12-31-12 Seeing Blue

This is the pool at the resort we stayed at recently. And this is yet another HDR photo (3 in 1) that has also been adjusted a bit with Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and OnOne Photo Suite 7.

Yes, I Am . . .

The whole sentence is: "Yes, I am thinking of summer and sailing on Lake Oahe."

Congregation 2

Yesterday's photo was a macro close-up of a plant I could have held in the cupped palms of my hands. Today's plant is a likely relative of yesterday's, though this is no macro. These leaves could be measured in feet, not inches, and would need a small room to occupy.Everything about the cactus and succulent section of the Sherman Gardens in Corona del Mar, California, was captivating when I was there with Deb recently. But I was especially struck by the beautiful, strong southwestern light. These leaves are almost glowing - in part because of the reflected light bouncing off of the leaves and also because the leaves are slightly translucent. But it was soft blues and greens of this plant that attracted me to this scene. The sun was warm but the hues were cool.Incidentally, I am experimenting with a new app on my iPad and iPhone called iPhoto. To Mac users, it is nothing new. But it is new for our portable devices. One of the things it allows is the publication of something called "journals." Here's a link to my California journal.

01-23-12 Squall Line

I was out on the water and hoping the rain wouldn't come my way. It didn't.

Summer Blue

For the last two days it has been foggy and because of the snow cover, it has been mostly white.So I went looking for pictures of summer and this is what I found.I suspect that this is one of those photos that has more meaning to me than anyone else. (Translation: it's not a great photo but I like it.) But you do have to appreciate the pure blues of the sky and water in this photo.And you should have been with me the morning I took this. It was one of those quiet mornings on Lake Oahe that I dream about. It was cool but there was promise of warmth. The only sound was that of birds calling and of distant cattle lowing. You would think that a sailor would yearn for wind but as I'm sure I've said before, there is something pure and spiritual in floating quietly on a body of water in a place that is anything but empty.

Azul Picena

In other words, "blue pool."Canon 5DII 1/250s f/8.0 ISO100 17mm

Cloud Study ( iPhonography)

Deb and I spent part of our weekend at my in-laws' new lake home at Lake Okoboji in Iowa. While the weather was atrocious (windy and cold), the clouds produced by the bad weather were worth enjoying.

This shot was taken shortly after sunrise and, as has been the case lately, edited with Instagram on my iPhone.