The time for longer and more everlasting contentment is in the autumn of our lives – Albert Emerson
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Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 10 mm : f/16 : 8.0 sec
Jones Gap State Park
Marietta, South Carolina, USA
November 20, 2022
The autumn of our lives
November 17, 2022
Rest, not Quit
If you get tired learn to rest, not to quit – Banksy
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Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 19 mm : f11.0 : 1 sec
Sunset Beach
Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
February 16, 2022
Take that scenic route
Sometimes the most scenic routes in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.
Door County, Wisconsin – is one of the premier spots for enjoying fall colors. Am glad we decided to take a detour and explore the back country, for it gifted us with this lovely palette of colors :)
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100 : 50 mm : f/16 : 4.0 sec
Backcountry
Door County, Wisconsin, USA
May 27, 2021
Sunset by Rough Ridge
Rough Ridge is one of the popular hikes with a road side parking in the beautiful Blue Ridge parkway (Milepost 302.8 in North Carolina). The boardwalk (to protect the fragile vegetation) to the top crosses several large boulders that enable one to fall back and relax. The walk up (480 ft elevation from parking) provides spectacular views of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct, with distant views into the Piedmont.
This is a great spot to be during fall – when the colors burst afar or in spring – when the rhododendrons bloom abound or just anytime of the year to laze around and soak in the view :)
Watercolor on Cold Pressed Paper
Rough Ridge Trail
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, USA
January 29, 2021
Cosmic Showers
When it rains, look for rainbows
When it is dark, look for stars
When it rains stars, sit back and enjoy the show :)
Even when we don’t see – the night falls, stars raise and the show continues. Here is a fleeting moment spread across 25 mins, from a random night captured from few years back.
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 2500 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 30 sec [50 shots]
Cosmic Showers
Harmon, Illinois, USA
January 17, 2021
No Hurry
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. – Lao Tzu
Start with your thought …
Nature may reach the same result in many ways. It takes its time. The intricate & complex dependencies are all accounted for in the grandeur of nature in prefect balance.
In a way, the energy of single thought could determine the motion of a universe. Hence start with your thought, stay with it, don’t hurry …
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100 : 184 mm : f5.6 : 1/60 sec
Spring around Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Washington, D.C, USA
November 21, 2020
Somewhere in Islamorada
Bright blue skies, crystal clear water, crispy cool breeze – a typical day in Florida
As we were driving to Keywest, decided to pull over a random turn – hoping to get a view by the water, without all the crowd (yeah this is from few years back before COVID and at the peak season). It did not disappoint. Though this lighthouse was small and all worn out, am sure it would have provided reprieve for sailors during the glorious days of past.
Curious on how this particular art was made ? check out the article – Artography : Digital Painting.
Watercolor
Lighthouse
Islamorada, Florida, USA
September 24, 2020
Sunset by Fort De Soto
Magic is natural and simple, only the mind says it’s complicated
Moments like these prove the same, by staying with you even after years
A magical sunset moment from years back at Fort De Soto – one of the lovely parks by St. Petersburg, Florida :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100: 10 mm : f/3.5 : 1/90 sec
Fort De Soto Park
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
September 18, 2020
By the Silent night
The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows. – Brene Brown
This shot is from few years back, when we used to do occasional visits between Greenville, SC and Alpharatta,GA. Enroute is the fabulous forests of Tugaloo, right adjacent to lake Hartwell. From one such drive, sunday late into the night, ignoring the imminent monday morning blues – pulled over an arbitrary & craggy road. Decided to take a stroll and it didn’t disappoint.
Set on a timer, this was captured as contiguous 177 shots spread over 45+ minutes. As for the processing ran the 177 shots through the (free) Creative Effects UI Photoshop script with Saucer effect. This could have been shot as a single exposure, but I always prefer smaller multiple exposures. It gives a lot more freedom around the creative processing :) How do u like it !
Forest of Tugaloo
Lavonia, Georgia, USA
September 5, 2020
Nourish your soul
Do things that nourishes your soul –
Be it hitting that trail for a hike
Or taking a walk with your best company
Or capturing that fleeting moment with nature
Or just be at peace and paint out the same.
Every once in a while – do things that nourishes your soul.
This was inspired by one such fleeting moment, on a misty morning, by the lovely Linville gorge wilderness.
Note : Curious on how this particular art was made ? check out the article on Artography.
Watercolor
Linville Gorge Wilderness
Marion, North Carolina, USA
August 29, 2020
Gratitude enriches existence
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. – John Milton
Have you ever thought – in life we receive a lot more than we ever give. Yet, it is easy for us to remember about things we wanted but haven’t got yet, plans that were planned but haven’t worked out yet etc. But you just reading this, shows you are among the gifted – who got to learn to read, have the will to read, probably have the basic needs met and among the the ones who have WiFi or mobile with a data plan. If nothing else, just the probability of you even existing now at all comes out to 1 in 102,685,000. Basically, the odds you even exist is zero. Yet you exist.
Realize the miracle you are and yet how wonderfully insignificant you are. Be thankful… live… live a life filled with Gratitude :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 1000 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 1/15 sec
Furman Bell Tower
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
July 30, 2020
Such is Life
Such is Life –
know when to fall, know when to roll
know when to flow & when to calm.
For those not aware – this is Eastatoe falls. This literally sits in the backyard of a lovely little home, bordering South & North Carolina. Grateful for people who share their treasures with one and all. Based on that, I like to go with the name The Backyard falls :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 13 mm : f22 : 3.0 sec
Eastatoe Falls
Eastatoe, North Carolina, USA
July 27, 2020
Sunset, Fog & Camping
Something powerful about your own photographs – A quick glimpse, it instantly brings all cherished memories from around when it was captured.
Somkies is one amazing place to get one with nature – be it a drive on the rugged back roads, hike by it winding trails or just idly camping by any of its campgrounds. That particular evening, the breeze was chill and the fog was beginning to roll in. It was so pleasant that we wrapped up at the tent and decided to get our for an evening walk. Just as we were heading out, the setting sun was peeping out to bid us a Good Evening. So here is to COVID – until its safe to venture out, (re)living experiences via memories :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 22 mm : f8.0 : 0.5 sec
Elkmont
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA
July 18, 2020
A Contemplative Evening
Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated ?
– David M. Bader
It is not complicated, it indeed is very simple
But simple might not be easy
Easy or not, Be simple, Be mindful.
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 1/60 sec
Furman Bell Tower
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
July 1, 2020
Patience
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are times we race thru things. Actually we are conditioned to race for everything in life – both professional & personal. It takes effort to slow down. Be mindful. Adapt to natures pace. Once you get her secret, life would be much enriched :)
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 800: 119 mm : f11 : 1/6 sec
The Rise
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
June 23, 2020
Winding Road on a Foggy Morning
One of the best spots in the US to witness fall colors is in Door County, Wisconsin. There is this lovely road from Gills rock that is winding and looks magical. The ongoing road work made it rustic. Add to it the fall colors along with the morning fog – it all looked like it was right out of a painting – literally :) Once the fog settled, it looked liked this !
Curious on how this particular art was made ? check out the article –Artography – Photo to Painting.
Watercolor
By the Winding Road
Gills Rock, Wisconsin, USA
June 11, 2020
Painting the Sunrise
A painting to me is primarily a verb, not a noun, an event first and only secondarily an image.
– Elaine de Kooning
This week’s art is from a short lived, but dynamic morning sunrise from Smokies. After checking out the stars, playing with some light painting in the night and getting some sleep in the car, we decided to head out of Smokies early in the morning. As we were driving out, just around the corner, we were treated to a lovely view and below is what it inspired :) How do you like it !?
If you are curious on how this particular art was made, check out the article – Artography – Photo to Painting.
Watercolor on Textured Paper
NewFound Gap Road
Bryson City, North Carolina, USA
April 10, 2020
The Wave
I might have known about this place from Windows 7 stock wallpapers, back in 2007. As I started digging around, realized it was not a walk in, walk out kind of spot. And that made it more enticing :)
The Wave – aptly named for its wave like rock formation – is situated on the Utah-Arizona border, halfway between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the site and its fragile state, BLM limits foot traffic to 20 people/day. That’s right – only 20 people are allowed access to the site at a time, thus preserving the integrity and beauty of The Wave. 10 spots a day via online lottery and 10 via a walk in lottery at the visitor center. It was a long story on the lottery, but I was fortunate to get selected on the second day.
As for the hike – it was pretty wild, since there are almost no trail signs at all. It was easy to get lost and a bit dangerous in such a wild zone, but that’s part of what made it so fun :) One of the most beautiful and unique places I’ve adventured. My only regret was, I never made the trip back for a night out with starts, that I had wanted at this spot.
Anyway, it has been more than a decade, but the memory is still fresh. These days it isn’t quiet that easy to get the lottery. For this (2020) summer ~500 pitched in for the 10 online lottery spots / day consistently. BLM does a great job of managing the footfall. Given the fragility of the place, these stringent measures are required to ensures it stands for the future generations to experience.
We occasionally do some good work , to protect visually fragile spots. But the current situation around COVID19 is beginning to highlight how much we have messed up with mother earth. We just don’t realize the damage, or we just close our eyes. Couple of weeks lock down for us humans – we are already seeing earth vibrations going down, much cleaner air even in the most polluted cities and the animals enjoying the space :) May be we need to manage our foot fall, give space & learn better to cohabit and live in unison with nature.
Canon XSi : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100: 18 mm : f9.5 : 1/250 sec
The Wave
Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah, USA
March 23, 2020
Arena of Abiqua
This week shot is from 8 years back, but the experience of Abiqua trail is still so fresh in my mind that I can smell the fragrance of the moss & feel the chinless of the water.
Abiqua Falls is part of the same geological formation as the waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park, and is not far from there as a bird flies (but significantly longer in distance when travelling by road).
As for the hike, one would have to climb over and around rocks and logs, but it can be done. If you are not a big fan of getting messy during hikes – you might not as much enjoy all the sliding, scrambling and wading – but at the end, when you get a glimpse of this view – am sure you would feel it was all well worth it :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100: 12 mm : f13 : 1/3 sec
Abiqua Falls
Marion, Oregon, USA
February 10, 2020
Just be happy :)
Be happy for no reason, like a child. If you are happy for a reason, you’re in trouble, because that reason can be taken from you.
– Deepak Chopra
Sanibel Thriller provides one of kind experience in the in the waters of Gulf of Mexico. The speed ride circumnavigates the shores of Sanibel and Captiva islands. In addition, the dolphins have a unique relationship with the Sanibel Thriller. They chase the waves created by the speed rider and have so much fun & frolic. They are just happy and would do it all day long. It is one treat to watch :)
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100 : 33 mm : f4.0 : 1/350 sec
The Dolphins
Sanibel, Florida, USA
Like the Ocean 