
When I first went up the stairs there were no shadows cast on the wall, no dark silhouettes in the air. Then the sun peeked out for just a short while lighting up my little corner of the world.



Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Branches, flowers, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography, serenity on January 27, 2014| 4 Comments »

When I first went up the stairs there were no shadows cast on the wall, no dark silhouettes in the air. Then the sun peeked out for just a short while lighting up my little corner of the world.



Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, herbs, Inspiration, lavender, light, Photography on January 25, 2014| 4 Comments »

I have a mouse in my house. Of course, most likely more than one at this time of year. But there’s at least one that I know of who likes to nibble at the herbs and other plants I have in various containers about the kitchen and in hallways. He loves to dig into the roots of the sage and nibble at the leaves of mesclun. He ignores the fenugreek, thyme, oregano and rosemary, although on occasion I’ve seen evidence that he has peeked into their pots. The lavender he seems to ignore completely. The bed of dirt remains untouched and the leaves uneaten. It is the one plant, aside from the African violet, that thrives this winter. The pot sits next to a western facing window. And it is the silhouette of the lavender leaves and branches against the setting sun that I captured in this photo.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Photography, Publication Updates, tagged American architecture, architecture, arts, churches, faith, Inspiration, personal correspondence, Photography, Postcards, religion, stained glass windows, stationery, tourism on January 23, 2014| 3 Comments »

… a lovely surprise appeared at my door. The postcards I mentioned as a work-in-progress in a previous post have arrived. These are images I’ve had the pleasure of taking of the stained glass windows at Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston, a building considered one of the most significant in American architecture.



These postcards will be available at the Book Shop located in the undercroft (lower level) of the church. Learn more about the parish and current activities here and specifically tours here and about the Book Shop here. In addition to postcards of the stained glass you will also find a few of my other nature-themed postcards like the following. Happy writing! 😉

Posted in Branches, Nature Notes, tagged Branches, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography, sunlight, winter on January 22, 2014| 4 Comments »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Inspiration, landscape, nature, nature photography, Photography, seasons, weather, winter on January 21, 2014| 4 Comments »

I have to admit I was much more enchanted by the first few winter storms. Now as we batten down the hatches for roughly 10 inches of snow tonight, I’m really, really, really looking forward to spring. I may feel differently in the morning when the sun’s rays strike all the white surfaces. We’ll see … 😉
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, beauty, colors, glass, Inspiration, light, nature, perspective, Photography, refraction on January 12, 2014| 8 Comments »

It was a bit like finding the rainbow in the ice last week. I was walking past a sunlit window and turned my head at just the right moment to see something there, that would only be there for a moment. This morning I was walking past a sunlit window in a different room and turned my head at just the right moment to notice not ephemeral ice but ripples and waves in the old glass. At certain angles, the ripples distorted my view in wonderful ways. I’ve posted about the views through this window before (like here).


Branches and old vines. A dead tree with falling bark. A metal fence and crumbling stone wall. That’s really all that’s captured in any of the photos.


I think the photos have always been taken through the two panes of old glass. It’s just that the angle of the winter sun was different today, and my perspective was different today.


We’ll see what tomorrow holds in terms of light, perspective and all those other variables that influence a picture.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Music, Nature Notes, tagged art, azul, cello, Inspiration, music, New York Philharmonic, Osvaldo Golijov, Photography, Yo Yo Ma on January 2, 2014| 1 Comment »

On New Year’s Eve, I chanced upon the PBS broadcast of Yo Yo Ma performing Azul with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. I felt frozen listening to the musicians and enraptured by the passion on Yo Yo Ma’s face. Later I learned in this program note of composer Osvaldo Golijov’s desire in developing this recently commissioned work for cello and orchestra to “recapture for the present that ability of the late Baroque composers to suspend time without stopping motion in their music …” A complicated piece to say the least. Time felt suspended for me on occasion. When you have a chance, give a listen and see what you experience. This link will take you to an actual video of the New York Philharmonic performance (Azul can be accessed at 14:33) or you can listen via the following Youtube video.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Belle Isle Marsh, Happy New Year, Inspiration, landscape, light, nature, nature photography, Photography, Revere on December 31, 2013| 8 Comments »

Thanks for viewing this blog and all of your wonderful comments. Best wishes to you and yours this day, and may you have a Happy New Year filled with brightness.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged animals, Belle Isle Marsh, birds, Inspiration, kindness, nature, nature photography, owls, Photography, Revere, snowy owls on December 28, 2013| 16 Comments »

It was to be a short walk in the Belle Isle Marsh. I expected to capture sunlight on branches. The snowy owl in a tree was quite the surprise. Thanks to a kind stranger who pointed out the white spot and even let people borrow his binoculars for a better look.

Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, essays, ice, light, nature, Photography, seasons, Talking Writing, water, winter, winter's light on December 17, 2013| 7 Comments »

It has been almost two years since my photo essay Winter’s Light appeared in Talking Writing.

Of course I still love the light of this approaching season.


With that winter’s light in 2011, I focused on the illumination of “ordinary objects,” from condensation to old postcards hung on a wall.

With this morning’s near-winter light, I was struck by the illumination of branching fingers of ice.

To view such scenes at the start of the day feels magical. Feels cold, too, but still magical. 😉