We went to an event at Pike Place Market yesterday on my birthday, and forget all about the artisanal food and wine going on—there was a scenic sunset moment that got all my attention. With a seagull!

Other places for interesting photos around the blogosphere are Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera),  Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mellow Yellow Monday, A Piece of Heaven, Skywatch Friday, and Weekend Reflections. Please follow this blog on the new widget to the right if you enjoy the photos. Thanks for visiting!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time out near a big expanse of water, in Silverdale, WA. Doesn’t being by the water both energize and soothe you? A very powerful and wonderful feeling. I’ve read that a huge portion of the world’s population lives within 50 miles of an ocean coast. I can understand that.

I particularly like this photo because it appears to be black and white (monochrome) but has no adjustment from RGB, is just straight from the camera on a gray late winter’s day. I’m calling it my my Best Post of the Week.

You might check out Outdoor Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, A Piece of Heaven, Weekend Reflections,  Shadow Shot Sunday 2, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Skywatch Friday. Lots of photo talent out there! But do browse around here first, perhaps clicking on a new tag or category, or trying a search. Cloudscape, perhaps?

We had our first snow this winter two days ago. I love that brief time when the snow has fallen but no wind has come along to disturb the frosting on trees and shrubs. I went outside to our patio, standing under the eaves so my camera wouldn’t get the silll-falling snow on it, when I heard that familiar Anna hummingbird whirrr. There she was, and what a scenic, snowy backdrop she had as she rested on her red feeder! I like this for the snow frosting everything like icing as much as the beautiful little bird, so I am calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Since several of you asked, they do stay in this lattitude nowadays because people like us provide feeders. It is not usually freezing here, and if it does freeze, we take the feeder in overnight so it’s liquid in the day.

Snow counts as water for Watery Wednesday, doesn’t it? Also, visit Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Camera Critters and Ruby Tuesday 2. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog collection here. Or try a tag like “Scenic” in the right sidebar down a bit, or a search for “Snow” in the upper right field, perhaps, to see something new.

This is from last year when we went camping at the Dungeness Recreation Area campground in the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest. To me, the water and the pinkish, foggy air is even more beautiful than the big flying bird, but it was quite a moment in any case.

Visit Wordless Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday and Camera Critters for more photo fabulousness.

Last minute reminder: If you are in Seattle tomorrow on Thursday, August 4 at 6-8pm, please come to the Conservatory’s free Open House and book signing for my new book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month By Month. Take a tour and meet the author (me!). You can find more info about the book on the home page here, or order at pre-launch prices with free shipping on the Book Order page. Thanks for visiting!

At the Dungeness Recreation Area near Sequim, WA, right after we saw the bald eagle below, as the sun was setting it peeked in and out of the fog. Moody, evocative scene. The foghorn sounded every once in awhile, just to add to the effect.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more kinds of skies seen all over the world. Scenic Sunday has amazing photos, too.

If you have arrived via the permalink, be sure to look around for something new. How about trying a search for “sunset”? The latest posts can always be found at Sara’s Fave Photos, above.

At the Dungeness Recreation Area north of Sequim in the Olympic Peninsula is a wonderful trail, free to use, of a bluff along the water of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The weather was quite cool and foggy but of course it was a great walk anyway, nice easy stroll, when what did I see but a bald eagle, sitting right there. He was maybe 30 feet away. The little Canon S90 didn’t do too bad, considering the low light and the distance. I loved that he was looking out at the view, same as us.

Let’s try a new meme. How about Camera Critters? A very popular group of talented photographers.

If you have arrived here from the permalink, you can get to the latest posts by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above. While you’re here, be sure to check out a new tag or category. How about “Landscape”?

We were at Normandy Park Cove this weekend. This gull repeatedly swam around, launched itself a foot or two into the air, and dove for dinner. After watching six or eight tries, we had to leave and I do not know if it ever was successful. It was beautiful and inspiring to watch. The crow seemed to be quite interested also.

For more cyberwetness, visit Watery Wednesday.

Santa came a bit early and I got a Canon Powershot S90! Here’s a very appropriate photo of the dawn, taken yesterday morning in my backyard, as my first post with the new camera. The only benefit of the days starting so late is I get to see the actual dawn sometimes. Have you guessed I am not naturally an early riser?

It’s going to take me awhile to get comfortable with the manual control features (which were part of the reason I got it) of the new toy. And it’s very small, no bigger than the 3-yr. old Canon point-and-shoot it replaced. Another plus is it does REALLY great in low light indoor situations without a flash, which I prefer in most cases. But so much to learn! I prefer things simple but I am pledged to master this.

Can’t wait to see what it does in the garden with flowers. For that I must wait.

For more skies of happiness and inspiration around the world, visit Skywatch Friday. And have a great holiday.

Browsing through some old photos I found this I took somewhere in Florida in 1983! I really don’t remember where, maybe down in the Keys. But a pretty sky, a relaxing tropical feel, and a good start for the new year, I think. Here’s to scenic beauty and peace and relaxation in 2009.

For more skywatching photos, click HERE.