Far Studio Gallery » Holiday

Happy New Year

Lori — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:41:37 +0000

I’m starting this brand new year with the Best of last year’s photography. I averaged taking about 300 photos a week throughout the year, so you can imagine how many photos I had to look through to come up with this list.

I’m going to break this into two posts. Most of the photos that I took this year were of people. However, I took photos of just about everything. Here’s the best of all the various things that caught my interest this year.

Landscapes

“Big Sandy Creek”

Big Sandy is in the Sierra National Forest just south of Yosemite.

Seacapes

“Oceanside Sunset”

This is the dock at Oceanside in Southern California.

Still Life

“Pumpkin Portrait”

I have always loved the look of Still Life paintings. Just recently, I set up my leftover squashes and pumpkins for a series of poses using only the light from the window of my house. I have a whole set of nice images from this session, but this was my favorite.

Flora

“Leaf Glow”

I love to photograph fall leaves. They are dramatic and graphic. I caught this one at the Summerdale campground just south of Yosemite a few days before it closed for the winter season.

Flower

“Calla Crescendo”

Of all the flowers I photographed this year, Callas were my favorite subject matter. This calla was out in front of a hardware store. The wonderful thing about photography is that you notice the beauty that surrounds us everywhere we go.

Fauna

“On the Ropes”

This horse was on the Confederate side of the Las Mariposas Civil War Reenactment, tied up near the tents.

Funniest

“Milo”

This character reminds me of the dog, Milo, in the movie “The Mask”. I can’t help but grin back at him. I saw him at the Oakhurst Feed store where they were having a “Dog Days” celebration. One of my photos of a beagle from last year took first place in the Dog category.

Statuary

“Angel’s Prayer”

The light was just perfect to illuminate this beautiful statue of an angel. This was taken at Western Sierra Nursery, my favorite place to photograph.

Next post, I’ll pick out my favorite photos of people to share with you.

This is the first day of the New Year.

New Year Hopes

It’s the start of the rest of your life.
Make every day of your life count.
Fill it with Beauty and Passion.
Happy New Year everyone!

Happy Solstice

Lori — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:58:03 +0000

Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year. We all go through difficult times in our lives. It’s good to remember that however long the winter’s cold night may be, the sun will dawn again to renew our hopes and dreams.

Snowman Smile

Opalescent Hummingbird

Frosty Fun

Happy Solstice

‘Tis the Season

Lori — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:44:22 +0000

It’s the holiday season again. I’ve spent part of this season photographing the sights and sounds of Christmas in San Francisco. I been singing Christmas carols in a choir as we sang for the tree-lighting ceremony and hailed the arrival of Santa Claus to Oakhurst. I’ve been helping Vision Academy for the Arts raise money for scholarships. So I’m definitely in the holiday spirit.

This is a time for sharing and caring about others. We need to keep the spirit of love in our hearts. When times are troubled, it’s very important for us all to remember what this holiday is supposed to be all about. As they say in the song, “We need a little Christmas.”

Here are my holiday greetings to all of you.

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas

Deck the Hulls

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Toyland

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Jolly Happy Soul

City Sidewalks Dressed in Holiday Style

Here Comes Santa Claus

You Better Watch Out

Happy Holidays to you all!

Heart Felt

Lori — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 23:10:35 +0000

Valentine’s Day is a fine time to tell others how much you care about them. Yes, we should do that throughout the year, but like a string tied around our fingers, this holiday is a great reminder to appreciate the people in our lives. I want to thank all of you visiting here. I really value your friendship. So these are my Valentine Cards to you.

Waiting for Love

Heart Lights

Unlock Your Heart

Vintage Valentine

Fragile Love

All You Need is Love

Love Me

Love Birds

Love Heart

Bear Hugs

Captive Heart

Love is All you Need

Snarky Valentine

Heart of Gold

Be Mine

Happy New Year!

Lori — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:48:56 +0000

May we all have a new year filled with learning, achievements, and love.

I learned a lot about art in 2010. I even took a couple of classes in art history and design last quarter that really kept me busy. Most of all, I learned that I really am an artist as well as a photographer. I created a couple of pieces of artwork that I am really happy with, and I am a very picky self critic. I also started to experiment more with my culinary skills and create more interesting and tasty concoctions from my tried and true recipes. From an artistic sense, this year was a great one, and next year will be even better as I build upon what I learned this year.

My New Year Commitments for 2011 – to use the manual controls of my camera more than the auto modes, to do art daily, and to get out and take pictures at least one day a week. I also want to commit to posting at least once a month to this gallery. I certainly had enough photos to do so this year, I just didn’t always take the time to post. No more excuses for me – I’ll just do it.

Here a few of the best photos I took this year that I share with you now.

Serenity

San Diego Government Building

Mission San Luis Rey

Balboa Park Orchid

Spring

Peeking out

Miniature Horse, Mariposa Fair

Barn Owl

Rescue Owl, Fresno Flats Harvest Festival

Four H Friends

Mariposa County Fair. They won’t be friends for long – the children sell the animals that they raised in Four H to the butchers at the Fair auction.

Blowing Bubbles

Borders Book Store, Fresno

Civil Children

Mariposa Civil War Days

Ammo Maker

Mariposa Civil War Days

Halloween Haunts

Lori — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 18:58:19 +0000

Halloween has always been my favorite Holiday of the year. As a child, there was nothing quite as magical as carving out a jack o’ lantern and then watching it glow with the candlelight and then going out into the dark, cold night to Trick or Treat. I’ve helped a couple of times to decorate and help scare people at Haunted Houses. The colors of orange and black, the smell of cinnamon and charred pumpkin, the flicker of a candle in the dark – these all evoke the joy of telling the world – “I’m not afraid of the dark.”

This year, Corey, my son, Michael, and his girl friend Annette celebrated Halloween by visiting the Great America amusement park in Santa Clara for their annual nighttime “Halloween Haunt.” The park was filled with Halloween decor, eerie fog, people running, staggering, or stalking around in scary costumes, twisty, twisted mazes, and a stage show. It was fun exploring this dark and spooky park.

I was creeped out a bit when I had to escape a maze by forcefully pushing my way through about ten feet of black air bags in the dark. This was not a maze for the claustrophobic. And I did jump when someone unexpected jumped out at me. But for me, the most chilling part of the park was the log ride in the middle of the dark night and the dawning realization that I was about to get really wet and cold. I don’t scare easily.

The Haunt

Halloween Tourists

Delirium

Pirate Alley

Fangs

Scary-go-round

Celebrate Earth Day

Lori — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:28:32 +0000

Earth Day. I’ve always been an ardent environmentalist, but I’ve pretty much ignored Earth Day. It always seemed to be more about hype than it was about actually doing anything real to protect the environment.

However, I decided that this year, I’ll take the day seriously. Earth Day should be a day to celebrate the joys of living on this beautiful planet. So with that in mind, here’s my Earth Day gift to share with you.

Carlsbad Flower Gardens

If you ever want to see the floral equivalent of fireworks, go to Carlsbad California in the spring to see the gardens. Acres of ranunculuses in rainbow streaks across the landscape are a treat for the eyes.

Ranunculus Garden

Flower Field

Tulip

Ranunculus

White Ranunculus

Balboa Park

Another fantastic place to visit in the Spring is Balboa Park in San Diego. In addition to the interesting people and events that go on there, the flowers are in bloom everywhere you look.

Geraniums

Azalias

Yellow

Easter Lily

White Columbine

Enjoy the Earth

Clearly, the right way to celebrate Earth Day is to get outside and do something. Feel the wind on your face. Smell some flowers. Remind yourself of the wonder and joy that surrounds you.

Seaside Surfer

New Baby

Celebrate Earth Day

Happy New Year

Lori — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:39:53 +0000

This last year was filled with tumultuous changes in my life. I’ve truly enjoyed my new Canon Rebel, and have spent the year trying to master my photographic arts. I’d like to share some of my best pictures of this year with you.

I’m very pleased with these pictures. I’m also pleased to know that my photography will get better over the next year. That’s the good thing about art – if you continue to practice and learn more about what you love to do, you will get better at it.

I hope you will all embrace the passion in your life, and make it even better throughout next year.

Flora

I love capturing the fragile beauty of flowers. They are nature’s expression of joy.

White Hearts

Dancing Dogwood

Shadow Leaf

Colorful Cala

Sunny Bee

Fond Fauna

Saying Grace

My close encounter experience with this young bear took place along the Sentinal Dome trail in Yosemite. He ignored me as he scrounged for grubs and other delicacies in the rotted wood of the fallen tree.

Curious

Fresh Eggs

Humane Society Homeless

At the local Humane Society, I got to photograph some of the hopeful candidates for adoption. If you want some love in your life this new year, adopt a pet from your humane society. You’ll be giving someone a new leash on life.

Take Me Home

Kitty Glow

I wish you all the best new year, full of passion, joy and love. Happy New Year!

Holiday Wishes

Lori — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:24:27 +0000

Here are some of my wishes for the holiday season and the upcoming new year for all of us.

Strength

May we have the strength to stand by our convictions and face all our adversities with courage and fortitude.

Joy

May we keep our hearts open so that we can see the beauty and wonder around us and exult in the joy.

Serenity

May we remain calm despite the stress and pressure of every day life.

Trust

May we always be worthy of the trust that others hold for us. Let us repay that trust with our time, compassion, and friendship.

Laughter

May our lives be filled with fun and laughter.

Faith

May we always remember that everything we do makes a difference in the world and the people around us. Let us all strive to make the future brighter for everyone.

Happy New Year

I wish everyone better and brighter tomorrows than the ones we have today.

Winter Solstice

Lori — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:02:49 +0000

Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year where the Earth is at its greatest angle away from the sun. It is the first day of Winter. Nevertheless, it holds the promise of Spring. Even though the days grow even colder from this point onward for months, the days grow marginally longer. The sun shines longer each day.

Winter Solstice is a celebration of hope. Things will get better. You just have to remember beyond the grim storm clouds, the sun still shines.

Winter Wonderland

It snowed here at the ranch last week. On a cold year, we get a few snowy days. The snow usually doesn’t last beyond a day. However, it’s always a beautiful and welcome event to see.

Leaf Drop

Our Liquid Amber tree in the front yard was a mass of color before the snowstorm. Most of the leaves died in a blaze of glory against their white coffin.

Hold Outs

Wawona Winter

I watched the weather reports on the Internet to see how the storm would cover our area. It was kind enough to leave the high ranges around us with snow rather than with rain. So I drove up to Yosemite National Park on Monday to photograph Wawona in its winter glory. The Wawona Hotel is a historic landmark built in 1876 as a resort. There is a golf course built upon the nearby meadow which was blanketed in snow. It was post card picturesque.

After the Storm

Wawona Meadow

Meadow View

The Wawona Hotel was closed for repairs until December 18, but there were two Christmas Trees on the porch. This shows a reflection of Yosemite and the hotel.

Solstice Hope

Keep in mind the lesson of the Winter Solstice – the leaves that fall with the snow will be renewed in the Spring. Hope is evergreen.