I’m a sky watcher. I just love the ever-changing colors and textures of the sky. Especially during sunrise and sunset.
Unfortunately, I’m not great at capturing them. I mean, I’ve gotten some interesting shots. But there’s got to be a way to capture the colors in the sky without ending up with too much light.
The problem with both is that the sun is usually glaring right into your camera. Automatic settings will adjust for that light, so everything else will be too dark. Adjust for the darker sky and you let WAY too much light into the camera. Sigh…
The sunset as seen from Port Aransas on Sunday was amazing. Yes, Janet, I was thinking of you!
I didn’t plan ahead. I just happened to notice the colors in the sky as I left the restaurant where’d I’d eaten dinner. So I drove over to the eastern side of the island, found a spot overlooking the bay, and grabbed a couple of pics. A “couple” in this case means about 60. LOL.
Colorful sky, captured with the zoom lens.
To be honest, the cloud cover had been so low and dense for most of the day, I didn’t expect to see much of a sunset. As you can see in the next pic, the cloud cover was quite low on the horizon..
Low, dense clouds. Captured with wide-angle lens.
I snapped some images in quick succession, alternating between the zoom and wide-angle lenses.
I’d about given up, thinking it couldn’t get much prettier, when the sun made an actual appearance as it dipped lower.
Here comes the sun.
I had to edit these pics a bit to get the lighting right. And flatten my horizon. That’s another issue I sometimes have, remembering to make sure my horizon is flat.You know, so the world isn’t unnaturally tilted.
One day, I’ll figure out the proper camera settings for this light…
Fiery sky.
Nature’s pink palette.
The sun was moving quite fast, so I didn’t have time to dally.
One of my favorites, since you can see the blues in the sky, too.
I’m glad I noticed the wave clouds in the distance. I think this next image captures them perfectly.
Wave clouds.
Isn’t it funny how the sun looks like a pixelated, flattened ball?
My favorite. I think.
Which shot do you like best?
My next post will have more critter pics. I’ll bet you just CANNOT wait. LOL.
Yet another week has FLOWN by. I can’t believe it’s Friday already.
It was a sorta uneventful week. Unless you consider our Spring snowstorm here in the land of “this Winter will NEVER end.”
I actually was busy at work this week. And in the evenings, I’ve been crafting again. The craft of the week being sewing. I’ll share pics of the finished product here one day.
Wintry weather and that craft-project-with-deadline kept me inside most of the week. But yesterday, knowing I had a Hit Me With Your Best Shot post to do today, I decided to take my camera along on an errand.
In my opinion, none of the images I captured this week are real stand-outs. But since I’m supposed to be sharing my one best shot, and I usually share several, I feel like I have to at least choose a favorite. Here it is… a little faerie in the window of Earth, Glaze, and Fire waiting to be painted.
Faerie
Earth, Glaze, and Fire is a paint-your-own pottery and fired arts studio that recently moved into a suite of shops at 92 Main Street in Old Town Warrenton. It’s the same suite of shops that houses my friend Janet’s shop, The Empty Nest.
This little line-up of trolls was in the same window. They made me smile.
The Lineup
Going to Janet’s shop was actually the little errand I referred to.
Janet doesn’t just sell Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and supplies. She has a vast array of other cool stuff, from vintage pieces of furniture to antique china, flowers, boot toppers, amazing flannel shirts, door handles and drawer pulls, note cards… it’s a LONG list. I absolutely love what she’s done with her store. It’s fun poking around.
While she was busy, I moseyed around her shop, capturing what I think are fun images.
I didn’t t know what sort of image I’d end up with here, but I liked this cluster of birds. Although it’s dark, I like the end result.
Waiting in the Shadows
Of course the birds aren’t real, but doesn’t it look like a bunch of birds huddled in the dark, waiting for the light of Spring to shine upon them so they can emerge?
Here’s a scene that ALWAYS makes me smile…
Happy Chicks
I just love those fat, goofy, and happy-looking chicks. I don’t decorate my house for Easter, but if I did, I’d take these two home with me. How can you not smile at them?
Speaking of Easter…
Easter is in the Air
Someone gifted Janet with this amazing, light-blue, feather tree. It’s the coolest thing. It wouldn’t “go” with my decor at home, but I really like that little tree. Especially when it’s got these cute yellow peeps clipped onto it.
I was torn between my two favorite feather tree captures. To spare myself the agony of having to choose between the two, I just shared both of them.
Cute Chick
I was experimenting with different camera settings, shooting this chandelier. Again, it’s dark, but I like the little spots of Bokeh light in the back.
Spots of Light
It’s sort of funny that my theme for the week seems to have ended up being things that make me smile. I guess that’s my way of justifying NOT getting out to capture more substantial and/or impressive subject matter.
Although this last shot doesn’t make me smile. Okay, maybe it makes me smile a little.
Climatic Confusion
Don’t you think the birds on my flag look confused as it snows again?
We may finally be done with the frozen, white stuff. There are some distant rumblings of potential snow later next week, but I’ll be away. Woo hoo! If it does snow, I’ll miss it.
I have a work trip coming up at the end of next week. I have to be at my corporate headquarters on Thursday afternoon and Friday.I’m looking forward to some face time with co-workers. There are several I haven’t met in person ever and others I saw last in January 2012. I’m excited. 🙂
I may not be doing a HMWYBS post next week. But, since I wisely decided to extend my trip through Monday to take advantage of the warmer climate and do some exploring, I should have some good images to share the week after that.
Don’t forget to visit Nancy’s Hit Me With Your Best Shot post to see what others have shared this week. This photo challenge hasn’t caught on with many folks yet, but I’m hopeful more people will participate one day. In the meantime, at least it gets me out there shooting.
I may sound whiny, but the truth is, we’ve had some CRAZY weather this year. Snow, snow, ice, and more snow. Interspersed with a teaser nice day here and there.
Last Saturday (March 15), it was sunny and pleasant with temps in the upper 60s. Sunday, a snowstorm hit. By mid-morning on Monday there were 10 inches of snow on the ground.
Temperatures today are supposed to be in the 60s, and we may even hit 70 on Saturday. But there’s a winter storm headed our way. Tuesday we might see more snow. Can you believe it?
Anyway… I haven’t been out much, but I did have a more interesting week than usual. My friend, Brad, visited for the weekend. We actually did a hike and picnic in Shenandoah National Park. I introduced Brad to some local Longhorns. I gave him a town tour, too. All in all it was a lovely weekend, during which I captured my shots to share for this week’s Hit Me With Your Best Shot challenge.
The first one is my favorite. I’m a sucker for blue skies.
Hemlock Canopy
Lichen-covered Boulder in Creek
Rock
Genetic Mutant or Unfortunate Camera Angle?
Funny, I didn’t notice the four-horned steer when I shot that picture. I didn’t even notice it when I looked at the on-screen image for the first time.
Watchers
Those two never took their eyes off of us. Maybe they were on guard duty?
Crocus Blanket
This amazing carpet of crocus, which has to be VERY old, amazes me every year. These images were captured on Sunday, before the snow hit. Much of the snow has melted and, I’m happy to say, a lot of the tough little flowers survived.
Crocus Blanket
I can’t help but wonder just how old those flowers are. I mean, I know crocus spread, but they don’t spread that fast. And they are a bit unusual, too, which makes me think it’s an heirloom variety. I’d love to know when they were planted. The entire yard is covered. The flowers are also spreading into a neighboring yard and back behind the houses.
Locals, you can see this for yourself on the lot between 162 and 178 Main Street, across from the Mosby Museum.
This past weekend my friend, Brad, came for a visit. He arrived on Thursday evening, but had to entertain himself on Friday as I was working. Friday evening, he, Mike, and I went to our favorite local dining establishment — El Toro! — for a yummy dinner. Saturday, Brad and I left Hubby at home — he has a project going in his workshop — and went on a hike.
Trail Marker
Brad slept in on Saturday, so I had plenty of time to research the right hike. I opted for Whiteoak Canyon. The guidebook described the trail, which provided access to Whiteoak Falls, as not too strenuous, but did warn that the hike back up to the trailhead was a bit steep in spots.
There’s nothing like a waterfall hike to make you realize just how badly out of shape you are!
We stopped at Safeway here in town for some picnic fare — cheese, sausage, a baguette, olives, peppadews, and water — and then drove out to the park. It’s quite convenient living just 35 miles from the park’s Thornton Gap Entrance.
Bradley
Temperatures were in the upper 50s/low 60s on the trail, which, in my opinion, is perfect weather for a hike.
Naked Trees
It’s still winter, so most of the trees are still bare. The big, dead tree (aka snag) I suspect is an Eastern Hemlock. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, “Unfortunately, the hemlock woolly adelgid, an introduced insect, is taking a heavy toll on this species.” Sadly, there were quite a few snags in the forest.
Some of the deciduous trees were starting to bud.
I LOVE the sound of a fresh mountain stream.
Mountain Stream
After we’d walked a ways, we spotted a group of large boulders beside a pool, which made perfect seats for our picnic.
Downed tree full of Pileated Woodpecker holes.
It was also a good spot for some photos.
Lichen-covered rock.
Do you see a face?
Colorful Lichen
Brad examining the woodpecker holes.
Old Friends
Picnic Pool
Fungi
Patterns in Nature
Baby Hemlock
Heart Rock
Clear Water
Fungi
Fungi
I’m not sure we ever made it to the lower falls. I’ll have to hit that trail again soon. Perhaps when the Mountain Laurel is in bloom.
By the time we’d finished eating, it was getting late. I wanted to show Brad a bit of Fauquier County and we still had to get home in time for dinner.
We exited the park at Thornton Gap, headed east toward Warrenton and then north on 522, through Flint Hill, to Hume Road. I was hoping the longhorns were out at the Marriott Ranch. They weren’t, but we did spot a small herd on Leeds Manor Road.
Of course, we had to stop for a closer look. And pictures.
Longhorn
Longhorn
Brad
Longhorn with REALLY big horns.
Young’uns
Young Tri-color
After a brief bovine visit, we continued on.
It was a lovely, lovely day. Brad and I have known each other for 32 years. We don’t get to see each other nearly as often as we’d like. We’ll both treasure this weekend for a long time.
I hope you were able to get out and enjoy some nice weather, too. Barely 24 hours later, we were hit with yet another snowstorm that dumped 10 inches of the cold, wet, white stuff behind.
It’s been an interesting, but VERY busy week. Luckily, I was able to capture some images worthy of a Hit Me With Your Best Shot entry.
Work was intense this week, made more so by my taking Tuesday off to visit with my dear pals, Carol and Tracey. It was an unplanned opportunity to visit that I just couldn’t pass up. We each live in different states now and don’t see each other nearly as often as we’d like. Then, on Thursday evening, my friend, Brad, arrived for a weekend visit. I have declared this old friends week. Pics of Brad will hopefully be shared in my next enrty.
My favorite capture of the week is this one… sunrise over the Potomac at the Harry Nice Bridge.
Nice Bridge
It looks a bit industrial thanks to the Morgantown Generating Station. But the colors are still pretty, no?
Day’s Awakening
I left Carol’s house bright and early on Wednesday so I could get back to my office for work. The sky was coming alive as I left her neighborhood, approaching the river crossing where I hoped to capture a fuller sky view.
Moon Over Budding Trees
Temperatures on Tuesday were in the mid-70s. It was lovely. My girlfriends and I sat outside and soaked up the warmth while we enjoyed each other’s company.
L-R, Tracey, Me, and Carol
Bird Feeding Station
Since we hadn’t managed to get together for Christmas or birthdays, we exchanged gifts that afternoon. One of Carol’s gifts to Tracey was a book about American farmers. The cover really caught my eye.
Our lovely — NOT! — Winter weather continues, so I haven’t been out much. I did manage to capture a few cool images for this week’s Hit Me With Your Best Shot challenge that are share-worthy.
One of the two images tied for my favorite.
The other of the two images tied for my favorite.
Artsy shot of reverse frozen dog prints.
Frog planter with attitude.
It’s a happy looking planter when full of flowers, but he sure looks grumpy with snow on his head.
Speaking of snow… I went to shovel the front steps the other day, and all of the girls decided to “help.”
Snow removal crew.
Snow removal goes REALLY slow when it’s being lifted by the mouthful. Even if there are three mouths.
So those were my captures for the week.
As for the first two shots… There were actually quite a few interesting wrastling shots, so I decided to post them as a series.
