Hole in the Sand

Hole in the Sand







I don't know what made it, but this is quite the borrowed out hole.

We discovered it shortly after the tide had gone out, and it had not yet been disturbed.

An abstract image that kind of looks like the capital letter "G".

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving







The preparations for tomorrow are all set.

The ham will go in the oven in the morning.

The family is set to arrive about noon.

And what a great afternoon we will have together.

Hope you all are enjoying this day with those who are special to you too!

ABC Wednesday - S is for Steeple

S is for Steeple............







Creating quite a contrast against the dark sky, this white church steeple stretches upward.

The sun was at such an angle that day that the polarizer turned the color of the sky to a deep dark blue.

It doesn't happen very often - all the conditions need to be just so - but what a surprise it was to see it.

An unexpected effect for sure!





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Atop Mount Washington - My World

Atop Mount Washington - My World







This image was taken several years ago - with a manual SLR camera and a roll of slide film.

We climbed Mount Washington, the highest summit in the northeast on a hot summer day on a motorcycle.

It was very windy and quite cold at the summit.

We left the tree line about half way up the mountain - all that was left on the barren top was lichen on the rocks - and how hardy that life form was!

It is said that on a crystal clear day, one can see the Atlantic Ocean which is over 80 miles away - as the bird flies.

It was an experience I will not forget - standing on top of my world for an afternoon.

Photo Tip Friday - Setting the White Balance

Photo Tip Friday - Setting the White Balance







In the days of old, we never had to worry about setting the white balance on our cameras.

But we did have to purchase the correct film for the lighting conditions that we would be shooting in.

Many of the point and shoot cameras today have an "auto" setting for the white balance, and the camera determines what it is before it takes the shot.

It somewhat works - most of the time.

But we have all seen those "yellow-hued" photos that we get sometimes when shooting indoors under artificial lighting.

The camera didn't choose too well that time.

These settings can all be set manually depending on where you are, and what the lighting conditions are.

My DSLR has outdoor settings that include bright sun, overcast, and shade. And I must remember each time I am outside to adjust for the correct setting.

There are also settings for indoor use and the different artificial lighting conditions.

The camera also allows one to make a custom white balance setting for any of these conditions.

The camera is aimed at a gray card and it determines the correct "balance" for the light.

It is more accurate, but I have found there to be little difference between that method and the preset ones in the camera.

Of course, I usually only shoot outdoors. If I did a lot of studio work, this method would be the one to use.

So if you find that you are sometimes getting some funky colored photos, or the colors don't look just right in the view screen compared to the actual scene, try adjusting your white balance.

It will make all the difference.

ABC Wednesday - R is for Rippled Sand

R is for Rippled Sand............







The tide was on it's way out and it left a unique rippled pattern behind in the sand.

The day was chilly - no little feet running around in the wet sand yet so I was able to grab this neat pattern before it was gone.

Totally sculpted by Mother Nature herself, no human could do a finer job.

The ocean's footprint in the sand.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

An Overdue Thank You

An Overdue Thank You







I owe a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to Dorothy L, over at Womens Self Esteem blog.

She has honored me by featuring my blog and website in her monthly newsletter.

This month she shared with us her thoughts as she prepared for her journey to return to her family in Canada.

She left us with some great quotes and beautiful videos as well - including one of my favorites - the Celtic Woman.

I wish her and her daughter a safe journey in returning to our northern climate and hope the settling in goes smoothly.

We all look forward to your encouraging words and thought provoking posts.

Take care, my friend!

Photo Tip Friday - Overcast Days

Photo Tip Friday - Overcast Days







Picture perfect days with blue skies and fluffy white clouds don't always work into our schedules when it comes to taking photos on a trip.

When having to work with what we have - it isn't always bad to have an overcast day.

A slight cloud cover at sunrise or sunset can make for some pretty dramatic colors.

Even though a cloud cover can make for less light, what is available is a more even light - no harsh shadows and contrasts to avoid or work around.

Landscapes can get a bit boring when the sky is all white - it gives a flat, washed-out look to the image, so try to include less of the sky in a landscape on a completely overcast day.

Even though it was overcast in the above landscape image, I still used my polarizer - and it was able to pick up a bit of definition in the clouds.

So not all is lost on an overcast day. By looking at things a bit differently, it can work out after all!

ABC Wednesday - Q is for Quiet

Q is for Quiet............







Nary a sound as this sailboat glided through the water.

An occasional puff of wind would flap the sail - but still much quieter than the boat engines that took us out to our fishing spot.

It was a pleasure to watch this boat float by - all powered by the wind.

No pollution, free power, and blessed quiet!





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Symmetrical Reflection - My World

Symmetrical Reflection - My World







Ultra smooth water without a ripple of wind.

Late afternoon sun that gives just the right atmosphere.

Clouds and trees reflected perfectly in the water.

Mother Nature at her finest makes for a great photo!

And I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

Photo Tip Friday - Other Details Too

Photo Tip Friday - Other Details Too







A bit of a different tip for today.

I love to explore new areas when taking photos, and I always try to make sure I have what I am going to need with me for my equipment.

For sure, I will always find something - even just walking under the power lines will yield something worth photoing.

New views, plants, rocks - my eyes are always open for something.

With the powerlines humming above us as we walk along, we stopped under one set to take a break - sitting on the concrete base so we are off the ground.

I'm interested in looking through the viewfinder, my husband is scanning the scenery for any wildlife.

Both absorbed in our actions, we were not paying too much attention to our very immediate surroundings.

And that was our downfall.

It's chilly outside and we are in a shrubby area with tall grass - and the soil is rather sandy.

Perfect for tracking the wildlife.

And perfect for one of nature's big menaces.

Ticks - lots of them.

I saw one on my husband - and he was just like velcro - no brushing him off.

Then I looked down - they were all through the grass and climbing up - towards me.

My first thought - I should have tucked my jeans in my boots, then sprayed all my clothing with repellent.

One of the details I forgot about - it will not happen again.

Need to think beyond just the equipment!

ABC Wednesday - P is for People

P is for People............







People photography is not something that I am very good at.

It takes me so long to get everything just so in the viewfinder, that my subjects loose patience with me very quickly.

And when they start getting agitated, it doesn't make for a very good photo.

So, other than family photos, I try to take unexpected people photos - from a distance, or just pieces of people.

Sometimes it's a hand holding something, or the side of the face.

Different, but it works for me, and of course, my poor impatient subjects!





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Fallen Leaves - My World

Fallen Leaves - My World







The trees are all bare now and the colorful leaves have spread their vibrant beauty on the ground.

Within a couple days they will be brown and dry.

But that is not all bad - I have always enjoyed hearing them crunch under foot as we walk over them in the yard.

The oaks will be the last to shed their leaves then the task of gathering them all up will begin.

Working on Etsy Shop

Working on Etsy Shop







I have been taking a closer look at Etsy lately and have decided to work on setting up a shop.

I opened an account there about a year ago but never really did anything with it.

After looking at some of the beautiful works of art from several blogs that I visit, I figured it would be another outlet, and it is really quite reasonable to list on there.

It is also very easy to list items on the site.

I have found that I need to resize my images - they are too large to upload the originals. It is an extra step that I will only do for certain photos.

It is still a work in progress for me, and if anyone has advice - I am all ears!

I have added a link to the side bar if anyone is interested.

I am happy to be a part of the Etsy community - there are some really talented artists out there!