Spotlight - Gull's Beach

They moved as one. Scores of gulls banded together and covered the sky with one swoop. To be the lone witness was humbling.

Spotlight - Bokeh

Budding leaves reach for a river of hearts.

Seeds are sown and love is grown.

Spotlight - Spring's Breath

Spotlight - Dream's Echo

Waking up, I remember my dream but not very clearly and not all at once. Echos of scenes scroll through my mind like snippets on repeat.

Spotlight - Pedals

Though not often photographed, this is a beautiful and integral part of the piano. 

Spotlight - Fret

There is something deeply intimate about this image. I wonder if I should look away. Maybe it was not mine to capture. But I cannot turn my gaze.

Spotlight - Aging

Wrinkled and worn, she wondered if she should retreat. Her time of reaching into hearts might be over. On the contrary, as people passed by, they stopped...and stayed. They couldn't turn away from her depth and tenderness.

Spotlight - Daisy Woodlands

I wandered through the most magical of woodlands today...

Spotlight

What in the World?

Are you ready for another puzzle? If you think you know what this is, comment below.

Spotlight - Growing Around

Walking along the new trail by our place, I noticed that over time branches had grown around the fencing. I don't meaning weaving in and through the spaces; I mean around, encompassing, swallowing, consuming. The wire had become part of the tree.

This makes me wonder what I have grown around, allowed to become part of me.

This branch is just starting to form around the wire but given time, this dead rusty fence will become part of the living branch.

Picture Window

A picture window. A room with a view. It doesn't matter where you live or how you live, a great front window is of appeal...maybe from both sides of the pane.

I shot this scene in Manitoba in late winter/early spring. The snow had found its way into the ground...but barely.

I shot at 1/125 with an aperture of f/4.5. I bumped my ISO to 200 as it was a darker day and I wanted to keep everything well exposed.

Choosing to place the cabin off center adds more interest, makes room for the background ~ where this cabin lives. The foreground is unobstructed and a good balance to the rest of the picture's stimuli.

Spotlight - Splash

Rose petals or a splash of milk? Could there be an Oreo at the bottom of this tall glass of cold creamy milk?

Spotlight - Breaking Free of Winter

Reaching for spring, these sprouts finally break free of winter's hold.

These tulip leaves have their bling on. Pops of pink are all the rage this spring. These leaves will not be outdone, not even while waiting for their beautiful blooms to appear.

There is no greater Love than this.

Postcards!

I've just listed two brand new items in my Etsy shop...postcards! Buy one to surprise a friend in the mail and another to matte and frame for your office, living room or studio.

Esplanade Riel

Cabs

Spotlight - Moon

The moon reflected the morning's sun so beautifully today. The light was exceptional, casting a teal hue to the sky and brushing the moon with golden pink.

What in the World?

Here's a new puzzle for you to solve! This one is a little easier than some others. I figure that is fair, seeing as there is still one puzzle waiting to be solved.

What can this be? More to the point, what is it?

Spotlight - Out of Service

I'm still trying to figure out what is out of service in this picture. Painted on the wall, these words tell me something is no longer working but I can't be sure what that is. Nonetheless, I think it makes for an interesting picture. Something works, is still in service, impacting people in some way, even a small way. After all, you are here because you wanted to see it.

Spotlight - Unusual Pairings

Can botanicals be paired with urban art? When I was shooting some of my work for my shop, I stumbled upon a most unusual marriage between these two very different styles of art.

This inspires me to see connections between what might have seemed to be unrelated before. The doors swing wide to possibility!

Here is the botanical image:

Here is a traditional composition for my Etsy shop:

And finally, here is what happens when botanical meets urban:

Spotlight - Complicated

She is a complicated beauty. So breathtakingly sweet, you long to be near her. Take tender care or she may whither. Grab hold too tightly and you may feel the pain.

Complicated

Spotlight - Water

I love to watch people watch. More than that I love to watch people watch water. And, I love to watch water.

Here are a couple of images of people, older people, watching water. They are content to sit and while away the time watching water, maybe even silently, and together.

Spotlight - Black and White

I opened my curtains to a blanket of snow this morning. I won't let my thoughts (or pictures) return to shovels and toboggans. Instead, I will post a picture of a flower. This image is intentionally bold and dramatic. Squeaky wheel...

Spotlight - Bridge

I feel as though there is a bridge in front of me...a bridge to the next thing. It will take courage to take a step onto the bridge for I don't really know where it will take me. In many ways, in all ways, it is a leap of faith, stepping onto the bridge. I believe that taking leaps, or steps of faith is the way to go, the best way to go. Waiting until the next thing is a sure thing means I'll be waiting a long while. Instead I will trust in the One who made me. He has good plans for me so...I'll take that leap of faith.

Here I am on that first board you see here, moving forward.

What in the World?

Alright, you puzzle solvers, can you guess what this is? If one of my previous posts is any indication, I'm not so sure. Are you up for the challenge?

Spotlight - Sunsets and Water

Everyone likes to watch a good sunset. People stop what they are doing, even if they are inside and pass by a window and notice the sky's colours; they will stop and stare. From this image, it would seem that it is not only people who will stop to watch the sun fall below the horizon. I wonder, do birds notice beauty?

Spotlight - Lamppost

Spotlight - Swing

Are you ready to swing into spring? Maybe you've already started and feel as though you're well into this season. I'm just starting, myself.

We're swinging with the temperatures these days. One day I see many wearing shorts (mostly those who are considerably younger than myself) and then it is back to flurries and watching my breath find its way out of my mouth.

But soon enough, the temperatures will match what I think should be spring.  In the meantime, how are you swinging into spring? Maybe it involves a good house cleaning, yard work, getting outside and pulling that bbq cover off and scrubbing the grill clean of winter. Or maybe you have a spring dance, a tea or shopping trip planned. Do tell. How are you swinging into spring?

Swing

Spotlight - Robin

Up until now, I had only heard them. This is the best way to encounter them for the first time each spring. To have both sound and sight all at once is not as good as hearing their song alone to start. The anticipation builds. You know you'll see them soon but you wait for their appearance.

Today, I saw two; two fat robins hopped about on my front lawn. I was fast enough with the camera this morning to catch one through my lens.

What in the World?

Are you good at solving puzzles? I know my last What in the World has not yet been solved. I think you'll all have to spend a little more time polishing those thinking caps. If you've given up on the last one, here is a new one for you to try and guess.

Spotlight - Procrastination

Procrastination is not always my friend. In fact, it is not often my friend. But in this particular circumstance it was a very good friend.

Last fall, I didn't get around to cleaning out my flower pots before the snow came. They sat on my patio and gradually were buried beneath what seemed like mountains of snow this past winter.

As I wandered through my back yard this afternoon (don't be deceived, it is not so big) I noticed these pots. In two of the pots, last summer's curvy spiky plants caught my eye (no idea of the name - just buy plant-type things based on how they look). One of them had died but the other had new green shoots. I could hardly believe it! Not only did this crazy thing overwinter, but the other crazy thing was really quite beautiful in its wonderfully weathered, albeit dead, state.

See, sometimes it pays off to put things off, but hardly ever.

Spotlight - Food

They say it is important to eat a balanced breakfast and I have to agree. There is no better way to ready your body for the day ahead. This is nothing if not balanced! ;)

Spotlight - Shoes and Stories of Shoes

Shoes can tell a story all on their own. It may be fact. It may be fiction, but shoes tell a story. Look down at your feet. What story can be told? Make a point of noticing other's footwear today, just for fun. What kinds of stories can you come up with? If you have a camera handy (I'm looking at my niece in particular on this one but it goes for the rest of you too), snap a picture, share it with someone along with your story...better yet, share it with me! I'd love to see. :)

Spotlight - Daisy

This bloom is a little flirty and most certainly happy. Fluttering about, she beckons me closer while keeping her heart just out of reach. She is playful.

What in the World?

Puzzle solvers, take a look at this! What do you see? More importantly, as it is not art just for the sake of art, what is it, really? Can you guess? Have I stumped you?