Eagle River, Alaska
Land of the Midnight Sun
Our visit to Alaska this year took place during the longest days of summer. I was fascinated by the constant sun which glowed bright red with the smoky haze in the air- which I found challenging to capture with my camera. The photo below was taken about 11:15pm from a viewpoint in Eagle River. The sky was actually lighter than it appears here- and the sun was much redder (notice the reflection in the water!). I will be posting more of my sun images in the near future.
26!
We have just returned from a visit to our daughter’s family in Alaska. While the best part of the trip was family time with our dear ones, the best family ACTIVITY was hands-down the 26 glacier cruise on Prince William Sound. We had a few doubts, because the sky has been hazy and smoky due to the ongoing Kenai fire- but despite that, it was a glorious day!
And what are those specks in the foreground, you ask? Sea otters! We saw dozens- and I grew so used to them, I didn’t even realize they were in this shot at first!
A Day at the Beach
Crystal Cove
Beach Bareness
I never get tired of photographing an uncluttered beach. This was taken at Crystal Cove, which was soon to be packed with people.
Hanging Around Alleys
I so enjoyed exploring this Petaluma alley- and I think the reason I took this shot was to document the amount of water in California currently- after so much drought. Look at the ferns growing out of the wall by the drainpipe!
Beach Grass 2
Grass, flowers, and ice plant at the entrance to Doran beach
Beach Grass
We took a very quick drive over to Bodega Bay while in California and stopped at Doran Beach, where the beach grass caught my eye.
Alley Adventure
Last week I accompanied my husband on a business trip to the Bay Area (California). We took time to stay in two of the towns where we used to live and were able to visit with many of our close friends and my teaching colleagues. It was a last minute decision to go, and it was so wonderful to be able to see so many friends on short notice.
I did not do much photography while there (no time!), but when we arrived in Petaluma, our first stop, we took a short walk in the RAIN before meeting dear friends for dinner. I only had my iPhone, but had a great time photographing this alley.
Cool Morning, Hot Air
Another early morning shot in Albuquerque
Country Store Window
taken at the lavender farm in Albuquerque
Wupatki
I’ve discovered that having an orthopedist a couple hours away in Flagstaff seems inconvenient, but it has turned out to be a great opportunity for exploring the area with my camera. Wupatki National Monument is only about a half hour from Flagstaff and is an easy way to see pueblos without having to hike miles in the desert. This one is the Wupatki Pueblo itself, but we were also able to drive to several others within the area. It was a great way to spend part of an afternoon!
Far in the distance you can see a bit of the Painted Desert!
Morning Balloon
When we were staying at the lavender farm, I rose with the sun and managed to get a shot of a hot air balloon as it sailed over the barn. The reward of being an early riser!
Farm View
The lavender farm
To the Edge and Beyond
One of the assignments that we’ve been given in our photo class is to create an image with “tension.” An example that our instructor has used constantly over the years is that when we have an element in the photo that leads us OUT of the photo. it creates tension. And this is not a good thing. Another example would be when two elements meet in the photo in a perhaps uncomfortable way (think of “merges”, where a tree seems to grow out of the top of someone’s head). He has himself created a series of photos that deliberately have tension (called “In Tension”, which is a play on words), which include several different kinds of tension that somehow works. I must confess to being confused by the concept.
Tension was on my mind in Albuquerque, so I deliberately set out to create some photos which have tension, but yet somehow “work” for me. This was probably the easiest to do- all those branches perhaps leading out of and into the photo.
melinda anderson photography 