Photography 101 (days 15-19)

Now for week 3 of Photography 101. I am really enjoying the themes each day and writing too. I continue to learn and grow and appreciate the continued support of my readers and family. I know this is a long post, but it is a great exercise for me each day. Thanks for following along.

Day 15- POP OF COLOR

Photo By: Carrie

Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, Arcata CA

We have now been in our new surroundings for four months. Long enough to watch the summer season meander into autumn. These flowers are everywhere along the beach shores. They were a beautiful pink in the summertime, full of color and promise. As the sun has begun to set earlier, not quite reaching the heights it did in late summer, these and many other wildflowers have softened in their appearance.

It is a simple yet brilliant reminder of the winter ahead. The slowing down, the dull colors of winter. Beautiful in its own inward way.

Day 16- ARCHITECTURE

Photo By: Carrie

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA

I may be cheating a bit here. I apologize if I am offending anyone. I follow many incredible photographers whose first love is architecture. I find a similarity in the way they approach a building or structure they want to photograph, as I do with trees. They notice the light, they walk around their subject, looking for unique angles and opportunities. They marvel at the design, the lines, the beauty of such a thing rising from the ground.

Photo By: Carrie

The forest is my city, I marvel at each trees unique design and work carefully to give each tree I photograph their moment in the spotlight. Part of today’s assignment was to share your image in both black and white and color. Which do you prefer?

Day 17- MOMENT

Photo By: Carrie

Hammond Trail, McKinleyville CA

Watching my child, lost in play, is one of my greatest moments as a mother. They live, fully, in the moment. I must keep my distance these days, they are more easily distracted by my presence then when they were younger. I know this is a fleeting moment, they will soon be retreating to their rooms or else where to play.

Each time I see one of my boys give themselves fully to a moment, especially out in nature, I am overcome with joy. Their pants and shoes caked with mud, their fingernails embedded with sand and dirt, their minds open to the world around them. At peace and doing their best work. Just as it should be.

Day 18- SWARM

Photo By: Carrie

A serious challenge…I decided my image is from the perspective as if I was part of a swarm of bees. A great landing spot, I think.

I moved away from so many swarms this summer, the traffic, people, neighborhoods, even freeways. There are few things swarming around me these days, that feels so good.

It is raining today, or I would have tried my hand at capturing the hundreds of birds enjoying the view from a wire in the farmlands or maybe even at the local marsh. But, I have yet to get a photograph of them. They move quick! Although, it feels like I need to make a point of capturing those birds…I will challenge myself when it isn’t raining buckets outside and share my results. No guarantees though. They are mighty quick and my camera is better at close-ups. It will be interesting.

Day 19- LANDSCAPE

Photo By: Carrie

Arcata Bottoms, Arcata CA

I have a good friend, who often reads this blog. I met her when we were pregnant with our first babies, 7 1/2 years ago. She had one of the most unusual jobs I had ever heard of. She would take a dairy cow and calf to local schools to introduce kids to where their milk comes from. For many kids, in the Los Angeles area, this was the first time they had seen a cow and calf.

When my family was planning our move up to Arcata, she came with me on a whirlwind trip. We drove 640 miles up and back in 3 days, she never complained,  we travel well together. I miss her, a lot. We all know, a true friend is a rare find. It was hard to move knowing our relationship would change.

My family has made the best of the sunny weekend days lately, when we go to “the bottoms” for a bike ride, we pass hundreds of cows grazing in the emerald grass. I always think of her, she was so happy to see these cows eating grass, near the ocean, having a good life.