landscape envy

This is the optical illusion of space. This is me belly down in the wet grass. The fog and rain hugging me as I search for what feels like home. I walked away from here muddy-kneed and happy.

When I was twenty I packed up my belongings and moved myself across the country. A part of me has felt landlocked ever since. A part of me wonders if I will ever be happy until I live once again where the sand meets the sea.

On days when I miss the seagulls cry, when I miss the salty air … I do my best to recreate what it is I’m looking for.

This is that illusion. This equals staring off into a vast open space, the facade of solitude and quiet. This is where I go to find myself, ground myself, feel connected again and again.

Today, please share with us some of your surroundings, your landscape, what you see, and where you go. Today for a moment, let us live vicariously through each other's landscapes.

winter wonderland

I am embracing the snow in Omaha (although I haven't been the one shoveling our driveway). No one was prepared for the extreme winter conditions we are experiencing right now. And it is making life a little difficult due to longer commutes, dangerous temperatures, and school closings. But I happen to think it's quite beautiful, and if the temperature outside wasn't 1 degree I would be out there taking pictures all day. Not only because of the beauty of it all, but so that I can look back in 10 years and say "remember that year that we got 28 inches of snow in the month of December?". "Remember when there were snow drifts in our neighborhood that were 10 feet tall?" I have proof. And isn't that what photography is all about? Capturing a moment or memory so that we can have proof that it happened?

What proof of winter do you have in your neck of the woods?

landscapes of the season

We all know that as the seasons change so do our surroundings and our scenic landscapes. Although here in California the changes aren't always by the hand of Mother Nature and can be harder to find, I am still delighted by the visual signs of the season.

Show us how your landscapes are being transformed this time of year. What scenes are sweeping you off your feet?

the big picture

 

Through my lens, I've always been drawn to the details. And since my favorite (macro) lens rarely leaves my camera, it's easy to see the things one might often miss.

And then, this summer, I got my hands on the Lensbaby Super-Wide Conversion Lens. My eyes have officially been opened to the wondrous world of landscapes. There's something about capturing the vast horizon at the edge of the world or the endless sky of sweeping cloudsthat makes you feel really tiny. A single grain of sand in the desert. One small yet sparkling star in the galaxy. It's humbling, liberating and inspiring.

Show us your favorite landscape shot today. The kind of shot that takes your breath away again and again. A shot that gives the kind of perspective we all need; a reminder of how big and beautiful the world is.

Alien Landscapes

Cacti, Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago IL

My recent 10 day trip to Chicago started off with the BlogHer conference where I was thrilled to meet the Shutter Sisters and many other amazing women in "real life". Following BlogHer, my husband and I stayed another week to spend some time in the city where we met and started our lives together. Being amongst the buzz of the big city again left me feeling a range of emotions. On one hand the city seemed like another planet. It was all trains and traffic, honking horns and sirens, parking meters and crowds of people. At times I was shocked that I ever lived in a place so completely foreign to me now. But on the other hand I found myself feeling more creative than when I arrived. Chicago is absolutely stuffed full of art in every form. From boutique signs to giant sculptures, architecture to graffiti, the city is alive with visual stimulation. I found myself opening my eyes more and trying to take it all in. I even came home wanting to paint the walls in our house after visiting the beautiful homes of our friends.

This is not to say that my current home city of Omaha is boring or uninspiring. In fact, it's exactly where I want to be. However, there's something great about exploring a place that forces you to see things differently. In fact, when we first moved from Chicago to Omaha two years ago I remember being in awe of the beautiful green rolling hills and country roads. The lush landscape was so different and refreshing. So I guess it's just a change of scenery that helps me recharge.

Have you explored any alien landscapes lately? Find a place that's foreign to you and keep your eyes peeled. If you're like me, the experience will give you a creative boost.