Fine Art Friday pick- "White Barn"

This was taken at the same location as several of my other pieces, and although I'm rarely able to single out any one piece as a favorite (because I've got an emotional connection to all of them), I will say that I continue to be drawn to this one, and I go back to look at it often.  It was shot in the late afternoon, so the sun was low in the sky, and rather piercing.  You can see the degree of weathering on the barn walls, but the remaining white paint practically *glowed* in the sun.  Originally, I'd done a more traditional composition, and I'd cropped out the broken windmill in the back, right side.  It didn't seem like it was quite complete, though, so I re-introduced the windmill to the photo.  I feel that, this way, it accurately conveys that not only is the barn enduring the battering of the elements, its fellow structures surrounding it have fallen victim, as well.  This print is on sale through the weekend, and can be found in both the Original Art and Black & White galleries at www.astoria-photography.com/FineArtPhotography -use code: FRIDAY at the checkout for 10% off any print or canvas order.

Fine Art Friday Pick - "Horizon"

This photo was taken on the side of a gravel road.  I came around a bend, and saw the sun trying to break through the clouds, and it was so pretty, that jumped out of my car and I stayed until this huge cloud had completely passed by. (This is one of the reasons I always travel with a camera!!)  For those of you who aren't as nerdy as me, these rays are called "crepuscular rays," and as we've surely all seen, they are beautiful.  This print is on sale through the weekend at www.astoria-photography.com, both in the "A Thousand Words" gallery, and the "Landscape & Nature" gallery.  Enter code FRIDAY at the checkout for 10% off your order.

Fine Art Friday Pick- "Postcard"

I took this photo in an attempt to catch one of the seeds flying off of its stem and into the air.  It was very windy and warm, this day, and I was out wandering around a wetland preserve.  There was a small patch of gravel, presumably for parking, and then a grassy hill that led down to a water way.  There were 2 or 3 fluffy dandelions at the top of this hill that I thought would be perfect to hold up into the wind.  I tried, and tried, but just could not catch the moment when the wind plucked them out and carried them away.  I've always had a soft spot for dandelions, and I imagine this will not end up being my last attempt at catching a wish at the exact time of its making.  This print is on sale through the weekend at www.astoria-photography.com.  Enter code: FRIDAY for 10% off your order.

Fine Art Friday Pick: The Calm

I grabbed this photo on my way back from a hike in a fossil quarry, a couple of towns over from where I live.  Just on the other side of this tree is a sharp decline into a naturally occurring water pit.  A storm was beginning to come together, and you could hear thunder begin to gently make its way through the clouds.  But the warm breeze that was previously present had come to a stand-still, so I decided it best to begin the trek back to the trail head.  Unfortunately, the weather took this tree last summer, so the landscape no longer looks quite right to me, anymore.  This print is on sale for the weekend at www.astoria-photography.com.  Just enter code: FRIDAY for 10% off your order.

Fine Art Friday Pick: "Summer Path"

You might have noticed that a number of my pieces feature fully bloomed, or even the remnants of echinacea flowers (sometimes called coneflowers).  Simply put, it's because I love them.  Their shape, their height, the way they contrast with the blue sky, all have lead to my probable over-use of them in photos.  This particular shot, shows a floret that had seen better days, but was standing so tall amongst its grassy neighbors, even though the warm, humid wind kept pelting it with intermittent gusts.  That's also why I decided to add this Robert Frost quote to it, as well.  The floret seemed perfectly content sticking its neck up and letting the breeze catch it, even with the risk of any one of the waves of wind passing through breaking its stem.  Not that it exactly had a choice, I guess.  This print is on sale, through the weekend, at www.astoria-photography.com.  Use code FRIDAY at the checkout for 10% off.

Fine Art Friday Pick: "Voie Ensoleillèe"

I took this photo a couple of years ago, at a wetland conservation in rural Worth County, IA.  I have a few shots of this structure that partially crosses the waterway, but I'm not entirely sure what it actually is.  It reminds me of a bit of Greek architecture, and even though it obviously serves/served a particular function in managing the wetland (of which the mechanics are surely above my ability to understand), it was still very beautiful in its design and contrast against the nature around it.  The text is the last verse of the poem, "To One in Paradise," by Edgar Allen Poe - which is one of my favorites of his.  This photo is one sale for the weekend at www.astoria-photography.com -enter code FRIDAY at the checkout for 10% off your print or canvas order.

Tiny bit of trivia: see if you can spot the human in this photo...he was headed down to go fishing.  I didn't think he'd be visible since he was a ways away...but, nope- there he is! 

Fine Art Friday pick: "Quiet."

Many of you know that I enjoy hiking, and I especially like trails with access to short bluffs or steep hills because I enjoy scrambling, as well.  I usually bring a small point & shoot camera with me on these outings, because one of the great perks of scrambling is the view from the top!  This weathered park bench sits at the edge of a peaceful lookout point at the top of the quarry wall that I’d just ascended.  Visit www.astoria-photography.com for more artwork & info! 

Fine Art Friday pick: "August"

I shot this while on a water break, during a long hike.  I started watching a colony of ants building a hill, and thought it would be interesting to get a shot from an ant’s perspective.  Sorta nerdy, I know…but it made for a great image.  Visit www.astoria-photography.com for more artwork & info.