Midwest USA

Cleveland Rocks - Cleveland, Ohio - USA

Cleveland really surprised me, and deserves a mention as one of my more favorable major US cities. Very lively, with great energy, architecture, culture, and plenty to do and see. One of the highlights being a fantastic skyline, with lots of places throughout the city to enjoy views of it. My quest was to find a great spot to capture this city, which had captured a piece of my heart. I found this amazing view, at Heritage park, a small green space along the Cuyahoga river, which left me with the feeling that Cleveland does in fact Rock.

Winter Whimsy - Dayton, Ohio - USA

On a typical Winter morning, feeling a bit mundane from the weather, I looked outside the front window, and became filled with wonder and excitement from these rain drops dangling on the ends of the bare winter branches. Each branch contained a drop of water, providing a fascinating scene of glistening sunlight and reflections. With this whimsical mood change I grabbed the camera, and immersed myself for quite a while in a world of simple, subtle beauty, hoping to capture and convey the feeling of wonder it provided to me. The reflection of the bare tree seen in the singular focal point of the drop. As with most of my work, this piece was created with a basic kit lens.

Summer Sanctuary Sunrise - Dayton, Ohio - USA

This Summertime prairie was found along the roadside in Dayton, Ohio. A rare occasion of me waking up for an excursion before the sun rises. Setting out with no particular destination in mind, I ended up on Dog Leg Road, just north of Shiloh, near the Stillwater River. The original idea was to find a sunrise scene with the river in it. Having not found what I was hoping for at this spot, I drove along, and just past the river, found this lovely prairie, which was actually designated as a "Nature Sanctuary" with a posted sign. Sometimes plans change, and sometimes something even better is meant to be. It's important to be adaptable, and go with the flow. In doing so, I found this sanctuary, which provided me everything one could ask for in an early morning sunrise. Wildflowers, dew, mist, a beautiful painted sky, and most importantly, joy and happiness.

Bitter Cold Beauty - Dayton, Ohio - USA

Just because it's bitterly cold outside doesn't mean it's any less beautiful. You just have to be willing and available to recognize the beauty that is often unseen. Sunset from atop the hills at Hills and Dales Park.

Still Winter Water - Dayton, Ohio - USA

A Winter scene in Dayton, Ohio. The Stillwater River, on Old Springfield Road in Union. This scene caught my attention, and fascination while passing it on the bridge. I pulled the car over to capture it, and as I often do, had to be cautious of the traffic passing by. It would have been easy to miss a scene like this, had I been focused on my destination, or focused on getting out of the cold. Instead, I was focused on experiencing the beauty and wonder that this Still Winter Water provided to me.

Reverent Reflection - Dayton, Ohio - USA

"It all begins with "reverence for life".. the revealing of the mysteries, the occurrences of magic.. when we learn to appreciate the simple magnificence of life, the extraordinary appears more often.. Mere reverence, wonder, and awe for our experience expands the mind, and connects us to a universal source.. What we label this reverence is of no importance.. call it Jesus, call it source, call it divinity, doesn't matter.. I use many phrases, but tend to settle on "intelligence" - something beyond our limited scope that puts it all together & holds it in place. Matter of fact it's the labeling and attaching to ideas of what it is that closes the mind & puts us in divisive & defensive modes.. stops us from experiencing true wonder.. Thankfully we're provided opportunities moment to moment to practice being in awe.. the beauty & diversity of our planet.. the diversity & beauty of the strangers we meet.. so much beauty to observe.. so many reminders, so many reflections" ~ BBB Tree and bushes reflection in a downtown, city park, man made pond in Dayton, Ohio

Fallen, But Not Forgotten

A stunning array of Fall colors provided by these fallen leaves in Yellow Springs, OH. We were on a camping outing, and trying to stay dry. While not too thrilled about being rained on while camping, the freshly fallen rain rewarded me with some extra luster in this capture.

Winter Silence - Dayton, Ohio - USA

Even in the dead of Winter, there is beauty to be found all around, as long as we are in the moment and available to perceive it. This scene was found at the Englewood Metro Park in Dayton, Ohio. A small, temporary pond had formed from the overflow of the lake. I spotted it from a distance, and walked to the edge, silently observing the beauty revealed and reflected back to me. I decided on some creativity in the edit, turning it into a silhouetted scene with a sepia/bronze filter.

Pavement Profundity - Dayton, Ohio - USA

It's been said, and has also been my experience, that the world around you is a reflection of what's inside of you. See beauty, love, and goodness inside of you, and you will see it in the world around you. It also goes the other way. As you open to see and experience more beauty outside of yourself, in the world, you'll more easily find it inside. It's all connected, and all a reflection. Here is a beautiful reflection found in the pavement, on a wet Winter day, walking along in an apartment complex. I imagine many would not see beauty in this scene, and perhaps wouldn't even be looking for beauty on a day such as this. For me, being present, in the moment, and knowing that there is beauty to be found everywhere, it was rather easy to see it reflecting back to me from the gravel ground of this parking lot.

Answering the Call - Kentucky, USA

This fantastic roadside scene caught my attention while riding through the back country roads of Kentucky, en route to Mammoth National Park in the summertime. Queen Anne's lace can be found abundantly in the midwest at this time of year. With this glorious display, nestled against the natural wood fence, open country field and treelined backdrop, I couldn't resist the sudden excitement & urge to stop the car, in order to admire & capture the captivating scene. A bit of a humorous memory accompanies the story. My wife & stepson were along for the journey. After a while of my capturing the scene, he commented to her, "What is he doing?!?! Let's go!" - clearly not understanding my need to answer the call when God/Nature's beauty speaks to me.