Silver Lining before the Rain

I like this particular stone formation with white/silver rock against a large grey sky. The Rain Clouds were headed our way.  It was a rainy day and dark clouds covered the area.

Garden of Cliffs

Many people automatically assume that the Native Americans named the Garden of the Gods, Colorado. However, in this case, they are mistaken. In August of 1859, two surveyors begin a town site, which would soon be called Colorado City came up with the name.

Church of Magnificent Miles

This photo was taken by DW Fallin in Colorado Springs next to Garden of The Gods.  I wonder if the local people realize the magnitude of the beauty of this church setting.   It is very small but magnificently located in the foothills with miles of mountain range.

Her lower branches were bare

Her lower branches were bare but the tall, lanky tree held on to her lovely top foliage wearing it like a hat. If trees could talk, what would they say on dark, cloudy days of rain and wind all around?  I loved "Lord of the Rings" where trees came to life and battled for good.

Nature Deserves Respect

This area was spoiled by the park personnel placing a large garbage can in front of this tree.  There was a parking lot with plenty of other spaces for garbage cans.  The gracefulness of the bare branches cried out  Why?   Nature deserves more respect then this.  I cropped the garbage out and the image reflects the way it should have been.

The Bridge to Wonderland

The bridge to wonderland leads you down a path into a fanasty world of high peaks and valleys with strange shapes and legends.   

Nature's Magic Wand

In the summer, this bridge is basically plain and nothing unusual but nature has a way of dressing up even the most plain looking and simple structures into a beautiful sight. She waves her magic wand called autumn.

Kissing above the tree tops-Garden of the Gods

The trees are so small compared to the massive rocks.  Their brillant colors stood out against the red clay peaks.  The scene looks like it belongs to "Lord of the Rings" or better "the kissing camels".

Naure's Watercolor Wash

I have studied watercolor techniques and you apply several washes to your canvas working on the different levels of color.  Working from the light to the dark and to the vibrant details as finish touches.  I applied several watercolor washes to this photo but it is pale in comparison to the real thing.

Silver Silhouette of Splendor

A silver silhouette that caught my eye among the bright autumn leaves.  A small birch tree had already lost its leaves but yet its slim branches reached out with silver splendor and touched the sky.

"From Where I Stand" Vol 3

As night falls, you try to capture every moment and breathe in all you can to carry it with you through the night. Until once again, day light comes and you can join nature in all her splendor.

"From Where I Stand" Vol 2

The veiw is endless; the limitation of the human eye cannot grasp the distance of the far beyond.

"From Where I Stand" Vol 1

The contrast in colors between the distant mountain peaks and the fall foliage was stunning to the naked eye.

Protrait of a Wild Turkey Neighbor

As we climbed around the mountain side, we had been warned about mountain lions and bears; instead, we encountered a flock of wild turkeys.  Photo taken by DW Fallin.  I applied a watercolor wash; I like this photo painting.

Thunder Across the Mountain Range

I watch the clouds gathered and could hear the thunder from across the mountain range.  I watched the rain hit the city with no mercy.  When it started to thunder in several locations and over my head, it was time to get out of the elements.

Fallin' Halo at Cedar Heights

The drive down Cedar Heights has gorgeous autumn trees with golden halos and these pictures were taking as I was literally fallin' out the car door.  Tripped and fell out the door - camera and all - Rough landing for a few pictures. It bruised my halo!

O' Soaking in the Sunlight

Every dog has his day and O' had his in the sunrays.  The shadows of the window frames made a picture Perfect Portrait.  Photos by DW Fallin.

Around the Corner - Manitou Springs

Around the corner from our Daughter and Son-In-Law's House in Manitou Springs.

Break of Dawn - View from Manitou Springs

Early morning sunrise in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Board Walk at Marineland

A very warm and sunny afternoon at Marineland.  Very few people were there except for another photographer hiding behind the Sea Oats taking pictures of the waves hitting the rocks.  Great day for photo opts.

Rainy afternoon at the Gazebo

It was a rainy afternoon and the grounds were wet but it seem to fit the environment of the pond and surrounding gardens.  Along with the rain was a nice cool breeze so there was tranquility in the air.  I applied a watercolor wash with angle brush strokes to this photo. The sun was coming out from behind the clouds and cast a bright light through the tree branches.

Wide October Sky over the marsh at Fort Matanzas

Fort Matanzas is only a few minutes outside of St. Augustine. It is a free state park and worth the trip.  We took a ferry ride out to the fort and got an interesting history lesson on what it was like to be in the navy during colony times.  You were required to have at least 3 front teeth so you could eat.  How times have changed!

Washington Oaks Beach-Sea Turtles Habitat

This beach was still in its natural habitat.  Several locations had been marked off to protect Sea turtles nesting areas.  The view was endless between beach, sky and water.  No destructive cars and crowds.

A Pensive Moment for Maria

Captured a pensive moment of Maria enjoying the waves, seagulls and ocean breeze.  It was place a to be alone, a place of beauty, a place of peace, a place to embrace nature.  A beautiful picture taken at the beach on Marineland.

Drift Wood at Matanzas River

 The Matanzas River supports an extensive tidal marsh habitat. There is a lot of old drift wood along the shoreline. Natural artistic structures of nature that can only be observed in its natural habitat.  After a rain fall in Washington Oaks State Park.  Applied a watercolor technique to both photos.

Castillo de San Marcos

View from top of Castillo de San Marcos.  It is a bastion of the largest empire ever created, the Castillo was built to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World.  Though caught in the whirlwinds of colonial warfare and intrigue, it was never defeated in battle.  Its scarred walls still stand witness to over 330 years of history and culture.

Rock Stand, A Tale of an Old Mule

My husband was born in the Rock Stand community which is just north of Roanoke, Alabama on Highway 431. Here is a story he told me about this picture.  You, like I, may choose to question the accuracy of his memory, but here goes...The old barn where the one Jersey cow sought refuge from the cold on rainy wintry nights stood near this site. The old barn became the home of a long-eared mule named Jefferson. The door to his stable was designed for a cow so his ears always scraped the top of the opening when he entered or made his exit. Pretty soon, he wore all the hide off his ears and Papa knew he had to do something about that. With the help of a neighbor, Robert Ramsey, they set out to correct the problem. Robert had a long measuring tape that he used to measure the length and girth of his prize hog. He measured her daily and would often flag down a passer-by to give a personal demonstration of just how much larger was that hog this week than last. He got the mule's measurement with that tape in a standing position with ears erect and suggested that the barn needed to be raised just over 18" in order to get the top of the door off the mule's ears. They borrowed four hydraulic jacks from nearby garages and set out to raise the barn one corner at a time. It was during this process that a couple of smart ass Yankees drove by and noticed what was taking place. When they asked the reason for raising the barn, they were told the story of the sore-eared mule. One of the Northern guys commented, "Why don't you just take a shovel and make the entry eighteen inches deeper?" When they drove away, I remember old Robert turning to my Papa and saying, "Now ain't that just like a couple of dumb-ass Yankees! It ain't Jefferson's legs that is too long, it's his ears!" The rocks in the foreground gave the community its name for it was here that the Indians supposedly stood during deer hunts. Rock Stand was an Indian deer stand.

Vanishing Mills of the Old South - Wehadkee Yarn Mill

The old Wehadkee Yarn Mill at Rock Mills.  In the top picture, I used a paint daub technique with wide brush strokes which gave a softer tone to the rock formation.  It was very bright and sunny and it had been very dry so the water was low.

Rock Mills

 

It was very hot and sunny on the day we took these pictures.  The place is not considered a park and it is not maintained.  There was a lot of writing on the rocks at the entrance but further down it was beautiful and clear.  It really should become a park and protected and preserve for future generations, including the old mill. 

Welcome to Standing Rock

I tried several technique to try and make the Rock at Standing Rock look more interesting.  I finally settled on a dry brush effect.  I came to the reality that a "rock is a  rock is a rock" and you cannot make it look like anything else but a "rock". This is the sign to the entrance of the town. On Flickr there is another photo of the "Rock" taken by Jimmywayne.  He posted this information:  "This rock, according to local legend, was left standing by the Indians before they were removed West to Oklahoma. Should it ever be moved or laid down, terrible things would become the locals."

"On a Clear Day You can See Forever"- West Point Lake

We visited several of the parks at West Point Lake.  It was a very sunny day with a zillion clouds in the sky.  It was such a bright day that the clouds images were reflected in the water.  It gave the water (excuse the pun) a cloudy look.  The parks were beautiful and well kept.  There were very few people at the parks which I did not understand.  Only a few boaters were out on the lake.  It is said that the water is contaminated due to Atlanta which would explains why there was no one fishing.

Rock Springs

A small Christian Church in Rock Springs, Alabama.  It was the first church a young boy attended by the name of D.W. Fallin. 

Martha's Market at 5 Points

Martha's Market is located at 5 Points which is located on Highway 431.  Lyrics to a Lynyrd Skynyrd song describes this long time, local store that has not changed through the years.  In fact, it only has gotten better with age.  I thought it deserved more than just a typical photo so I applied a dry brush technique to bring out the character of the building and its surroundings.  You can do a search on Google for Martha's Market at 5 Points and you get Martha's Vineyard.  Let's just call it the Martha's Vineyard of Chambers County Alabama.  After all, they had Vine Ripe Tomatoes for sale and they are just as good as you can buy at Martha's Vineyard or better!

"Ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changes in me
Well there ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changes in me
And I ain't hidin' from nobody
Nobody's hidin' from me
Oh, that's the way its supposed to be"

Sweet Home Alabama, Where the Skies are so Blue!

These pictures were taken of the valley outside of Wedowee.  For all of you who have left Alabama.  The old saying "Home is where the heart is."  At my hubby's class reunion, many of his classmates had traveled all over the country and Europe and lived in  many places.  When it came to retiring, many of them moved back to Alabama.  There is no place like home no matter where you lived, worked, or traveled.

"Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you.
Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue.
Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I'm coming home to you."