Seeking the Beautiful in Life

McNeely Reflections

emeraldsun33 — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:51:27 +0000

Clouds over the Lake

emeraldsun33 — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:45:39 +0000

My favorite inland sea – Lake Superior! Seen from Minnesota’s North Shore, looking south to Wisconsin. The clouds were cooperating with this little photographer that day, and putting on a lovely show!

Giraffe Makes Eye Contact

emeraldsun33 — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:32:05 +0000

There were two days in a row last week when I went to Como Park Zoo, and on the second day, this giraffe stopped and looked right at me when I came into sight. She stood there and calmly gazed at me for what seemed like a couple of minutes while I hurriedly took a number shots of her lovely face. While I have no idea why she took some time to just look at me, besides the element of God’s grace in giving me th opportunity, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was thinking, “Didn’t I see her here yesterday?”

I added some textures, because my inner artist thought it make her even a little more special! (Textures by French Kiss Textures on Zenfolio.)

View from Flood Bay on Lake Superior

emeraldsun33 — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:53:45 +0000

Lake Superior is magical! There’s a mystery and beauty and sacredness to it I haven’t experienced elsewhere, and many others feel the same way.

I took this from the beach at Flood Bay on Minnesota’s North Shore. The clouds in the sky seemed to putting on a show that day, and I took soooo many photos. This one just might be my favorite!

Water Lily

emeraldsun33 — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:47:40 +0000

No additional words needed here!

Ranunculus

emeraldsun33 — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:26:19 +0000

It seems that every year I learn of a flower I’d never heard of before, and have no recollection of ever having seen. Apparently, the new-to-me flower simply hadn’t caught my attention before, having been there all along. This year’s discovery is the ranunculus. I’d never heard of it, and there it was – all over the Sunken Garden at the McNeely Conservatory in Saint Paul. I overheard others commenting, “Oh, see the sign! It is a ranunculus, just as I thought!”, so I knew it hadn’t suddenly emerged out of the ethers. Whatever it’s history, they delighted me this last spring! This little photo is an example of why they did!

Minnesota’s Gorgeous North Shore

emeraldsun33 — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:29:10 +0000

McQuade Safe Harbor on North Shore of Lake Superior

They’re Lovely!

emeraldsun33 — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 05:07:21 +0000

Montana Mountain Meadow

emeraldsun33 — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 06:05:05 +0000

Meadow and Absaroka Mountains in Montana

Jessica Jenny and Textured Photos

emeraldsun33 — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:08:27 +0000

Summer Reflections, by Jessica Jenny

I recently have discovered via surfing photography sites online that there is a new (to me, anyway) genre of photography using textures and layers to create various, often painterly effects with photos. I’m so excited about this, and so grateful for the many photographers and artists online who share their work, insights, and even techniques with the rest of us. The photo above was done by Jessica Jenny, who I discovered on Photo Artist Textures in an interview with Leslie Nicole. From that springboard I’ve found a number of other exciting artists whose work inspires me, and whose work expressed the beautiful in life.