nature photography

A Word A Week Challenge: Shadow

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Remember that my 2014 nature photography calendars (choose between five different themes) are available for sale. Look in the left sidebar on my website for the most up-to-date discount coupon code. All calendars are made to order in the USA so you support the US economy with your purchase, and a starving artist (me!). I also appreciate any referral through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and of course your blog or website.

Today I’m participating in the A Word A Week Challenge. This week’s theme is “shadow”. I encourage you to click on each photo to see a larger view. If you like what you see, please subscribe to this blog to receive updates of the new photos I post, usually 3 to 5 times a week.

I’m glad a shadow photo theme is suddenly popping up because I’ve had a few photos I’ve kept on file just for the occasion. I took this photo of the shadow of a few tree branches several weeks ago, when fall started in San Diego. I like the pattern formed by the dead leaves on the ground, under the shadow.

A word a week photo challenge: shadow of a tree on brown leaves

I took the next two photos this past summer in the mountains. I thought the shadows from the ferns on the rock underneath looked like mini trees.

A word a week photo challenge: shadow of fern on rock

I took this last photo not too far from those ferns. I love the shadows on the rocks formed by the trees right above. They make for an interesting background for the flowers.

Shadows of tree leaves on rocks behind flowers

Travel theme: Blue sky in Southern California

Travel theme: Sky

Remember that my 2014 nature photography calendars (choose between five different themes) are available for sale. Save 60% on my calendars by using coupon code CYBERTUESDAY at checkout (valid until 12/3/13 midnight). Look in the left sidebar on my website for the most up-to-date discount coupon code. All calendars are made to order in the USA so you support the US economy with your purchase, and a starving artist (me!). I also appreciate any referral through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and of course your blog or website.

Today I’m participating in Where’s My Backpack’s Travel Theme photo challenge. This week’s theme is “sky”. Remember you can click on each photo for a larger view.

If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe and receive nature photography updates a few times a week.

We’ve got plenty of sky in San Diego and on a good day, it looks as blue as this.

Travel theme: Blue sky in San Diego and rising moon

OK, let me clarify my previous statement. The sky tends to be this blue inland, while the sky by the coast is often covered by some haze, the marine layer or some thick clouds. That’s why Denver in Colorado technically gets a lot more sunny days than the city of San Diego. But you just have to drive 10 or 15 miles inland, and the weather is beautiful most of the year.

The sky is even bluer in the mountains of Southern California, where the air is cleaner.

Of course, we do get some clouds once in a while. I often call them “a waste of clouds” because they don’t bring any rain and just cover the sky with gray layers. Big white puffy clouds like these are rare to spot in the sky and these are my favorite days.

Our summer sunrises and sunsets are quite boring, when the sky goes through a few colors with no wow moment. Winter is a different story, as the sun rays hit the sky and the clouds that are sometimes there at a different angle.

Travel theme: sky at sunrise in San Diego

I haven’t had the chance to capture a sunset this past week, but many of them have looked like this one.

Travel theme: sky at sunset in San Diego

What color is the sky where you are?

December 2, 2013February 6, 2020 by Milka Pejovic Categories: California Photos, Cloud photos, Landscape Photos, Photos of San Diego, Sky Photos, Sunrise Photos, Sunset photosTags: blue sky in San Diego, blue sky in Southern California mountains, nature photography, rising moon in the sky, San Diego, sunrise in San Diego, sunset in San Diego, Travel theme photo challenge, Travel theme: Sky, winter sunrise, winter sunset 9 Comments

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: One Tasmania devil

Macro Monday: Tasmanian devil

Remember that my 2014 nature photography calendars (choose between five different themes) are available for sale. Save 60% today by using coupon code ZAZZLEMONDAY by midnight, December 2, 2013. Look in the left sidebar on my website for the most up-to-date discount coupon code available. All calendars are made to order in the USA so you support the US economy with your purchase, and a starving artist (me!). I also appreciate any referral through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and of course your blog or website.

Today I’m taking part in the Macro Monday photo challenge. You can click on each photo for a larger view. If you like what you see, I encourage you to subscribe so you can enjoy the new photos I post a few times a week.

The San Diego Zoo recently welcomed four Tasmanian devils to its Australian exhibit. They’re the only Tasmanian devils on exhibit in a zoo in America, so it’s a pretty cool experience to see them in person. They’re nocturnal animals so they sleep while the zoo is open and visitors come by, but I got lucky enough during my latest visit to see one of them move around a bit. I know these photos are technically not “macro” but this is as close as I can get to a Tasmanian devil, and that’s pretty close.

Here he is waking up from his morning nap.

Macro Monday: Tasmanian devil at the San Diego zoo

He then got up to get a drink. Check out those claws. They’re made for digging.

He went back to lay down after a few minutes.

And then he looked up right at the camera. Pretty cute face if you ask me.

December 1, 2013February 6, 2020 by Milka Pejovic Categories: Animal PhotosTags: close-up of a Tasmanian devil, Macro Monday, macro of a Tasmanian devil, nature photography, Tasmanian devil, Tasmanian devil at the San Diego zoo, Tasmanian devil drinking, Tasmanian devil sleeping 16 Comments

Thanksgiving crafts for kids - make a turkey with an apple, cranberries, raisins, marshmallows and gummy worms

Happy Turkey Day!

Remember that my 2014 nature photography calendars (choose between five different themes) are available for sale. Look in the left sidebar on my website for the most up-to-date discount coupon code (usually between 20 and 50% off). All calendars are made to order in the USA so you support the US economy with your purchase, and a self-employed single mom (me!). I also appreciate any referral through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and of course your blog or website.

I want to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving. This year, I’m thankful for a lot of things but here are a few related to my photography:

I’m thankful for my camera, my computer and Photoshop.
I’m thankful for WordPress, which allows me to display my photos to the world for free. It can’t get any better than this.
I’m thankful for Zazzle, which allows me to create my own online store without a single fee, unlike Cafe Press or Etsy.
I’m thankful for my readers, my supporters, and those of you who have purchased my calendars and other photo products so far this year (and last year too!).

What are you thankful for this year?

Oh, and if you’re wondering how to make this cute little turkey below, all you need is a red apple, big and small marshmallows, cranberries, raisins, a gummy worm and toothpicks.

November 27, 2013February 6, 2020 by Milka Pejovic Categories: Animal PhotosTags: 2014 photo calendars, be thankful for, nature photography, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving art, Thanksgiving craft, zazzle coupon code 2 Comments

Macro Monday: juvenile praying mantis

Remember that my 2014 nature photography calendars (choose between five different themes) are available for sale. Look in the left sidebar on my website for the most up-to-date discount coupon code (usually between 20 and 50% off). All calendars are made to order in the USA so you support the US economy with your purchase, and a self-employed single mom (me!). I also appreciate any referral through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and of course your blog or website.

Take a look at who paid me a visit this past week! This juvenile praying mantis, about half the size of an adult praying mantis, was on my window screen. It moved when I got outside.