Early Morning

This year, for Foto Art Fridays, I thought I would share a “pure” photograph that I’ve taken and share that, instead of creating a photo collage or some other artistic altered image.  I also thought I’d tell you a bit about the image.

Early Morning

This image is of one of my favorite subjects, which is no longer around.  This deserted cabin is just down the road from our home, and I love the character of it.  The tree standing next to it adds to the character, and makes the scene truly photogenic.  This cabin seemed to speak of past times when I think people, in general, were made of tough stuff.  It doesn’t look like it had any running water or electricity when it was someone’s home.  It managed to survive for generations, but within the last few years, time and the elements have finally taken their toll, and the cabin is mostly flattened.  Here’s to (slightly) better times!

Enjoy!

Note:  This piece is available in a variety of sizes and formats (including notebooks, mugs, and tote bags) on www.fineartamerica/profiles/nadiine-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 – December 1, 2017

Shades of Home

This piece came about as I thought about home and what it means to so many people.  Of course, the heart of the piece is the image of what once was someone’s home.  There is writing, both handwritten and typed, in different positions, representing how people tend to write to those at home, or about home, or even about leaving home, depending on one’s perspective.  Different textures represent the different thoughts people have about what “home” means to them, and the birds represent the fleeting time we spend at our various homes throughout our life.  So, what does “home” mean to you?

Shades of Home

Enjoy!

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

Foto Art Friday – November 17, 2017

Echo

There is nothing quite so still as a mist-filled morning.  And, ironically, often things are not as clearly seen as they are in the mist.  The similar shapes of these trees was invisible to me until this misty morning eliminated the other “noise” of the scenery, and allowed me to see this natural echo of shapes.

Echo

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a number of finishes and formats on www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – November 10, 2017

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, it’s 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.

Hidden Story

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of sizes and finishes at

www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – November 3, 2017

Circular Clouds

This piece celebrates the wonder of White Sands National Monument.  Specifically, at sunset, when the sun warms the sky and it’s a nice compliment to the sand and desert plants.  The background of this piece is a vintage love letter, where the writer talks about being on a journey with another person.  And, such is the way I feel about nature of all types, and today specifically the wonder of this US National Monument. 

Circular Clouds

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of sizes and finishes at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.  

Foto Art Friday – October 20, 2017

Walk in the Mist

I took the photo that is the heart of this piece many years ago.  I was in Wisconsin, walking along a sort of harbor area.  It was a cool, damp morning, with the mist hanging heavily in the air.  I saw the white benches and globe light that seemed to be beacons, calling for me to come and sit for a bit.  The handwritten letter and envelope in the faded background of the piece suggest someone doing that, and then writing to a loved one far away, telling them of this moment in time.

Walk in the Mist

Enjoy!

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

Foto Art Friday – October 13, 2017

Old Barn

Note:  This is a repeat of a previous Foto Art Friday from September, 2016.  I’m reposting this as a sort of remembrance to this old barn.  This past week, as I drove by the place where it was, I noticed that it had just been torn down.

There’s this small little barn that apparently hasn’t been used for years on the road that I drive on all the time to head to the store.  I have always thought it had such character, and planned to photograph it.  However, I hadn’t until recently.  I noticed there was a “For Sale” sign on the property, and I realized that when it sold, whoever the new owners were might tear it down to build a newer, bigger barn.  So, I finally made a point to stop and photograph it.  I decided to have it be the focus of this art piece, to sort of honor the farming community that used to live in the area.  The piece has my own Citra Solv paper as its background, with some vintage handwriting blended into it.  Add my image, some grunge effects and specialty paint brushes in PhotoShop Elements, and it’s done! Credit: on thin air and soul poison (brushes); GTD Grunge Collection (grunge effect)

Old Barn

Enjoy!

Foto Art Friday – October 6, 2017

Inevitable

This piece speaks to the time of the year when summer is giving way to autumn.  Some look forward to the new season, while others want summer to remain a while longer.  But, no matter how much one wishes for the warmth of summer to remain, the crisp of autumn will certainly come.  The lesson of autumn is that change is inevitable, and our ability to thrive depends on our resilience to the changes around us.

Inevitable

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of sizes and formats from www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – September 29, 2017

Autumn Raindrop

It’s rather unusual for it to be very rainy here where I live, in the desert Southwest of the US.  However, the other day, it was raining off and on all day.  When I looked out at the tree in our front yard, the leaves were all turning from green to gold.  And, in the rain, they all looked a bit bedraggled.  I did go out between showers, tho, to see if there was an image to be had.  Nothing was extremely photo-worthy, but I did notice a raindrop just hanging from the edge of a gold leaf, with brownish edges.  I decided to use a close up of that image as the foundation for this piece.  It was such a close up, it became somewhat abstract, so I decided to go with that, and just made the piece about all the different signs of autumn – leaves turning colors, from green to gold to red, bare trees waiting for winter, and birds taking wing to their winter retreats.  It’s a time of endings, and beginnings, too, depending on one’s perspective.  I’m looking forward to the change of season.

Autumn Raindrop

Enjoy!

Credit: Bird brushes by wingsofahero

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

Foto Art Friday – September 15, 2017

Autumn Leaves

It’s that time of year again – fall!  It is probably my favorite time of the year, with beautiful colors bursting out all over, even in my home state of New Mexico.  Much like leaves on the ground, this piece is full of leaves placed somewhat haphazardly.  And, yet, there is a sort of balance to the shuffle.  The last of the summer birds are also winging thru the sky, heading for warmer climates.  This piece is intended to capture the brilliance and beauty of this most changeful time of the year!

Autumn Leaves

Enjoy!

Credits:  Thanks to  wingsofahero and Lady Victoria for the bird and foliage brushes.

This piece is available in a variety of sizes and formats via

www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – September 8, 2017

The Old House

Memories are funny, and selectively incorrect, or correct, depending on one’s perspective.  Is the season summertime, or late winter, as is this case?  And, were there visitors by car, or perhaps a more casual visitor by bicycle?  Memories can play tricks, or do we play tricks with our minds.  Generally, it’s of no importance, as they can be something that offers us solace when looking back on what once was.

The Old House

Credits:  Background paper by Somerset Studio, Brushes used complements of Wings of a Hero (birds) & Maya (written word).

Enjoy!

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

Foto Art Friday – September 8, 2017

Ancient Word

A few weeks ago, Jeff & I drove past Shiprock.  Shiprock.  It is significant in the history of the Navajo People, and means, roughly, “winged rock” or “rock with wings”.  It refers to the great bird that brought the Navajo from the north to the current area where they live.  As I look at it, I’m reminded of not only the Navajo People’s history, but all of our histories, both as a culture and individually.  The title of this piece refers to how we capture our history, written in the traditional sense of the word, and in other ways just as meaningful as the written word.

Ancient Word

Enjoy!

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

Foto Art Friday – August 18, 2017

Ghosts

The old deserted house stands in the ghost mining town of Kennecott, Alaska.  It speaks to time gone by, when the town was a hub of ore mining activity.  Now, the town is a tourist town, altho the way there is just difficult enough so that it will never become a tourist trap.  This house reminds me that we all have ghosts, so I inserted some into this piece.  Ghosts have a somewhat negative reputation, so another way of thinking about them is as history – sometimes our own and sometimes as society’s.  As much as we sometimes would like to forget the past and focus on the future, the danger in  that is that we will lose the lessons of the past, and in the words of an old saying, “Those who do not learn from the past, are doomed to repeat it.”  So, let us remember the lessons, the ghosts of our past.  It may sometimes be a bit difficult, as is represented by the wisps of memory clouds in this piece, and the faded words as well.  Here’s to the good ghosts, the good memories, and the lessons worth remembering!

Ghosts

Enjoy!

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

Foto Art Friday- August 11, 2017

Reality

Sometimes, life is harsh.  This piece has, as its focus, a cabin called the Beeman’s Cabin, in Alaska.  Life certainly can be hard, and harsh, in Alaska.  This piece is meant to capture the reality of how hard can be.  In today’s world, it seems many want to make life unrealistically easy for younger people.  By doing that, they are doing a disservice to those individuals, because that’s not what life is.  I won’t go on, but life will hand all of us reality, which may be exactly what we want….or not.  Here’s to having the strength to survive and thrive in reality.

Reality

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of finishes and formats at the following sites: www.etsy.com/shop/photoimagerybynadine and www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – August 4, 2017

Homestead of Old

This piece has, as its focus, one of my favorite photographic subjects – an old deserted cabin.  There’s something about it being a living history, in a way.  Yes, it’s deserted and left standing until it falls over.  But, as long as it is standing, it serves to remind us of a life, or lives, that lived there.  Of a time in our history when brave souls faced the unknown in order to make a better life for themselves.  The image that is the base of this was converted to a sepia toned image to enhance the historic feel of this piece.  Vintage handwriting enhances the intention of this piece, as well as other brushes and effects.  It’s a homestead of old, our living history.

Homestead of Old

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of finishes and formats at my web site at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Shop Friday – July 28, 2017

The Perch

It’s the dead of winter, right after a brutal snow storm.  Most birds, in fact, most animals, are burrowed away, waiting for the sun to return, to once again warm the earth and melt the snow.  And, I see this raven, alone but not lonely.  A curious creature, seemingly oblivious to the conditions around him, perched on just about the only thing around not covered in snow, waiting, watching, content in his own environment.  Looking for some unlucky creature to venture out and become lunch?  Hard to say.  I do love the hardiness of these independent, and intelligent beings and this piece celebrates their uniqueness.

The Perch

Enjoy!

This piece, in a variety of finishes and formats, is available on my web site at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Silence

“Winter is a time for recovery and preparation.” Words by Paul Theroux and an image that I took during the winter are the inspiration for this piece.  There is nothing quite as silent as the world covered by a blanket of snow.  All sounds are muffled, and if they aren’t rather loud to begin with, they are totally silenced.  And, silence gives us time to recover our balance, and prepare to move forward.  That is what I feel when I look at the image in this piece, and what I attempted to convey overall.

Silence

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of formats and finishes on my web site at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – July 14, 2017

Forest for the Trees

This week’s piece was inspired by a ride on a chairlift taken during the summer.  As we traveled both up and down the lift, I was truly amazed at the beautiful scenery.  I kept being drawn to the many, many pine trees that we passed over and alongside – so much so, that I totally missed this small stand of birch trees mixed in with the pines.  It reminded me of the saying about how one cannot see the forest for the trees – getting too hung up on the details to see the overall picture.  I felt a bit like that’s what I had done, totally missing all the birch trees in the forest because I was focused on seeing the pine trees!  I converted my image of the birch trees into a colored pencil drawing, and then merged it with some digital collage elements – some text from an Asian book, and some CitraSolv background paper I made.  I added some specialty brushes to the piece to add a finishing touch. I hope you enjoy the piece and don’t forget to check out all the trees!!!

Forest for the Trees

Enjoy!

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

Foto Art Friday – June 23, 2017

Truth Shines In

When exploring in our home state of New Mexico, my husband & I came across this door, or rather, this wall, with a door in it.  What struck me about this wall was how it was still standing, while apparently very sound structurally.  After all, the light was shining in at almost all the seams where the wood boards were joined.  The color was warm and lovely, and truly accented the light nicely.  It made me think about all that one hears in today’s world.  What is true? What is assumption?  What is an outright lie?  Sometimes they all sound the same, all are believable.  The key, I feel, is to listen with your heart.  When you do that, the truth will shine in. 

Truth Shines In

Enjoy!