Focus on Life - Quiet Calm

It's week 6 for the Focus on Life 2014 Weekly Photography Challenge and Sally over at the Studio Sublime has given us the theme of "Cabin Fever" for the month of February and our prompt this week is:

Quiet Calm

 

 

 

"The world begins to emerge from its wintry blanket quietly, calmly.  Subtle cues emerge with very little notice. For this week's photo assignment we will focus on the quiet calm of the world re-energize around us."

 

Well, for those of you experiencing the winter blanket coming back to hit you yet again this week - I feel for you.

 

Here in the desert of central Arizona, we're getting hit with possible record breaking temps and it's going to be topping out this week in the mid to upper 80's.

 

Just like those of you who are tired of winter, we're ready for winter to actually begin.

Or 'semi-continue' as I heard someone say.

 

With our warmer temps, things have really started to bloom.

The trees that line the streets of my subdivision, which just finally lost all their leaves around mid-January, are starting to bud and bloom again and little signs of bright green are bursting from their naked little branches.

 

I traveled to Tucson last week/weekend for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows and our friend's that we stay with have lots of cacti in their yard and surrounding area. I went for a little 'walk about' and found some great colors in the 'Quiet Calm' of the desert.
 

 

 

 

I hope you are all having a great week and staying warm where it's cold and 'chillin' where it's hot!

 

Please take a look around and see all the great shots everyone else captured this last weekend, won't you?

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and The Quiet Calm of the Desert!

Cheers,

~Shel~

FOL2014 - Week 5 - Get Outside

Our host, Sally, from the Studio Sublime, gives us a new focus each month for our "Focus on Life 2014" weekly photography challenge.

 

For February our focus is: 

Cabin Fever

 

And, for week 5 of 2014, our prompt is:

 

Get Outside!

 

Sally shared a few words with us for this week's prompt.

 

"We find ourselves in the dull-drum of winter.  This month we will break free of those feelings and focus on the fabulous-ness of February!  Sometimes the perfect fix for temporary relief of cabin fever is simply to get outside, even if you just step out on the porch.  Get out of the house and focus on the change cooler temps bring to your surroundings."

 

So, for week 5, you're instructed to:  Get Outside!

 

I really feel for all the folks around the country who are getting tons snow, ice, sleet, freezing rain, and things of this nature - it's just super crazy!

You will definitely want to 'click to enlarge' these sunrise pics! :-)
Nope - no enhancements - just cropped and framed them in Pixlr.
And, Yes - it was really this vibrant and breath-taking!

 

 

But here in the Arizona Desert, well,...we're having some really nice, really warm weather  - record braking on some days. It's been in the high 70's and even hit 80 I think.

 

 

 Hopefully this is not a precursor to what's coming our way from Mid-April through late October. I'd hate to think that our average temperature for this time of year is going to be in the 120's vs. our normal average of about 105 to 110 or so.

 

 

But, once it's over 110 it pretty much all feels the same.

Probably like when it dips below -5, with wind chill factors of -40, cold is cold. Ice is ice. It hurts to breathe!

 

 

So, I feel for those of you suffering.

 

I'm really glad and extremely thankful to live where I do.

At least this month anyway.

:-)

 

 

Our Sunrises and Sunsets here in Arizona are among
the most beautiful in the world (IMHO) and on Thursday morning I looked out the window as I was fixing my coffee to see the absolute best sunrise starting to come alive.  I rushed to get my phone and went outside and started snapping away.

Sorry, but I couldn't decide on just one of the photos
I snapped and had to show you all of them!

 

I hope those of you in the wake of all this crazy-silly cold weather can stay inside, stay warm and stay safe.

Feel free to use any of these as your screen saver.
That's what my niece and sister did!
LOL! ;-)

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Sharing The Warmth!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

FOL 2014 - Week 4 - Word(s)

It's week 4 already (where's January gone in such a hurry, huh?!) in the Focus on Life:2014 weekly photography challenge created by Sally from The Studio Sublime.

 

We're still going with the minimalistic approach this week and Sally's prompt was:

 

WORD(S)
 

 

 

 

"There are so many words, a simple grouping of letters that bombard us everyday, that impact our everyday life.  They make us think, effect our purchasing of items and influence how we view ourselves.  This week we will focus on words.  What word speaks to you, makes you laugh, makes you feel good about your being and who you are in that moment.  Is there a word that stands out, you find interesting, you think is fun to say." Side Note:  (OPTIONAL PROMPT ALTERNATIVE) This photo prompt is about words in general and I know a few of you choose a word as a guide through the year.  Please feel free to use your "one little word" for this prompt if you would like.  

 

I kept seeing words all week that caught my attention.

 

But, there was one that stood out above

all others.

 

I think John Lennon said it best.

 

All You Need Is,....

 

I wrote the letters and used one of my hubby's hand-poured pewter PEACE pendants for the 'O'.
I then photographed it and edited it by playing with textures like Sally showed us this week!
It was a fun little project!

 

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace and LOVE!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

FOL2014 - Week 3 - Black and White Self Portrait

 

 

 

 

It's week 3 for the Focus on Life 2014 weekly photo challenge and we're sticking with the minimalist's way of thinking.  As Sally put it, this week we're going to "use the minimum to get the most" and capture a "beautiful black and white photo of ourselves".

 

Man, Sally knows just how to get all of us where it hurts! 

 

Self Portraits.
(Every one's favorite, right?!!)

 

I do have to give her credit though.

At least with the black and white minimalistic approach, you can't see as many of my wrinkles and all those icky blotches and scars on my skin from too many years of poisoning myself with the sun's rays aren't so harsh!
 

 

So, here I was figuring out how the heck to use the 'reverse' photo thing on my phone,...

Keeping with the minimalistic approach
here I am 'sans-jewelry'

I'm using my phone because I needed the practice taking more photos with it. I no longer have my iPhone - Logan has it now - but an htc rezound and I think it takes much better pics (usually) than my iPhone ever did.

Although these, for whatever reason, are a bit more blurry than normal. Sorry about that.
 

 

Okay,...here we go.

Steady,...and snap.

 

And, here I am making faces at Sally and
'scolding" her for making us take 'selfies'!

LOL!!



 

 

It was fun playing around with the Black and White edits, but I think I like my actual camera over my cell phone when I'm going to edit photos.

I'm excited to see everyone else's photos because I know they are going to be super artistic, creative, fun and fantastic!!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Having Fun with Photos. Even Selfies!

Cheers,

~Shel~

FOL 2014 - Week 2 - A Silhouette

*I'm having a bit of trouble lately with blogger and the internet in general this week. Windows 8.1 (what I have) updated my browser to ie11 and neither seems to be playing nicely w/others. And, after reading some forum posts and switching between google chrome and firefox, it doesn't appear they solve the problem either. So, if I cannot comment on your blog or you get multiple comments from me on yours or you can't comment on mine, etc., please understand that "it's all good folks!"  According to blogger and ms/ie - they know of the problem and it's going to take a while for the old browser applications everyone else has to 'catch up' they said.
I guess, from what I've read, I'm lucky I can even see my blog and post pics!*


For week 2 of the Focus on Life:2014 series, Sally's prompt for us was:

 

 

 

 A Silhouette

 

 

A photograph with a subject(s) captured in a shadowy outline with little or no detail against a bright background.

 

This week,"We are going to let all the flaws of the world fall away for a week and concentrate on  an image with no features,  just a simple silhouette". 

 

On my walks in the late afternoon each day I was trying to find a lovely saguaro to capture as a silhouette because they are so majestic, especially when captured this way, but nothing seemed to work out. 

 

It did lend me to take notice of things a bit more and be present and in the 'now' - like this challenge does each week - and I managed to capture a silhouette of a very tall palm tree.

 

Played around with a little bit of color and saturation here,....

 

 

But our ever-so-gorgeous Arizona Sunsets, which make the landscape one big silhouette, are my favorite.

 

Something I never tire of!

 

Our sunrises are equally as amazing!

 

In all it's glory,.....

 

 

Please check out all the Silhouettes everyone else was able to capture this week, won't you?

 

 

De-saturation photo using Sally's Tips / Video she provided this week!
Thanks Sally - this was cool!

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Silhouettes!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus on Life 2014 - Week One: The Minimalist Photograph

I was so happy when Sally, from The Studio Sublime, continued in 2014 with her wonderful photography challenge, Focus on Life.

 

 

 

I have to say I was quite pleased that I managed to photograph and post for every single one of the 52 weekly photo prompts in 2013.  This was a challenge that truly made me stop and think about my surroundings and the things going on in my life each week and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey last year, along with all the wonderful and caring people I 'met' along the way.

 

So, when I saw the information for the 2014 Focus on Life Photography Challenge, I signed up immediately!

Sally's changing things up a bit and will be focusing on a specific subject each month, with weekly prompts pertinent to that subject, for us to post each week or just keep to ourselves if we choose to go that route instead.  She's also giving us tips, techniques and photo recipes through out the year so we can better our picture taking skills as well.  

 

Pretty cool stuff, eh?

Sally mentioned this week that:

 

Every year we approach the new year with high expectations of changing your lives.  We jump in with both feet and the water quickly splashes over our heads,  we begin to feel overwhelmed.  Before we know it the water subsides carrying our expectations in its ripples and waves.  We reach, we grasp, but everything becomes out of reach.  We sink.  Our progress stops in its tracks and with head hanging low we feel like we have completely failed. 

NOT THIS YEAR!

Let's change the view.  This year let's focus on entering 2014 by first tiptoeing into the lapping water, testing the strength of the waves.  Let's give ourselves a better chance to succeed, to feel good about ourselves, let's allow ourselves to reach our fullest potential.  Let's use the minimalist's approach, strip down to bare bones and chose one or two goals to pour our energy into for 2014!  Let's scale back the world around us and focus our viewfinder on one subject and snap the shutter.

 

Week One: The Minimalist Photograph - capture an image using a single subject

 

I was out for a walk and discovered this single leaf laying in my path that captured my attention and thought it would be perfect for this week's prompt. But once I got back home, I noticed that the shadow behind it and the concrete it was laying on completely distracted from it's minimalistic simplicity.

 

So instead, I captured one of my 'loves'.

 

Click to enlarge photo :-)

 

 

Isn't she a beauty?

 

Feel free to check out all the links below and see what Single Subjects the other players captured in their Minimalist Photograph this week!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and The Single Pearl!

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

 

 

 

Focus on Life: Week 52 ~ Goodbye

Well, it's week 52 of the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly photography challenge for 2013

 

Sally's last prompt for us this year was:

 

 

Goodbye

 

"Well, we are here at the end of our year long journey. It is time to say goodbye.  This week for one last time in 2013, I ask you to focus on how you would like to say farewell and then capture it in a photo(s)"

 

I'm certain that so many things went through your heads (and your hearts) for this prompt, as they did mine.

 

I thought of the Farewell song from the Sound of Music.  And, annoyingly, The Beatles song "Hello, Goodbye" has been a constant (I am not really a big Beatles fan!) in my head all week long.

 

I thought of Shakespeare's, "Parting is such sweet sorrow,...." and Chaucer's "All good things must come to an end" and of course, the various fashions of the famous one liner in so many movies, "I bid you adieu".  

 

 I thought of how to capture a wave goodbye, some one walking alone down a road, boarding an airplane or leaving in a car,...all sorts of photographic ways of saying 'farewell'.

 

My thoughts were of saying 'Goodbye' and how I would wish you all well and much success and happiness in the coming year.

 

I was saddened to see this journey come to an end.

But happy that it happened and better off for it, too!

 

Then last week when Sally sent out the invitations for the 2014 Focus on Life: 52 Photo challenge, I was not so blue or sad about this last post of the year. 

 

I thought of the seasons that have come and gone only to come and go again and of how it can be bitter sweet to see things come to and end. 

Yet with the passing of the seasons, the days and the months, there's the endless cycle of hope.

 

Of renewal, of birth, of life. Of hello.

 

 

 

I'm excited to continue this journey and look forward to seeing what those of you who continue will be 'snappin' in 2014.  And, even if you don't pop in to share each week with photos, I will be sure to see you 'around' here online.

 

At least that is my hope.

 

So, I will end with this:

 

"May you fare well in these last few days of 2013 my friends.

I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!"

 

And in the famous words of Dr. Seuss,...

 

 

"Don't cry because it's over.

Smile because it happened!"

~Dr. Seuss~

 

Until Next Time, (I don't say goodbye well at all!)

Peace and Love!

Cheers,

~Shel~

*To sign up/register for the FOL: 52 Photos 2014*
Click HERE!

 

 

Focus on Life: Week 51 - Togetherness

This is week 51 of the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly photography challenge and Sally over at The Studio Sublime gave us this post for the next to last weekend of the year:

 

 

 

Togetherness

 

"This week focus on wrapping yourself in the warmth of togetherness"

 

So, here's us,...together in front of the fire place, sharing some 'togetherness'.
 

 

 

 

Wishing you a warm and wonderful Christmas this coming Wednesday and may you have some 'togetherness' with those you love!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Celebrating the Warmth

of Togetherness!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Please click the links below to see
how every one else captured some
"Togetherness"

 

 

 

 

Focusing On Life: Week 49 - Add A Little Sparkle!

Well, it's week 49 for the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly photography challenge and Sally from The Studio Sublime gave us this prompt:

 

 

 

Add A Little Sparkle!

 

 

Well, I did manage to get the tree up this week so there is a "Little Sparkle" going on in our house!
 

 

 

 

Click on the images below to see how every one else "Added A Little Sparkle" to their week!

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Sparkle!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focusing on Life: Week 47 - Centerpiece

It's week 47 for the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly photo challenge hosted by Sally over at The Studio Sublime and our prompt this week was:

 

 

 

 

Centerpiece

 

"This week focus on what is the centerpiece, the central, most important feature in your day, week, life!  It makes you comfortable, brings you joy, brings you peace of mind, or is simply a place of comfort."

 

For me, this one was easy! Well, I thought it was going to be anyway.

 

These two. Yep - they're my "Centerpiece". My hub. My Rock. My World. My Everything!

 

My Goofy Boys!!

 

 

Only they're not much into having their photo snapped. I told them I didn't want to 'cheat' this week and use a photo of them that I already had and so they had better stand there and let me take their picture!

 

So they agreed. But only for a second.

And only for 1 photo they said.

 

Well, I think it was about 5 seconds, then they bolted so I couldn't get a second shot! Stinkers!

 

I played around with some editing and overlays, etc. I used one called 'Logan' on Pixlr. How appropriate, eh?!

 

And here's the rest of my "Centerpiece".  This was taken at our family reunion this summer up near my sis's cabin. With the exception of just a few who weren't able to make it, it's my sister and our two brothers and their families. These wonderful people are also my 'Centerpiece' and part of my 'Everything'!

 

 

 

 

I'm going to be spending Thanksgiving with some of these folks. Wishing I could spend it with all of them, but grateful for those of us that will be together! 

 

I'm wishing all of you here in the U.S. a wonderful Thanksgiving Day this Thursday and a fun, yet relaxing, holiday weekend.

 

May you have the luxury of spending time with your family, friends and those you are close to and may you be healthy, happy and 'full' of love and light!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Finding Center!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus on Life: Week 46 - Reflect

This is week 46 for the Focusing On Life: 52 Photos weekly photography challenge and our host, Sally, from over at the Studio Sublime gave us this prompt:

 

 

 

Week 46: Reflect

 

"The start of the Holiday season is coming up quickly whether we are ready or not, so before jumping in to all the hustle and bustle let's take a moment to slow down and reflect on all the joy, peace, happiness and love we already have in our life."

 

Wow - how on earth do I capture all the joy, peace, happiness and love that surrounds me in one photo - especially when all those I love and find joy with are spread through out the country?

 

Yep - a bit more challenging than it sounded when I first read this prompt last Sunday!! 

 

Last year during this time of year I was whining to my brother-in-law (aka - Older Wiser One) one day about how rude people were during the Holiday Season and how I thought this was supposed to be the "Happiest Time of the Year!"  And  his response went something like this,....

 

"There are people who don't feel the same as you do during this time of year Shelly because maybe they've lost a loved one and they're missing them.  Or maybe they can't be with the ones they love during the holidays and this makes them sad. Or, perhaps they are trying to figure out how they're going to put food on the table and they're worried there won't be enough money to feed the ones they love. Or maybe, they just don't have people around them who care about them like you do."

 

UGGHHHH! 
'Older-Wiser-One' is such a downer sometimes! 
But he was right. 

I needed to step out of my 'bubble' and realize how lucky I was and just accept things for what they were and not expect everyone to feel the same or act the same as I was acting and feeling.
(Just take things as they come and don't judge or be offended!)

 

So, this week I chose to "Reflect" on how lucky I am. 
(Truly Blessed - despite how some weeks I seem to forget this!)

 

And I wish those who might be feeling down or in despair the comfort and luxury of Joy, Peace, Happiness and Love as our year slides into its final weeks.

 

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

May Everyone Find Their Little Slice of Joy, Peace, Happiness and LOVE!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~