reflections Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Loree Johnson Photography

Beauty in unexpected places.

by Loree | Oct 9, 2014 | Blog, Gratitude, Rivers, The Vagabond Lifestyle

When my traveling companion told me he needed to spend a couple of weeks in Pasco, Washington to take care of some business, I was less than thrilled. I googled the place and saw that there are a couple of wildlife refuges nearby, so I figured I would occupy myself by going out and shooting some wildlife while he sorted out his business dealings, and bide my time until we got to the Columbia Gorge. I had no idea what I was about to discover. Pasco is one of the “tri-cities,” here in Washington, the other two being Richland and Kennewick. The beautiful and mighty Columbia River runs through the middle of it all. But, that’s not even the best part. The best part is the sunsets! Oh my, the sunsets! On the day we arrived, we pulled in at sunset. I was lamenting the fact that I had to unhook the car, park and level the RV and get settled in when I’d rather be shooting that marvelous sunset. Little did I know, they have marvelous sunsets here all the time. Maybe not every day, but certainly more often than not.

Columbia River Sunset

And with all that beautiful water for reflections, and the bridges……*sigh*

Blue Bridge at Sunset

The lunar eclipse also happened while we were here, but being kind of a wimp about getting up at two o’clock in the morning, I decided to shoot the moonrise instead. And, wouldn’t you know it, the clouds held off that night so the moon could be seen. There was some smoke in the sky, but it made the scene a bit more colorful.

Moonrise Over the Cable Bridge

Full Moon Over the Cable Bridge

I was not the only photographer on the levy that evening. There was a very nice local photographer also there for the moonrise. We chatted while waiting for the moon and he shared some of his favorite photo destinations in and around the Columbia Gorge. So now I have even more potentially wonderful places to visit over the next month.

But for now, I’m quite happy and grateful about the bit of serendipity that landed me here and gave me the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of this particular place. Did I mention the bridges?

Window of Light

And just now, as I sit here typing this, I’m looking out the window and seeing the potential for yet another completely amazing and wonderfully unique sunset. I may just have to head down to the river!

Serenity

Oh, and I have visited one of the wildlife refuges, and have done some wildlife photography. I plan to visit the other one before I leave here next week. But, that subject will have to wait until the next update because this one is all about the sunsets!

The natural order of things

by Loree | May 5, 2014 | Art, Gratitude, Lakes, Siskiyou County, Wildlife

I’ve been thinking lately about how we humans have distanced ourselves so much from the natural world, sometimes we forget we are a part of it. Not only is this disconnect bad for nature, I truly believe it’s not good for people either. I notice this sometimes when I post a photograph involving predator and prey. It’s fascinating to me when I see a bird of prey killing and/or eating another animal. I can’t help photographing it. I was even joking with someone the other day about the Canada goslings which have hatched recently in large numbers, calling them “eagle snacks.” It’s true that the bald eagle, which has not been seen around this lake for a couple of months, has recently been spotted again.

Swim Class

The person I was talking to was repulsed by my joke. I meant no harm, and I certainly don’t wish death on any of these cute little fuzzballs, but it is the natural balance that they won’t all make it to adulthood. There is only room in the world for a certain number of geese and nature tends to oversupply in order to assure a reasonable survival rate. I notice that many people find photographs of predators with prey repulsive. I think they are beautiful.

The Catch

There are drops of blood from the fish among the water splashes in this photo. I could probably edit them out and sanitize it more, but that would remove some of the beauty in my opinion. The more disconnected we become from the natural cycles, the less we embrace and accept them. To be repulsed by nature is to deny you are a part of it. For at least twenty years, my natural habitat was a cubicle. It wasn’t a healthy environment for me, and I can’t help but wonder how many others out there are feeling trapped inside while longing to be outside. Since I’ve started going out into nature nearly every day with my camera, I’m much happier and less stressed.

Sunset at Trout Lake

Don’t get me wrong–I love hot showers and I would hate to have to spear my dinner–but I think there is a balance needed between living in the civilized world and living in the natural world. Our ancestors had fears of cougars and hungry coyotes. We have fears of not making the mortgage payment and losing our possessions. Each person has a balance of their own to reach. I’m still working on finding mine, but I know nature photography has helped. I hope my photographs also might help others in some small way who are striving for their balance. Bringing a little nature into your day, no matter where you are, or what you happen to be doing, might move you closer to your balance.

Unfurling Fern

Often, when I am out in nature, especially near the ocean or the giant redwoods, I feel very small. But, small in a good way. As if I’m but one tiny, intricate bit of a vast, amazing, integrated totality that’s always changing and evolving. My balance involves knowing that life is all too short and that whatever amazes me today may not be there tomorrow.

Web of Sunlight

redwoods; redwood; forest; tree; trees; ancient; canopy; huge; massive; tall; big; sunlight; sunset; peace; peaceful; nature; natural; scene; scenic; red; green; ferns; trail; Jedediah Smith State Park; stout grove; california; coastal; Loree Johnson

Sunset at the Grove

So, here’s to the joy of feeling small, and finding a balance.

You say goodbye, and I say hello…

by Loree | Dec 31, 2013 | Blog, Gratitude, Ocean

Another year has come and gone, the calendar is on the last day of the last page, 2013 is down to it’s final hours. It’s been a pretty good year, but I’m not sad to say goodbye. Hello 2014! I have a good feeling about you and am looking forward to making your acquaintance. It’s been a year of trial and error, of reconnecting with old friends, and of finding my feet in the new world of following my bliss. I’ve learned a lot this year, about photography and life, and look forward to using that knowledge in the coming year. Looking back, it feels like 2013 was a year of preparation for 2014 and beyond. Now, the real adventure begins!

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Golden Gate Sunset from Berkeley Marina

Traveling to Santa Cruz for Christmas seems like such a fitting way to cap off this year and prepare for next year. Getting lost in the forest on a one-lane road for an hour was just a lesson in patience, and a reminder to listen to my instincts. Even GPS’s make mistakes! And even though my plan was to shoot the skyline of San Francisco from the Berkeley Marina, the silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge is the shot I ended up with. Another lesson. Don’t get so caught up in your plans that you miss the real opportunities.

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Four Mile Beach Sunset

As the sun sets on this year, and the dawn of the new year begins, I can’t help feeling grateful for all the beauty in this world, and the opportunity to take it in. And although I continue to make plans for the coming year, I also remain flexible and attentive to whatever comes my way. I’m very much looking forward to whatever surprises the coming year has in store.

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Christmas at Santa Cruz Harbor

Just as Christmas in Santa Cruz was non-traditional and unexpected, if you really think about it, so is much of life. And those are the things we remember. So, here’s to a year of unexpected and amazing experiences.

On the Road

Maybe I will see you out on the road in 2014…

The ability to see

by Loree | Nov 25, 2013 | Blog, Gratitude, Lakes, Mountains, National Parks, Photography, Rivers, Wildlife

In the spirit of the season, I thought I might do a series of posts about the things I am grateful for. The first is the ability to see. I’m not just talking about having eyes and a sense of sight, although I am truly grateful for that. But, even more, photography has opened up a new dimension and allowed me to really see the world around me in a way that I never did before. For years I was, like a lot of people I suppose, just going through life trying to get somewhere else. Or so focused on the destination that I completely missed the joy of the journey. It was only on rare occasions, like a vacation, that I took the time to pause and really absorb the beauty around me. Now, with a camera as my constant companion, I find that my powers of observation have greatly multiplied. I see beauty almost everywhere I look.

Green Burrs

Teasels

The old me might not have even noticed these plants. And even if she did, they would have just been thorny weeds to avoid. The new me saw them as beautiful photographic subjects. Okay, I admit the new me is a little weird.

It’s not just the small things either. When I hiked up to Heart Lake, my intention was to capture an amazing vista from high above the lake, like I had seen in so many other photographs. But, when I got there, I saw that the shot I really wanted was from the shore, with the mountain’s reflection in the water.

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Mirror, Mirror

Sometimes, it’s just a different angle that intrigues me. And many times you will see me in some very awkward position trying to get that interesting perspective. So, if you happen to see me laying down on the ground with my camera pointing upward, don’t worry, I have a plan! It doesn’t always work out, but sometimes being a little crazy pays off.

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Looking up

Of course, that was shot in my back yard, so only my kids and my dog thought I was crazy. But, in the Stout Grove at Jedediah Smith Redwoods, perfect strangers were treated to a demonstration of unusual photographic capture methods. What? You mean not everyone is willing to lay on their back on the forest floor in order to get the shot?

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Bugs Eye View

And, who can walk by a puddle with a perfect reflection and not take a picture? Apparently a lot of people–just not me!

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Forest Reflections

In the winter, when the trees have no leaves, I notice the big raptor nests, which I never even saw until a couple of years ago. I’m constantly annoying the other drivers on the road by slowing down in order to get a better look.

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Off to Work

So, my obsession with photography has given me much more than just something to do with my time. Through it, I have acquired an ability to see things most people don’t even notice. And for that, I’m very grateful–even if it means I’m slightly strange.

The deep blue…

by Loree | Mar 3, 2013 | Lakes, Legends and Folklore, Locations, Mountains, National Parks, Photography

crater lake, wizard island, oregon, national park, sunset, cloud, reflection

Sunset on Wizard Island, Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is an amazing and beautiful place. I have visited the lake many times and even camped there a few times. But, I had never been in winter, until the other day. Wow! I was aware that the road is usually plowed and that the park is open year-round, but had never made the trek up there in the snow. And, speaking of snow, there is a lot of it! The walls on the side of the road left by the plows were an average of six to eight feet high. In some places, well over ten feet. I never imagined it would be so deep. What a monumental task it must be just to keep the access road open. And I’m so glad they do. There are a limited number of places on the rim to view the lake when the snow is so deep, but the visitor center offers snowshoe rentals for those who are more adventurous.

If you have never visited Crater Lake, I highly recommend it. Formed in the crater left by the explosion of an ancient volcano, the lake is renowned for the deep blue color of the water. With an average depth of over 1000 feet and a maximum depth of nearly 2000 feet, it is one of the deepest lakes in the western hemisphere. It is a place of beauty and mystery, with many stories and legends, such as this one. It is ironic that Crater Lake was discovered accidentally by those searching for treasure, since it is a treasure unto itself.