Blessings

Tonight I am going to try and think of the blessings that God has given to me in my life. It has certainly been a long, cold winter, but I know that there are better days ahead.

The most beautiful blessing are the people in my life. I have been thinking about how much my parents always done for me and my siblings. My parents were always home and spent time with us. I always felt safe when I was a child and that is a tribute to my Mom and Dad. They taught me such lifelong values as doing my best, treat others with kindness and respect, and celebrate the little things in life.

God also brought S, my love and best friend into my life. He listens to me, makes me laugh, and holds my hand. I feel so comfortable with him around, even when we are silent. And we can finish each others sentences. He has taught me about trust and forever love.

And there are my darling nieces and nephews. It is wonderful to see myself and my siblings in this next generation. It is a joy to see my parents with their grandchildren.

My very good friends are like hand picked flowers in a garden. My friend Mare is like a sister to me. And I have to thank my friends who read my blog for all of your support. You are wonderful!

I also find comfort in God's creation. I posted one of my favorite sunset photos above in order to remind me that there is beauty all around, even in the depths of winter. I look forward to being able to get out with my camera and photograph the natural world once again.

Expressions In Light

One of the very first basic lessons about photography that I learned was about the quality and beauty of natural light. At first, I made mistakes by going out with my point-and-shoot digital camera when the sun was high in the sky. My first photographs were washed with too much light and lost their rich colors.

Fortunately, I learned the sunrise/sunset rule for outdoor photography. This made all of the difference. And what glorious colors are painted across the sky in the wee morning hours and again just before the sun dips below the horizon!

The sunset photo above is one that I took recently at beautiful Skaneatles Lake. This like is in my native Finger Lakes region of Central New York State. I took this photo just before the snow returned to the region. (I intend to somehow clone out the bench in the foreground.) Hopefully, I will return to the charming village of Skaneatles with my camera soon. This quaint town boasts many fine shops, restaurants, and historic homes.

The beauty of natural light is unmatched and its glorious rays always take my breath away. Photography and digital photo editing allow me to "paint with light". As the French artist Henri Matisse wrote, "A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time now I've been conscious of expressing myself through light or rather in light."