The wonder of Sahalie Falls

Sahalie Falls, Oregon 30Aug2016

Sahalie Falls, Oregon

“The key to a wonderful life is to never stop wandering into wonder.”

Suzy Kassem

Weekly Photo Challenge – Wanderlust

Maryhill’s Stonehenge: Silent Sunday

Lava Rock Red

Lava rock red. The view from Lava Butte 4Sept2014

The soil in central Oregon likes to remind you of its origins by shouting it out to you in deep shades of red. Lava rock red. Here is the view from Lava Butte, south of Bend. For more on visiting that area, see my post here.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Earth

Hidden Fawn

Hidden fawn near Camp Sherman, Oregon 25June2016

While out hiking last June near Camp Sherman, Oregon, we were surprised to find a hidden fawn in a grassy field. Its mother was close by so we took a few pictures and continued on our way.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Surprise

Dense Clouds

Dense clouds sunset, Oregon 18March2016

Dense clouds in the sky can be seen as an excuse to feel sorrowful and gloomy or an opportunity to reflect back a glow of happiness and joy.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Dense

Photo Bloopers 2

Photo bloopers 2. Ground squirrel 9April2015

It’s been a while since I posted any photo bloopers so I figured it was about time for some more. Sometimes an imperfect picture needs a little modification. Here’s what I do with them. Enjoy Photo Bloopers 2!

To see more, go to one of my previous blooper posts here.

Knotty juniper 25Feb2017

Om Otter 27Sept2016

Photo bloopers 2. Pregnant rock 23Oct2016

Photo bloopers 2. California quail 30July2016

Smaug lives! 6June2015

Green 2

Verdant and vibrant
Cool and calm

Reposting this little post about the color green in Green 2. Also see my last post – A green scene

Weekly Photo Challenge – It IS easy being green!

An artist’s wish

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park 5June2015

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Sometimes an artist’s greatest wish is that others will be able to see the emotion and spirit of a place in their work. I hope you can feel some of what I was trying to capture in this photo from Yellowstone National Park.

Art is about expressing the true nature of the human spirit in whatever way one wishes to express it. If it is honest, it is beautiful. If it is not honest, it is obvious.
Corin Nemec

Weekly Photo Challenge – Wish

Snowfall makes

Snowfall makes
Mountain ranges on branchesSnowfall on spruce 14Dec2017

Snowfall makes
Stars burst forth belowSnow4 11-24-2015

Snowfall makes
Logs into letterspaulinalk2-4oct2016

Snowfall makes
The roughest spots smoothWinter juniper

Snowfall makes
New tracks in ancient placessnowfall makes Snowshoeing near Mt Bachelor 29March2016

Juniper Muse

I have a scraggly old western juniper tree in my yard that is one of my favorite photography subjects. It’s my juniper muse. Can you see why? These resilient trees get more contorted, furrowed, and interesting as they age. Perhaps the same could be said for some people you may know.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Resilient 

Hosmer Lake Reflections

Hosmer Lake Reflections 10Aug2016

South Sister from Hosmer Lake, Oregon

My yard is blanketed with fresh snow and temperatures are in the teens but I’m glad I can think back to a warm summer day kayaking on Hosmer Lake. I hope to explore many new horizons in the new year and share them here.

To learn more about my great trip to Hosmer Lake, click here.

Weekly Photo Challenge – New Horizon

Peace Tree 2: Weekly Photo Challenge

I’m calling this image Peace Tree 2 because I used digital magic to alter it into this final version.

Peace Tree 2 November2016 SiobhanSullivan

I posted this version several months ago but I thought it needed some more emphasis on the peace sign in the branches so I added a few more.

Peace Tree2 March2016 SiobhanSullivan

Here is the original image with no editing.

PeaceTreeUnedited March2016 SiobhanSullivan

Weekly Photo Challenge – Magic

Horse of a Different Color: Weekly Photo Challenge

Horse of a different color "Charlie" by Greg Congleton in front of Tumalo Art Co., Bend, Oregon
“Charlie” by Greg Congleton

We are lucky here in Bend to have artists such as Greg Congleton who can transform collections of various items into beautiful works of art. To see more of his unique artwork, like this horse of a different color, click here.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Transmogrify

Fall Juniper Sunset

Fall Juniper Sunset 20Sept2016Some of the local sights that I cherish the most are ones that I have seen in my own backyard. Here is my favorite western juniper silhouetted by an autumn sunset.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Local

Otter Joy: Weekly Photo Challenge

Otter joy. North American River Otter 24Sept2016
North American river otter, Lontra canadensis

River otters are very well adapted to their water environment. When you watch them you can’t help but smile and think they look like they are living a joyful life. Here is one showing its otter joy by giving a big smile for the camera.

To learn more about otters, visit my post You Otter Know.

Weekly Photo Challenge – H20

Blue Pool is a Jewel

Blue Pool 15Sept2016

Blue Pool, Oregon

As I hiked to Blue Pool, I wondered if it would really have the jewel-toned blue water I had seen in so many pictures. We walked for four miles and finally caught a glimpse of this small lake. Walking to the edge of a steep cliff, we looked down at its crystal clear waters.

About Blue Pool

Blue Pool, also known as Tamolitch Pool,  was breathtakingly beautiful on this bright and sunny day. The turquoise and sapphire blue waters sparkled up at us. The leaves of trees surrounding the pool were just beginning to change color. Their reflections in the water looked like an Impressionist painting.

Blue Pool Reflections 15Sept2016

Blue Pool reflections

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Fall Foliage Fireworks: Weekly Photo Challenge

Fall foliage at Doris Lake, Oregon 20Sept2016

Fall leaves
Bursting with color
Explosions of warms and cools
Reflecting the last rays of summer
On a quest towards the
Cold crispness to come

Weekly Photo Challenge – Quest

Princess Angeline – Pacific Northwest Royalty

Princess Angeline by Edward S. Curtis. 1899.
Princess Angeline by Edward S. Curtis. 1899.

Did you know that a princess is buried at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle?  I bet many people don’t even know who she was. The woman known as “Princess Angeline” was the daughter of Chief Sealth, aka Chief Seattle or Chief Si’ahl. Born in the early 1800’s, she passed away on May 31, 1896.

I posted a nine-part essay on photographer Edward S. Curtis last year and in Part 3, recalled the importance of Princess Angeline to Curtis’ future career. She was the first Native American that he photographed. He entered several pictures of tribal members in a National Photographic Society contest. Consequently, one photograph won the grand prize and a gold medal.

Princess Angeline's gravestone with Yesler memorial in the background 8July2016
Princess Angeline’s gravestone with Yesler memorial in the background
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Our Parks as Works of Art: Weekly Photo Challenge

Parks as works of Art - Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Our National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday this week. I thought it appropriate to share pictures of our parks as works of art – with each framed and matted. Our 59 parks represent diverse and beautiful places and the Park Service works within a framework that helps to protect them. Hope that my “gallery” inspires you to visit some of them soon.

I have only been to 14 National Parks. How many have you been to? Do you have any photos to share of our parks as works of art?

Weekly Photo Challenge (WPC) – Frame

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
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Rare opportunity – with a twist: WPC

Young Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis
Young Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis

So I was sitting in my living room when I saw this lizard scamper across my porch. Seeing a rare opportunity to get a good picture, I jumped up, dropped everything off of my lap, and grabbed my camera. The lizard moved fast but I managed to grab it. After it calmed down from the initial shock of being grabbed by a towering giant, it sunned itself calmly in the warm summer rays while perched on my hand.

Young Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis
Soaking up some rays

I quickly snapped several pictures as it posed for me. After I felt like I had snapped enough photos, I gently placed it down on the grass. That was when the fun began. It climbed up my pants leg and vanished from sight.

I brushed my pants this way and that but no lizard. I went into my bathroom and stripped off my pants and shook them and turned them inside out – no lizard. I took off my shirt and thoroughly searched it – still no lizard. I got dressed and happened to look in the mirror and saw a teeny tiny head peering over the top of my head. The little sneak! I grabbed it and took it back outside.

Rare opportunity Young Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis on my head
“She will never see me here!”

The pictures that you see at the beginning and end of this post are of the lizard after it had temporarily hidden from me. Do you see the look of satisfaction in its eyes? It took advantage of the situation and saw a rare opportunity to hitch a ride so it could explore new worlds.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Rare

Young Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis
Young Western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis

Bird Bloopers: Weekly Photo Challenge – Fun!

Trumpeter swan Blooper 15 July 2016

I figured out these were not bad pictures, they were just bird bloopers so I had a little fun with them. Enjoy!

Weekly Photo Challenge – Fun!

Cooper's Hawk Blooper 31 Aug 2015
Siskin Bird Bloopes 1 Aug 2016
Great Horned Owl Blooper 8 Apr 2016
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G’night Primrose: WPC – Morning

G'night primrose - Tufted evening primrose, Oenothera caespitosa
Tufted evening primrose, Oenothera caespitosa

One of my favorite things to do when I get up in the morning is to look out my window at this night-blooming primrose. I love getting a glimpse of its bold yet delicate blossoms before they go to sleep and close up during the day.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Morning

Hot Air Extraordinaire over Bend, Oregon

Harnessing hot air into giant works of art makes for some hot air extraordinaire. We went to Balloons Over Bend last weekend for a couple of their events. There were plenty of opportunities for photographs. In these first photos, I decided to focus in on some of the colorful shapes and interesting lines.

Hot air extraordinaire Multiple balloons in Bend, OR 23 July 2016
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Balloon Bouquet: WPC-Cherry on the Top

Balloon bouquet over Bend 23June2016

Life can take a lot of twists and turns so it’s nice to get a bouquet once in a while. This giant size balloon bouquet was my cherry on the top of a great weekend.  They were here for the annual Balloons Over Bend event.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Cherry on the Top