WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting

Zazzle online shop If you enjoy my photos and would like to purchase some, I want to thank you! Simply visit my Zazzle online shop and browse the product offerings. If there’s a photo you would like to purchase but don’t see it in my shop, please contact me by using the Contact form at the bottom of my home page and let me know which photos you are interested in purchasing, and in what format / medium.

Today I’m participating in the WordPress weekly photo challenge and this week’s theme is “fleeting”. Remember you can click on each image to see a larger view. If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe and receive nature photography updates a few times a week.

Nature is full of fleeting moments and that’s what makes it challenging to photograph. Of course, animals are the hardest to photograph as they may be right in front of you one moment, and gone by the time you pull your camera out. Bees collecting nectar are a good example of a fleeting moment. I got lucky with this shot, where I managed to photograph a bee collecting nectar in the bags on its legs.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - bee collecting nectar in bags
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – bee collecting nectar in bags

Dragonflies are notorious for flying around for hours without taking a break. I got lucky with this orange dragonfly who decided to take a very short rest on a tree branch not far from me.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - orange dragonfly resting on a tree branch
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – orange dragonfly resting on a tree branch

This baby koala was a nice capture of the fleeting moment a couple of weeks ago, as he turned his head towards me for a few minutes so I could capture this photo.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - Baby koala sleeping
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – Baby koala sleeping

Butterflies are the perfect expression of a fleeting moment, as they’re often difficult to capture since they don’t stand still for too long. I was lucky to get a photo of this giant owl butterfly.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - giant owl butterfly
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – giant owl butterfly

Not just animals are fleeting in nature. The morning dew is another example of something that doesn’t last a long time and is gone by the time the sun is out and shining.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - morning dew on grass blades
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – morning dew on grass blades

Our San Diego winters don’t get very cold but we manage to get frost several days a year. The frost melts as soon as the winter sun rays warm it up, but it’s very pretty while it lasts.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - frost on ice plants in San Diego
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – frost on ice plants in San Diego
Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - frost on leaves in San Diego
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – frost on leaves in San Diego

I think the most fleeting moments in nature are sunrise and sunset. They last only a few minutes but set the tone for the day and for the night.

A beautiful sunrise can inspire you for a whole day.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - winter sunrise in San Diego
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – winter sunrise in San Diego

A gorgeous sunset can give you hope for the next day.

Wordpress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting - San Diego sunset Christmas 2012
WordPress weekly photo challenge: Fleeting – San Diego sunset Christmas 2012
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Sunday Post: New Year 2013

Zazzle online shop If you enjoy my photos and would like to purchase some, I want to thank you! Simply visit my Zazzle online shop and browse the product offerings. If there’s a photo you would like to purchase but don’t see it in my shop, please contact me by using the Contact form at the bottom of my home page and let me know which photos you are interested in purchasing, and in what format / medium.

Today I’m participating in Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post photo challenge. This week’s theme is New Year 2013. I’ll keep this post very simple. Remember you can click on each photo below to see a larger image.

I’m waving 2012 goodbye with this beautiful San Diego sunset photo I took on Christmas evening.

Beautiful Christmas sunset in San Diego
Beautiful Christmas sunset in San Diego

I’m greeting 2013 with this beautiful San Diego winter sunrise that I selected for the month of January in my 2013 photo calendar (for sale on Zazzle).

Beautiful winter sunrise in San Diego
Beautiful winter sunrise in San Diego

Let’s hope the year 2013 features even more beautiful San Diego sunsets like this one:

Pink and gray sunset with clouds in San Diego
Pink and gray sunset with clouds in San Diego

and inspiring sunrises like this one:

Photo of a winter sunrise - clouds on fire
Photo of a winter sunrise – clouds on fire

I’m looking forward to a year full of wonderful photo opportunities, and I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year 2013!

The beautiful cloudy skies of Fall

Zazzle online shop If you enjoy my photos and would like to purchase some, I want to thank you! Simply visit my Zazzle online shop and browse the product offerings. If there’s a photo you would like to purchase but don’t see it in my shop, please contact me by using the Contact form at the bottom of my home page and let me know which photos you are interested in purchasing, and in what format / medium.

One of the reasons I love Spring and Fall in San Diego is the clouds. Not really the gray stratus layer that indicates rain is visiting for the whole day, but rather the cumulonimbus clouds that appear after the rain. When the light hits these big puffy marshmallow clouds just right, they are simply gorgeous. Add a little yellow from the fall’s leaves and some blue sky and this is what you get:

Big puffy white clouds after the rain in San Diego
Big puffy white clouds after the rain in San Diego

At night, clouds also make the sunset sights more interesting or even breathtaking. I love the mix of bluish grey clouds and the pink sky that often comes with a Fall sunset. These colors are look to soft to be real. Pink and gray really go well together, don’t you think?

Pink and gray sunset with clouds in San Diego
Pink and gray sunset with clouds in San Diego

As for a missed opportunity, the other day I saw something in the sky I’d never seen before. It looked like someone just took the liberty to paint the white clouds in the sky with thick brush strokes of dark gray. You could literally see the stroke marks! Unfortunately I was driving with no camera available so you’ll just have to close your eyes and imagine what it looked like. I hope I get the chance to capture such a sky one day. It would make for a very cool picture.