Lava Treasures

 

Lava Treasures

Who knew that lava rock could produce such interesting landscapes?  Take a look at these from Craters of the Moon National Monument…

Gnarled Tree

This tree was found in Devil’s Garden in Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.  Although there is greenery in the background, everything is growing on lava rocks.  It’s interesting to see how much life there is among the rocks.

Living is not Enough

There are some beautiful flowers growing among the lava rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument.  And, from my perspective, they are quite inspiring.

Inside Tree

I think of lava as being fiery hot, like the lava in Hawaii.  But, the lava at Craters of the Moon National Monument, has long cooled into lava rocks.  So, the only lava red hot color I saw while wandering in Devil’s Garden, were the lines of orange red found inside a dead tree.

Perseverance

This image is demonstrating that the most fragile of flowers are very tough creatures, able to find life giving nourishment from beneath the lava rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Looking Up the Lava Field

It’s not often that one can find a lovely landscape in the midst of the lava fields of Craters of the Moon National Monument.  But here’s proof that it does happen.  Textured, craggy rocks, fragile looking flowers and mountains in the background.  Somehow, they combine into a peaceful landscape.

Enjoy!

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

                                    

Inspiration of Winter

After a winter storm at the end of December, Jeff and I took a drive along a secondary road that I love to travel down for some photo inspiration.  The trip on this day didn’t disappoint – there were a couple of views of my favorite subject that inspired me –

Recovery and Preparation

There was an ice fog that morning, and it clouded the atmosphere at ground level.  It created this sort of ethereal effect to the scene around us.  This view of a deserted cabin that has most definitely seen better days made me think about the changing of seasons, and this quote summed it up quite well.

Rising

The scene of a cabin that has fallen down seems a bit odd to name rising.  However, when I look at the cabin, I don’t see a cabin that is in its final stages.  I see all the seasons that it survived, perhaps going through a spring repair when people lived there.  Roof, windows, and door – all of these were repaired or replaced – rising up every season for years on end.  So, let’s not judge this cabin by the present, but by all it survived over the past years.

Enjoy!

Note:  These pieces are available in a number of different sizes and formats by visiting https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg

Photo Imagery at Christchurch

There was certainly a lot to see at Christchurch and some of the images just begged for a more creative process to be applied.  Hope you like the results –

New Regent Street is a very cool section in Christchurch.  It has quite a few shops and cafés and the hop-on, hop-off trolley runs right down the middle of it.  Altho there still some earthquake damage, it’s more charm than damage, and I found it to be a great subject for a digital watercolor sketch.  This is the section of the street showing several shops.

Here’s one of the beautiful flowers we saw today, and this one really fit with this quote. It’s true all the time, but when I think of what this area went thru with the earthquakes, the damage and the deaths, this thought really becomes powerful.

Back to New Regent Street, this time to have a look at the open air cafes.  I know it was early November, but remember, that’s spring down in the Southern Hemisphere, and today was a great day to have a bit to eat, a cup of coffee or tea, and just soak up the lovely warm weather.

Here’s a more formal painting type effect of some of the lovely pink blooms at the Botanic Garden.  The fragility of the petals is accented by this effect and the image seems to reflect the soft breeze that was slipping by at the time.

One of my favorite things about the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch were the benches along the Avon River.  This scene just seemed to want to be more of a sketch than a photo, and that was ok with me.  I don’t know how to draw, but I could imagine sitting on that bench actually sketching this scene, in an artistically perfect world!

 These tiny little blooms were very low and close to the ground.  It would be easy to miss them, with all there was to see in the gardens.  But, how much richer my experience for having looked down to see this little treasure.

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.

Foto Art Friday – December 8, 2017

Sunstar Morning

I’ve decided to trade off for my Foto Art Friday pieces, and start to include some “pure” photo images that I feel fall into the category of “art”, whatever that is!  This piece was taken one morning as we sailed around the Panama Canal.  There was some moisture in the air, and the sun coming up over the horizon caught those drops of water and really shone.  It’s the sort of image that I feel offers each of us hope.

Sunstar Morning

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of formats, including prints, pillows, tote bags, and even notebooks, via www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – March 31, 2017

Believe in Yourself

This week’s piece finds its inspiration in a sunrise in Central America.  We were on a cruise, and I woke early in the morning off the coast of Nicaragua.  This was the scene that greeted me when I stepped out onto our balcony.  It was very humid, and my camera lens fogged up almost immediately, creating the effect of the image.  The thought expressed in this piece was one that came to me when I thought about how difficult decisions seem to become much easier when we just believe in ourselves and are true to what’s in our hearts.  Even if it’s an unpopular decision, we can take comfort in knowing we were true to our core self, and those who truly care for us and about us will understand that.

Believe in Yourself

Enjoy!

This piece can be purchased as a print or in a variety of other formats at             www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – March 24, 2017

Go with the Flow

On a recent cruise, my husband and I took advantage of the opportunity to go snorkeling in the Caribbean.  I caught this image of fish swimming primarily in the same direction.  There is one fish, tho, who seems determined to go his own way, and is swimming against the flow, so to speak.  I am reminded of how there are times when it’s good to strike out on one’s own, and not follow the crowd.  However, I’m also reminded of some advice I heard that suggests sometimes when we are trying to do what seems to be difficult, we just need to sort of go with the flow of things and subtly make our way to our chosen course.  The example given is when one wants to cross a river with a strong current.  Rather than just striking out to cross the river directly, it’s good to let the current carry you, and gently keep moving toward the other shoreline.  You will get across, and save much effort and energy.  So, the reminder for me is to just go with the flow when the Universe seems to want me to go in a different direction than what I had in mind.

Go with the Flow

Enjoy!

This piece is available in prints as well as a variety of other formats via www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.  

Foto Art Friday – March 17, 2017

Waiting

It seems that we all spend a good portion of our lives waiting for various things – waiting to be old enough to vote, drink, and marry to begin with.  Then, old enough to retire and enjoy life.  Or maybe, waiting for someone to return home or something wonderful to happen.  This piece focuses on that last feeling.  The pier in fog can represent so many things – waiting for it to lift to be able to truly enjoy the day, or waiting for a loved one to return or to visit.  The darker clouds overhead is our worry about the situation. The birds in the distance can remind us of a person who is gone.  A handwritten note received so long ago seems to fade in our memory.  And, still, we wait. 

Waiting

Enjoy!

This piece is available as a print and in a variety of formats at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg

Inspirational Images

When at Big Bend National Park, I found some very pretty small flowers blooming in a very unlikely spot – in the ruins of an old, abandoned mine.  It just amazed me to see this delicate little blooms springing up literally from the rocks in the path to and around the mine. I processed the images, and then added some simple and hopefully inspirational words.

Thrive Anywhere

One of the things I found inspirational about these blooms were that they not only survived in these harsh conditions, they actually seemed to thrive in their environment.  A definite lesson for all of us, at one point in our lives or another.

Let your Life Bloom

How many times do we allow our environment or circumstances get in the way of living our life to the fullest?  I know I fall into that trap, and I’m guessing most of us do likewise.  Let’s keep this tiny little flower in mind the next time we feel like giving up!

Enjoy!

Both pieces are available as prints or in a variety of other formats at www.fineartameria.com/profiles/nadine-berg.