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!

Lines and Shadows at the Dunes

 

Lines and Shadows at the Dunes

Although images from White Sands National Park are of nature at its simplest and most dramatic, it sometimes feels otherworldly.  Take a look at some of my favorites.

Sunset on the Dunes

There are lines galore in this image from White Sands National Park – from the horizon line highlighting mountains, to the lines of the dunes themselves, to the lines made by the wind on the dunes surface, this image is full of graceful calming lines.

Undulating Lines

I processed this image from White Sands National Park as a black and white image to highlight the dramatic feel all the lines of the dunes there can sometimes create.  The shadows are sometimes more easily seen in the contrast effect of a black and white image.

Smooth Moves

When standing on the dunes at White Sands National Park, sometimes it feels like I’m at sea when looking at the lines created by the wind blowing over the dunes.  It changes constantly, much like the waves of the sea.

Moonrise over the Dunes

When the sunset is at its peak and the moon is also rising, the horizon line on the dunes is very dramatic and clear cut.  And, yet the image has a peaceful, calming feeling to it, like the day has found a soft place to fall.

Enjoy!

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

 

 

 

 

Zion's Treasures

 

Zion’s Treasures

There are two distinct areas that make up Zion National Park.  These images are from the area more easily accessible and reflect its natural beauty.

Natural Steps

The rock formations in a part of Zion National Park create very interesting textures, many of which look like steps.  Trees are common among these formations, seemingly growing out of the rock itself.

Small Canyon in Zion

There are many canyons in Zion National Park.  Some can be quite large, and others, like the one in this image, are much smaller.  The natural path into the canyon also serves as the path the snow melt follows in the early spring.

Bison Grazing

The drive into Zion National Park takes one past a field where you can see bison grazing from time to time.  This bison grazing near an old, broken windmill, speaks to an earlier time.  The vintage tone of the image compliments this feeling.

Enjoy!

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

Treats from Rocky Mountain National Park

 

Treats from Rocky Mountain National Park

Although there were many wonderful sights to see at Rocky Mountain  National Park, these stand out as a couple of the best!

Horseshoe Falls

This scene was created by Mother Nature, a few decades ago.  The Horseshoe Falls was created when the Lawn Lake Dam burst back in 1982.  Many millions of gallons of water crashed through this area, and this peaceful waterfall is what remains of that destruction.

Landscape Moose

This peaceful scene is made complete by the addition of a moose, who calmly grazed and drank the water of the small lake it stood next to.  The colors of fall serve to accent the majesty of his stance.  Nature at its best.

Enjoy!

These images can be found in my online gallery, available in a variety of formats and finishes. https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg

 

Taste of Monet

 

Taste of Monet

While stopped at a state park in Colorado, we took our pup, Max, to swim in one of the park’s two lakes.  Along the shoreline, I saw some very relaxing images just waiting to be taken, and so I did!

Shoreline

This image reminded me of a Monet style of painting, so I processed it to look somewhat like one.  The softness of the subject, and very tranquil setting seemed to ask for some “soft” processing.

Reeds on the Shoreline

Here is a very peaceful scene along the shoreline of the lake, with the grass reeds only slightly moving in the soft breeze.  I processed this as a watercolor painting, keeping with the feel of the image.

Enjoy!

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

 

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.

                                    

Country Samplings

As Jeff and I drove around the Eagle Nest area, we traveled down a dirt road that had several picnic or campground sites available for the taking.  At a couple of these, I was lucky enough to see these wonderful blooms.

Eye Level

Yes, I really had to get down to eye level with a sunflower – and it was well worth it!  The day was perfect – no wind so I could really capture the sunflower’s simple beauty up close!  It reminds me of laying in grassy meadows when I was a kid.

Shoreline Blooms

Along a small creek, I happen to notice these blooms. They are so small, they would be easy to miss.  I’m glad I was moving slow enough to notice them.  I really like the small tree branch behind it.  The rustic feeling of that contrasts nicely with the delicacy of the bloom.

Enjoy!

New Art Additions

As I was looking through my art files recently, I came across some art that somehow escaped me posting it both on my blog and in my online gallery at Fine Art America.  How could that happen?!?  LOL!!  In any event, here are a few of those pieces, for your enjoyment (I hope!).

Otherworldly Sunrise - Tauranga

When on a cruise to the southern portion of our world, I stepped out onto the balcony from our stateroom early one morning, and was greeted by this incredibly low-key sunrise.  It’s a bit of a misnomer to call it a sunrise, for, as you can see, the sun is actually quite high in the sky.  It’s the cloud cover that painted everything in sort of a golden grey.  I felt as if I had stepped into another world.

Beautiful Monarch

One day, when I was exploring, I came across a Monarch butterfly perching delicately on what I believe is some Queen Anne’s Lace.  The photo image was nice, but converting it to this digital sketch really captured the feeling I had while watching this fragile looking beauty.

Times Past

I was playing around, trying a bit of a new technique with my digital art, and ended up with this piece.  I began with an image I took several months ago, while driving along a new “photo op loop” as I think of it.  The image spoke to me of a past time in history, and I worked with a distressed background and some specialty brushes to enhance that message – a written note, back when everyone learned to write in cursive (however horrid our handwriting might have been!), and an old clock face, before digital numbers told us the time.  All are examples of times past, as is an old windmill, used to pump water for the old farm house it inevitable stood close to.  There are few of those reminders left, and I feel bad for those who live in a more urban environment where “progress” had demolished these parts of our history. 

Hidden Story

The old barn that is the focus of this piece, reminds me of lives all around us that have portions of them held close, and hidden to much of the world around them.  People may share a portion of their life story with us, but many people have pieces that they don’t share, that remain hidden.  Sometimes, it’s embarrassment, other times, its fear of judgement, and there are times when some things are just too painful to keep reliving.  This piece is an acknowledgement that all of us have those hidden stories within ourselves.

Beautiful Places

This digital watercolor piece started out as a casual photo image of my patio table with some flowers to be planted, a watering can, and a pair of gardening gloves sitting on it.  It evolved into a sketch which was digitally framed and became part of a larger piece with a lovely quote about gardeners to complete it.  It is something that will always remind me of the spring planting season!

Enjoy!!

Note:  These can be found on my online gallery and are available in a variety of finishes and formats – you can visit there by clicking on this link – https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/Nadine-berg

Foggy Morn

One thing about camping next to a golf course – when it’s foggy, it’s hard to see the little flag that identifies each hole, and so they don’t get in the way of some lovely early morning foggy images.

Enjoy!

Morning Views

One morning the show was right in front of us!  The morning sunrise was spectacularly gentle!  Here are the various views of our morning show……

Enjoy!!

Prince Edward Island Treasures

There were a couple of images that I was lucky enough to capture on our drive around the western portion of Prince Edward Island.  I believe they are worth highlighting on their own.

Birch Stand

I admit I have a weakness for a stand of similar trees.  In this case, they are birch trees.  I love how the tree trunks are mostly parallel.  And, those trees that aren’t, they add some dynamic tension to the image.  The different shades of green are very complimentary with the trees.

Tattered Life

When I saw this doorway to an abandoned house, I had to highlight it in its own image.  I feel like I could make up any number of stories about people who lived there – the state of disrepair, the slight opening of the door, the worn curtains on the door window - each of these can serve as a springboard for tales from the past.

Enjoy!

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

Digital Watercolor Pencil Sketches from Deer Isle, Maine

Deer Isle, Maine, is a smaller island made up of private homes of working class individuals, many of whom seemed to work on the boats, fishing for lobster, crab and other seafood.  The images that I took seemed to best capture the overall feeling of the area when converted to watercolor pencil sketches.

It’s not uncommon to see lobster traps stacked up on the docks, waiting for the fishermen to take them out and drop them in the sea.  In this piece, you can see the traps on the left side.  Many seem to be yellow, altho I don’t know the reason for that.  

Lobster Fishing Harbor

As we drove along the backroads on this island, there were several scenes like this one – very calm and peaceful.  I could imagine myself deciding to lay in the grasses on the shore, and read or day dream or nap for a few hours! 

Deer Isle Shore

This was a bit of an unusual site – a sailboat leaving from what seemed to primarily be a fishing port.  I loved to watch it seemingly silently glide through the port waters, making its way to the sea from the safe waters close to shore.

Sailing thru Port

This small village seemed to be purely a fishing village.  No lobster traps were in sight.  It also seemed like most of the fisherman were out for the day.  What an idyllic setting.

Deer Isle Fishing Village

Away from the salt water harbors of this island off the shore in Maine, was a small pond.  Near the pond, almost hidden in the tall grasses, was this lovely blue iris – a treasure for anyone having the time to wander the shore and look for it.  Lucky me.

Blue Iris

In a fresh water pond across the village from the harbor, there were some waterlilies that dotted the surface.  They just seemed to invite a person to sit and have some quiet reflection.

Water Lily Pond

Enjoy!

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