Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak
"Spacious Skies"

Friday, May 29, 2015

St. Marks National Refuge Roadside Gallery






We could not stay long enough to hike the trails and there are many.  These photos are from the roadside.  My roadside gallery includes pictures I really want to paint.  The camera lenses does not bring out the brilliance of colors.  Contrary to what people think, camera's are not an artist eye and does not bring out the depth and dimensional levels of nature. 

St. Marks Lighthouse





Views of the marsh from St. Marks Lighthouse.

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge






We visited the Wakulla unit of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.  It was a beautiful park and very few tourist for Memorial Day.  The refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. They offer a photographers club to support the Refuge and I would love to join except it is a 4 hour drive from where I live.  To attend a monthly meeting would be expensive in mileage and accommodations.  One day, one day I may still join.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

John Beasley Park Magazine Beach Perfect




Bird Sand Art

 

During my morning walk on Okaloosa Island, I notice different patterns of bird prints on the sand.  The sand is very soft and very light weigh birds sink into the sand when they are walking.   I was impress with the swirls of prints.

Matanzas Beach vs Okaloosa Beaches

 


Even though the beaches at Okaloosa are gorgeous, they are not my favorite for walking.  There were no seashells, no high or low tides, no wildflowers, turtles, brown rabbits and other wildlife along the coastline.  There was too much missing of nature for my morning walks.  Atlantic ocean colors are gray mixed with various shades of blue and not the gorgeous green as the Gulf.  I prefer seeing seashells and wet sand from the tide.  I am not the type who enjoys sunbathing and laying on the beach.  I love a rocky terrine with waves splashing against the rocks and the wind blowing the tall grasses. 

Emerald Waters of Okaloosa Island




I am very grateful to my Brother-In-Law Ralph and Barbara for inviting the family to attend their 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration.  We stayed in a gorgeous condo with this view of the emerald coastline and white sandy beaches. I took these photos over several days and the water glisten with different shades of green.  I understand why the beaches of Okaloosa Island are called the Miracle Strip of the Panhandle.

Okaloosa Fishing Pier

 

The Fishing pier at Okaloosa Island.  The beaches at Okaloosa Island have been voted as the best and most beautiful beaches in the country by Southern Living readers for several years.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Euharlee Covered Bridge




The bridge is located West of Cartersville in Euharlee. This landmark recalls the days of buggies and "horseless carriages." Known as a landmark on Georgia's Covered Bridge Trail, the Euharlee Covered Bridge was built in 1886 by Washington W. King, a black contractor. There was nothing unusual about the history of the bridge except it is the state's oldest remaining covered bridge, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Palatka Country



The focal point for me is the magnitude of the cloud formation over the small farm house in the first photo.  The clouds were traveling fast, crossed the highway, separated and formed a circular pattern that could have swallowed the entire farm and surrounding fields. 

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
― Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds    

Inspirational Sunrise

 


Through Artist Eyes Opunake Surf


 
 
 
I loved the long stretch of the Opunake Beach.  The bottom is a photo I took while in New Zealand.  I painted the scene from my memory and the photo.  This landscape is the southern part of the coast line.  In the west, the sky was heavy and dark with a storm approaching.  The colors in the photo looks serene and peaceful but the photo did not capture the intensity of the approaching weather.