photography | catnipoflife

Simplicity

by catnipoflife

“Simplicity, clarity, singleness: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy.” — Richard Halloway

Simplicity: What does simplicity mean to you? Artless. Plain. Dull. Monotonous. Boring. Naivé. WHOA! Let’s change the words… Natural! Unfussy! Effortless! Genuine! Humble! Honest! Does such a difference add complexity to simpleness? Perhaps simple is not so simple after all. Then, it simply may be all in the manner in which it is perceived. That perception varies by which one might view something as being simple.

Let’s examine a word along with simplicity that has not been mentioned. Think about this question: Would you consider simplicity as powerful?

There IS power in simplicity. It allows the flow of creative juices to become less complex leaving out all the fussiness that often muddies the water. It allows us to examine the ideas that are truly important, those that really matter. We then toss aside the rocks within the river bed that break the flow making the way fluent, not choppy, thereby being creative within simplicity!

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Another question to think about: Does beauty exist in simplicity?

There is awesomeness in simplicity as so beautifully put in the photography by Alastair! The photos featured below are the winners in Alastair’s monthly photo contest. All are his photography as his readers vote on which is the best fit for each month. Visit Alastair being sure to return and cast your vote for the month of April @

A Mixed Bag

A poem … A story … A Photo … Something Else

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Time to go! I must stop now in order to keep the message simple.

Find simplicity in your day today and every day!

What simple things have guided your thoughts today?

Featured Photography/Photographer Inspiration Reflection Slideshow

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The Chair

by catnipoflife

The visual inspiration (photography) for this writing comes by way of Vate @Consonancias y Disonancias o el Eco del Murciélago de Abril Estados de Alma y Espíritu frente a la época actual de nuestra Humanidad

With the help of our friend, Google, translation at its best is Consonance & Dissonance States of Soul and Spirit against the current era of our Humanity. Unfortunately, there were some parts that did not translate sensibly and my Spanish is low, very low, on the totem pole. That, by no means, takes anything away from Vate’s site. I encourage you to visit and read more HERE!

I first saw the photograph last evening and immediately wrote…

Aged with Time

TheChair

The chair
so empty and bare
What good are you
just sitting there?

Aged with time
paint chipped and peeling
Who would want you
discolored, unappealing?

Your back’s not straight
Resembling a sick tree
What’s with those legs?
Much too short I see

There’s a hint of beauty
beneath your scarred skin
Why were you abandoned
in the shape you’re in?

Eying you closer
I ponder and ponder
A little love and care?
I wonder, I wonder

I’ll take you home
make you mine
Where will I find
time, time, time?

Time to repair
Time to mend
Time together
When, when, when?

What inspiration did you gather when you first saw the photograph?

How many times do you stop to ponder “Where will I find the time?” If you could recapture those moments and add them all together, you might be surprised at how much time you’d have on your hands!

Featured Photography/Photographer Inspiration Reflection

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A Bird’s Eye View

by catnipoflife

Have you ever thought what it would be like to view the earth as a bird? Ever dreamed you could fly (not in an airplane!) soaring about the treetops capable of touching the clouds (other than fog, of course)?

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Here are 30 incredibly fantastic views you could see if you were a bird…

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Ever wondered while you were that bird how you would manage getting food? Takes patience and a lot of perseverance…

A Bird’s Eye View

Wings expand with the gentle breeze
Soaring through the blue
Blade and bloom grace the meadowland
Nothing like a bird’s eye view

O’er rolling hills, down into valleys
Sleek, graceful, strong, light as a feather
Exploring recently harvested fields
Elegant in flight, no matter the weather

Seeking, searching, forward, backward
Circling what’s captured in sight
Watching for the right moment
To begin a natural fight

A chameleon crawls along the ground
Changing color, shifting from brown to green
Searching fervently for grasshoppers and worms
Camouflaged, barely visible, almost unseen

Swift, agile, virtually without a sound
Crawlapin sighted, playing hide ’n’ seek
A sharp dive, graceful swoop upward
Renders barely a snippet in the beak

Nature has a way of caring for her own
Ventures unconquered start anew
With a keen eye and unblemished spirit
Perseverance – from a bird’s eye view

If you were a bird, a different perspective…

Echoes Inspiration PoetrybySharla Slideshow

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Observing Sunrise to Sunset

by catnipoflife

It is so awesome when I can match my poetry with photos from such wonderful photographers. Today, catnip features a couple of her own, along with Alastair Forbes and Barbara Beacham. You can tell whose is whose by the watermarks. Of course, that is a feature catnip is yet to learn so the first two are hers, unmarked. Be sure to visit Alastair @A Mixed Bag and Barbara @Life in the Foothills. You will not be disappointed and probably will not leave without following! Tell them catnip sent you!

Dawn ’til Dusk

Whispers of Dawn…
Awaken a new day
As watercolor skies
Replace night’s gray

Figures of light
Dance into view
While pre-dawn colors
Fade into metallic blue

Heat of Midday…
Emanates sun’s bright glare
As vivid natural colors
Create balance in the air

Cool afternoon breezes
Relinquish the noonday heat
As an allusion of rain
Renders the day complete

Serenity of Twilight…
Brings closure to the day
While red-orange hues
Emerge without delay

A surreal saffron hue
Casts an illusionary show
As soft billowy clouds
Reflect sun’s fading glow

Music of the Night…
Stimulates harmony in the soul
While a symphony of sounds
Performs melodies to console

Subdued radiance
Slowly transcends the darkness
As night comes, light disappears
In an awe of bitter sweetness

©catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.

—William Arthur Ward (American inspirational writer, 1921–1994)

A Quote for Today Featured Photography/Photographer Inspiration PoetrybySharla

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Eye Candy from God

by catnipoflife

There are times when something crosses your path or shows up unexpectedly in a message that screams to be shared. Here it is…ENJOY!

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“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

—Albert Einstein (Theoretical physicist, 1879–1955)

Inspiration Nature Slideshow

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Amber Waves of Grain

by catnipoflife

Awakenings featured Marcy @Hot Rod Cowgirl who is Riding Through Life One Horse At A Time…Courage Is Being Scared To Death But Saddling Up Anyway! Marcy is a true American who captures America the beautiful not only with her poignant words but also her awesome photography.

You are encouraged to visit Hot Rod Cowgirl where Marcy and Wild Bill are both riding through life one horse at a time! Giddy-up! AND Whoa! only when there is no other place to go!

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GO to Awakenings and join Marcy…

Somewhere Along the Highway

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Awakenings Featured Photography/Photographer Inspiration Nature

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Creative Moon Photography by Laurent Laveder

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – catnipoflife

French based photographer Laurent Laveder create amazing Moon Photography, these are part of his project titled Moon Games. His entire collection is a MUST SEE!

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

These are just as wonderful as the first time I ever saw this photography. No matter how many times you view them a new inspiration occurs!

See on www.picturescollections.com

Featured Photography/Photographer Inspiration

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What’s In A Name

by catnipoflife

It is most fitting to follow the reblog of yesterday with Bob’s posting of today. The cubs names are most unusual but of course, I am not from Zimbabwe nor do I speak Swahili! Thanks to Bob for not only sharing the cubs new names but a bit of information as to their origins.

Reblog

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The Cubs Venture Out

by catnipoflife

I always marvel at the photography of Bob Mielke. He often visits the Portland Oregon Zoo where he knows most of the animals by name. If they could speak, I am sure each one would greet him daily, “Hello, Bob. Glad you are here today!”