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!