Day 24 - In the USA

Well we are in Hilton Head, SC.  It is beautiful here but uncharacteristically cold.  Too bad we are experiencing the normal December temps - 60s.  Here is the lighthouse in Harbour Town.  See those flags blowing - WINDY.

The weekend is supposed to be in the 60s then back to the 40s.  Will be outside for the next couple of days so hopefully there will be some good photo opportunities.

Day 23 - Traveling

I missed posting yesterday but did not miss taking photos.  We started traveling at 7am (Atlantic Time) and after three flights, one long layover, one really short layover because of flight delays, being able to make the last flight, rental car issues, we made it to the hotel at 10:30pm (Eastern Time).  After all that I could not figure out internet service last night and decided to wait until today to post. 

So after ALL that, here are the photos.  This is us leaving Antigua after a quick stop there to pick up more passengers.  I should have taken photos of Dominica as it is very dramatic, but I didn't have my camera with me at the time.  I thought this was good though and a good reminder of the day.

Day 22 - Everyone Has to Eat

In Dominica there are cows - they just move where they want to go.  The use the streets, the sidewalks, the beach, etc.  They are supposed to be tied up, but they get lose and wander around.  We have a small group of them that comes by the house regularly.  My son loves it when they come by.  He gets to say hi.

Today on the way home, driving up our road, I looked to the side of the road and there was a cow just eating an afternoon snack.  She was tucked in the lemon grass, not bothered by anything at all.  We went down to check on her.  She just stood there and ate while I took pictures and my son through rocks at the other side of the road.  Pretty calm cow if I do say so myself.

Day 21 - Look Up!

Some days it takes just looking up to change your persepctive and that is what happened today.  The day was sunny and warm.  As the day went on it started getting gray and "cool".  As I went outside to get into the car, I happened to look up and this is what I saw.  I saw in the midst of the rain clouds and gray skies - patches of blue sky with white fluffy clouds.  It was beautiful.  So sometimes just look up and there may be a difference in what you were seeing.....

Day 20 - Paying Attention

I am not sure why but cemetaries fascinate me - especially ones in foreign countries.  It is always interesting to see how people treat their loved ones.  I like this cemetary because of the contrast of the deep pink plants and the white crosses.  I was trying to capture it but the cross isn't in focus enough. I need to try again so I will be going back which is fine.  I may be able to find another angle that will show the contrast better and all will be in focus.  Today was a learning day for me - I need to pay attention better to my camera setting before I take the photo and really look at the photos in the camera before I leave the shot.  Hopefully next time I will pay attention.

Day 19 - Surprise - it is the Queen Mary 2

Today I was all set with a photo that I wanted to take and share (had already taken it this morning), then this happened.  My family and I drove to Roseau, the capitol of Dominica, and there was the Queen Mary 2 docked for the day.  To say she is large is an understatement.  I walked around trying to figure out the best angle to show how large she is.  I hope this angel and wide anlge lenses works.  Some day I will take a cruise on her! 

If you are ever in Long Beach, CA go see the original Queen Mary.  I was there years ago and it was great!

Day 18 - Snow on the Mountain

Obviously it does not snow in the Caribbean, but in winter we do get "snow in the mountains".  Snow on the Mountain is a plant/bush that grows here in Dominica (and I am sure other places).  In the "winter"  the bushes green leaves turn white.  Where there are many plants together, it looks like there is snow on mountain.  It is absolutely beautiful.  Sometime it is placed next to pointsetta plants and the contrasting white and red is gorgeous.  There was one spectacular place here but the pointsetta plants (here they grow HUGE) were cut back.  I am on a quest to find it together in other places and share the view!

Day 17 - Noticing what has always been there

We have a plant on the front porch that I walk by each day.  I have noticed in passing that it is getting bigger but that is really all.  Today though when walking by I noticed the ridges on the leaves and how they looked in the sunlight.  I thought that would be a good photo - or at least I should attempt it.  So this is what I got.  I have to keep remembering to notice the every day things around and not forget how they are making each day better.

Day 16 - Morning at the Beach

This morning I was at the beach.  There were pelicans flying and the air was clear.  I just had to have a photo of how beautiful it was today.

Day 15 - Rainbows

Dominica seems to be the island of rainbows.  It rains quite a bit here so rainbows are common.  I don't want to stop being amazed by them - they are too beautiful.  Now we are getting quick rain showers to usually the rainbow is on the leading edge of the shower.  It is fun to be able to say - rain is coming, where is the rainbow.

Day 14 - Old Buildings

In Dominica there are many old buildings.  The rain forest eats them quickly if they are unoccupied.  It is an amazing process to watch.  I have always liked this building.  It is on the airport road.  I was able to stop and take a photo today - finally. 

Day 13 - What Makes a House a Home?

Living outside the US helps me appreciate what is in the US and the luxuries that are there (in most places) and to be grateful that is where I grew up.  I am also grateful that I have been able to live outside the US for seven years and see how another culture lives.  In Dominica there are a wide range of homes, but this one caught my eye today.  This is where someone lives and it is their home.  I wonder if they think they need more space, more stuff or if they like it as is and enjoy the times they have with their family there.  For each of us we know what we want our homes to be and I hope the folks that live there are happy.

Day 12 - Beach Bar/Restaurant

Beach bars are a wonderful place to go on a Saturday and Dominica has many of them.  The morning started out rainy but the afternoon  turned out to be a beautiful afternoon which led us to the beach and the bar at the beach.  It was a beautiful view from the bar/restaurant.  Just wanted to share the view from today.

Day 11 - Surprise Opportunities

Today is the day after Thanksgiving.  There is no "black Friday" here in Dominica and limitied shopping so there are other things to do on this day.  It continues to rain off and on during the day.  I thought it would be nice to see what the sunset would be like today.  So I ended my day at the beach watching the sunset.  Even though there are lots of clouds and rain, very rarely do the sunsets disappoint.  Today was no exception.

What was fun and the surprise opportunities was the pelicans flying around.  It was the end of the day and they were feeding and headed home for the night.  They did a couple of fly bys and I took their photo.  I have been trying for years to get their photo and am amazed at others who can get good bird photos.  This is the happiest I have been with them so far.  It is a silouhette but that is OK.  So here is to surprise opportunities and taking advantage of them....

Day 10 - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgivng!  While it is not a holiday here, the ex-pats enjoy the day.  We had lots of people over to celebrate the day.  People brought food and this is what our table looked like. 

There is a lot to be thankful for - family, friends, nice life, etc.  Each day I need to be grateful for what there is - family, good friends and laughter.

Day 9 - For the Love of Tractors

My 22 month old son LOVES tractors.  LOVES capitalized understates his love.  This is what he talks about, wants to find while driving around and plays with his tractor toys at home.  Of course any type of construction equipment is a tractor.  His face lights up and his day is made when he sees them while we are in the car.

So today, he and I went for a drive to find tractors.  He knows all the tractor hot spots nearby.  While we are in the car, my son makes sure to point out the spots and looks for his love.  We were able to find these "tractors" today so I took photos of them for him.  He was very excited and then we could go home.  Now I just need to print these photos for him.

It is great to watch how easily excited and happy he can be with a construction vehicle.  When do we as adults, lose that excitement over simple things and how do we get it back?  I guess we need to find what our love is and enjoy it!

Day 8 - Live, Laugh, Learn

It has been one week of taking a photo a day.  It has been going OK so far.  What do I want to take a photo of on a day?  What do I want to document?  How do I want to photograph it to show its best?  And then there are the days that I am scrambling to figure out what to take a photo of for the day.

I like this sign and think we should all follow it.  It is on the wall of a school in Portsmouth.  I think it is a great sign for a school wall.  I hope to be able to live well, laugh lots as I live and never stop learning.  I think this is a great reminder after trying this for a week.  This process is about living and learning new things along the way and I better be laughing most of the time.  Laughter makes it all so much easier.

So I hope you Live, Laugh, Learn as you make it through your days.....

Day 7 - An attempt

The title of this seems means so much more now after "attempting" to upload this photo and it being sideways.  UGH!  Can't figure it out and am too tired tonight.  Maybe tomorrow I will fix the photo and it will be upright.

Dominica has several boats that are on shore.  They landed that way from previous storms and have not been taken away yet.  This one has fascinated me for years and how to get a good shot of it.  Today was the "attempt" to do it with bright sun behind it.  The photo is OK except for the flare at the bottom of it.  I will have to try again and skip the sun flare.

The important lesson from today is to keep trying and attempting to get the shot that best shows what I am trying to represent.  Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Day 6 - Pink Flower

We have this pink flower growing on a pot at home.  I am fascinated by this plant.  The flower grows out of what essentially looks like green grass.  Occasionally I start taking photos of it to see how to capture it.  I wonder what is the best angle, the best lighting, etc.  So this is today's attempt at it.  I am still not sure if it is the best, but I think I am happy, for now, with this photo.

Day 5 - Enjoy the View

Today was a long day.  Sometimes we just need to come home and enjoy the view from there.  Appreciate what we have.

Day 4 - Fear and Courage

So somedays the photo of the day has to be a reminder of what happens when one overcomes fear and survives.  Today I was part of an art and craft fair.  I printed lots of photos and sold them.  I put myself out there for the criticism, the inability of selling the photos and possibly looking like a fool.  All which are unconfortable.  But tonight went well, I sold some work, got some feedback and best of all talked with some very nice people. 

There are people out there who are dealing with so much more and have so much more to fear.  But if we take one step at a time and keep trying to move forward, we may realize we don't need to be so fearful and we can gain some courage along the way.

The photo is of my table with my items I was selling.  The fair continues tomorrow and we will see how that goes.  At least I put myself out there and met some very nice people.

Day 3 - More rain

Dominica is a beautiful island.  One of the reasons is the rain.  The rain makes all the trees, plants, etc green and these all grow quickly here.  Today was another day of rain.  It is getting to be "winter" here and so it was cool (OK - it is all relative - it was probably 80 degrees).  It is nice to have the rain.  It allowed me to go out and find more raindrops to photograph.  Here is today's photo.  Maybe there will be sun tomorrow!

Day Two - Rain

Well Day 2 has come and is almost over.  It was rainy here in Dominica today.  I actually like the rain - it adds a challenge, but great reward to the photos. I like trying to take photos of rain drops.  Here is my attempt for the day.  I took varying angles as I find it helpful to see where the best view could be. 

There is always a beginning....

I read once that to be a good photographer you need to take a photo a day.  This will keep you in practice and get the creative juices going.  I believe that and can tell when I stop taking photos.  So why a photo blog?  Why put it out there for others to see?  I want to take a photo a day.  I want to see how creative I can become.  I want to see if it will make me a better photographer.  I am not sure but I hope so.  I figure if I have to post the photo, I will do it.  So here goes.  Day 1. 

I took this photo at the beach.  I like the blues and greens together with the trees making a nice graphic look.