Season Speak

Winters in Southern California are mild to say the least. The weather we experience is but a breeze in the howling wind of what true seasonal weather should be. Mind you, it’s totally fine by me and one of the reasons I can’t imagine leaving my native California. This season, although still fairly temperate, we have had some weather. Storm systems have been flying through here like they’re in a hurry to get somewhere. Like another state perhaps where they can really wreak havoc. But as they race past they leave a lingering trail of the visual delights that So Cal photographers like myself rarely witness.

This morning as I set out on my daily rounds, the landscape here was luminous. With the air washed clean of the normal daily haze, the earth glowed a saturated green and the clouds looked like something from a dream. A tumultuous storm brewed over the mountains and a rainbow playfully danced in and out of my rearview mirror. I couldn’t help but feel like I was being romanced by my surroundings. Winter here can do that for you. It can tenderly remind you that everyday isn’t just like the one that came before it. Receiving a gift of perspective like that is invigorating. Each day is indeed a new day that begins fresh and clean and the possibilities are endless. Sometimes you can see it in the sky. It’s no wonder I’ve been carrying my camera with me everywhere I go.

I love to see how you translate the season with your cameras. I've been intoxicated by the images in our Flickr pool like those from  joannerim, strawberrygoldie, monsoonaz3 , carol brown and tonyapool.  Wow. Just plain wow. Keep them coming ladies. I feel a deep cleansing breath coming on and I like it.

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Now onto some Shutter Sisters business—

First, our apologies to everyone for the inability to subscribe to our feed. We are thrilled that you are so eager to get us into your readers! Just so you know, we are aware of the problem and promise that you all will be the first to know when we’ve got it worked out so hold tight!

And on a more fun note, we are pleased to announce that we will be kicking off our very first photo contest next week. Are you are ready to get down and dirty for this one? We thought we’d give you a week to get a jump start on shooting some pix to submit for the CleanWell Moments Photo Contest so get clickin’! Get the nitty gritty at ‘click with us'.

Seven AM

Nature’s gifts never cease to delight and inspire me. I’m often drawn to the smallest, most delicate of objects in my home, on the street, out and about. If something calls out to be noticed I rarely nod and just forget it. Inexorably guided by my passion to create photographs, I have to stop everything I am doing and get a camera.

I discovered this lone leaf the other morning looking like it had been meticulously placed there on the lid of our trash can just for me. As I was in the midst of emptying the garbage it caught my eye, still bleary with the morning, as it seemed to be boasting its juxtaposition of dainty ruffles and crooked lines. Accentuated by the soft early morning light (a contrast against the dark slick surface ) it stopped my in my tracks. I stood there in wonder…in the street…in my pajamas. And then of course, I got a camera.

How is it that no matter how many leaves, pods or blossoms I study, I am continually amazed at how striking and inimitable each one is? And then I notice the way each photographer can uniquely capture them in a photograph and I am forever charmed by their beauty.