Tag Archives: Beauty

Nature

tafoni talk

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tafoni for blog-

What can be found in the deserts of the Negev, in Antarctica, the Isle of Skye, Germany, India...and Galiano Island?
Tafoni!
Here on Galiano Island our coast is predominantly sandstone, and features amazing tafoni from north to south. In all its spectacular shapes, hollows, lacework and  lattice, it provides endless fascination as the light plays on it, highlighting its contours and patterns.  The photo here (above)  was taken on our own flagpole point, and I've included a gallery below with several other photos I've posted over the past while.

Flowers, Glimpses..., Photo Art, Small Spectacles

the back of the rose…

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the back of the rose
click on the image for a larger view

At first when I noticed one of my roses nodding its head, I was disappointed to miss seeing the glory of it's opening blossom,  but after a closer look, it occurred to me that perhaps it was a good gift that the rose was offering: the display of the detail and texture of its oft ignored side.

The gentle curve, the delicate shading of the petals, the texture of the sepals with their furred edge... I wouldn't have noticed had I been distracted by a more ordinary perspective.  This other side of the rose was intriguing, and stunning in its simple beauty.

Have you been similarly surprised by the beauty of looking at something from a different angle?

Glimpses..., Photo Art, Small Spectacles

even the thornbush by the wayside…

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click on the image for a larger view
click on the image for a larger view

During my school days, our Headmistress would often urge us to notice what's around us saying, 'Even the thorn bush by the wayside is ablaze with the glory of God.' I've come to appreciate over the years that she was absolutely right.

Today I was reminded of this as I saw, not a 'thorn bush' but an ordinary drainage ditch, 'blazing'  with beauty: colour, texture and pattern.

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I have intentionally adjusted the  photo above with texture and colour as I contemplated the beauty on display.  The red colours in the weeds to the right were actually there, and brighter.  I've muted them so as not to 'take over' the image as a whole. It's the raindrop circles that particularly entranced me— the way they refracted and reflected the light. 

 

Flowers, Glimpses..., Photo Art, Spring

morning light on camellias

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click on the image for a larger view
click on the image for a larger view

Though the afternoon had been drizzly and the days fairly cool, the camellia doesn't seem to mind. She's blooming, determined spring is really arriving. I cut some and arranged them in the old white milk jug, and set them on the dining table. The next morning the sun was up before I was so I was greeted with this glimpse of beauty sunlit beauty.

Photo Notes: this piece is adapted from my original RAW photo using Lightroom and Topaz Impression.

Photo Art, Small Spectacles, Winter

Winter Colour

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colours and frost on sandstone- small copy

Colour and beauty are  strewn everywhere— even in the depths of winter and in the unlikely and seemingly inhospitable spots— Its all right there for us to 'behold' .

During the past week of crisp weather, the frost coated most everything rendering the world in a muted colour palette. But as the sunlight warmed the places it shone, colours emerged  more intensely than ever.

The photo above shows what I mean:  the melting frost revealed the most gorgeous, brilliant colours of the small succulent plants that cling tight to the steep sandstone banks.

 

Glimpses..., Photos, Sky and Seascape Spectacles

Evening Reflections…

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~ evening light... click on the image for a larger view
~ evening light... click on the image for a larger view

Wandering out to Flagpole Point after sunset, the glow was still bright, and the water magnified the beauty in reflection...
The colours last night were intense — so lovely I felt I wanted to share this glimpse of the awesome beauty of nightfall.

Glimpses..., Photos, Spring

with bowed head…

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glory displayed with head bowed 2015-03-31IMG_4387IMG_4387

As I've watched the daffodils bud and come to blossom this spring I've noticed what they do just before they open their colourful blossoms and display their full glory:  they bow their heads,  as in humility.

Maybe because  this week is Holy Week, ( the week in the Christian year between Palm Sunday and Good Friday,  leading to the great feast of Easter) this detail of their downward movement has struck me.  For this is what we see — the glory of God mostly clearly, fully   displayed in the humility of Jesus who, "... though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,  but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,  he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. (see Philippians 2:5ff).

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For more reflections on Holy Week, you can check out my 'Lection Section' Blog here.