Evening Show

The other day, we had an incredible sunset at our home.  It seemed that everywhere I looked, there was a magnificent view of it.  Let me take you through those few moments between day and night, when Nature put on quite the show…..

The show began with a golden glow, and rays that reached up into the blue early evening sky.

Interesting Sky

This image really made me feel that we humans are truly insignificant, when it comes to Nature in its entirety.  The vastness of the sky and what lays beyond was something I felt in my gut when I saw this scene.  The very large mountains seem tiny in the distance.  The last rays of the day burned bright until they reached the cool of the sky beyond our earth. And, in the forefront, trees that seem so much taller than we are, are dwarfed by all of this. 

Evening Rays

And, yet, there were light, almost whimsical moments in this moment.  I chose to focus on just a small piece of the wonder of this sunset, and came away with this almost happy view of warm and cool colors mixing it up in the sky

Cloud Wisps

Enjoy!

New Art on Fine Art America

The following images are from a recent sunset – one of the magical ones.  Many of the sunsets here in New Mexico are bold and beautiful.  However, the other night, the sunset was soft and gentle.  Take a look at these and see if you don’t agree! 

Abstract Sky

The sky was incredible during a recent sunset at our home in New Mexico.  The entirety of the sky could be overwhelming, so I focused on just one portion where the sky painted an abstract in nature. 

Hole in the Sky

There is something magical when a sunset happens above the clouds.  It’s the only way I can explain this image.  The sunset was shining down through the clouds, creating this almost spiritual effect. 

Evening Sky

Although a sunset can be bright and bold, it also can be soft and gentle, as it is in this image.  It has a soothing, calming effect, as if it’s there to help us slow down, breathe deep, and be grateful for the day we’ve had.

Enjoy!

All of these images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes via my web site at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Virga Rain

Simply put, virga is rain that never makes it down to earth.  Most commonly, it is seen in the Southwest US and Canadian prairies in North America.  Always interesting to see, when combined with a desert Southwest sunset, it becomes magical.

Enjoy!

Note:  This image is available in a variety of sizes and finishes (including notebooks and cups) by visiting http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Sunset Virga

The other day, we had some virga falling at the perfect time to coincide with sunset.  Great images were the result…..

Rosy Virga

Virga is rain that never makes it to the ground.  It looks like delicate sheets of falling rain.

Raining Sunset

Altho I don’t know if this happened at a high enough altitude, sometimes the virga are ice crystals that melt as they fall and reach closer to earth.

Layers of Sunset

Sometimes virga can trigger a microburst.  We had one of those here last summer that wiped out some power lines and left us without power for about 37 hours.

Virga over South Mountain

Virga is very common in desert and temperate climates, and in North America, it’s mainly seen in the Western US and Canadian prairies.

Enjoy!

Art in the Desert

Here are some of my favorite images from the time we spent at Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona…….

Desert and Mountains

I love the contrast of this image.  Mountain peaks reaching up to touch the sky, and the desert life that hugs the earth.  And, the pop of color of the ocotillo blooms speaks to the vibrant life that exists in the desert.  It’s a starker kind of beauty that a typical lush landscape, but no less spectacular in its majesty.

Desert Floor

It seems strange to see saguaro cactus at the base of a mountain.  It’s not a typical grouping in most people’s minds.  Mountains are about as far from the desert as we imagine.  However, look at the green of the cactus and other plants – the saguaro are almost what would be called spring green in the Midwest where I grew up.  I truly enjoy this very different type of desert floor – one of the few places in the world where one can see saguaro cactus.

In the Desert

When I used to think of the desert, I thought of it as a very inhospitable place, where very little could live and grow.  How mistaken I was!  This image gives one a window to the marvelous life that exists in the desert – and this is only the plant life!  Cacti of different variety, and some other shrubs complement the golden sandy ground and the beautiful blue sky.  Yes, there is what seems to be a dead bush, but that only accents the vibrant living plants around it!

Nature’s Treasure

One doesn’t expect to see what seems to be a typical wildflower in the desert environment.  And, yet, here it is!  This flower just speaks to me of being a happy survivor, taking in nourishment as is provided, and certainly making the best of harsh surroundings.  This is a true lesson in resilience.

Ocotillo Bloom

My husband, Jeff, my most excellent photographer’s assistant, held the bloom of an ocotillo cactus in a better photographic angle to allow me to capture this image.  There was ever so slight of a breeze, which cause the bloom to sort of blur.  I decided to go with what Nature had given me, and transform this photo image into a watercolor abstract of the bloom.  The colors speak of springtime and the joy of nature coming to life again after the winter cold.  Of course, winter cold is a relative term in southern Arizona!

Enjoy!

Note:  Each of these images is available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.