Spotted in Newport Beach on the side of a building that housed a barbershop and other businesses.
A Different Look
The heavy monsoon rains have brought an amazing array of wildflowers and grasses to Willow Lake this year, creating a different look from previous summers. I don’t know what these pink flowers are (someone will tell me), but they were everywhere.
We went out a couple times last week (me balancing trekking poles and camera and backpack), and each time my photo shoot was curtailed by thunderstorms. I hear that monsoon season is over now, but I’m not counting on it!
A Quiet Scene
Another view at the Eagle River Nature Center.
Alaska Summer Scene
The gorgeousness of summer in Alaska!
More Green
More Alaska today! This was taken on the trail at the beautiful Eagle River Nature Center (just down the road from where our daughter’s family lives).
Your Basic Alaska-ness
Everywhere you look you see this GREEN! We were there only a few weeks ago, but I imagine that there are spots of fall color already. Summer is short and INTENSE!
Born to Be Wild
Until we moved to Arizona, I had never heard of Apache Plume- but now I photograph the seed heads every summer. We have a big shrub of this native plant in front of our house. I can’t say it is lovely to look at as a landscape element- but the craaaazzzy seed heads and little flowers are quite captivating!
The Book Club
It is a photography paradox to me that many, many, many of my favorite photos were taken on Southern California beaches- when I spent so much of my adult life disliking Southern California (the crowds and the TRAFFIC!). There is something about the serenity of the water and the white sand that appeals to my eye. I remember looking at this trio of ladies with their hats and cover-ups and thinking they looked like my kind of people- so I titled it “The Book Club.”
Hello, Yellow!
A cheery sight at the Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage:
Calla
I love how the Lensbaby Velvet 56 produces a painterly image straight out of camera! I added a low opacity texture on the background- but that’s just because I can never leave well enough alone.
Still There
Since our daughter’s family moved to Alaska two years ago, they’ve really learned their way around! Caitlin drove us up to Hatcher’s Pass one day to see the what remains of Alaska’s Independence Gold Mine (now a state park). There was a beautiful view and wonderful old buildings. I realized when we were there that this is the third old mine we’ve toured in the last year- and it was definitely the best!
Floating Lady
This mini iceberg reminded me of a reclining ice maiden floating in the glacial waters of Spencer Lake.
Glacier!
The day before we flew home from Alaska, we took a 10-15 minute Alaska Railway train ride (fun!) with our family to the trailhead for the walk to Spencer Glacier. This spectacular glacier cascades down the mountain to Spencer Lake and these magnificent icebergs. When I converted this photo to black and white, the mountain behind disappeared in shadow, giving the impression of a night view.
Nightmare on Planet X-citable
My weekly photo group starts next week, and at the end of the year we were given the topic “Excitable” as a topic for the first day of the semester. There was some debate over what that meant- exciting? Something that made the viewer excited? Someone or something that was excitable in the image? Who knew?
When we were at the Petrified Forest in June, I kept remarking that the landscape looked like that of another planet, and I immediately got the idea of creating some sort of fantasy composite using some photos I had taken in a novelty shop in Jerome. I got partway finished and abandoned the project, hoping for that special shot that I would take over the summer. That special shot never materialized.
So here we are on Planet X-citable, which will likely be my first image of the year- unless that special shot materializes over the weekend. . .
Low Tide
We were lucky to have a great view from our little hotel in Homer. I especially was fascinated by the beach at low tide, which is displayed in this evening view of the Homer Spit with the mountains and glaciers in the background.
melinda anderson photography 