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!

Beauty in the Rocks

 

Beauty in the Rocks

At City of Rocks State Park, in New Mexico, one can find some nice lovely quiet places in the midst of a field of huge volcanic rocks, some of which reach 40 feet tall.  From such natural violence, comes quiet refuges.

Hidden Spot

In this little alcove between volcanic rocks, one can find a place to take a moment to appreciate nature.  Specifically, how this place where millions of years ago, devastation occurred and left us with peace.

Natural Underpass

Can you imagine the power of nature to lift a huge boulder and place it on tops of others to create this natural underpass – or natural bridge, if one were to walk on top of it?  Volcanic activity from million of years ago gave us this place of natural sculptures.

Path between Rocks

In the midst of a square mile of volcanic boulders from millions of years ago, you can find paths to peacefully wander among the giants and appreciate not only the power of, but the beauty of nature.

Enjoy!

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

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.

 

 

 

 

Dunes Nature Trail Discoveries

 

Dunes Nature Trail Discoveries

While wandering around the Dunes Nature Trail area at White Sands National Park, there were some wonderful photographic discoveries to be found!

Dusk

There is a calmness when walking the grassy dunes at White Sands National Park.  Often, there aren’t quite as many people wandering around, and those there are nicely spaced.  It creates a sense of being alone with nature, which, to me is very soothing.

Dune Landscape

At White Sands National Park, it seems that the only thing that is constant is the tree anchoring this scene.  The sand, which is actually gypsum, is constantly changing, shifting with the winds that caress the landscape.  This scene is only guaranteed for the moment, and who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Sunset Beginning

People have different, but to me, sunset is the most magical time at White Sands National Park.  The constantly shifting sands playing against the quickly changing light of sunset, makes for a temporary nature of the beauty one sees.  Yes, it will be there tomorrow…but different.

Enjoy!

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