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!