A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 40: Snowy Egret In November

"Don't shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like."

~Alan David Harvey

As an amateur photographer, I do find myself doing a lot of editing with light and angles, and yes, at times with my photo editing software. In a perfect world I try to look beyond the obvious in front of me, to the impression behind it. It probably comes from my love for Impressionist art. If you ever visit me, you will find book, after book relating to Impressionist art. How about you? Do you prefer the raw image, without a lot of editing? Or do you find yourself going beyond the immediate with photo editing tools? Do you plan out each shot carefully, or do you shoot by instinct? Tell me, what motivates you to do your photography?

Opinions please.

~Me :)

Two Cloudy Skies

From For Ellipsis

"A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed... it feels an impulsion... this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons."

-Richard Bach

From For Ellipsis

I know I have displayed these two photos before, but I found them today in an archived folder and I just really appreciated how it felt to see them again. Both of them were taken on really good days. The first one was done off the Marin County coast, the second from a hotel room in Reno, Nevada. I was on the 17th floor, and a big storm was rolling in. It was stunning!

I am at my happiest with a camera in my hand.

:)
-Carly

The Year Of The Butterfly

"From small beginnings, come great things."

-Proverb

I can't believe how fast this year is moving, compared to a year ago, when I was sure I was going to be stuck in 2007 forever. It wasn't even the end of January, when I asked the question, "Cant' it just be New Year's Eve already?" LOL. It was a new beginning, like most new years represent, and yet all I could see was how much for it was representing a certain kind of end. It's now a year later, I am older, I am certainly wiser, and I feel pretty good inside. Peaceful. In some ways I have diabetes to thank for that. As much as my Fibromyalgia hurts, and believe me, it does, I know it won't kill me. That's the stupid part of it. It leaves me feeling old and worn out, and yet isn't life threatening. Diabetes on the other hand, could have some long range physical effects on my body. I couldn't have that, so I used a good part of my lingering sadness and anger to take care of myself.

I was looking at a Chinese New Year Calender the other day, when suddenly I began to think about what my own personal "Carly Lunar Calender" might look like. Would it be all animals? Would each year be represented by nature in general? Hmmm... what symbols best represent me and my journey on earth? Well, after I gave it some thought, I think the new year really began for me sometime late last July, after my diagnosis. This is my year of the Butterfly. How about you? If you could have your own calendar, what would you choose as your personal symbol for the year? Does your year begin on January 31st? Or do you have a defining moment, that felt like a new kind of beginning for you? If you feel like sharing, tell me your story, or write your own entry and comeback and leave me a link. I will post the link to your entry if you do.

"The distance is nothing, it is only the first step that is difficult."

-Meister Eckhart

-OndineMonet
"The Year Of The Butterfly"
Pacific Grove, California


-OndineMonet