ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: NATURE

Nature~ my favorite photography subject.  And this is one of my all time favorite photographs.  This little green guy saw me long before I saw him, but he wasn't the least bit concerned by my presence.  He was perfectly camouflaged by the pond plant life and I only spotted him when he blinked.  Even as I inched forward for a closer shot he just floated lazily.  I had no doubt that he was aware of my every move. 

Okay, so its a close up of a green frog in a green pond.  Its got good color and the composition isn't too bad.  Those reasons aren't why its my favorite picture though.

I love this picture because for me its not a picture of a frog in a green pond.  Its a picture of visual contact.  The black and gold eye was seeing me at that precise moment.  I was watching nature and nature was watching me.  It didn't feel threatened by me.  It didn't run and hide.  In that moment in time I was a part of nature and that creature's life, and it didn't fear me.  It merely watched with curiosity and trust.  That is what I felt at that moment, and that is what I remember as I look at this picture and into the frog's bright eye.  That is why this is one of my favorite photographs.

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Nature

Tags: Round Robin Photo Challenge

HAWAIIAN SUNSET

Growing up in the islands kind of made me immune to the usual run of the mill touristy type photos but I don't care who you are, nobody can resist a sunset... especially one as brilliant as this one.  Next to dawn, dusk is my favorite time of the day when the world is winding down and preparing for the night.  I suppose I could have made a run to the other side of the island to get a shot of the sun as it sank below the horizon over the ocean but I found this silhouette of the palms against the gold and turquoise sky much more captivating.  Can you feel the warmth of the sun against your skin?  Its magical, this time of day, it really is.

Tags: Hawaiian Sunset

HAWAIIAN SUNRISE

These sunrise shots were taken on the same day, same beach just minutes apart.  At first the sun just peered from behind the thick cloud cover and I didn't think I would be able to get a shot at all but I chanced it anyhow.  I was pleasantly surprised to see Diamond Head in the distance.

In just a matter of minutes the entire coastline was lit up with the brilliance of the sun, giving the sky a rich apricot glow.  I wish I could share the soothing sound of the surf with you, or the heady aroma of salt as the waves washed up over the crystal sand.  I find it hard to hold on to stress when I'm at the beach in the morning, it always erases the chaos and offers a fresh beginning. 

Thousands of miles away in the mountains I now call home I find solace by standing beneath the tall pines, closing my eyes and listening to the sound of the breeze as it blows through the majestic boughs, echoing the whisper of the distant seas. Ah, the best of both worlds.

Tags: Hawaii, sunrise

ON FROZEN POND

I took this picture of Becca on the pond in early February when the Cattail Marsh pond was frozen over.  The brightness of the snow and ice threw my manual settings way off... something I really need to start checking before hand, but even after the proper adjustments were made I found that I liked the washed out version much better.

Now, one month later and 40 degrees warmer, the pond is already thawing and getting ready for the spring community.  The ducks and geese are returning by the flock.  It will only be a matter of time before the babies start making their appearance.  I love the springtime.

Tags: Cattail Marsh Colorado