It’s been a while...

since I’ve posted here. Here’s a photo from this past weekend. Took this from the Ironwood Ridge HS stands at a marching band festival.

Playing Around

It's been a long time since I've played around with my DSLR photos - here's one that I took on Mother's Day with my Lensbaby Velvet 56 with a few presets added for dramatic effect.

Photos from Portillo

While planning our summer trip, my husband surprised me when he suggested we go skiing after our time in Colombia. Skiing? It had been nearly 20 years since I'd been on skis. Yet, I didn't let that stop me from saying YES.

We went to Portillo, up in the Andes Mountains of Chile. WAY up in the mountains. Serene and beautiful. It was a stark beauty that surrounded us there above the tree line. If we should go back, I've got to get beyond beginner hills so I can take my camera with me on the slopes. The views from the top of the beginner hill was terrific, I can only imagine the vistas from the advanced runs. We also enjoyed the hospitality -- it nearly rivaled the views. (Yes, everyone was that friendly and kind.)

Many of my landscape shots are comprised of three photos -- part of the reason why I had over a thousand pictures from this trip.

This blog post is different from many of my others in that I added a few pictures that I took with my phone. Sometimes the best camera is the one you have with you. (Which is why I need to learn how to ski without falling down - so I can take my big camera with me on the slopes.)

The view from our hotel room.

One of the rugged peaks.

It looks like you are going to ski right into the lake when coming down the hill.

Sunsets were magnificent.

Good thing they close the lifts before sunset, otherwise there would be more injuries.

A divine spotlight.

The mountain trying to catch some sunlight.

The sky is on fire.

I loved the reflection on the lake.

The bright yellow of the hotel contrasted with the mountain and evening sky.

From the front of the hotel, the moon standing sentinel.

Glorious.

Not sure what this building was for, but it stood in front of the hotel.

The view from the front of the hotel.

Magnificent.

Cotton candy floating above the ruggedness.

Love those dots of color on the mountain.

For the 4th of July, the ski instructors held a torchlight parade for the Americans at the hotel.

A view of the southern hemisphere sky over the Andes.

I love it when I get sharp night images.

Lake, mountains, and stars -- breathtaking. (And cold.)

One of the beginner lifts being groomed. I wonder if the drivers even notice the stars anymore.

Here are a few pictures from my phone...

On the slope.

The girls often left me behind. This time they kindly waited for me.

Gorgeous.

At the end of a day of skiing.

Look at the reflection!

I am going to get this printed. How can I not?

Saying goodbye to Portillo.

Mostly from Monserrate

Here's another set of photos.

These ones from our 2nd outing in Colombia to Monserrate. This location is on the edge of Bogota  on a large hill that many consider a pilgrimage and one of their popular tourist spots. To reach the top of the hill, we took a tram, AKA funincular. There is a monastery and lots of ardent street vendors at the top. The vistas are simply lovely.

Some lovely flowers at our relatives' house.

These climbing ones covered the property walls. Bonus, I caught a bit of a Colombian spider web too.

"Milka" - one of our relative's dogs - practically begged me to take this picture.

Some of the traditional architecture of Bogota - white buildings with tiled roofs.

If you look close, you can see a bit of the USA symbolism.

Part of the scenery as we waited for the tram to the top of Monserrate.

An up close of the statue. My husband made rude comments about the flower near the nose.

The plaque commemorating the tram to Monserrate.

A little of the engineering that allows the tram to run.

The view as the tram starts to climb the hill.

Downtown Bogota from the tram.

Part of the monastery at Monserrate

One of the vistas from the top of the hill.

A blossom yet to be.

A tree full of those blossoms.

Another view from the hill

Painted ironworks on one of the monastery buildings

Part of Bogota behind the monastery

A Christ statue on a hill across from Monserrate

Church bell

Behind the alter in the monastery

A monastery angel

Church tabernacle

I loved stained glass, even if it's inside a glass enclosure.

Another scene with Jesus done in stained glass 

Flourishes on the monastery ceiling too.

A panorama of Bogota made from 47 individual pictures taken from Monserrate.