Poem: Best Friends

“Running out the back door, wanting eyes and curly hair.
Searching for the shadows that somehow dance in the sunlight.
Looking for the breeze that will take me farther than my eyes can see.

The wind seem to know how to sing songs.
Whistling hymns through their branches and hum melodies with their leaves.
Every breath in Nature’s lungs is such a gift to me.
The more I dance in Nature’s arms, the more I crave to touch.

The way the brook steadies itself down the winding path.
Not knowing what is around each bend, it smiles and quickly passed.

I’ve watched the fields of grain bend in the wind storms and waltzes in the rain.
Felt the tickle of meadow grass slip slowly past my palm,
and dance along my fingertips, leaving traces of the dawn.

Swirls of white winter snow sweeping through the trees.
The cold cruising into the soul of life, and yet,
the sun still shines and the song birds still sing.

It’s been my greatest teacher, Nature, with her lessons on life.
People seem to come and go, no matter how hard you pray for them to stay.
Nature is my best friend.  She’ll never run away.
The more I dance in Nature’s arms, the more I crave her touch.”

By:  Kiesha Crowther

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The Snow Timeless Black and White Pictures of Lionel Orriols

One of a collection of twenty photographs by self taught French professional photographer, Lionel Orriols, identified as “Snow Timeless.” Credit: Photography Office.com

In the field of photography, black and white pictures stand out as something special if you know how to do it right.  Amsel Adams surely had the skills to display brilliant works of art in his pictures of the American West.  Others have followed the path producing jaw dropping photographs as well.

Yesterday afternoon, I happened into the magnificent work of Lionel Orriols.  If you are not familiar with this name, let me say that he is a self taught French professional photographer born in 1972 in Gap, Hautes-Alpes and currently living in Lozère, France, highly passionate about nature. Working primary in black and white his photography spans several genres including nature landscapes, seascapes, snowscapes, architecture and abstract.

When asked to talk about his style of photography, he answered: “I started in 1999 but it’s only a few years later that I rediscovered the black and White and, above all, the long exposure time technique that allows me to express my sensibility. For me, to photograph means stopping time and share with others these seconds of eternity.“

I gently encourage you to click here to enjoy twenty exquisite photographs of Lionel Orriols, all linked to the beauty of immaculate white snow.  It’s amazing how Lionel is able to create beauty with only two simple colors—black and white.

This is how he describes this delicate piece of artwork.  “I think my photos reflect my dream minimalist and sometimes dark vision of the world that surrounds us. They are a big mix of my intimate feelings that I try to reveal by creating with the light. The snowy landscapes show the solitude, calm and beauty of these places. These pictures are not reality, they express what I feel and what I imagine at the present time.”

Source:  Snow Timeless by Lionel Orriols – Photography Office.com

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Poem: Autumn

The bright season of Autumn or Fall.

Autumn

Resplendent hues appease my vision,
Fall has fulfilled its yearly mission,
Sporadic breezes blow leaves around,
Forming multi-colored patterns upon the ground.

Sparrows utter subtle sounds,
As frantic squirrels make their rounds,
Brisk weather chases summer’s bugs,
Emerald lawns become saffron rugs.

Children pile all the leaves they can muster,
Indian summer provides added luster,
Autumn is a season full of esteem,
It is a time of nature’s brightest gleam.

By: Eddie Dulian

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A Waterfall Inside a Cloud Forest

When I traveled with Eddy, my guide, to the cloud forest above Hotel Finca Lérida, I was in for a totally unexpected surprise.  As I descended from the trails above 1,800 meters above sea level, I heard a loud roar.  I had no idea what it was so I asked Eddy.  “Eddy what is that roar, is it going to rain”.  He looked at me mischievously and smiled.  “Surprise, surprise,” he said.

Indeed it was a stunning surprise.  As the forest opened up, I saw a huge flow of water flowing from the top of a hill.  It was white as milk, and fresh, and clean.  It was a waterfall!  The first and only waterfall I’ve seen, except the Niagara Falls which I have only seen in magazines and movies.  But this was no magazine or movie, it was the real thing, right then and there before me.

The sight was spectacular!  I wanted to stay there frigid, allowing myself to enjoy the pleasure contemplating the white falling liquid accompanied by a loud roar—like the roar of a lion in the jungle.  No more words—it’s time to insert some pictures to support my visual awe.  Here we go.  These pictures were taken with my DSLR Canon EOS Rebel t2i.

Snapshot of a rustic sign on the trail that leads to the waterfall. As you can see, from this point, it was a 20 minute walk to the waterfall. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of a gorgeous waterfall inside a thickly populated cloud forest in the heights of Boquete. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Enjoy the full extension of the fall of water flowing down from the mountain. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Eddy, my guide, gracefully posing for the camera beside the imposing body of falling water. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of Yours Truly, mesmerized by the scene of the cloud forest and the immaculate waterfall beside me. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Take notice of the giant fern towards your left. Concha and María are walking towards the waterfall to have their pictures taken by Eddy.  Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Take notice of María and Concha posing for a shot by Eddy, our guide.  Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

It was a long and strenuous stroll to the waterfall, and I was dead tired when I finally got there.  But let me tell you, it was worth the effort when I was indulged with the beauty of the milky flow of water falling from the heights.  As Chase Jarvis once said, “The best camera is the one that’s with you.”  I was so happy that I had a camera with me to capture this unique experience.  Good Day.

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Say it With Flowers

The sublime message of mountain boutique Hotel Finca Lérida is obviously Mother Nature;  coffee, trails, birds, waterfalls, gardens, flowers, and lawns; are all oriented towards expressing the message of the beauty of nature.

Today I will complete the pictures of lovely flowers found within the premises of this extraordinary ecological spot up in the mountains of Chiriquí.  If you love nature, you will fully enjoy the following picture gallery.  Here we go.

PICTURE GALLERY

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Today has been the first time I have not included any caption messages under the photographs.  It wasn’t necessary.  The words of the flowers were more eloquent than my pen.  I’m still in awe with what I saw up there in the clouds.  Good Day.

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Sunrise in Panama

Snapshot of the sun slowly rising in the sky. The picture was taken this morning about 6:30 a.m. from my back porch with a P&S Canon PowerShot A720 IS. There’s still juice inside this baby. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Daybreak in Panama

Snapshot of the sun slowly rising in the East on a lazy Sunday morning in Panama City, Panama. The shot was taken from our back porch with a Canon PowerShot A720 IS. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Dining Under The Huts

Snapshot of a restaurant located at the highly visited tourist area of Amador's Causeway in Panama City, Panama. The subject closely resembles the huts of Africa. The large tropical tree above is like a giant protector of the small huts below. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Rays of Light Creeping Through the Cracks

Snapshot of rays of sunlight filtering through an opening in our front door. The time was about 6:30 p.m. (-5 GMT). Made me think for a while about the definition of light. Still don't have it. What is light? Dunno. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Splendor in the Grass No More

Snapshot of our backyard displaying fallen dried up leaves and yellowish brown grass. As the dry season progresses our backyard lawn begins to lose its splendor. Can't wait for the next cloudburst in April. I'm a rain man all the way. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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