Motorcycle Views

The other day, while on a motorcycle ride with Jeff, his brother and sister-in-law, we drove by a number of great views.  I couldn’t take any shots then, but the following day, Jeff drove us around so I could capture some of these great views –

 

The above view is of Jeff’s brother & sister-in-law’s horse, Star.  This was such a wonderfully peaceful image, and Star is an equally peaceful and sweet mare.  I was able to get up close and personal with her later, and she is an absolute doll!

 

This is a representative of the types of scenes we saw on our drive.  Wide open spaces of farm land, dotted with homes and barns, mountains in the background and big sky with clouds!  Sigh……

 

This is one of those almost surreal sights.  The grass so green, the sky so blue.  And, to top it off, the lines left by a plow seem to match the contrail lines in the sky.

Enjoy!

 

Valleyford Special Effects

This morning, while walking around taking images of some wildflowers here in Valleyford, WA (near Spokane), there were some images that just seemed prime for playing with them and some special effects.  Take a look –

This bloom is actually purple, but when I played with it, the colors turned out to be so crazy and neon like, I just loved it.  Such a happy, happy image! 

 

I loved the image of the Queen Anne’s Lace with the shed in the background.  I cut out most of the background and made it blurry.  I then applied a painterly effect that seemed to make the flowers look special……and I’ve always thought they were – maybe it’s about the name!

When I looked up from photographing the flowers, I noticed this scene of the countryside.  I just thought it would make a very cool painting.  Well, I don’t know how to paint, but I can apply a painting effect to my images!  There’s something so peaceful about this – I really like it.

This last image really evoked the farm type countryside around.  The tall grasses in the foreground were the focal point, with the barn in the background.  I decided to go with a crayon type effect because it just seemed to match the casual feel of the image.

Enjoy!

Wildflowers in Valleyford

We’re visiting Jeff’s brother, sister-in-law and their son for a few days.  One morning, I wandered around the yard area at their place (they have several acres), and discovered some great wildflowers around:

 

This wildflower is really pretty.  It had the most different petals that I’ve seen.  I love the above image since it reminds me of a cup, just waiting for some rain to capture it.  The image below is one where the petals are open.  Isn’t it cool?  I really love the detail in the center of the blossom as well.

 

 

I love the above image as well.  The two-toned petals are so unique!  The color of the green (from the leaves in the background) end up being a design element in the bloom, too!

Enjoy!

Incredible Utah Landscapes

What an incredible day we had near Moab!!!  We explored a few of the back roads near there - Potash, White Rim and Shaker Roads.  Take a look ~

 

These 2 images (above and below) were taken from a couple of different places along the Potash Road.  The above shot is off an overlook called Pyramid Butte and the image below is of the Colorado River at a place called Gooseneck Bend.  It was very unnerving to be standing as close as I was to the edge.  Made me somewhat nervous, even tho I wasn't all that close to the edge!

 

 

The above image is from White Rim Road.  The entire road is 110 miles - but we barely did 10!!  This image was taken as we drove along the edge of the road. I wouldn't have wanted to get out - too close to the edge!!

 

 

These final 2 images are from the Shaker Road.  I love the above image because it sort of looks like the road curves into the side of the cliff/butte.  Where does it go?  The answer is shown below - UP!!  The road traverses up the sheer cliff face!  It's really not a bad drive at all - much easier than it looks like it might be - and fun!!!

 

Enjoy!!

Spring blooms on the Plateau

As we drove along the back roads, I was happy to see some flowers were still in the blooming mode!

 

There were quite a few yellow prickle pear cactus blooms, but the pink blooms were few and far between.  Here's a bloom still in great condition.....and the little bee there is the icing on the cake!

 

Of all the images that I have of yellow cactus blooms, this is one of my favorite.  I love the way it seems to sort of dance in the sunlight!

 

I have no idea what these blooms are, but I really loved them!  I captured this image while we were waiting for (unbelieveably) road construction in the national park!  (I explain more in the next blog!)

 

Enjoy!

Springtime Greenery & Landscape

 

I was pleasantly surprised at the greenery up on the Colorado Plateau around Moab, UT.  FYI - it's called the Colorado Plateau because the Colorado River runs thru the plateau.  Take a look -

 

The prickle pear cactus were still in bloom (some of them) and I was lucky enough to find a good perspective to capture them and the buttes on the plateau!

 

There's something about the rust/terra cotta of the earth here and greenery that just reaches out and grabs me.

 

At first we passed this tree and I thought I missed my opportunity.  But, then, we ran into (believe it or not) some road construction, and I was able to back track and capture this.  I love the way the tree sort of reaches out to the landscape.  (Just to clarify - technically, we were in Canyonlands National Park, and they were doing the road construction.  We were delayed for an hour, but we were in no hurry, so we didn't care.)

 

Enjoy!!

Musselman Arch

 

Utah's state motto is "Life Elevated" - and that was certainly true when we visited Musselman Arch on the White Rim Road near Moab!  Usually, I've approached arches from below them.  For this one, tho, we approach from the top of it and are able to actually walk out on it - cool and weird!

 

Here's Jeff goofing off on the arch.  The actual arch is the "band" that seems to cut across the image.  The rest is background with a LOT of air between the arch and the ground!

 

Jeff is definitely Miki's "main human", so where goes Jeff, so goes Miki!  Here are the two of them sharing a hand/paw shake atop the arch!

 

 

You don't usually see images of me on this blog, but this is one of only a few.  When you have the chance to walk out on an arch, how can you not take it?  I couldn't resist!  Jeff snapped this shot of me with his handy phone camera and it, too, gives you an idea of how wide the span is.

 

 

 

There are a couple of interesting things about this image - the first is to give you an idea of how wide the arch is - really, it was about 6 feet wide.  The other thing is that it helps you to get an idea of the topography.  We are at one level, and in the distance, you can see buttes much higher than we are and......

 

....looking down from the arch, you can see that we are at a level much higher than another level!  The fall would have been at least a couple of hundred feet, I'm guessing.  Certainly enough to kill you!  It gave me much more sympathy/empathy for those afraid of heights.  It certainly reminded me of my fear of falling/jumping from high places, with or without a parachute!

 

I also thought of my all time favorite quote - 

"Life is a daring adventure....or it is nothing."

(Helen Keller)

 

Enjoy your life's daring adventures!