Beauty in subtlety

Even a muted sky can be beautiful. This one doesn't have the fiery reds and oranges of a classic sunset, but I'm loving the soft gray and periwinkle blue of this late afternoon sky.

Happy New Year!

Given my proclivity for photographing the sky, it comes as no surprise that my first post in the new year is of a gorgeous scene above our heads. I never tire of the changing sunlight and clouds and the awe-inspiring beauty they provide. May your 2020 be full of wonderful surprises.

Sky view from above

Flying in an airplane is certainly more commonplace than it used to be, but the concept still amazes me every time I fly. As a result, I always look out the window (my preferred seat is next to a window). On this particular flight, the sky was especially gorgeous, with big, pronounced clouds, and sunny spots alongside darker ones. I could not stop taking pictures--this one is one of my favorites.

October sky

I haven't posted in a while, and wouldn't you know it: I'm featuring a picture of clouds and fiery sunset colors. It goes to show, they never get old (at least in my book). This picture was taken the other night. We haven't yet had consistently cool weather, but that particular evening had a chill in the air which makes me want a fire in the fireplace. Maybe now that November has rolled around...

Evening sunset

Another gorgeous sunset in the country sky. I took this picture a couple of weeks ago, but we are lucky to often have fantastic sunsets. Maybe one day I'll make a collage of all the ones I've captured on film. (Haha! "Film." What an outdated term!)

Morning fog

The other morning I had a fairly early start on the day, and the sunrise through the trees was quite pretty. The fog added a layer of beauty and interest and made it feel even more as though I were experiencing the outdoors "waking up" for a brand new day.

San Francisco marina

A friend of mine and I had dinner together recently down by the wharf in San Francisco. When we were done, we stepped outside the restaurant to find a lovely sunset and this beautiful vista of the marina. Boat masts are always picturesque to me, but this shot seemed to really capture how pretty it truly was.

The colorful fall leaves have competition

The sunsets where we live are often quite beautiful, but the one last night was particularly gorgeous. I'm not sure whether it's the cool, crisp autumn air, or the recent full moon, or what, but wow.

Blazing sunset

We get the most amazing sunsets where we live. This one is from the other night. The cows across the street were quietly grazing under the beautiful pink, orange, and blazing yellow sky, not seeming to even notice the spectacular sight. But I did.

'Twas a misty, moisty morning

Do you remember that nursery rhyme? My mom used to recite it to us at times. Well, the other morning was certainly misty. And in the middle of a nearby field in the mist stood a gigantic bull. You might not be able to get the perspective from this picture, but he dwarfs the 3 cows to the right. Impressive!

North Carolina coast

Having grown up in North Carolina, I've been going to the NC beaches for years, and they never cease to amaze me with their simple beauty. The sand is so soft, the sky blue, and the water warm. How lucky I am to have spent a week recently on the coast. So many great photos, but this one captured a white sailboat in the distance, one of the few we saw despite the beautiful weather.

Fun in the surf

Here's another picture from last year's beach trip. I think this was the day we arrived, and of course the first thing to do is change into swimsuits, grab the boogie boards, and head to the ocean! Boy, that was fun, and we can't wait to do it again this year.

Happy Father's Day!

Summer officially starts Wednesday, schools are letting out, and kids are headed to the beach, camps, and other summertime activities. For me, I'm looking forward to a trip to the North Carolina beaches in a couple of weeks—seashell hunting, swimming, and just relaxing with family.

This picture is from last year of one of my nephews running through the surf to catch up with some of our fishing men (pint sized and full sized!) just as the sun was going down. Happy Father's Day!

Transit of Venus

Did anyone spy the Venus transit today? The western hemisphere was supposed to be able to see it around 6:00EDT today. I was not able to view it—too many clouds and no open vantage point, unfortunately. But this photo from National Geographic is quite something.

Sunset in Saratoga

Pink skies in last night's sunset over Fish Creek near Saratoga Lake. As I took pictures, Canada geese flew over the reflective water looking for their resting spot for the night. Quite peaceful.

Mares' tails

My dad calls these kinds of clouds mares' tails. The wispy, upturned edges were all across the Vermont sky last weekend. I'm sure they signify something about impending weather. I hope it's snow!

Rain on the lake

Today was sort of a dreary day, starting with fog and then turning into rain. I like days like these. This shot is of Gibson Pond in Maryland; don't know whether you can see the raindrops on the water. Very serene looking to me.

Fall berries

I don't know what kind of tree this is, but the plump, red berries are pretty, especially when poised against a blue sky. You can really see them now that the tree leaves have fallen, adding a different source of color to my favorite time of year.

Beautiful fall colors

 

The leaves are definitely changing, and the beautiful weather this weekend with bright blue skies, wispy white clouds, and a crisp breeze meant my camera was out at every turn. I love fall days like these. Several nearby maples were so vibrant I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Double rainbow

This past weekend on the Chesapeake Bay we were treated to 2 rainbows coming straight up out of the water—the colors of the one on the left were so intense at the base. But what I'd never seen before were the bands of light coming off the rainbow toward the imaginary center, sort of like the spokes on a wheel; you can see them here if you look closely. Spectacular.