Scotland 100

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Scotland Highlands and Islands are soul catching landscapes; much like the Sacred Valley, Peru was for me last year. Again, like in the Sacred Valley, I found myself muttering unfxxxxxgbelievable. I irresistably pressed the shutter button more than four thousand times. I produced a book of my favorite one hundred images. I have a pdf of the book at MikeSipe.com. See for yourself the magical landscapes of the Scotland Highlands and Islands. It was only a ten day taste. We saw a bite of the Inner Hebrides Islands. I would love to see the Outer Hebrides too. I was attracted to the Scotland Islands when I viewed the beautiful photo book, The Spirit of Luskentyre, by Nigel Danson. It was the light, clouds, water, grasses, mountains and fitting structures, that caught my eye. When I think about it, the same elements attract me in this beautiful state of Vermont.

House on a Hill

Morning Glow

CONNECTING WITH NATURE

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I am walking the Black Walnut path, on our Purple Lark Farm’s front field.. What a wonderful sensation. Birds are singing, mist on the golden lite ground. It’s early. The birds own the area. A Redwing Blackbird circles close. I wonder if he/she is going to land on my shoulder, or peck my head. I think he/she is trying to connect, possibly saying, stay on the path, I have young ones in the bush. This routine is predictable. I walk softly, trying to say, It’s ok, I mean no harm. I continue on my morning walk. Merlin identifies a dozen birds I hear.

Connecting

Black Walnut Path

Ferryland

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Scotland is a magical place for me. I am playing with a number of landscape images from my ten day journey to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. I go to another world while processing the images - a world of unbelievable beauty, a happy place - the light, the color, the Divine design. I love it.

I interpret the landscape to create what feels pleasant for me to view. I suspect I am a want-to-be painter with a camera - playing with light, shadows, color. I don’t photoshop much, but I filter with artistic filters, pleasing my artistic palate. I usually erase the filter on points of interest, or focus points leading the eye.

In the first image of Ferryland, below, I did not align the images properly so I was not able to erase filter affects that I would normally erase. I redid the image and made my normal adjustments in the second image of Ferryland. I love the photo tools technology has introduced for me to play like an artist.

Ferryland

Ferryland 2

Peaceful Place

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I am back from ten days of delight in the Highlands and Isles of Scotland - Mary Lou, my LATIA companion. As my sister from England and Italy would say; this place speaks to me. I must have been Scottish in a previous life. I love plaid. I was once asked, by my partners, to remove my plaid carpet in my office at the CPA firm. It ended up in my darkroom at home. I felt peace and awe while reflecting at unbelievable sites in this special place.

The second leg of this journey begins. I begin processing and reflecting on hundreds of views I was inspired to capture. I was in another world. It is a peaceful place.

Peaceful Place

Rebirth

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Spring is a wonderful time to renew, or do a new - better than at New Year’s. So many signs of rebirth in Nature; in Divine design. Are we being nudged to slow down, take a breath, and look at our priorities, to see if they’re aligned with our passions; with our beliefs and desires? Such a precious time, with so much beauty.

spring light

Mountain Mist

Lost and Found

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I am excited with the journey of my new photo project, I call Simply Gift. It will result in a personal book of about 200 simplistic and minimalistic images of Sky, water, mountains, trees, and flowers. I plan to document relating reflections.

I am grateful for the gifts of all that present to my eyes, ears, touch, smell, and feel. All are in seasonal harmony. I am open and looking - not expecting, but accepting - ‘believing is seeing’ -miracles abound.

The result of this project for me is a better understanding of the connection of all, not only the obvious beautiful subjects, but the living insects we don’t see, to us beings with Free Will to be the stewards of our limbs. ‘ALL IS GIFT’.

Light in the Fog

Lost in the fog

Wrap

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I am sitting in the coffee shop, having a morning glory muffin. Before you know it, it’s gone - I eat too fast; I always have. I, wanting more, look at the remains - the muffin wrap. I think, that’s pretty cool - colors, design. I took a picture. While processing the image, I cropped this way, and that way, enjoying the results. The activity satisfied my desire to not be finished with the morning glory so fast. My ABSTRACTION project has got me going on all the beauty before me. Believing is seeing. I am grateful!

Wrap

Water Color

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Light, Color, Design, and Message are attractions for my current photo project ABSTRACTION. I am shaky as to what attracts me. I guess I know it when I see it. It is fun to play with filters and cropping to excite my senses. I admire water color artists. I love to view watercolor works of art. They inspire my photography. Watercolor artists influence my photography. More literally, I like to capture colors that water absorbs, reflects, to create something that holds my view for more than a second or two.

Color of Water

Color of water

Coming out

Anticipation

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No matter how hard I try to stay in the Present, where all that is, IS, I anticipate something to come. I can’t help it, it just happens. Fortunately, it is usually anticipating pleasure, joy. That’s ok, isn’t it? It doesn’t make any difference what you say, it will continue. I do wish though, that the dream state is a glimpse, not a fixation! I hate to miss what IS.

anticipation

Dancing on Thin Ice

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Back in my CPA days (the roaring 80’s 90’s), one of my partners had a saying on his wall that said… if you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance. Tom lived life to the fullest. The saying was apropos to grace his office wall. As I remember, Tom was fun loving - kind, adventurous - a free spirit, who flowed with the present. He is probably the same today, in his ninety’s. As I learn more about the significance of spirit, love, the soul, I appreciate more than ever Tom’s example of loving life.

Melt

Thin Ice

Water Color

Stewards

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Steward - a beautiful word - a beautiful relationship with all - caring about, and for, people, animals, plants - all on earth. I feel spirits seeking peace, connection with Devine source, a longing to belong in community, an interest in giving, an understanding that it is in giving we receive. This is core to all, and too frequently covered by ego interest.

Stewards

Perspective

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I don’t think any of us have the exact same perspective on anything - that is human - that is natural. It is also human that we think everyone should have our perspective. Why would that be? I quote my mother often. She said, and I believe: Comparisons are odious. It took me a number of years to comprehend the words - to understand the meaning. I do now. It is beautiful that we are all different, and all the same. We are conditioned by our different upbringing; all of our environments. And, we are all beautifully good, at our core - our higher self. The ego gets in the way of our core goodness. We are free to choose - how wonderful an opportunity.

What’s around the corner? Is the grass greener? Who cares. The present is all there is. Live LOVE now!

perspective

the curve

Nurture Nature

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With only a few weeks left of Winter - officially, that is, I say this is a real winter - cold and snowy. This Vermont Winter reminds me of a number of Winters in Minnesota - real winters, only for the hardy. I do like a respite from winter’s harshness, by flying South, especially as I age a bit. This year I am sticking it out. It is ok - in fact better than ok. The times in front of the fireplace this winter, are extra special. The drifts are amazingly beautiful. Every day views are heightened images thirsting to be captured.

The dramatic seasonal change mirrors my life changes. If I think of a life-time, I guess you can call this my last season to evolve - at least as I am earthbound. I am thinking more longterm now - eternal really - everlasting. I like what I’ve had. Who knows what is to come. The Present is all there is. As I use more right brain, and integrate my heart with my head, in the Present, I am realizing, and feeling, the importance of relationship; the importance of LOVE - LOVE, and All in relationship. I, All, have, common given essence - goodness, that when touched, by putting aside Ego, results in Heaven on Earth

Nurture Nature

Front Field

Snow Day

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I remember a number of days in my seventy-eight plus years where snow falls stopped me in my tracks, and got my full attention. Actually, it brought my focus to the moment; a good thing, mostly. As a freshman at SJU, I experienced fellow students jumping out of windows into huge snow drifts. Patty and I were trapped in a temporary rental for three days until neighbors shoveled a path through the snow, which was blocking the front door. There was a three day period where I was unable to commute back to Minneapolis from St. Cloud because of a snow and ice storm. Now, falling in three feet of the powdery, snow shoes attached, and not being able to get up. Well, I did get up, eventually, after relieving myself, taking off my snow shoes, and strategizing the poles just right to leverage an upright. It was a little difficult and cold, carrying the shoes and poles through the the deep fluffy from the front field of Purple Lark Farm to the warmth of home. I am here and content to tell about it! The snow is beautiful though!

snowed In

Snow Day

Winter Reflection

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I am amazed - I open my reticular activator, and I see what I am looking for.

I have this new photo project I call Abstraction. I am not sure where I am going with it, which is not unlike any other of my photo projects. However, this is different. Most of the images that have got my attention in the last ten years have been horizons - water, sky, mountains. Abstraction can take me anywhere. The funny thing is, I am seeing images all over that are new beauties to me. This is my reticular activator in motion!

I am learning I see and connect with what I am looking for. The mind is a powerful thing, capable of taking me to places I haven’t imaged. I guess “believing is seeing”!

winter reflection

SUN LIGHT ENERGY

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I reflect on the Sun, Light, Energy. WOW. Without the Sun what would be? So far away; perfectly so. Clouds can’t stop the natural nurture - light entires, heats, reflects, inspires. Our little earth rotates about, casting seasonal change for some. So little change - So much a difference . I am aware, in this moment. I am grateful, mindful, present.

Solar

Path

INTEGRATE

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Winter - Ice, Snow, Fire - can be nice. My mother always said: “everything in moderation”. Winter nature is a good example. Too cold, too much snow, uncontrolled fires are problematic. Just the right amount of nature elements is wonderful. I am grateful when that IS. I wish to Integrate and know I am just another element of nature. Go with the flow Mike. I am not in control, but I am one with all - interconnected. I wish to be grateful for all. Progress to BE.

Integrate

The Source