blue hues

I snapped this photo when I was in Miami. I love the many blue hues - from the sky to the ocean - how many shades of blue do you see?

minneapolis: cityscape

I'm traveling for work and arrived in my hotel room this evening to find sunshine bouncing in from reflections off of the neighboring buildings here in downtown Minneapolis. This city has some beautiful architecture, and when contrasted against a deep blue sky and punctuated with bright bursts of sunshine, it makes for a stunning cityscape.

look: a girl without freckles is like a night without stars

As a woman with freckles, I happen to feel like this saying rings true. I've always been told that my freckles are beautiful, so I never grew up wishing them away. To me, they add character, and tell all those who look upon them that I love to be outdoors enjoying lots of fresh air. I came across these stunning black and white photos of beautiful "freckled faced" women on Pinterest, photo credits unknown. 

Stars, the skies version of freckles...what a happy thought! I remember when I moved back to Madison some 3 1/2 years ago and the stars were visible on a nightly basis. After living in Chicago for several years I had grown accustomed to starless nights. I'm so happy to have star-filled nights back in my life!

photo credit: Ben Canales
(click onto the photo for a larger view)

a beautiful sunset

I was traveling for work this week, and the sunset from my hotel room last night was gorgeous. From purplish-blue to golden orange all in one fell swoop.  

dusk skies in spring

We've had some incredibly beautiful skies this spring, and dusk never disappoints. Last night I was able to capture the gorgeous sunset from within the UW-Arboretum. The sky was breath-taking and the setting couldn't have been more beautiful. Stay tuned for tomorrow's Flowerful Friday post to see  amazing magnolias in bloom.

nothing but blue skies

My drive back home to Madison late this afternoon was blissfully beautiful, which made the drive so very pleasant. The sky was a gorgeous blue, with puffy clouds from horizon to horizon dancing across the blue canvas. As the sun began to set the sky changed so much, so quickly. By the time the sun had set, I had to capture just one more photo because even as the sun was gone, the sky was still blue.  

early in my drive

a few hours later

nearing home

The entire time I was driving, I had the old tune, "Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin in my head. I only knew a few of the lyrics, so I looked them up when I got home. They are simple and so lovely. Here they are:

I was blue, just as blue as I could be
Ev'ry day was a cloudy day for me
Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
Skies were gray but they're not gray anymore

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see

Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long

Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days
All of them gone
Nothing but blue skies
From now on

ps. In case you were wondering, I always pull over and stop my car when I take photos from the road. :-)

an impressionist sky

Early morning skies almost always bring about the most unbelievable shades of colors and the way one color can bleed into the next, reminds me of Impressionist paintings. One recent morning I woke up early, looked out the front window and grabbed my camera because the sky was stunning. It just had to be photographed.

The sky appeared as if an artist took his brush and painted wide strokes of pinks, peaches, lavenders and blues. It's like Monet was asked to help out with the sunrise this particular morning.

sublime!

beautiful isn't it?

a Monet in Paris with similar shades

light and reflections

In a matter of less than twelve hours, we had a most magnificent sunset and a subsequent sublime sunrise. I didn't "enhance" any of the colors in these photos. The dusk and dawn skies were simply breathtaking with peachy hues so perfectly lighting up a summer evening and an early summer morning. There is something about the light in these warm weather months when the day is perfectly calm that radiates warmth and serenity simultaneously.  

sunset - peachy oranges

just seconds later, blues, pinks and peaches -
like watercolors painted across
the dusk sky

before 5:30am the sky was surreal and sublime

and just a few seconds later it changed again