"Absorbing the environment"...

I often like to take extra time to absorb the environment. When you slow down, you find more to appreciate.

Ozark National Forest, May, 2013
Photo # KS2_6300bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Golden Shadows"...

Often there is more to what you see than what meets the eye. You may be surprised by what you're seeing in this photograph. The golden hue in the background isn't a sunset, instead it's the head of a golden mushroom. The dark, vertical shadows are shadows from individual blades of grass. The rough globs is simply dirt atop the mushroom. Or is it? You can decide what you see in this photograph. Interestingly, if you view this from across your room, you'll have yet another perspective.

Photo # 9926_KS10289. September, 2009.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Water: Nature's Paintbrush"...

Sunlight highlights dance on top of the water as it flows past this leaf fallen on a rock. There are a variety of metaphors in this photograph, including the fragility of the leaf, the stability of the rock which the leaf rests, yet the varying power and detail of the water that flows around the rock.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas. July, 2009.
Photo # 9719_KS10048bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Beneath the Surface" (black-and-white)...

While we're out and about in our above-the-ground world, we often forget that there are other parts of this world that are often underappreciated and often undiscovered. In fact, we have yet to explore much of our own underwater world. As always, I spent most of a day appreciating and photographing this special grotto. Regardless of how many times you visit a special place, you just can't get enough of it. What may surprise you is how deafening this waterfall can be. Spending hours here, then going back to the surface was as if I had been teleported to a silent room full of trees. This is located near the township of Batson, where the population density is only 7 people per square mile! Over one-third of the residents heat their homes with wood instead of electricity or gas. It's such a treat to still have townships like this to visit and spend time.

Johnson County, Arkansas. March, 2015.
Photo # KS7_5924-33h1bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Shadows of Light"...

A single leaf stands-out in the snow against the shadows of the tree it fell. The location and perspective of where this leaf fell in the snow caught my eye.

Central Arkansas, March, 2015.
Photo # IM5_0524bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Art in Motion: Bloom Swirls"...

The swirls and textures of the petals of the dogwood tree invite a second look and appreciation.
According to research, Dogwoods often take five to seven years before they begin to bloom in earnest. It is often good news that it takes a while to bloom, because the plant is happy and healthy rather than being under stress.
Also noted as a life lesson.

Photo # IM5_4796abwsc. April, 2019.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Nature's Musical Notes"...

Nature can be inspirational regardless of the season. At one time, this green leaf supported a flower higher up the stem. Now that the flower is gone, this is the moment that this leaf shows us that there is more to nature than we often appreciate. Notice the resemblance of the shape of this leaf to a musical note. Nature is great and small, at the same time.

Photo # K01_2180_bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.