Saturday, November 30, 2013

North Florida's Natural Beauty

     Recently, my friend Dee and I brought our cameras for some time exploring  my immediate neighborhood and a roadside creek view a couple miles up the road. We both appreciate the natural beauty in coastal North Florida and often share tips about places to see and photograph water birds, hawks, eagles, or other wildlife. Dee had borrowed a camera from a friend to see whether she would like that brand and that particular zoom lens for herself. I just used my usual humble camera, but we both captured some good shots. Now, I will consider which of my photos might make or be a part of a future painting.

     The egret haunts a retention pond just a few houses away from our home. The grey skies and soft winter light made for subtle scenes at the creek.

     


 Question of the day: Do you take time to look around you daily?

9 comments:

  1. Great photos indeed, Mary! And I always notice the natural beauty around me, no matter where I go. This seems to be something that I began doing from some time in my 20's. Every state and country I've been to has beauty to it. I love riding in the car and oohing and ahhhing. And sometimes I am lucky enough to have my camera with me.

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  2. Thank you, Sherry. Yes, I know how observant of natural beauty you always are. And isn't it frustrating to really want a photo of a scene or bird or whatever and not have a camera along? (You can tell I am not a smart phone person--too cheap for that :>). I also have a mental bank of memories of sights that are special to me, and picturing certain places from the past really helps me relax sometimes. As always, I very much appreciate your visit and comment.

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  3. Dear Mary - What a delightful visit I have had exploring your blog. I am so glad to visit you as well. Your photos are beautiful and I love your November painting (the house)...it looks like a wonderful place I would love to stop and rest. (Of course being from the midwest it too has a familiar touch.) I will certainly be back again. Hope you are having a great day. The egret would be what I would want to paint...such a beautiful bird.

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  4. How lovely that you visited and commented insightfully, Debbie; thank you, thank you. Many others have responded to the November Moon painting--it seems to have struck a chord. Apparently, you and I think alike--that egret will be the star of a new painting very soon.

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  5. Nice to hear from you again, Mary. We'll be doing the Florida nature thing this January as we're joining the snow bird crowd for the first time. I rented a cabin on Cedar Key in the Gulf. We can hardly wait

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  6. Wow, that sounds super, TB! Mark and I have Cedar Key on our list of places to explore, but haven't been there yet. My painting mentor, Linda Blondheim (a web search will show you her beautiful "Old Florida" landscapes--the kinds of places that are gradually disappearing), loves to visit and paint on Cedar Key.

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  7. I have been to cedar Key. Before where is cedar Key at. I would like to go sometime to that place in ga were they have the hores on the beach. I don't know the name of that place in ga were they have the hores on the beach. That on my list of the places to expore . I hope you have a nice Christmas. What are you in your family going to do for Christmas.

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  8. You might be thinking of Cumberland Island, where wild horses live. They are sometimes seen on the beach there.

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  9. Have you ever been to Cumberland Island to see the wild horses on beach. I would like to so sometime. Do you like the zoo. They really nice birds at the Jacksonville zoo. I am a member of the Jacksonville zoo. I can take a guest with me to the zoo. And they get in free since they are my guest. I hope you and your family have a very nice Christmas. And a happy new year in 2014! When are you going to have another openhouse and show some more of your art work. I hope you will have openhouse in 2014. I love your art work very much.

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