“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Sunrise 2019
It’s that time of year again! To find the best of the best. And as a photographer it’s hard to pick, isn’t it? In these digital times the entire process looms larger than life.
Winter 2019
“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” ~ William Blake
Tucked In
A bit of whimsy, irony, paradox, sheer beauty, and of course, weather phenomena–one of my favorites.
Do Not Disturb!
As photographers we know better than to procrastinate about a good sunset or sunrise, unusual weather patterns, or children.
Light Beacons
Get the camera now or not at all!! And I had several where it was just too late!
Watercolor Wash
As I looked back I tried to pick the vivid, spontaneous moments. Moments that were over almost as soon as they happened.
Lunar Eclipse at Midnight. Yes, in the freezing cold!!
I hope you enjoy this travel through the seasons with as much as I had experiencing them and persisting with captures of life around me.
Temperature Shift! (Spring in Winter!)
Spring
“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.” ~ Bernard Williams
“en Guard!”
The Reason for en Guard!
Hover Craft? Millennial Falcon???
Tiny Tree Climber!
Frontal Assault!
“In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside 24 hours.” ~ Mark Twain
April “Showers” 🙂
Summer
“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” ~ Sam Keen
Summerlight Dance
Rainbow Tease
Mixed Media Beachcomber (Hey, it’s the beach!) 🙂
Suburban Rainbow
Catch Me if You Can!
Intricate Sculpture
Gravity? What’s That?!
Autumn
”Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~ Stanley Horowitz
Striking Pose!
Autumn Rose
Opening the Show
Tree Chums
Drenched!
Heavenly Sights and Sounds!
“All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.” ~ David Jeremiah
Candlelight Christmas Eve. (photo credit: Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC)
“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” ~ Goran Persson
Happy 2020!
Peace, Alexandria
I’m trying to keep up with blogging a bit more in 2020 so why not start on this New Year’s Eve by ending the year with a few, just a “few”, of my favorites from this year. 😉 I hope you can bear up!
Anyway, I’m so happy that Tina, Patti, and Amy kept this going and it looks like it will continue next year, too! Thank you, ladies! Patti came up with this week’s theme for Lens Artists. #77–Favorite Photos of 2019. And it’s perfect as this year closes. And I’m glad I got it done before the clock strikes midnight!
Here are their places if you’d like to take a look:
SimplySage 
JohnRH
/ December 31, 2019Great selections! Best wishes for 2020.
Alexandria Sage
/ December 31, 2019Thank you! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. May your 2020 be blessed!
Tina Schell
/ January 1, 2020A beautiful set of seasonal images Alexandria. Your birds are so perfect in their natural environments – you must be very quick with your lens! Many blessings to you in 2020 – we hope to see more of you in the new year!
Alexandria Sage
/ January 1, 2020Thanks, Tina. Birds are my muse—numerous feeders throughout the yard with views from the several windows or porches. The camera says near at all times; many times steadied on a window, as most of these were. When the hummers come I may get a tripod, sit and wait during coffee time on the porch. My camera is very limited since my son moved out with the good camera. 😉 But I manage. What a joy to watch successful newborn flocks fledge from the nest!
Alexandria Sage
/ January 1, 2020PS—Happy New Year! How could I forget!
Apple Hill Cottage
/ January 1, 2020Oh, I was going to tell you my favorite, but each successive one became the favorite. We have just positioned our new bird feeders outside the the big window by the wood stove which has a rocking chair in front of it. If I can get shots of them half as good as yours, I will be thrilled. And your grandson with no visible legs in the tree made me laugh out loud.
Lovely– all of them!
Alexandria Sage
/ January 1, 2020Awww, thank you so much! I have some real tricks to get good bird photos. I keep the camera near the window and sneak over quietly, anchoring it on the sill. Then zoom, focus, and click several times. You have to play a bit with the light so you don’t get the glare from the window panes. For the hummers, I’ve found you need bright afternoon light so you can set your shutter speed really high. Morning light is too dim. They pretty much need a tripod. If I’m not too lazy I’ll get one, focus on the feeder, hold the shutter halfway and then click, click, click when they arrive. Then I eliminate the bad ones on the camera—I delete all bad photos on my camera so don’t even download.
Leya
/ January 1, 2020Love your birds! But the Tiny Tree Climber caught my heart! All the best for the new year!
Alexandria Sage
/ January 1, 2020Thank you! Such nice comments. That Tiny Tree Climber caught mine, too! All the best to you as well! Happy New Year!
pattimoed
/ January 2, 2020Thank you so much, Alexandra for your kind words about the challenge! We all appreciate it. I love your bird shots, but that tree climber had such a marvelous expression of joy on his face! Wonderful. Again, thanks for joining us!
Alexandria Sage
/ January 2, 2020Thanks so much for commenting, Patti, and again for keeping up with a challenge. Such a nice community! That tree climber has a big smile all the time; but you have to catch it in candid moments. Posed ones do not work! He’s a little character! 😊
pattimoed
/ January 2, 2020An adorable character and a lovely boy!
ramblingranger
/ January 4, 2020Your bird images are stunning. But I have to agree with Ann-Christine and Patti – the tiny tree climber is my favorite!
Wendy
/ January 4, 2020I love your bird pics and that butterfly is stunning. And ditto the tree climber, what a wonderful photograph.
Alexandria Sage
/ January 4, 2020The tree climber seems to be a winner. He’s got a winning smile but only in candid moments. You cannot pose him at all! 🙂
The butterfly is a black swallowtail, common here in autumn. They have a slow flight pattern and do not startle at all. So easy to photograph. They still themselves and spread their wings. They truly act as if they’re posing for you. Their return is always a treat!