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This photograph was taken at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, though it really could be anywhere. On this particular day we purposely walked barefooted through the sand; it was a February morning so it was cold! Why would I do such a thing you might ask, because I try to do something different every day and by doing that I create a memory specific to that day. That said however it helps to photo document everything. There are many ways in which I could have cropped this photograph however it's important to remember the direction of flow; and in this case its flow approached me vertically. So, because the footprints approached ME (a mother) I just had to call this photo "Homeward Bound” ....where you’re always welcome.
I love abstract photography. I find joy in searching and noticing nature's little (or not so little) details; perhaps those that others would miss. One October day (while out ATVing with friends) we ventured up into the alpine and along the way we stopped at a vista to capture the valley views. Across the way a was a mountain slop that recently been logged, which made way for the young deciduous trees to flourish. The combination of the fall colours, the green of the coniferous trees and the white snow created this interesting pattern. Although this photo lacks a focal point, viewers are drawn to it out of curiosity. LOL, can you imagine this shot made in to a puzzle!
In November of 2019, we packed the RV and went on what we referred to as, “a road trip” through Arizona and New Mexico. I had never visited New Mexico before, so I was hoping it would be yet another, “visual feast”... and it was! From Sedona we traveled east to Albuquerque, then up to Santa Fe and on to Taos before heading back west again. On our return, we headed for Monument Valley when this massively tall, heap of rock appeared in the horizon! Strangely it sat all by itself on the desert floor, in the middle of nowhere. "How strange", I thought. We slowed down to take a closer look but it wasn’t until we drove past that I observed the deep, dark gouges and the vivid colours of Monument Valley in the distance. “Oh wow, how unique and picturesque” I said, and with that, we turned around so I could take a few shots. Now one must remember, that we’re in a RV (on a two-lane highway) so turning around takes some maneuvering but in this case, it was worth it. I took this photo in “Raw” because it had the potential to be a prize photo. That said, before I start shooting, I have to decide if I want (or need) a Raw or Jpeg format photograph. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Admittedly, Jpeg is quick and it’s easy because it’s already edited by the software (although limited). There are however many reasons why I choose to shoot in Raw. Here are my primary reasons: 1) Raw gives you more editing options (in Photoshop). 2) I want the highest quality image I can get. 3) You can never destroy the original Raw photo (any edited version is duplicated and is no longer Raw version). 4) If I were to enter a competition, sometimes you need a Raw version to prove its authenticity. Church Rock, is located just off Highway 160, east of Kayenta, Arizona and sits precariously by itself. It’s a “volcanic plug”, which is a geographical formation that occurs when lava cools inside the neck (vent) of an active volcano. Now, thousands of years later, the rock and soils around the plug have eroded away, leaving "Church Rock".
