Today's photo is a frozen soap bubble. I love the way it looks like a starry winter night complete with a starburst at the top. The starburst is from the rays of the sun behind the bubble. This shot was taken with a macro lens in the late afternoon as the sun began to drop behind the trees.

To take photos of frozen bubbles, temperatures must be below freezing. I like to shoot them with temps in the teens. Colder temperatures will work, but the crystals form quickly. With slightly warmer temperatures you have more time to focus and get the shot you want. It is also important that there is no breeze as wind will pop the bubble.

If you have difficulty getting the bubble to stay put, try daubing a bit of your bubble solution on the spot where you want the bubble to sit. Let it freeze slightly and then use a straw to blow a bubble on the spot. I find that holding the straw so that it is nearly vertical works best, as the bubble mixture will drip out of the straw if it is held horizontal.

Go ahead and have some fun. Each bubble is different. You may see ferns, stars or other shapes as the crystals form.

Today's photo is the view of Mt. Katahdin taken on Oct. 6, 2018. I believe this shot was taken in Dyer Brook, Maine as we traveled up Rt. 2 to Smyrna and it was taken along the way. Photos cannot do justice to the awe-inspiring views of the mountain from Aroostook County.

Today's photo is a stargazer lily in full bloom. These oriental lilies were introduced in 1974. You may be surprised to learn that the name stargazer has nothing to do with the heavenly color or the dreamy speckles that you may have imagined resembled the night stars. Its name has a less romantic origin. It was given the name stargazer because the open lilies face the sky as though gazing at the heavens.

Regardless of how they got their name, I like to think of the stargazer lily as a little piece of the heavens growing peacefully in my flower bed.

Today's photo is the rays of the rising sun shining through fog and mist. This photo was taken from the bedroom balcony at our new house. Not only does the balcony provide a great sitting area for viewing the stars, it also gives me a bird's-eye view of the surrounding area.
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Because we are near a lake with a backdrop of small mountains, fog and mist is a common sight. Recently, we have been experiencing hot, humid weather which has also given rise to fog, mist and haze, turning the morning sun to a bright orange. 

I look forward to sharing more photos of our scenic view in the future.

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Today's photos have been digitally enhanced and must be rightly referred to as digital art. They were all taken at Old Orchard Beach, Maine last fall.  I wanted to create images with more texture and depth of color than the original photos to give you a feel for the natural elements in the photos. 

Today's photo is a garden or flower fairy.  According to FlowerFairies.com, these magical fairies live in treetops, along the forest floor and in gardens. They are the keepers of flowers and are in charge of taking care of their own flower or plant.

You may spot one perched on the branch of a tree or nestled among the leaves. Sometimes, they sit among the flowers.

According to Maine Garden Ideas, there are several times a day when you are more likely to observe fairies, such as early morning before the dew dries, in the early evening when the sun's rays cast soft shadows and during the light of the moon.

Today's photos are of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). I encountered this lovely little fox on the way to a flower show. It was trotting along the side of the road. Although it kept its distance, it did allow me to take photos from an open window in the vehicle. He is looking down at a little stream in the distance.

Red foxes vary in color from yellowish-red to deep red-brown with many shades in between. This fox had a golden sheen to the coat.

The red fox is common in Maine, but they aren't typically quite as friendly as this one. I usually see them as they dash through the yard in chase of a rabbit. This fox stopped and looked at me as if to ask what I was doing.

This is the same fox. He looks longer and sleeker in this photo as he carefully makes his way through the tall grass. He looks more like the sly fox of storybooks in this shot.

This photo was taken out the window, but the mirror was in the way, causing his legs and underside to blur and discolor. I decided to get creative with the shot and add a background as I really liked the fox's face and head in this photo.

I got tired of waiting for the snow to melt and flowers to arrive, so I took my little garden fairy outside for some fresh air and sunshine. I think she made an excellent model and gave me the opportunity to get in a little practice with the camera. I love the light and shadows in the snow in this photo.

Taking a little break on the garden bench.

Posing pretty atop a plant stand.

She reminded me that photography doesn't always need to be about capturing a quick moment in time or shooting that elusive butterfly. Sometimes, photography is just pure fun. I hope you enjoyed the photos today.

​Thanks for stopping by!

Today's photo is of Mt. Katahdin at sunset. It was taken two summer's ago in late July. You have probably seen photos of Katahdin in shades of blue with striking white caps, but it doesn't always look like that. 

The color of the mountain changes with the seasons and with the time of day. Sometimes it is so pale that all you can see is a vague outline where the mountain meets the sky. Sometimes, at sunset, the mountain transforms to glorious shades of purple and violet. ​

Whatever its color, Mt. Katahdin is always beautiful as it stands guard over the land.