Black and White

My new photography class is Picture Black and White, and I'm really enjoying it.  I find removing the color from some pictures adds a dimension of emotion that wasn't there before.  It seems to add a melancholy tone.

Enjoy.

The rewards of stopping.

We were on our way home.  We had spent the morning tubing in the snow, had stopped to eat lunch, and were heading down, trying to beat rush hour traffic home.  And then we saw it.  A gorgeous vista.  Snow kissed trees.  Fog cascading down from the mountain top.  And we stopped.  We stopped to take it all in.  So glad we did.

Inspired by the rain.

I love how the air smells after a good rain.  Clean and crisp.  I love how after the rain colors seem brighter and the trees and grass are full of the sparkle of raindrops.   It rained all night, and this morning the sun was shining.  I was inspired.

Update.

These are some of my favorite pictures since my last post.  I'd love to know what you think.

New Photo Project

So, I have started a new photography project.  It's called Picture the Holidays, and it's aimed at keeping some joy and delight in the holidays, and not allowing the insanity to take over.  I get a prompt each day to take a photograph.  I have been particularly bad at taking pictures on a regular basis lately, and so this works to get me back behind my camera every day too.

Today's prompt is titled Holding onto Gratitude.  Basically, think about all the things that you are grateful for, and take a picture of one of them.

This is my picture:

I'm grateful for a year that has taught me the difference that a change in perspective can make. Be it in my thinking patterns, or my photography, a change in perspective can result in a unique, fresh view of the world.

Visiting the apple orchards.

We went up to Oak Glenn this week-end for some apple picking.  I have to confess we didn't pick many apples, but we pressed our own apple juice.  And played in the pumpkin patch. And wondered the raspberry patch.  It was fun, and we all got a little sun.  

Jewels in the morning.

I woke this morning to a gentle rain.  Wonderful.  The kids and I decided it was gentle enough that a walk to school was in order.  I love to walk in the rain.  All the trees, flowers and leaves glisten in the light, and we walked passed the most perfect spider's web, resplendent with rain drops.  When we got home, I picked up my camera and went on a treasure hunt.