home. Just don’t ask me what kind they are.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Below Rainbow Falls

About a week ago I took this from Gorges State Park, which is nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This spot is just below Rainbow Falls, which is just around the next bend. There was a good little hike that seemed longer than it was on account of all the slopes and switchbacks, but was well worth when we finally arrived. I’m so glad we have state and national parks that preserve wilderness and landscapes like this for the public. If not for that much of the lands would be private and inaccessible. But that’s certainly not a problem here as there were plenty of hikers enjoying the last days of fall before winter decides to take over for the duration.

About a week ago I took this from Gorges State Park, which is nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This spot is just below Rainbow Falls, which is just around the next bend. There was a good little hike that seemed longer than it was on account of all the slopes and switchbacks, but was well worth when we finally arrived. I’m so glad we have state and national parks that preserve wilderness and landscapes like this for the public. If not for that much of the lands would be private and inaccessible. But that’s certainly not a problem here as there were plenty of hikers enjoying the last days of fall before winter decides to take over for the duration.

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Autumn Sky

I arrived in Connecticut yesterday from Florida and was pleasantly surprised to see that autumn colors and leaves were still on display. For some reason I thought most of the Northeast had moved on to winter. This is the Farmington River in Windsor, just outside of Hartford.  As I drove around on a Sunday afternoon I saw several people (the few that weren't watching football) out raking the leaves. Perhaps a few kids jumped in the big piles of leaves this afternoon after school. I'm pretty sure that's what I would have done.

I arrived in Connecticut yesterday from Florida and was pleasantly surprised to see that autumn colors and leaves were still on display. For some reason I thought most of the Northeast had moved on to winter. This is the Farmington River in Windsor, just outside of Hartford. As I drove around on a Sunday afternoon I saw several people (the few that weren’t watching football) out raking the leaves. Perhaps a few kids jumped in the big piles of leaves this afternoon after school. I’m pretty sure that’s what I would have done.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Gorges State Park

This is Gorges State Park in North Carolina. There is a two or three mile loop that you can drive with a couple of lookouts across the Blue Ridge Mountains. This time of year the mountains are pretty much every other color than blue. That works! I took this after an amazing hike to a waterfall down in the gorge. I'll post that sometime soon.

This is Gorges State Park in North Carolina. There is a two or three mile loop that you can drive with a couple of lookouts across the Blue Ridge Mountains. This time of year the mountains are pretty much every other color than blue. That works! I took this after an amazing hike to a waterfall down in the gorge. I’ll post that sometime soon.

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Bean Point

This is Bean Point which is at the end of Anna Maria Island here in central Florida. When I arrived a group of people were watching the last remnants of a waterspout that seemed more a curiosity than any real danger. It's no wonder that meteorologists like this area. Changing subjects, I've recently come to learn that these tall grasses are known as sea oats. That's cool, but what I really want to know is if they're gluten free. Okay, that was dumb.

This is Bean Point which is at the end of Anna Maria Island here in central Florida. When I arrived a group of people were watching the last remnants of a waterspout that seemed more a curiosity than any real danger. It’s no wonder that meteorologists like this area. Changing subjects, I’ve recently come to learn that these tall grasses are known as sea oats. That’s cool, but what I really want to know is if they’re gluten free. Okay, that was dumb.

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Play Time

I am an unabashed dog lover and whenever I'm out with my camera I look for the interaction between humans and their pets. I was lucky because in this part of BC dogs are allowed on the beach, not so at the beaches where I live. Nevertheless I can imagine this is the best part of the day for this four legged, running along the water and chasing a ball. One of the best things about a dog is they're always ready to play, and that sense of joy is worth more than all the money in the world.

I am an unabashed dog lover and whenever I’m out with my camera I look for the interaction between humans and their pets. I was lucky because in this part of BC dogs are allowed on the beach, not so at the beaches where I live. Nevertheless I can imagine this is the best part of the day for this four legged, running along the water and chasing a ball. One of the best things about a dog is they’re always ready to play, and that sense of joy is worth more than all the money in the world.

Click on photo to enlarge

North Carolina in Autumn

Just got back from a quick trip up to North Carolina to see the autumn colors and the timing was just right. The Blue Ridge Mountains are in full display and every turn on the winding roads brings amazing scenes.  The rivers and streams are full from a recent snowstorm and the weather has warmed up so fishermen were out in numbers fly casting. North Carolina is indeed an awesome place and now that I know that I'll be planning a longer trip soon.

Just got back from a quick trip up to North Carolina to see the autumn colors and the timing was just right. The Blue Ridge Mountains are in full display and every turn on the winding roads brings amazing scenes. The rivers and streams are full from a recent snowstorm and the weather has warmed up so fishermen were out in numbers fly casting. North Carolina is indeed an awesome place and now that I know that I’ll be planning a longer trip soon.

Click on photo to enlarge