Shimmering Gold in Olympic National Forest, Washington

We were walking through the dense Olympic National Forest in Washington following a trail through the decaying and rapidly growing forest. The northwest amazes me at how fast everything grows! The smells were verdant and intoxicating in the thick air. I turned to look behind me and saw a shimmer of gold through the deep green foliage. Curious as to what it could possibly be I started off to find the source. I found this little rocky creek catching the last rays of sunset turning it a liquid gold. Hope you like it.

Shimmering Gold

Nature photography of a golden water reflection shimmering in a green forest woodland.

Printed in the USA - ©Julie Magers Soulen

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Dream Home in Colorado

How many of you have dreams of living in that perfect home in that perfect setting? It could be in the mountains or on a seashore or in a pine forest.  Hold on to your dreams.  I dreamed of living in the mountains of Colorado since the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains. My husband and I never let go of that dream.  It took many years, but with that focus and intent we made it happen. First we moved to Colorado from the Midwest, then we found a way to purchase some land, and finally we built our dream home.  We lived in our mountain dream home for over 12 years before deciding we were finished with that dream and it was time for a new one. So follow your heart.  It can lead you to the most unexpected and happy places.  This log cabin in Aspen, Colorado was once someone's dream before it became a reality.  It is here to remind you that dreams really do come true.

Cabin Dreams

Architectural photography of a log cabin in the woods on a hillside in Aspen, Colorado.

log cabin art

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Mossy California Oak in Golden Sunlight

I love beautiful gnarly old oak trees. We do not have them in Colorado so when I am visiting California I take the time to enjoy their beautiful canopies. This giant was standing next to one of those mountain roads in California that are as twisty as this oak's mossy boughs. I love the way the light in California is so much warmer in tone than the crystal clear thin air of Colorado. It was easy to catch that golden light filtering through this oak. What is your favorite tree?

California Oak

A majestic California oak with twisted mossy branches catches the golden sunlight filtering through its canopy. 

Santa Rosa, California

california oak art

nature photos

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Old West Landscape, Fog On The Mesa

Remember watching those old westerns on TV with dad? It was a Saturday afternoon favorite of mine. It's no wonder that I migrated west from Ohio long ago, to quench my thirst for the vast western landscapes. When I was processing this photo it just begged me to make it look aged, to fit in with that Old West feeling that still resides in my memory.

Fog on the Mesa

Landscape photography, done in an Old West style, of a foggy mountain landscape with a bare tree and red mesa.

Colorado Rocky Mountains west of Fort Collins, Colorado

old west landscape photos

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Rocky Mountain Waterfall on the Roaring Fork River, Colorado

Can you imagine sitting on this rock, listening to the rush and tumble of the never ending water? Do you ever wonder where the water comes from? I always wonder in amazement that the strong flow never stops. This waterfall on the Roaring Fork River near Aspen, Colorado is not very far from the Continental Divide. The winter skies bring snow and the slow melt sustains the mountain rivers until the cycle begins again. And again. And again.

“Do you have patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?” - Lao Tzu

Rocky Waterfall

An amazing Colorado Rocky Mountain waterfall cascades over boulders and rocks into an aqua blue pool. 

Roaring Fork River near Aspen, Colorado

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

Pawnee Buttes on the High Plains of Colorado

Walking out to the buttes on Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado can be full of surprises especially with unpredictable spring weather. This day there were storms rolling through which made for great photography potential. Without any cover or place to retreat we were ever mindful of the lightning that accompanies such storms and probably stayed a bit too long. But the grandeur of the vista and sky were simply too hard to resist. Do you ever indulge yourself in potential risks to shoot photography?

Pawnee Buttes

Two buttes rise above the high plains of Colorado with a stormy sky as a spring storm rolls over the grasslands.

Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado

butte art

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A Waterfall on the Roaring Fork River, Colorado

Traveling up to Independence Pass in Colorado, the road follows the Roaring Fork River. The narrow road twists and turns without many places to stop, but we finally found a place to pull off so that I could shoot some photography.  Setting off down a beaten path I found a rocky escarpment above the tumbling river. I arrived just at the moment a young man jumped into this pool from the opposite rocks. I watched in astonishment as he climbed out of the water and waited to see if he would do it again so I could take a picture. He stood there for quite awhile and I finally yelled at him, "Are you going to go again?" He replied, "No! It's too cold!" So alas, no brave young man appears in my photo.

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Waterfall Pool

The river rock cliffs and cascading water of the Roaring Fork River near Aspen, Colorado.

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Golden Rays - The Evolving Dandelion Photograph

I have been working on improving my skill set in post processing photography. This particular photograph has been through many edits and has once again evolved, so I thought I would share some before and after shots. As always, your comments are appreciated.

Original Crop

Original Processing

Current Version

Golden Rays

Beautiful golden rays of light play along the fine delicate filaments of an autumn seed head. Perfect for adding a touch of golden nature to your home, office, or bedroom decor.

Northern Colorado

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Sky God

Waiting.  Watching.  Floating.  Listening.

The mountain sits.
The watcher waits.
The clouds slowly slowly slowly drift.

The watcher waits.
The mountain looks back unmoved.

 
Sky God 

A rugged peak punches a hole through the drifting clouds at Maroon Bells, Colorado.

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Autumn Tree

Autumn inspires poetry.  It is the last bloom of a spent summer before the quiet rest of winter. The economy of words in poetry only makes them sweeter.  Enjoy a classic ode to autumn by Walt Whitman.

Lo, ’tis autumn,
Lo, where the trees, deeper green, yellower and redder,
Cool and sweeten Ohio’s villages with leaves fluttering in the moderate wind,
Where apples ripe in the orchards hang and grapes on the trellis’d vines,
(Smell you the smell of the grapes on the vines? Smell you the buckwheat where the bees were lately buzzing?)

-- Walt Whitman 

To read "Come Up from the Fields Father" in entirety click this link.

Autumn Tree 

Autumn tree photo, of a majestic tree dressed in pumpkin orange fall leaves. Fort Collins, Colorado

 

 

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A Winter Neighborhood Walk

Some mornings are very cold in Colorado but we are lucky enough to have the sun shining most days, which makes it "feel" warmer, at least psychologically. My dogs, the hound and the Aussie, will not let me skip their favorite part of a day. They sit expectantly at my feet in the studio until I relent. I'm usually very eager to join them outside, but his particular morning was colder than most and I was not looking forward to it. Making the best of it, I threw my camera around my neck, grabbed the leashes and off we went. Here are a couple of shots walking through our new neighborhood from that morning. 

 

Neighborhood Walk 

An old pine creates woodland magic in a suburban neighborhood. 

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Jazz Hands 

It's not the Arctic and she isn't doing a jazz dance, but this woman was getting ready to wave and to pet my dogs on a very cold morning in Colorado.

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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Nature Blank Cards

Stillness. Happiness. Lightness.

I love these words. They are so simple yet so powerful. They are words to live by.

I came up with an idea a few weeks ago to combine one meditative word with one complimentary image. I wanted the look minimalist. Then I went searching for the right paper. It had to be special. I chose Museo paper, a creamy textured art paper that produces beautiful soft images.

It was so fun and rewarding coming up with these new card designs. I hope you like them. Right now there are only three in the Zen Nature Card Collection, but I'll be searching for more combinations to add soon.

Happiness Card
Mountain Bluebird
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Lightness Card
Flicker Feather
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Stillness Card
Cottonwood Tree in Fog
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Zen Nature Card Set of Three
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

California Oak Tree

The road between Santa Rosa and St. Helena in California is as twisted as the branches of this majestic oak. Being from the land of pine and fir the lovely leaves and moss covered branches were a treat to my eyes as we curved, dipped, and swerved through the bends in the road on our way to lunch. We stopped under this beautiful tree on one of those curves as the sunlight filtered down through its expansive canopy. I can just imagine climbing up and watching the world go by. How about you?

California Oak
A majestic moss draped California oak with the sunlight filtering through its canopy.
11x16 fine art photograph
8x12 fine art photograph
other sizes are available upon request - Contact Me

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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Sierra Club's Daily Ray of Hope - Flicker Feather

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I am so happy to share with you that my photograph "Flicker Feather" has been featured on Sierra Club's Daily Ray of Hope. Have a great weekend friends!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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A Naturalist's View of Feathers

Since I was a child I have been in the habit of collecting little pieces of nature. I have collected a whole basket of heart shaped rocks not to mention a boat load of other rocks I found interesting. I have a giant beetle and a dragonfly that are still iridescent. Sometimes I will spot a flash of color and be rewarded with a brilliant feather. Flickers and Steller's Jays are common in the northern Rocky Mountains and I have collected their feathers too; one brilliant orange the other deepest blue. Which one do you like the best? What do you like to collect?

Flicker Feather
A single orange feather rests on a blanket of sparkling snow.
Flicker Feather, Northern Colorado
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Jay Feather
A single blue feather rests on a blanket of sparkling snow. Steller's Jay Feather, Northern Colorado
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Framed Black and White Nature Photo - Dreaming of Spring

This year I am offering "ready to hang," one of a kind, framed pieces of fine art photography for your home decor. Let me do the work of finding the perfect frame and mat to go with my photography. My first piece is perfect for a gift or small space in your home. The silhouette of a small bird resting in a thicket of tree branches against a stormy spring sky is elegantly double matted in black in an 8x10 black frame.

I have lots of ideas and combinations to work on in the next several weeks. Let me know if you like this idea of offering my photography ready to hang right out of the box. Thanks!

Dreaming of Spring Framed OOAK
My Colorado photography studio is featuring a one of a kind black matted and framed photo of a small bird silhouette resting on tree branches against a gray storm clouded sky. The 3.5x5 photo is elegantly double matted in black and in an 8x10 black frame.
click here for purchase information on the one of a kind framed fine art photograph

Dreaming of Spring 5x7 Photograph
My Colorado photography studio is featuring a black and white photo of a small bird silhouette resting on tree branches against a gray storm clouded sky.
click here for purchase information on the 5x7 fine art photograph

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen