View allAll Photos Tagged Soothing
I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.
John Burroughs
It's a special day here for a few personal reasons, hope that you all have a great 1st day of Summer!
Photo captured via Minolta MD Rokkor-X 85mm F/1.7 lens. Spokane Indian Reservation. Selkirk Mountains Range. Okanogan-Colville Xeric Valleys and Foothills section within the Northern Rockies Region. Inland Northwest. Stevens County, Washington. Early October 2020.
Exposure Time: 0.6 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/11 * Bracketing: None * Color Temperature: 5122 K * Plug-In: October Rust Rich - Lou & Marks * Filter: Hoya HMC CIR-PL (⌀55mm) * Elevation: 2,524 feet above sea-level
©2010 Susan Ogden-All Rights Reserved
Images Thruthelookingglass
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. Henri Nouwen
i hope that i am that friend...............
lovely sounding water and the small waterfalls built in giving a lovely sound as we walked through the bottom part of the gardens - Bodnant Garden, N Wales, UK
Flowers and watercolor are soothing to me. This was really fun - as again - I painted first and then went in with an extra-fine Sharpie for my "ink." (I haven't made it to the supply store yet to purchase pen and ink, but this is fun for the interim.)
It was one of these splendid, sunny days, shining soothing warmth after a few cold and rainy days.
I walked barefooted along the shore, treating my toes to cold water massage. I love these moments when the waves break at my feet and I feel so happy and free. My only wish is that my grandkids would be here to enjoy this freedom on the beach with me. Nonetheless, I do find joy in connecting with people through my passion for photography.
I walked happily for an hour or so, running into people from so many different countries. Austria, Denmark, Italy, Germany, USA, Israel of course, and last but not least, a family from Helsinki, Finland, too.
The beaches of Tel Aviv are an attraction to so many tourists who love to escape the cold winter in their respective homelands.
And then I walked on the golden sand to warm up my feet and that's when I saw her. She was drawing something in a copybook so I stopped to ask permission to make a photo. She lifted her head and smiled positively. Three clicks later, I started a conversation with this lovely young woman and we connected instantly. It was really amazing how one minute you're total strangers and the second you feel like you've known each other for ages.
Meet Anna, 22 y/o, from Belarus.
We spent the next half an hour or so talking and getting to know each other on a more personal level.
Not only was Anna beautiful, kind and friendly, she was also open, hearty, inspiring and interesting to know.
Anna loves travelling, painting and photography. She practices yoga, mindfulness and meditation. She is also a dancer and a model from time to time. She loves to inspire people--she did inspire me big time--and she is open to all sorts of art.
Having been in a relationship with an Israeli young man for the past four years, Anna has finally decided to stay here for a longer period of time. She loves the people here and the ambiance, the way people connect easily helps her to find new channels in herself. She blossoms here, it's as simple as this.
I loved talking with Anna. Naturally, I told her about my photo project and she gladly posed for me without any problem what's so ever. She loved the camera and the camera loved her back.
When I was done, she took out from her bag her own camera and made a series of portraits of me. It was fun to feel her energy and to laugh together.
"What do you love about yourself, Anna?" I asked.
"I love my inner world. I love to make people laugh and help them feel better about themselves. I love my energy and my heart."
When I asked what advice would she give her younger self, Anna said:
"Listen to yourself, believe in yourself. Do what you want, don't be a pleaser. "Because I am a peace maker I tend to trust people," she explained, "I would say: get to know people before you trust them thoroughly. Don't be too naive. However, once you get the right feeling just flow with the energy of trust and open up to the world."
After I made some notes in my notebook, Anna suddenly asked me: "What advice would YOU give to yourself?"
She took me by surprise.
I think that after all these almost twelve years that I have been doing this photo project, no one of all my 'Strangers' has ever asked me my own question.
We discussed family issues and more personal matters and finally we hugged and said goodbye, hoping that we would meet on the beach soon again.
Last year my chamomile didn’t germinate well, and I ended up with one one small plant. It produced a nice crop of flowers, but not nearly enough for the amount of tea I drink in a year’s time. I had a quarter cup or less of dried blossoms by the end of the year. This year I decided I’d grow as much as I could, and boy to I have a crop of chamomile! I’ve been faithfully harvesting it every couple days, drying it on a plate in the attic and storing it in a jar. Happily I’ve been watching the quart jar fill up knowing that I’ll have plenty to get me through the coming winter. I may be able to drink chamomile tea every night before bed.
Soft light colors have such a soothing effect. My wife's house plants make a great substitute for shooting photos when it's cold outside. Sony A77V; f/18; ISO 100; 230 mm; 0.6 Shutter speed.
"The decorator assured me that green would be calming and get her out of her black phase."
Lego minifigures