THE RAGING PACIFIC

Wow!! Was it wild down at the dock today!! First we went to the overlook...actually to a couple of places overlooking the dock. I couldn't get out of the car because the wind was too strong! A little ways down the street, I managed to get out but the wind started blowing me over and my glasses off. After almost landing on my rear a couple of times, and worrying Norm, not to mention what it might be doing to my camera, I got back in the car. We drove down to the dock and it was even wilder down there. I didn't even think about leaving the safety of the car. There were gale force wind flags out, pelicans and sea gulls either riding the undulating waves or floating the air currents suspended high above the water. The sea foam was flying all over as were some of the waves that were crashing onto the rocks. There were some pretty good splashes! On Battlerock beach you could see the sand blowing up the hills along with more sea foam. This is the first time I've been down there when it was quite so stormy. Exciting to see! I can't even imagine if it was as bad as I know it sometimes can get. Anyway, I got many good shots around town today.....which I will be sharing over the next few days. Hope you're having a dry day......a good day. Perfect night for a good movie from Netflick!

THE DAY BEGINS

What a gorgeous sunset this morning, huh? For those of you who do not live on the south coast.....well, I'm sure your morning was just a lovely, too............. Really

COFFEE & CREAM

This is the way to start a perfect Sunday........a beautiful sunset, followed by a good cup of coffee with just the right amount of cream! Ahhhh! Life is good!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER

This is a photo I took last week along Hwy. 101 on the south end of Coos Bay. I liked the way the mist is rising from the Coos River. It seems the bridge is just sort of suspended and floating above the water. I've seen such beautiful sights with fog making over an ordinary landscape into something sort of mysterious and maybe mystical. (That's the Irish in me talking........the wee folk, don't you know.)

THE DRAGONFLY

This is definitely not 'dragonfly' weather! Another gray day with bits of drizzle here and there. So...I found a bit of color to bring us inspite of the lack. A little piece of stained glass is all, but it was surprising how in the looking for color, I felt uplifted....and the more I looked the more I noticed different attractive colors in various items around the house and garden. You might see them in the next few days if I'm not able to get off somewhere and find more interesting haunts. So, what are YOU seeing lately that's full of color and inspiration?

HI THERE!!

I couldn't find anything to shoot today! Well, I did take some but they were as dull as dust......or they weren't worth keeping. So....this is what you get today! Me, saying Good Morning to ya! if you're one of the subscribers, that is. I think you then get my posting the morning after I actually post. I've been spending a lot of time learning about Elements so haven't been shooting all that much. And the weather isn't cooperating. No excuse, I know. I took one photo of a loaf of bread I'd just baked and that looked plain boring to me. I think I need to read some of my inspired photo books. The ones that talk about 'feelings' rather than the technical stuff. Somewhere along the way, I'm hoping that all this balances out. After all, I am a Libra. Well, tomorrow let's hope I can find some kind of "Wow!"

THE RED BENCH

I love this scene from one of the overlooks in Bandon! Even with the gray skies, the colors, with a little help, seem to perk up because of this bright red bench. Off to the right and out of sight here, is the Bandon lighthouse. This scene is looking north up the coast and it wasn't that long ago that this entire area was filled with pelicans. They've all but disappeared now......guess they went on to where ever they were migrating to.

DAVIS SLOUGH

DAVIS SLOUGH
Originally uploaded by Snap-Smith

Today seemed like the classic gray winter, dreary day. Not really raining but a constant drizzle that was, well, sort of lack-luster compared to some of our more exciting weather....or beautiful days. But the lack of wind had many of the waters in the area looking as smooth as glass....again. We've been lucky to have a number of those this fall and winter. This photo is of the Davis Slough, and it's always a 'photo waiting to happen'. This time, Norm knew I wanted to try and photograph it, and he slowed down. I was expecting him to stop the car......which he had to do as I unbuckled, had camera ready and my hand on the door. STOP!!! (cuss! cuss! cuss!) I really didn't know it was illegal to pull off the road and stop....he might have just made that up. Anyway, I liked this shot.....maybe a little busy but I love the subtle colors and like many of the various waters we viewed today, there was mist rising to add even more interest. Pretty, huh?

IN PLACE OF FLOWERS

IN PLACE OF FLOWERS
Originally uploaded by Snap-Smith

A LITTLE COLOR ON A GRAY DAY

A LITTLE COLOR ON A GRAY DAY
Originally uploaded by Snap-Smith

Thought I'd bring in a little color for this gray Monday. There are no flowers around so I've had to improvise. In editing this photo though, I noticed tht the pencils aren't all as sharp as I'd like. Never mind, just enjoy the color!

THE DOCK

THE DOCK
Originally uploaded by Snap-Smith

I'm still fooling around with editing. I can't seem to get my posted photos to be seen as 'Large'. And I lost my Desktop photo this morning and will have to figure that one out too. In this older photo of the dock, I tried to warm up the color. The day I took it was a dismal and overcast day. Everything blended into one long gray soup. Now, it's warmed up but not too natural looking. I like the forefront though.
Everything new I try seems to bring it's own new challenge with it......baby steps....baby steps!

LETTING GO

LETTING GO
Originally uploaded by Snap-Smith

I pulled this photo out of an old file from the early part of 2009. It is one of the photos that is symbolic, to me, of my grandson's death a year ago yesterday. A year of remembering with sadness and tears, regrets and what-if's.....and then realizing that it was really out of my hands all along. And so now, after posting this photo, I'm going to delete it....from my files and also the harddrive....I think Elements can do that. There will undoubtedly be some bittersweet emotions when I remember Jorma, but it just feels right for me to now honor his memory with sweet memories and gentle chuckles. Threre is never a time limit to one's own feelings of grief. They take on a life of their own and must just be acknowledged and experienced as they are. I like to think, now, of the light seen in this sunrise as Jorma's continuing essence.....not physically seen right now, but there none the less....just behind the clouds, or over the horizon, but always there....always.

CAPE BLANCO

CAPE BLANCO
Originally uploaded by Snap-Smith

OK!! Number 2! And I think the coloring in this photo is a little bit better, don't you? One of the changes will be that if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll end up on my Flickr page. Once there, you can either look at my other posted photos and/or click on the same photo and it will enlarge and list the settings and all that.
Well, that's it for today......I have plenty more to read about in the book on Elements. And my sister sent me a book today, "Nikon D90 for Dummies." No smarty comments, please.

GARRISON LAKE

DSC_0367_edited-1.jpg
Originally uploaded by Snap-Smith

What an ordeal!! I honestly don't have much of an idea how I managed to get this photo not only on my Flickr account but over to be blogged also. I tried my hand at the new editing and I still have a long ways to go to get what I want......but as my friend, Peggy, said....baby steps, baby steps. Yeah!! Like I have a choice there??
LOL!
Anyway, Doesn't Lake Garrison look tranquil. I like this shot but am not at all happy with the coloring. Just ignore that and look at the beautiful setting.
So, am I back in business?? I can't say for sure at this point.....
excuse me while I get myself an aspirin and glass of water!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here are some photos that size up the spirit of the day. We see that not only
is it New Year's Day, the first day of another new decade, but also (drum roll
please...) the Rose Bowl!! Yaaa! Ducks! Norm is always laughing about how
really fierce can a duck be?? So tough it might peck you with it's little beak....
LOL. But, being from Oregon, we go with what we have and hope they win!
They're behind right now, but we have fingers and toes crossed.
And the top photo shows a spirit of celebration, no matter what!!
There might not be a blog for the next few days while I sort out some things
on my computer. So, hang in there.....I'll be back!