Endless Summer.

“Fallin' right into your hands

Like rain on the desert sand

It's the last thing you had planned

Out Of The Blue Clear Sky.”

Sometimes when you least expect it, you see something you are not sure the rest of the world is having the pleasure enjoying; for me, it is often in the form of a photograph. Not a picture, not a snapshot, but a photograph. There really is a difference---at least I believe there is.

Recently, as we were preparing to watch a beautiful sunset become a memory, I stood as far back as I could (I was right in front of the parking lot,) where I am told water usually touched at this time of day. For some reason the tide decided to stay low and I was able to absorb the incredible colors that only Mother Nature can provide. I am grateful she felt a break in the routine was in order. I owe her one.

When I was growing up, I lived by the sounds of bands like the Beach Boys who would sing about this incredible world I had never experienced. California was further than my parents cared to drive—we went to Florida---and was a mystery to me except through the voice of Mike Love and other members of this band who knew there was something about the West Coast that only people who were out there understood. This past week---I understood what they were trying to tell me loud and clear.

During our hour or so on the beach, I witnessed millions of colors in the sky, on the wet sand, and all around me; many could not be captured by my trusty Nikon as they were too subtle---so I just stood there mesmerized and did my best to take in as much as possible into my head and live in the moment. I fell way short, but was able to capture some of the experience.

One thing I really like to photograph is a silhouette; it’s not as if there is a brilliant color to experience---it is black after all---and even though you are not able to see anything more than an outline of a body, for me it tells a story.

The photo above captures an experience I could never tell in a description to anyone---only a photo could do it. As I stood on the beach, I watched as the surfers decided their day was over. They walked right in front of the dwindling daylight and at a split second, the moment was captured. I love photos like this---why? Because I have never surfed, I was blown away by the sunset, and for me living in the Midwest, I knew there was still some form of summer somewhere.

Thanks for stopping by.

Tiny Dancer.

“Hold me closer tiny dancer

Count the headlights on the highway

Lay me down in sheets of linen

you had a busy day today.”

I am long past due in writing “Snap.Shot.;” for those who have been waiting for its return, I cannot imagine there are very many, thanks for waiting for the urge to write to return. I am not sure it is 100% there, I am testing the waters once more.

It’s been an up and down few months. Some of the time I was up higher than I could imagine, and at other times, I was just not wanting to write because I just didn’t feel like it. Selfish? Yes it was---but for me, it was necessary. I really do enjoy writing—but I needed the break because I was tired and bored.

This past year, starting on January 1, I took on an assignment to write about the community I live in---I felt it would allow me to learn more about the history of Glen Ellyn, IL and I did enjoy writing a blog. What I found was, it was harder than I imagined, and was a chore I really didn’t want to perform each day.

What “Snap.Shot.” was meant to be, and I would like it to continue to be, is a snippet of life with a photo that goes along with whatever I feel like writing on that particular day. That’s why I am writing about a dancer I saw in San Francisco this past weekend.

Our family spent the holidays in Northern California; we were in both the Bay Area as well as the mountains outside Lake Tahoe. Whereas there is usually a vast difference in the climate this time of year, this year was different. It was warm in San Francisco and when we went to the mountains, there was very little snow. I think the 50-degree weather during the day played a major role in the lack of snow. That didn’t mean there was not any snow, just not enough to attract the skiers who come to the region to ski at breakneck speeds. (Last year in this exact location there was more than 12 feet of snow---this year, there was less than 8 inches.)

I honestly didn’t miss it---I don’t ski, and it allowed for more family time; however, it also provided an opportunity to take completely different photos than I took last year. There will be some in upcoming “Snap.Shots.”---as a preview, I walked down by the Golden Gate bridge, saw surfers in the cold waters outside the Bay, and was within inches of skiers doing flips and jumps off a man-made ski jump. It was cool.

The photo above was taken at one of the beaches in San Francisco---frankly, I don’t remember which one. When we drove up, we saw 2 ballerinas being photographed. It was not just a beautiful scene---it was graceful, balanced, and one that no one would have believed had I not shot 3 pictures. They were not wanting anyone to take photos except the photographer who had been hired to for the job. I couldn’t help myself---for me, shooting the unexpected is what makes photography my passion, my love, my tiny dancer who when held in your hands, is as delicate as a ballerina dancing above.

Thanks for stopping by.