Tag: #Pennsylvania

Feeling the Sunshine

When I wake up on a cloudy day, I feel like staying in my pajamas. As soon as the clouds clear and the blue sky allows the sunshine to light up the world, I feel a burst of energy. Do your moods swing the same way?

On a sunny afternoon in the Fall, you don’t have to convince me that it’s a good idea to go for a walk. This path into the landscape reminds me of a John Constable painting.

park, sunshine, walk
Sewickley Heights Park (Pennsylvania) on a sunny September afternoon.

Sunset Golf

At sunset yesterday, I was finishing a round of golf with some friends. After the sun went down, we agreed to play one last hole. Fortunately, my drive went straight down the fairway, but I had to make a detour before I hit my next shot.

I spotted perfect red tree, standing alone on the horizon before a blue and pink pastel sky. I had to pause and capture a few photos on my iPhone. Little did I know that day that the highlight of my golf game would be a photo. But I must admit it was a well rounded afternoon with the camaraderie of friends and a relaxed nine holes when we had the course to ourselves.

golf course, red tree, sunset
Sometimes the best part of a day on the golf course is Nature. After sunset, on a western Pennsylvania golf course in October, this lone red tree makes a statement.

Erika’s Meadow

My friend Erika has a meadow in her front yard, where different flowers bloom throughout the spring and summer. She invites me to come and take photos, and I find that I love to feature the little bird house in the background, out of focus, as it anchors the scene and makes it a bit romantic. Don’t you think so?

#lupine, #birdhouse, #meadow, #garden, #erika, #pennsylvania, #sewickley
As the lupines begin to fade, the yellow flowers will blossom next. The birds, the bees and the deer love it all.

Lupines in Evening Light

It’s amazing how a warm ray of evening light can make a garden look special. That ray of light is even sweeter after a day of heavy rain.

#lupines, #light, #garden, #june, #may, #purple, #pennsylvania, #sewickley, #flowers, #nature
Purple Lupines have withstood the heavy rain and stand out amid the lush greenery in the evening light.

Lupines are one of my favorite flowers. They bloom in Western Pennsylvania in late May and early June. I enjoyed photographing them in New Zealand in December. The seasons are reversed Down Under!

White Dogwood Welcome

On May 10, this white dogwood tree is in bloom and is welcoming visitors to the back porch of my home in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

#spring, #dogwood, #whitedogwood, #backdoor, #pennsylvania, #sewickley, #may, #home
Welcome to the Kelly’s house in Sewickley.

For the past week, I’ve felt a bit of “creative block.” Back home where my surroundings are familiar, I can’t seem to find a subject to photograph. Then, I noticed the sun hitting the white dogwood blossoms, and I thought I’d better go have a look through the lens before a hard rain or a sharp wind gust tossed them all to the ground. A wide angle lens made the flowers take center stage in the foreground.

Autumn In Pennsylvania

My daughters who have moved to California are feeling nostalgic about Autumn in the Northeast. Even Pennsylvania residents are feeling a bit nostalgic about autumn colors, as the leaves have been very late turning yellow and red this year.

On the hunt for autumnal scenes, I made a day trip into Ohiopyle State Park in the Laurel Highlands. This split rail fence set in a zig-zag pattern caught my eye on the property of Kentuck Knob, a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Chalkhill, PA.

#franklloydwright, #fall, #autumn, #fence, #laurelhighlands, #ohiopyle, #nature
The zig-zag lines of this split rail fence draws the eye into this autumnal scene. Kentuck Knob in Chalkhill, PA

 

 

Right Place, Right Time

Three weeks ago, I promised myself that whenever I spotted a great location for a photograph, I would stop the car, even turn the car around if necessary, and get the shot. Today I put my new rule into practice while driving in Sewickley Heights just minutes before sunset.

#sewickley, #rainbow, #scaiferoad, #october, #rain, #fall, #shower, #pennsylvania
My own shadow bisects the golden field in Sewickley Heights below this spectacular double rainbow today.

I got wet in the rain, but that’s okay. You can’t plan these opportunities. You just have to be ready.

#rainbow, #doublerainbow, #sewickley, #nature, #october, #fall, #rain, #stopthecar
The end of the rainbow is here.

Destination, Ohiopyle

Pittsburghers don’t have to travel far to find great places to kayak, bike and hike. The fall foliage, waterfalls and white water of the Youghiogheny River are just 90 minutes from Pittsburgh and can be easily accessed from several directions: approach from I-76 or I-70 and old Route 40.

#kayak, #foliage, #youghiogheny, #laurelhighlands, #ohiopyle, #recreation, #october, #pittsburgh, #pennsylvania
Just downstream from Cucumber Falls, kayakers navigate the white water of the Youghiogheny.

The town of Ohiopyle is a mecca for bike, raft and kayak rentals as well as parking, bike trails and restaurants. This October it is just warm enough, just cool enough and plenty scenic!

Annual Giving: My Portrait Project

If it’s July, it’s time to shoot family portraits for the remarkable families at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children. For the past six years, I have donated my time  to create portraits. This year with my husband assisting, I completed 23.

#portraits, #studio, #portablestudio, #schoolforblind, #pittsburgh, #pennsylvania, #volunteer
The portrait of seven staff members at the Western PA School for Blind Children.

While I protect the confidentiality of the patients at the school by keeping their photographs private, I can share a portrait of a staff member with her family.

#smiles, #family, #portrait, #familyportrait, #volunteer, #blackandwhite, #school, #familyday, #pittsburgh
Smiles were abundant on Family Day for the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.

Hydrangea Twins

Just outside my back door, I found fraternal twins on my hydrangea bush: a pink and a blue blossom on the same plant. All the rain in the past few weeks are helping the blossoms last. Stay away, hungry deer!

#hydrangea, #july, #pinkandblue, #favoriteflower, #nature, #flowers, #nikon, #sewickley, #pennsylvania
Fresh pink and blue blossoms on my hydrangea bush. Shot with Nikon D800, at 1/500 second, f 2.8 and ISO 100. Shallow depth of field gives the photo an intimate feeling.

The hydrangea may be my favorite flower, thanks to associations with my daughter’s  June wedding as well as memories of seeing them on Cape Cod.