Early Morning Thoughts

As I laid in bed this morning with one eye open, I began remembering hubby's comments on yesterday's glorious sunrise (which I missed). I hopped out of bed, peeked out the window and OMG, the sky was pink! Throwing on my clothes, I dashed out the door only to find it was fading fast. 

Oh well, I also wanted to capture my newly found 'old barn'. Just 2 miles away and in the city limits, it had been too well hidden by tons of farm machinery and junk until just recently. The corner was purchased by Walmart last year, much to the dismay of the rich folks that built new houses on the north side of the street. Now it was exposed in all it's glory. 

Since the sun was still behind the clouds, I first stopped for coffee and a breakfast burrito to go and went to park pond where I intended to just sit and BE (Finally, my word for 2015). I shot photos of the geese, other birds and the burr oak acorns. I gathered up a grocery bag full for still life shots and decided to process and post a sunrise photo for Instagram. 

(Mextures app)

While cruising my Instagram feed I found that my still life shot (from yesterday, second photo) was chosen along with @7seasphotography for the #mystillsundaycompetition that Kim Klassen hosts. I had such overwhelming emotions about this. These thoughts came to mind, I wrote them down and decided more artists need to hear this. It's still shaking me to the core.

(Snapseed, retrolux filter, Over)

Back to the barn, This shot was taken a few days ago in bad light and with a nasty sun flare. This is one of 5 totally different edits I did in Stackables and Lenslight. You'll have to tune in Monday for all the details on Mobile Art Monday.

Linking up with Barb for App Happy Wednesday. 

Linking up with Kim for Friday Finds.

Flowers of the Sun

Better known as sunflowers….
I have volunteers in my veggie garden and flower garden every year. This year they nearly took over the veggies. The finches visit every day and now the dove are gleaning from the ground.
Very few farmers plant sunflowers here. There are usually a few fields along a 7 mile stretch of FM 1585, but this year only one. This field held two varieties. Part was planted with the large heads and short stalks. Another part of the field was smaller flowers, taller plants.
I was hoping to photograph them this week as it appeared they were at peak when we drove by Saturday night. We had been out 'cloud watching'. Storms were brewing to the East and the sun was about to go down. I have a great iPhone shot and edit of these clouds with the sunflowers in the foreground, but you'll have to come back tomorrow for App Happy Wednesday.

This morning I woke up around 5:30 which is highly unusual. Since sleep didn't return it was the perfect chance to grab coffee and camera, leave hubby a note, and look for the light.
The large sunflowers were actually past their peak but I like these types of photos too. I will have to revisit when they turn brown.

Textured as shown with 2 of Kim's textures.

The smaller flowers were like those I'd photographed last year. They were the type that I found the sunflower with the heart. So I was on a mission to find another. A few came close. But not as perfect as last year's flower. This was the closest….

Then I found an eaten leaf. Perfect…..

A butterfly showed up…..

A sun flare...

And the farmer cultivated his cotton nearby...

I had almost forgotten to make use of the polarizing filter that was on my lens. This is SOOC. (straight out of camera) I should have bumped up my exposure a bit...

I was on my knees shooting up when another strange bug showed up. At first I thought it was a dragonfly. It was buzzing around rather high, nearly over head. It was too large for a dragonfly and it was making me nervous. I took a couple shots of it and it flew off. Vain imaginations ran through my head about it being a drone. (Seen too many movies lately.) Hubby said if it was a drone it, it would hover. Well it did hover… But hopefully it was a bug. If you recognize it let me know.

On the way home I got to photograph the horses that are never close to the road anytime I drive by. I caught them with a little rim light. kk_touchof-1 texture.

I should get up this early everyday… I had the freezer defrosted, some laundry done and a peach pie baked by noon! Thanks for coming along on my early morning adventure. 

All edits done in Lightroom.

Linking up with Kim for Texture Tuesday.

Gratitude Day 3

I'm grateful the sun shows up faithfully and sometimes surprises us with this.
I also grateful to be able to jump in the car with jammies still on, drive to the end of my street and get a view.

Friday Finds Oct 4

Another road trip to Amarillo this past Monday. This time early enough to find some awesome morning light. Good thing hubby was driving this time so I could snap away. 

Hope you won't be too bored. Most people hate this 2 hour drive across the FLAT plains. But I think the theme of the month is 'seeing', so this is what I see.

All photos are SOOC (straight out of camera) except one. I was intrigued that I was able to capture some that looked good enough not to touch up at all. I didn't even crop them so don't be too critical. Shutter speed at 500 or 750 for the morning shots.

 Rarely do I catch an interesting animal shot speeding down the highway.

I love prairie grass. Nearly as much as I love sunflowers. Especially when the light shines through it.

 A random flag.

 Did a little adjusting on this one with the old truck.

 Did I mention I love prairie grass? Especially the white gold this time of year. The only thing that could have made it better would be a stormy dark blue sky.

 I was glad TXDOT hadn't mowed yet.

On the way home the evening light was good to me. I stayed in Amarillo far longer than was planned and I was glad.

 I drove by myself, so I stopped whenever I felt like it. Even on the interstate.

As I passed by this I slammed on my brakes and looked around. No one was coming up the access road so I put it in reverse and backed on down the road so I was straight East of the 'pond'.

 Sometimes I feel very brave. Even the mosquitoes didn't threaten me much although they could have carried me away.

I love to shoot:

Trees (mostly dead ones)

Grass

Clouds

Old structures

Old vehicles

The really best part was cruising the antique shops on Route 66 with my friend Barbara. We found some cool stuff!

Three link ups today.

Friday Finds

Random Five Friday

Weekend Walks

Five Finds

1. I found strange little pumpkins growing in the garden that I did not plant. (Texture here)

2. I witnessed a glorious sunrise last Sunday morning. (iPhone, Snapseed)

3. Now that the sun has moved south, I found this wonderful morning light in the dining room. 

4. And yes, I found yet another field of sunflowers just opening.

5. But the best thing I was blessed to find this week was this butterfly. And I wouldn't have seen him if I hadn't gone out to chase a squirrel out of my yard. It's a Giant Swallowtail. They are considered pests in citrus orchards. I'm sure that's why I've never seen one before since there is no citrus around here. It would not hold still. Even when it was eating, it's wings were fluttering. I set my camera on 1/500sec and snapped away.

All edits in Camera Raw except the iPhone shot.

Linking up with Kim at Friday Finds and Nancy at Random Five Friday.