Stillness in Winter

The Good: This winter was much brighter than I expected. The Bad: The temperatures dipped far below what either the dogs or myself could brave on most days. Both Kodee and myself seemed to have a harder time with arthritis this year - not that we are showing our age or anything...

 

Winter is long though, so at some point life just seemed to stop. With a thud. There comes a point when winter becomes too quiet.

 

Be Still 52 - Week 6 Props

So no props here for my chosen week 6 photo - but there was a prop buying adventure and this photo screams stillness! Very behind on my lessons, but if I have learned anything in this workshop its  "don't rush, just enjoy the journey".

Feeling much too housebound in this -30 windchill we opted to get out and explore the landscape (may have tugged along a hot thermos of tea. A whole new world opened up; no salted streets, no sounds of snow shovels scraping the sidewalk, no fumes from cars idle and warming up.

 

We ended up north at the Oshawa Skeet Club where you could hear the guns cracking in the still air.

 

Just miles of sun, glistening snow, stillness  on top of the hill. Suddenly winter was not dark and drab.

 

Before I get too carried away in this get back to appreciate nature post, this photo serves as a stark reminder of just how much snow we got!

My Friday Finds

Stillness, beauty, inspiration, warm tea, & MY TOES on a cold, winters day.

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Joining in Friday Finds

Bitter Snow Rose

Just remember, during the winter,
far beneath the bitter snow,
that there's a seed that with the sun's love
in the spring becomes a rose.
~ Leanne Rhimes

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Participating in: Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday
[kk_red]

Be Still 52 Week 5 "Find the Light"
It takes a brave person to play around with light, outside in -20C with a windchill to 30! I set this rose just on the edge of shade with the sun behind me and shot all around. This was my pick.

M4H P52 Week 6 "Happy"

My husband walked in the house after work with a bouquet of roses and said 'there were lots in the store and I thought you'd like to photograph them". Surprise, for no reason gifts are the best.

Tiny Details

Gerbera Daisies seem to always smile! They are the world's 5th most popular flower, so I guess I am not alone loving their cheerful faces. 

Still counting down the days when I can go outside. I want to try macro in the sunlight to also get a background of colourful bokeh.



I have a favourite macro photographer that really inspires me, Alex Greenshpun. She is responsible for Canon making more money off of me!

I know she has the same camera body and lens that I do. Here folks is the proof of the saying "it is not about the gear" because I can only dream to create as much magic one day.
{Texture from Kim Klassen kk_waterfront}

Now I also have to blame Kim Klassen and my fellow Be Still 52 participants for our chat on "gathering" backgrounds and props for our creations.
{Texture from Kim Klassen kk_waterfront}



Clearly fresh cut flowers are quickly becoming a grocery shop staple in my household!

If you're Canadian you probably know Target is leaving Canada. So sad, because it was a great place for photography items. I took advantage advantage of the closing sales and picked up some items at discounted prices - how about $1 for this metal bucket, some string and cheese cloth, a few place mats and new coffee cups all at a steal.

Flowers always make people better...
They are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.
~ Luther Burbank 
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Participating in Macro Monday
Textured Tuesday - Be Still 52 Week 4

Week 4 of M4H P52 "Small"

Be Still 52 - Room to Breathe

How does this photo make you feel? It is my favourite of my day. I really love how the bright colours instantly cheer me up but more than that, I love how it is surrounded by an airy light feeling.

My style is usually a more get in your face sort of photographer - I like to get close to my subjects.

We are talking about in my Be Still 52 class about moving back both in your photo and in your day - give yourself a little bit of space to breathe. Such a simple thing we forget to do.

Feeling a bit daring, I took another step back - brave I know! Well I'll be, I think I am starting to appreciate how this white space thing brings a bit more calm to my photos.

 

You know it is not just about the photos though.Get outside and BREATHE everyone!

Also participating in Today's Flowers

Be Still 52 Beginnings

Be Still

BREATH

Slow Down

See Beyond

Jack Frost is nipping at more than my window panes this winter!

On the plus side hibernating allows me to slow down and focus on the little details.

If you have read my blog for a while, you know getting a macro lens was top of my list. Thank you Santa! I am really going to enjoy this lens but there is so much to learn. It is really making me have to slow down and that is what I love about photography - how I can just get lost behind the lens for a little while. Macro is also giving me another gift, one heck of a neck ache so I am  working on setting up spot just for macro. Well or so that is my excuse to do some more decorating in the Craft/Sew Room.

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Yeah! So thrilled to have my frost photo represented in the M4H Project 52  "Eye Candy" collection for 3/52 Light.
Think about joining us next week for 4/52 "A Part of Me".