Early morning light

High in the Colorado mountains, very early in the morning,

the sunlight was perfect for taking pictures.

Nature provided the colors.

Visit Lisa's Chaos for her 100th Macro Monday!

Learning

awarewriter said...

Very nice shot. It would be even better with a tight crop.

So I tried it and I have to agree.  Initially I liked the first shot because of the fuzzy llama in the background, but really the tighter crop is better.  I appreciate comments that help me learn!  So feel free to make constructive suggestions or comments.  I want to improve as a photographer.

Original crop of macro shot

A tighter crop

Lilac buds

It's been awhile since I posted to Lisa's for Macro Monday, but getting outside with the camera is so much more pleasant now that the weather is warming up!

It begins.....

Winter is official even if the calendar says wait until December.  It was very cold last night.  It will probably look like this in my front yard until April.  Some years it's much deeper than this, some years it's not.  We shall see.

A magpie checks out the fog and snow from up high.

Flowers put on their snow caps.

I struggle with maintaining a cheerful attitude about winter, but it's My World with a little Macro Monday thrown in.

Taking a closer look

There are many shapes and textures on the beach.

I just love the light shining through the shell.

Chains get rusty from all that salty air.

For more close up shots take a trip to Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos.

Paying attention...or not

One would think that a wannabe photographer would pay attention to the world around her.  I thought I did but realize now that I really don't.  Last week I walked right by a great big brand new barn and didn't notice it!  My friend, Curt, who put it up was rather incredulous and said kindly, "Loran, you need to be mindful."

I took this picture yesterday because you can see the little nest inside the birdhouse (click to enlarge).  My daughter mentioned there was a bird inside when it was nesting.  I saw it but didn't pay attention then either.  Now the little bird family is gone and I missed the whole experience.

Now I'm wondering, how much of my world is right under my nose but unobserved.  Mindfulness is a practice I could spend a little more time on.

"I gave myself to the dance, and all the while I could hear distinctly the transit of the stars, the shifting of the tides, the racing of the wind." --Haruki Murakami

What am I going to miss today?

Check out where other people are putting their attention at My World Tuesday or Macro Monday.

Random pictures without random thoughts

Check out other macros shots at Lisa's Chaos for macro fun.

An invitation

""Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly;

"Tis the prettiest little parlor you ever did spy.""--Mary Howitt

View other interesting close up shots at Macro Monday.

Pine Cones

Doesn't this pine cone look like a man with a moustache? Or perhaps a gnome hiding in the tree?

New summer growth, a pine cone in the making.

I love my macro lens and apparently other people do too! You can find their close up shots at Macro Monday.

Up close and personal with geysers

A warning sign about the fragility of the ground off the boardwalks, but look at how pretty it can be!

Lots of other people like macro shots and post them at Lisa's Chaos, check here!

Can't decide....macros or landscapes?

Other macro lovers can check out Macro Monday here.

So much better than snow

Almost a daisy

Sticky tofieldia

Bleeding hearts

Yellow pea

Phlox

To check out additional flower shots see Today's Flowers or for more macro shots, visit MacroMonday.

Wildflowers

Janie and I must be on the same wavelength, or else we both just like wildflowers.  There are so many in the desert!  I imagine we'll be posting claret cups simultaneously as well.

Oregon blueberries start out with yellow flowers.

These are very tiny little flowers that look like wild strawberries but I don't think they are.

One of my favorites, Indian Paintbrush.

For more macro shots, check out Macro Monday (hopefully Lisa has time to put it together.)

Thanks to David for the honorary acknowledgement!  

Aspirations

"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.

  Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."

Pamela Vaull Starr

For more macro shots, check out Lisa's Chaos or post your own!