Flowers of the Season+

 

Flowers of the Season

Late summer can be a wonderful time for wildflowers – take a look!

Blooming Musk Thistle

The colors of this flower are so vibrant, as if it doesn’t want to let go of summer, but since it must, it wants to leave with a “bang”, so to speak!!  I also love the spiky edges that make this flower seem like a star found here on earth.

Pretty Bull Thistle

This flower seems to be the shy cousin of other blooms found in late summer.  Its shy loveliness is highlighted by the greenery that surrounds it.

Musk Thistle with Web

If you look closely at this flower, you can see the remnants of what was most likely a spider’s web.  The delicacy of the strands of web only add to the striking beauty of this bloom.

Mayweed

You may be tempted to call these flowers daisies.  I know I was until I looked them up to be certain, and found their correct name is Mayweed.  A cousin to the daisy, perhaps?  Whatever its name, it is a happy looking bloom!

Enjoy!

Peaceful Prizes

Peaceful Prizes

This past summer, and early fall, Jeff and I traveled to many places, some close to home, and others quite the drive away!  What these images of those places all have in common is a feeling of peace while we were there.  I hope you get that same feeling looking at them.

As the River Flows

While exploring in northern New Mexico, I came across this lovely river, or maybe it’s small enough to be a creek!  In any event, What struck me the most was a feeling of peacefulness in the middle of a forest.

Peace

It’s early morning and the bison are barely awake – as are we! But a step outside made me glad I woke early, just to see this view.  Yes, the “dots” in the background are the bison that call this ranch home.  Looking at this piece, you can almost smell the fresh morning air.

River’s Edge

This river flowed by our campsite and we woke every morning to the sound of gently rushing water.  The grass and flowers on the river’s edge added to the feeling that we had l eft the rest of the world behind us.

Nature’s Abstract

People aren’t alone in creating abstract art – Nature can as well!  And, it did in this image of water flowing over rocks in a shallow creek.  We only have to take the time to see the wonders of Nature.

Enjoy!

Neighborhood Treasures

 

Neighborhood Treasures

The other week, I took an early morning walk with our pup, Max, and brought along my camera to see what there might be to photograph – and found some beautiful, but perhaps overlooked, treasures.

Weed Verbena Wreath

Sometimes, Nature comes up with the perfect setting for beauty.  That is the case for these weed verbena blooms.  I thought they looked like a wreath, and even almost a heart.  In any event, it’s a lovely natural setting for these blooms.

Busy Bee

If you look closely, you can see a little bee inside, busily getting the nectar to make honey (yum!).  It was such a lovely setting for this little guy to work in!  It made me relax just looking at him, as his working seemed to calm me down.

Sunny Faces

These flowers are getting ready to bloom, and they already have sunny faces!!  It almost seemed like they were dancing in the breeze.

Nodding Thistle

This beauty is best admired from afar!  Don’t get too close or those thorns will give you a painful lesson.  The color of this bloom is so rich and almost royal, it’s amazing!

Chocolate Flower

What a yummy sounding name this flower has!!  They grow in bunches that bring sunshine into people’s lives – what a treat to see them on a morning walk!

Evening Primrose

These blooms seem to have a contradicting name.  They are called Evening Primrose, although they bloom during the day.  However, when evening rolls around, they close their buds and close to sleep.  I’m glad they bloom when they do, though, so I can enjoy them!

      Enjoy!

Note: These images are available in a variety of sizes and formats via my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

 

Greece's Art Inspirations

 

Greece’s Art Inspirations

As we traveled to a few cities in Greece, there were some true inspirations for art.  Here are but a few…

 

Possibility

Sometimes, when I see an empty rowboat, I go back to my childhood, when I’d take a rowboat out and just row to see how things look from out on the lake where we vacationed.  I never went very far in reality, but it was always good for my imagination – I could row around the world within my mind!

 Balcony Garden

One of the charming things about Greece is how often I’d look up and see the gardens people put together on their balconies.  You could sit out in the garden and be right outside your balcony door, even if it’s on the 2nd floor (or higher)!

 Life Persists

In the midst of ancient rocks in Old Olympia, Greece, at the site of the first Olympic Games in ancient times, new life springs and persists in growing.  It doesn’t matter if it’s springing up from cracks in the rocks.  It is determined to leave its mark in the world, just as the ancient Greeks did.

No. 10 Green Door

There was something mysterious about this green door.  It looked so old, yet sturdy enough to keep out what didn’t belong.  The scroll work on the windows is a lovely piece of art in this old, worn door.  I love the inconsistencies.

Adrift

Don’t some days feel like this?  You could just lie in the bottom of a boat and wait for the day to pass you by.  Daydreaming is sometimes a wonderful way to spend time.

Until next time – enjoy!

Note:  Each of the images above is available in a variety of sizes and finishes via my online gallery at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg

 

 

 

 

 

Montenegrin Charm

 

Montenegrin Charm

On a recent Mediterranean cruise, we had a port stop in Kotor, Montenegro. There are many beautiful and historic sights to see, and these are two of my favorites.

Village Reflection

It’s not often that everything lines up so well – but it did in this case.  The calm water reflected the seaside town of Kotor, Montenegro and the boat cruising by added the perfect touch.  A lovely spring day to make you smile!

Restaurant Entry

As my husband and I were enjoying lunch with some Montenegrin wine, I glanced over and saw this secondary entrance to the restaurant, perhaps from the owner’s home.  It was too charming to ignore, and it seemed to ask to be processed with a painting effect.

Enjoy!

Note:  These are available in a number of sizes and formats via my online gallery at https://fineartamerca.com/profiles/nadine-berg

Mediterranean Street Views

 

 

Mediterranean Street Views

There are such beautiful street views from some of the places in the Mediterranean – Rome and Dubrovnik!  Let’s see if you don’t agree –

Rome Street

As we did a walking tour of Rome, I happened to glance to my side and see this love side street, practically empty.  It could seem lonely, but I thought the stone of the buildings combined with the cobblestone walkway gave this more of a film noir feeling, and I processed the image accordingly.

Window Wall and Lantern

In Dubrovnik, walking down one of the many old streets in the Old Walled City, this lantern and window caught my eye.  The textures involved between the window, the walls and the lantern felt like I could touch them thru the image. 

Side street in Dubrovnik

This view created a wonderful optical illusion of a street that seemingly goes on forever.  We have an orange table that anchors the foreground of the image, but then the light on the cobblestone street takes us far, far into the image.  Eventually, we see the light shining on buildings on the street far down the line.

Touch of Red

At times, I need to look up to capture the feeling of a place, and this image is one example of that.  One lonely flower – perhaps a geranium – sits on a window ledge, shutters open to let in both light and air, giving life to the flower.  I can imagine the owner of the home and the flower enjoying all that the view offers.

Shop Light

I thought this was a charming advertisement for the shop below both the light and the flags.  I don’t know what the shop sold but I was certainly taken by the signs outside!

Street Life

I often love to see signs of a vibrant community in the side streets.  Main streets seem to hold the business interests, but the side streets old the human interests.  This street is wonderfully narrow so life from both sides of the street overflows and combines in the center of the street.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and formats in my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg. 

Treasures from St. Paul de Vence

 

 

Treasures from St. Paul de Vence

There were some wonderful treasures from the medieval village of St. Paul de Vence and the coastline at its feet.  Here are just a few…

Guide from Above

As we were coming into the port of Villefranche, along the French Riviera, pilot boats weren’t the only thing guiding us safely into port.  This seagull seemed to take his role as guide from the sky very seriously and kept a close eye on the ship.  As you can see, I was so close to him that I managed to be able to see individual feathers as I looked up at him.  What a peaceful way to spend a few minutes in the morning.

Flowers on a Ledge

As we entered the village of St. Paul de Vence, there were some homes or apartments with windows above the street level.  I loved how the colors of the flowers, the shutters and even the stones of the house all seemed to be in variations of the same color family.  They made me feel welcome.

House on the Corner

In a medieval village, homes on the corner seem to have a lot more charm and character that those at home.  There is a streetlight up high that offers light to the complete area at the corner, and the house’s door is a warm brown that seems to offer a welcome to whoever may knock upon it.

Flower Box

Many of the windows of the homes in the village had flower boxes alongside or on the window ledge, like this one.  The brightness of the flowers’ color is echoes in the brightness of the window shutters.  It seems to be a beacon of warmth and welcome.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and formats in my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

A Collection of Beauty

 

 

A Collection of Beauty

I sometimes think that waterlilies are nature’s gentlest form of art.  I think when you take a look at these, you just may end up agreeing with me!

Twins

These two practically perfect waterlilies are twins of beauty.  Nestled so close together, they can even make one think of identical twins.  They are part of the International Watercolor Collection found in San Angelo, Texas.

Posing

This waterlily seemed to be just begging to be captured as a watercolor sketch.  Since I’m a photographer, and not someone with any drawing skills, I did the next best thing.  I converted a photographic image of this bloom into a watercolor sketch, by use of digital magic!  I should only be so lucky to be able to do this with paints and paper!

Reaching

This waterlily seems to be reaching up to touch the sky.  The lighting on it could not have been more perfect, showing off not only the bloom, but the waterlily pads as well.  Nature turns out such beautiful things, if only we take a moment to look.

Enjoy!

Beauty in South Central Texas

 

Beauty in South Central Texas

We spent about 3 weeks in the area around San Antonio and found beauty in several different areas around there.  Take a look –

Morning on the Golf Course

Often, when looking at a golf course, you can get lost in the idea of where the golf balls need to go.  But, one morning, the sun in the sky didn’t let me forget that it’s also a snippet of nature, even though it may be located very close to a city.  Early spring means you can see the silhouettes of the trees clearly with warm clouds behind them.  Take a moment to embrace the quiet.

Line of Trees

The pond in front of these trees isn’t very large, but it was still and that was most important to allow me to capture their mirrored reflection.  It’s moments like this that bring the beauty of nature home to those who take the time to notice them.

Incoming

At a natural area close to the Medina River in Texas, there was a small garden.  In the garden, was an orchid tree.  I had never really known that orchids could grow on trees, and I was spending a few moments photographing the blooms.  Suddenly, a busy little bee decided that he had work to do and just flew into my camera range.  What lucky timing!

Near the Pond

It’s a quiet morning in the middle of spring.  The trees are starting to fill in with leaves and green becomes the color of the day every day!  There are morning clouds that look like they might be thinking of raining, but the sun is starting to burn through them.  Enjoy the green in changing light.

Walking Along the Medina River

There is a path that runs along the Medina River, and when walking along the river, it sometimes feels like you are walking onto the set of some sort of fairy tale.  It’s cool from both the river’s effect on the temperature and the shade of the trees.  This felt like some sort of hidden spot where almost anything could happen.

Reflection

The river’s current is running silent and deep enough that it was impossible to get a sense of it by looking at the rocks in the river.  It appears as calm as calm can be and like a mirror.  It’s impossible to tell from this closer image how fast the water is moving, due to how smooth it is.  You get a sense of peace gazing at the rocks in the river.

Enjoy!