July Photographic Adventures

OPENNESS

The spaces in-between

Life isn't just made up of light and shade

but also of the spaces in-between.

This capture made me think of a jigsaw puzzle and what I noticed the most

were the open spaces of sky.

What if the spaces were the most important part?

They are a reminder of how essential openness is to follow the path

that stretches out before me without preconceived ideas and limitations created in the mind.

PAUSING

Evening walks are slow and relaxed. 

I like to take the time to pause and stop and look around me

to notice what catches the light in the last rays of sunshine.

The red leaves invited me to look further into each detail of their structure,

how the stalks caught the light

how the edges of the leaf looked so beautiful

and noticing the tiniest spider's thread on one side.

Pausing and taking the time to notice details makes everything seem more beautiful,

more present, more intense.

ACCEPTANCE

It sometimes rains on holiday!

If the rain hadn't been so generous when I visited England recently

I would never have seen the wonder of reflections in puddles.

They are an art all on their own!

OPEN-FOCUSED ATTENTION

On an early-morning walk, I passed these self-sown poppies

which had found the tiniest slice of earth between the wall and the path.

Their random demeanor pulled me in.

The simplicity of these wild poppies  made me feel totally connected to life

just the way it is!

Feeling a connection with that moment was beautiful

and as I look at this image, I rekindle that connection.

CURIOSITY

There are certain turning points in our lives when decisions are made

as different paths and choices appear before us.

I am today, the result of my decisions and of my personal destiny.

I am curious to know how my life will play out in the days and months

and even the years to come.

Yet, I have no fixed plans, that would actually limit me,

I like to remain open, letting my natural curiosity lead me

to discover new paths.

Going with the flow gives me freedom.

Life is like a hall of mirrors

what images will be reflected back at me?

WONDER

The translucency of petals

I am a seeker of light, both in my photography and in my life.

Wonder is everywhere.

When we look around us like a small child seeing things for the very first time

in open-eyed wonder, we are totally connected to the marvel of Life!

CONNECTION

Have you ever noticed how connected everything is?

When I go on my walks, I notice so many connections.

I paused to take in the texture and colour of a rusty post and noticed

how the old wooden fence was connected to the post

and then the green vine which brought everything together 

by draping itself across the open wire fencing and around the post.

The pale green lighting in the background illuminated the whole scene

as I stopped to savour every detail.

HUMILITY

is being open to the realization that everything is an opportunity for learning.

We discover unexpected treasures along the way

even in the darkest places.

SIMPLICITY

A draped curtain

filtered light seeping through the slats of the almost closed shutters.

A feeling of peace.

ATTENTION

When raindrops create art

Taking time to stop

to move in closer and really see each detail.

How those raindrops, like shiny jewels, glisten.

Taking the time to focus my attention and to marvel at what is around me.

FASCINATION

Water has always fascinated and inspired me

the colours, the reflections, the rhythmic movements

how it is ever-changing

often calming

sometimes wildly energizing.

CONNECTING TO THE SKY

The crescent moon, still delicately apparent in the early morning sky.

A plane cloud dispersed

creating a soft, fluffy backbone against the blue.

As I paused to look up, there was instant connection

the three of us:

moon, cloud and the sky-gazer

alone in the universe in that moment

I embraced the scene with all my being.

Simplicity, wonder and emotion fill the frame like a contented sigh.

***

I have recently participated in a workshop called

Adventures in Seeing

with Kim Manley Ort

I have been discovering new connections

with the world around me and have been on new photographic adventures!

Have a look at the link above

to join Kim on future adventures.

Let's go to England!

At the end of June, the beautiful clematis was in full bloom

We stayed out in The Cotswolds in a village, now apparently a small town,

called Charlbury where my dad lived as a child.

After a day or two in London, I'm really happy to get out into the country

and to a place where I feel I have some roots

even though I have never actually lived here

I feel great affinity each time I visit, almost every year.

Don't you just love the atmosphere?

The stonework is so lovely and typical of the area

thanks to the beautiful Cotswold stone.

As the stones age, they take on a more greyish hue which hides

their original honey-colour.

I travelled with my son this year and we were not blessed with sunny, dry weather

However, early mornings were always dry and sunny and that is when I went

on my long walks.

Don't you love this very early morning deep blue sky when the birds,

I think they may have been starlings, flew across the sky in noisy excited flocks!

Sometimes they settled on the rooftops and that was my cue to get dressed

and outside to breathe in some country air and go for long walks with my camera.

We stayed at the very lovely Bull Inn.

It's a place I've stayed in many times, but now there is new

ownership of a young, dynamic and friendly team.

There have been many transformations and we stayed in beautiful

new refurbished rooms decorated comfortably and creatively.

I can recommend the very good meals served there as well.

Looking through the bathroom area of my room onto a terrace

where drinks and food are served.

The same window seen from outside

My open bedroom window.

The bed was huge and so comfortable.

The vines growing in front of the window

provided a beautiful spectacle after the rain.

but let's go for a walk

past a red door with matching geraniums

through the churchyard

and beyond

I even passed the house where my dad used to live with his parents and sister.

I love how the poppies grow randomly between the house and the path.

I'm going the long way round to the cemetery

where I can take some flowers to the family grave of

my grandparents and my dad.

Here's the entrance

and the graveyard has such  a peaceful atmosphere

as the first rays of sunlight caress the tombstones on my early morning visit.

If you're not tired yet, we can walk another way back.

The lavender is in full bloom and the bees are waking up.

A row of houses and climbing roses.

A red letter box in a wall of the corner house next to the church

Milk bottles delivered at home.

Now that reminds me of my childhood!

We'll turn back at the crossroads

and admire hollyhocks against blue painted doors

A five-bar gate leading to green pastures

We're nearly there...

Here's the clematis again - looking fresh and vibrant after the rain.

***

I wanted to make a collage which represents the very essence of England as I know it

I hope you enjoyed this very long walk,

I think it's time to stop and have breakfast now.

Don't you?

How about brioche French toast with bacon and maple syrup?

Coffee made in a cafetiere

served by friendly and smiling staff.

That's what I had at the inn

and mighty tasty it was too!

***

Link to The Bull Inn

here

Noticing the Moments

The orange-pink hues filtered their luminous colour through my blinds when I got up at my usual early hour. On opening my blinds, I was greeted by this wonderful sunrise sky.

Savouring the moment in my kitchen at coffee time. My favourite time of the day when I watch the early morning light give me a moving show of light and shadows 

and a lesson in awareness.

I opened the kitchen door and saw how a golden crown of florets had opened on my pink zinnia. What a marvel to observe such detail.

After a couple of weeks of heatwave, the thunder grumbled towards the evening

and I went for a walk with my umbrella.

I started off alongside some gardens

and loved listening to the pitter-patter of rain on the umbrella.

Noticing the reflections in the puddles

and smiling at the umbrella reflected in the wet pavement.

On one side of the sky, the crescent moon rose in the deepening purple hues

I prolonged my walk and was rewarded by this view as I came over the hill

 I could see the mountain tops, appearing blue in the disappearing light.

 Generous clouds in a luminous shade of pink rolled across the horizon.

Noticing the moments is one of the nicest things we can offer ourselves every single day.

Do you notice yours?

***

After taking a blog break, I felt the need to simplify and not overthink what I share here during the months of July and August. So I'm leaning towards something spontaneous and intuitive

and hope you will join me along the way.