It's Been Awhile...

I can't believe how long it's been since I sat down and worked in Photoshop with my pictures.  This is something I promised myself I would do more often than I have been.  I think the spring flowers have inspired me.

Anyway, from the pictures I took over the past couple of days I created these pieces of artwork...

I love this chair and the tulips against the stucco of the wall.  This one was to make it a more vibrant, tinted photo.

I like this version, I think, better than the photograph one.

I have to admit this one is a favorite of mine.

As is this one.  I love the way the dark and light turned out.

So a great morning spent at the computer.

Pictures from the Bathroom

No, it's not what you think.  I had the camera in hand and was loving the way shadows were playing in the bathroom in the late afternoon.  My bathroom window is a crinkled glass, so it lets some light in and I can't see out.

It is a window that I can crank open and closed, which is a novelty to me.  And then the shower has this kind of glass in it.

And then there is the pegboard which is everywhere in the house.  Actually, it isn't as bad as it sounds.

I took the pictures so that I can use them as textures with other work I want to do.  It's amazing what you can find in your house when you start looking. 

Saturday Morning Sunrise

Yesterday morning I was up before the sun and caught this sunrise at the end of my street.  What was really interesting was how the clouds seemed to swirl over the mountains.

It was so fiery and really very lovely.  So I turned it into a mandala yesterday evening.

I only used 8 repeats this time or 4 mirror images.  The background I used another picture of the sunrise with a color fill over it with the opacity dropped so you could still see the texture of the clouds.

This one I feel is not a restful mandala.  It has a lot of energy in it, but am pleased with with way it turned out.  I may take it and play with changing the colors in it. 

Challis Flower

This is a flower I took a picture of at the rest stop at the junction of 93 and MT-43 on the way to Challis, Idaho.  I don't know what it is, but I loved the flower.  Since I haven't done any mandalas recently, I decided to get back into the 'groove' with this picture.

They were about 2 feet tall and in a small ravine by the rest stop.  From this picture, I came up with this mandala.

I think this came out really nice.  I like how the stem and the grasses form an intricate center.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.  Hopefully, I can now get back to doing at least 1 a day. 

Another Trip to Benton Lake

Benton Lake has become my favorite place to photograph wildlife.  Wide open spaces and a water source to attract migrating bird species, I have seen everything from the common meadowlark, killdeers and Canadian goose to an owl, cinnamon teals, and northern shovelers.

So last week, with Lady K being cranky and only soothed by a car ride, Texter and I made two trips in one day to Benton Lake.  Here are some of the pictures made during that ride.

There are several bird boxes set near the road which attract barn swallows.  I am use to seeing boxes with purple martins in them, but not boxes for barn swallows.  I liked how this box and bird were set against the sunset.

The sun reflecting on the water with the water fowl and reeds was so calm and beautiful.

The water was still and the ducks were reflected nicely against the surface of the lake.

The ride had to end with the setting of the sun.  The refuge is only open sunrise to sunset.  Lady K had happily slept for a couple of hours and Texter and I had enjoyed a calming and beautiful end to the day. 

Scenes from Saturday

Texter, Lady K and I spent Saturday afternoon hiking a bit and visiting the local dams.  So I thought I would show off some of the scenery we saw on our journey.

Love the signs they post on so many of the trails

The bluffs along the river are fascinating

The dark skies and the yucca/agave against it

Loving the birch trees in the area.  They are so white. 

Unfortunately, they wouldn't let me invite them home for dinner. 

More tree bark

Pronghorn antelope on the drive out to Ryan and Morony Dams

Despite the fact it looks like you are driving out on a plain, don't look down.  You are higher than you think.

Another view of the Missouri from the road to the dams.

More cliffs, these near Ryan Dam.

For The Birds

One of the things I like about my new camera, "Cammy",  is the telephoto lens.  So far on my couple of excursions I have managed to get some interesting bird pictures.  Montana is suppose to be great for wildlife and birds.  I have managed only to photograph birds so far.

This guy was taken at Great Springs State Park.  Now I have seen the sea gulls around town (really, all over town), but I didn't expect to see a pelican.

One of the things I like about this goose is the detail I was able to capture in the feathers.  

This was a fortunate 'catch'.  

These geese are braver than I am.  I wouldn't want to be standing out in the rapids like they are, even if I was on a rock.

Hopefully, more bird pictures will follow.