Signs of budding life and blue sky greeted me one May afternoon last year.
The day already offering a bit of warmth as I looked forward to the new season already underway…as I joined the crowd at the town’s annual Music and Arts Festival.
Except for the errant March (or April!) snow storm that rears its ugly head here in the US northeast, Spring changes my world from black and white to Color. Remember the scene in The Wizard of Oz? Almost like that.
The dull grays and browns and monochromes begin to fade. Colors start appearing in the tiniest of places. Since I’ve dived into macro photography, I am noticing these hidden gems.
March 28, 2020
May 3, 2020
Once Spring bursts onto the landscape full time, technicolor takes over…including my favorites…
And let’s not forget the gardeners among us…who look forward to the long awaited beginning of the growing season.
It’s the time of year to carefully nurture life…from seed to plant. And once the harvest arrives…a welcome addition to the dinner table.
We look forwarding to seeing your “Old and New” interpretation. It can be the contrast of architecture, fashion, collections, treasures…in one photo or multiple photos.
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My first “old and new” image is a “view from beach towel on sand” photo taken during a solo 7 day vacation in Coronado, California. I was feeling most grateful for the chance to enjoy precious peaceful time away. As I often do, I captured the moment on “film” and one photo highlighted the odd contrast between two very different buildings from very different times.
On the left: the old upscale for-the-tourists (and movie stars and all around famous people) Hotel Del Coronado with its signature red roof. Built in 1887, it has since been designated as a National Historic Landmark. I didn’t stay at the “Del” but enjoyed a meal and a drink at its restaurant. And, of course, I had to check out the gift shop.
To the right – and actually farther off in the distance than it looks – the more modern day high rise apartment buildings. Home to residents and, I imagine, not-so-famous people.
Worlds apart in more ways than one.
Coronado Beach, California 2006
My second “old and new” photo originates much closer to home. Once spring appears, my trusty path in the woods…which I have gotten to know well…always reveals a combination of the old and new. But only when I remember to pause and look down.
During a walk last month…I stopped next to these fallen leaves, now old and brown, which had covered the ground with thick layers of crunch. However…they were obviously no match for a glimmer of new growth forcing its way up towards the sun.
I have been keeping my eye on several trees near my condo…waiting for a day when the breezes were at a minimum. These blossoms have been hanging on for several weeks and I wanted to capture an image when the branches were holding still. Patience paid off last Monday.
As usual, I don’t know what kind of tree this is, but I look forward to seeing what happens next.
One day in June – that time in late Spring when you notice the landscape has totally changed from brown & white to color – I looked up. And paused from snapping photos of leaved out trees, budding flowers and soft no-longer-crunchy green grass. To catch this…
Waves of clouds.
Kind of like the ocean in the sky.
Clouds also brings to mind Joni Mitchell…and my favorite song from her album Clouds, which was released 50 years ago in 1969.
Both Sides, Now is that song…
Inspired by Citysonnet’s photo a day challenge. Prompt for today: Clouds