Approachable Art's Photos

Garden

2011-07-14T10:24:00.000-05:00

Coaldale, PA

2011-04-03T12:35:00.000-05:00

At Sunset

2011-01-02T16:31:00.002-06:00

Our old fence takes on an almost animated appearance as the setting sun streaks across the knots, whorls and cracks of its weathered surface.

From Below And Above

2010-11-08T15:14:00.003-06:00

From Below...

From Above...

This Afternoon..

2010-11-07T15:52:00.000-06:00

... on the way home from Lowes, we saw this big guy...

He stood at least 12" tall. He was perched on a railing that protects a neighborhood drainage ditch; the top rail is only 4 feet off the ground, and is just a foot from the sidewalk- about three feet from the street.

Still, this guy had no fear. I watched him, parked in my car just a few feet away and snapping photos like crazy, while he looked right back at me.

Despite my nearness (or maybe because of it), he turned to address me full on.

I believe this one is a youth because his eye color is still fairly light. As an adult, his eyes will appear nearly black.

Flowers

2010-10-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

Lady Liberty

2010-10-05T11:17:00.000-05:00

It couldn't have been a more perfect day.

From The Tropics To The Mountains

2010-10-04T12:31:00.001-05:00

The Bahamas

2010-09-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

The People

The Architecture

The Flora

The Textures

The Art (explained)

Waves of water cascading over a dichroic glass tile wall

A wall of water cascading over illuminated glass sculptures

Floor-to-ceiling installation of blown glass bulbs strung from wire

Life-sized illuminated textile sculptures

These were five panels of what I believe to be oil paintings done on five separate, whole pieces of palm bark that I found stashed away in some random, dingy hallway, poorly lit and never noticed by tourists. Artist unknown, and no plaque discussed technique or medium. They were each about 15 feet tall.

(

(detail)

The Vistas

The Cain (our daily afternoon retreat)

The Way Home (from the plane)

Around The Yard

2010-08-25T15:01:00.000-05:00

Recent Visitors, Old Friends

2010-08-22T12:26:00.000-05:00

Summer Day

2010-08-07T10:22:00.000-05:00

Flowers (And A Small Visitor)

2010-07-13T19:02:00.000-05:00

Pair Feeding

2010-04-24T14:25:00.001-05:00

This may look like a father cardinal feeding a female youth, but it isn't.

We can tell that this female is an adult because her beak is bright red, and only adult Cardinals have fully red beaks (youths have brown beaks).

This is called "pair feeding" and is one of the many romance rituals the males preform for their favored females every spring.

It's a gentle, cooperative dance. The pair feed quietly for a while, side by side.

And then the male approaches his intended and offers her a tidbit.

Her posture tells him that his offering is accepted...

... and the food is tenderly exchanged.

Baby Turtle

2010-04-01T13:50:00.001-05:00

Today after I fed my outdoor critters, I went to check on the progress of the pool (getting cleaner all the time, thanks for asking). As I was stepping back to head into the house again, I happened to glance down and I'm so glad I did, because if I hadn't, I would have stepped on this little guy.

And when I say little...

I mean he was little, about the size of an Oreo.

He was shy for a while, but then he got more comfortable with me watching him.

He stayed mostly in the shade...

And spent a lot of time happily exploring the yard... and me, apparently.

I think it's a myth that they move very slowly, because once he made it to a sunny patch...

... he took off, and even though he wasn't much bigger than the blades of grass hindering him, he disappeared under the fence in just a few minutes.

Too Pretty To Stay Inside

2010-03-15T15:50:00.001-05:00

Budding Trees

Where I Like My Temperatures To Be

New Feeders...

For A New Yard

And sometimes when you peek into their world...

You might find them peeking back...

2010-03-12T10:39:00.002-06:00

Comparisions And Opinions

2010-03-08T21:46:00.002-06:00

(a documentary of events)

(art)

What's the difference?

Spring Bursts Forth!

2010-03-06T10:50:00.001-06:00

Texas Sunset

2010-01-25T21:43:00.002-06:00

Abundance

2010-01-23T23:39:00.000-06:00

Feels Like Spring

2010-01-22T14:07:00.001-06:00

Even though it still looks like fall.

Spanish Moss

2010-01-17T11:09:00.000-06:00

Happy Winter!

2010-01-05T17:21:00.002-06:00

Somebody's Watching You

Looking Up... and Through

2009-12-19T15:04:00.004-06:00

Angel Wing

Into The Trees

Asleep Until Spring

Nest

Catching Thermals

Vulture

Glimpses Into Other Worlds

... And Life

2009-12-16T23:41:00.001-06:00

This fellow was perched outside in the tree that grows right behind the pool. I snapped these shots from the threshold of my back door but when I took one step onto the porch, he decided he'd had enough and flew off.

Devestation And Life

2009-12-14T22:34:00.002-06:00

We had a rare freeze here last week, and even a bit of snow, and it has decimated my humble little yard. It's been very difficult to look at my dead flowers, shrubs and greenery so I haven't spent a lot of time outdoors- too depressing- and I've pulled the shades so I didn't have to see how badly damaged all my beloved flower beds really were.

But even still, fresh air calls to me and in the past few days I couldn't help but be drawn back into the yard, despite the prevalent view of dead foliage all around me. I had to go sit and breathe the air, camera in hand.

And something started to happen. I began to see a weird beauty in the twisted and lifeless forms of my shriveled flowers, and the mordant, muted color palette- at first disturbing and even somewhat depressing- became a fascination.

I started snapping photos and as I wandered each corner of my yard to survey the damage, I also began to see that not nearly everything is actually dead. Most of the flowers and shrubs, and my three monstrous and beautiful hibiscus, will need to be trimmed back almost to the ground, but some greenery, like the bamboo, did just fine.

Bravery In Deed And Form

And despite my own struggle with finding beauty in sleeping winter, the battle for survival for the smaller creatures continues unchanged.

Spider Hunting Prey

Spider Hunting Prey (detail)

Las Vegas And The Desert

2009-11-11T10:35:00.003-06:00

We spent five days in Las Vegas and while there, toured Lake Mead and the Red Rock Canyon. Here are some shots of both, along with some texture and nature studies from each area. As usual, clicking the photos will take you to better, hi-res versions of each picture.

Lake Mead

Slipping The Surly Bonds Of Earth

Lake Mead National Park

Red Rock Canyon

Fall Color

The Canyon Near Sunset (also includes following photos)

And as promised, some nature and texture studies.

And someone having fun...

More Fluttery Goodness!

2009-10-31T20:42:00.001-05:00

Click the images for a hi-res version.

Ghost Planes

2009-10-30T01:11:00.002-05:00

Sometimes when I'm looking up photographing raptors in flight, I will see- way off in the stratosphere- a plane flying overhead. They are flying so high that the photos usually look quite ethereal and "ghostly". Hence, the name. I always imagine these planes full of tourists on their way to warm-sand beach resorts in South America.

Moths? Butterflies?

2009-10-24T14:59:00.003-05:00

I'm honestly not sure which, but they're beautiful, anyway. (I've since been told by a lady who knows that they are the Gulf Fritillary. Thanks, Jrzy!)

Hummers!

2009-10-22T14:51:00.002-05:00

Click these photos to see hi-res versions, you won't regret it.

Impossibly. Tiny. Feet.

Mr. Blue Sky

2009-10-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

On a rainy day like today, it's good to recall blue skies and puffy clouds.

Hummingbirds

2009-10-19T14:55:00.000-05:00

Hummingbirds are one of my favorite- and most challenging- subjects to shoot. I never grow tired of their antics.

IQF- Houston Photos

2009-10-19T08:16:00.000-05:00

Philippa Naylor

Noriko Shibata

Karen Rips

Jane LaFazio

Jamie Fingal

Helena Sheffer

Fenella Davies

Betty Amador

Welcome!

2009-10-17T15:31:00.000-05:00

I'll state right up front that I am not a professional photographer. In my opinion, a pro not only cares about photographic lighting, composition and quality, they also care about and know their equipment. I care a great deal about the first three things- not so much the last thing: I have a wonderful camera and the most I ask of it is that when I point and click, it takes pretty photos. Beyond that, I know little about it. I am a hobbyist and likely always will be.

But I do love capturing a moment with my camera, and in particular, the tiny moments in life, the ones you have to zoom in on to look at closely. This is what you will see in this journal. My art will still be contained at my other blog site. Approachable Art.

Nature is one of my favorite subjects. I spend a good deal of time outside, scanning the skies, the trees and the ground for interesting tidbits or animal activities. Here is some of what I've captured. Clicking on any photo will take you to a larger, hi-res version. Many of my photos are best viewed in this way.

Birds are an endless fascination to me. You'll see quite a few of them in this blog.

Turkey Vulture

Red-Tailed hawk

Male Cardinal

Drowsy Day

How's This Work?

Mine!

Insects captivate me as well, particularly dragonflies and butterflies.

Hang On For Dear Life

Not Easy Being Green

Tiny Treasure

Flowers and trees will be well represented here, too.

Hibiscus

Wind Dancer

And I photograph textures obsessively.

Until next time!