The Daily Joe

Leaving the Year Behind Photo of the Day 366/366 I took this photo the other evening and I can't think of a better photo to end the year with. The murky gray clouds coming on with the unknown, the golden sky above show the memories of what has been, and seeing it all through the thicket of the trees, the mystery of the unknown. I wish all my friends who read this a happy, inspired, and forward-looking new year.

Early Morning along the Road Photo of the Day 365/366 I took this photo a couple of months ago while waiting to open up our karate tournament. I was there first and the facility was locked so I had to wait until someone arrived. As is my habit, I walked around and found this site just across the road and snapped a photo of it. I liked the early sunshine on the roadside plants and the clouds. It's not a glorious sunrise/sunset, but with the cloudy winter days, it sure seems warm to me.

Car on the Horizon at Sunset Photo of the Day 365/366 This photo was taken while on our trip to Western PA earlier this year. My wife was driving and I was marveling at the sunset sky. While driving on one of the 2-lane roads, I happened to see the car in front of  us just reaching the horizon and grabbed a shot. It was the only one that got that captured the car and the sky and I thought it came out well - and wanted to post it before the end of the year.  I guess it's kind of a 2024-leaving-us kind of shot.

Early Winter Sunset Photo of the Day 363/366 As the year comes to a close, my youngest cajoled me into going for a walk yesterday afternoon. She said that the sky had color to it. The day had been very gray so I grumbled a little but decided that I needed to get out, so I relented and we went out. There wasn't a spectacular sunset, but she was right in that there was color and the clouds were closing in quickly, so I grabbed this shot across the neighbor's field.

Radiating Sunrise Clouds Photo of the Day 362/366 I took the photo earlier this fall. I love the colors in the sky, ranging from deep oranges and golds, to the blues almost directly above. The clouds, that morning almost seemed to be streaming away from the coming sunrise - almost announcing it. 

Sunset over the Hills Photo of the Day 361/366 I took this photo a couple of days ago. My wife and I were out and we knew it was a glorious sunset sky and stopped in at least 3 locations. This was the first location and we were parked behind a church where there is an overlook. The view of the valley is outstanding.  Directly below is a housing development that is lit up with Christmas lights (at night) and has a glory all it's own. 

A Christmas-like Farm Scene Photo of the Day 360/366 This photo was taken on my way to work a couple of years ago. We haven't had too many snows that remained for more than a day, but didn't keep us at home - feast or famine. This photo, to me, brings back the nostalgia of Christmases past (and hopefully the future). It is white, quiet, serene, simple, and makes one yearn for better times. I wish all my friends, family, and others, a very Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate).

Colorful Sunset Sky Photo of the Day 359/366 Last evening was a rough time. I had just left for karate classes when my wife called and said she had to go to the hospital to pick up her father, to take him back to the nursing facility - and she needed my car. So I waited for her to arrive and this sky presented itself to me while I waited. It had been a marvelous sunset and the aftermath of it was just amazing - it was worth waiting outside for her, in the cold, just to see this.

Flaring Sunset Sky Photo of the Day 358/366 This photo was taken early this year. I wasn't sure it would be what I wanted - the camera rarely captures what my eye sees. So I did some editing and the sky came alive to be what I wanted. The sky appears to convey much more warmth than it was in real life - but it was a beautiful sky.

Sunset Sky over the Fallow Field Photo of the Day 357/366 This photo was taken little bit ago. I was out walking in the cool (cold) air and found this scene of the sun set sky over the field. The field had been harvested and the trees were bare. The world seems to be ready to sleep for a few months - resting up for the new season of growth. Winter is coming, but the skies still try to promise warmth, in the golds and reds of sunsets and sunrises.

First Snot of the Season on the Road Photo of the Day 356/366 We have had flurries, but they never stayed - or were at night and by morning, were gone. Yesterday, it was cold enough and it snowed, on and off, all day. When I left work, the snow was not dangerous, but very pretty. Since it was the last day before winter break, there was not much traffic, so I was able to stop in the road and take this shot of beauty.

Line of Fire Autumn Sunset Photo of the Day 355/366 This photo was taken on the way to our karate school from work yesterday. I really liked the bright golden line of light at t he horizon and the tinges of the gold up the right side of the frame in the clouds. The photo doesn't do justice to the brightness of the colors that I saw but it'll have to do - the camera can't replicate experience.

Foggy Morning Fence Line Photo of the Day 354/366 This photo was taken about 15 years ago at our previous home. I was out for a walk on a foggy morning and spied these leading lines of this electric fence. The image came together for me with the bare trees hardly shown int he fog, the almost sunlit grass and the layer of fog. It just is an image I like.

Striped Sunset Sky Photo of the Day 353/366 As the year winds down, the holiday busy-ness get in gear and I have less and less time to take photos of nature. There is also the fact that at this time of year, I get to work in the dark and leave in dark. Now is when I sometimes pull out archive photos to post something beautiful. This photo was taken earlier in the fall while my wife and I were out driving. I loved the stripes in the sky and the color fade from red to gold to blue and the trees seeming to try to reach up into the sky.

Last Bits of Autumn in Somerset Photo of the Day 352/366 This photo was taken a few years ago on one of our trips to western Pennsylvania. We had never been to the 911 Memorial in Somerset and took some time to visit the site. It was a somber and sobering experience but the scenery around the site is beautiful. There is a great deal of scenery as the site is preserved so no development will happen. Despite the seriousness of the site, the beuaty is there, too.

Looking Out from a Christmas Window Photo of the Day 351/366 I took this photo yesterday. We visited Kings Gap State Park and toured the Mansion which is on the property and almost all of the bedrooms were decorated by organizations that were connected with the area. I don't even remember which organization decorated this room but the view was outstanding. It was snowing and the view out the window wasn't great, but the views indoors were wonderful. I'm very glad we went!

Late Autumn Sunset Sky Photo of the Day 350/366 This photo was taken late last week on my way home from work. I saw the colors fading as I got in my car to head out from work. As I topped a hill, I noted that the sun had, indeed, set, but that the sky hadn't noticed yet. It was worth pulling off the road and grabbing a few shots of the sky and surrounding hills and terrain. In truth, I'd like to see the view that the home in the center of the shot - it's in between hills for a nice sunrise and sunset.

Quiet Autumn Picnic Spot Photo of the Day 349/366 This photo was taken a few years ago at the Fallingwater property in western Pennsylvania. We were visiting the site and decided to talk around the trails and came upon this scene. It was very quiet and no one was around. The time was at the end of Covid and very few people were venturing out. Most of those were at the Fallingwater home and not exploring. This was to my advantage. I really like the serenity and quiet mood of this photo.

Sunrise between the Clouds and City Photo of the Day 348/366 This photo is from my archives. This used to be my view when I worked for our state government in our capital city. As is always, many mornings, the sky was gray and the view drab. However, when there was a sunrise sky or a storm, the 13th floor view was spectacular. On this morning, I remember the clouds being lit from underneath as the city was coming to life below. Sometime I miss the view - but not the job.

Foggy Autumn Morning Photo of the Day 347/366 I took this photo a number of years ago at my previous residence. Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love spring, but the colors, while vibrant, brilliant, and varied, but in autumn, the colors, while less hues, are almost everywhere (at least here). I can't get enough and have many, many photos and many never see the light of day except on the viewfinder of my camera.  Here is one of those.

Early Autumn Sunset Sky Photo of the Day 346/366 I took this photo earlier this year and never got around to editing and posting it. I liked the sunset burnishing the clouds near the horizon while the oncoming night colors the blues in the upper part of the sky. I guess sunsets and sunrises are favorite subjects of mine - I like the transition from day to night and try to capture those moments in between the two.

Red Tinged Clouds over the Trees Photo of the Day 345/366 I took the photo last week on the way home. It was a wonderful sunset sky and I couldn't pass up taking a number of shots while it was available. These clouds with the red edges from the setting sun were a wonderful sight over these trees just behind the rolling field in the foreground. A nice evening sky for sure.

Sun Rising in the Backyard Photo of the Day 344/366 I was up early yesterday and when I went into the kitchen, I saw this view from my back door. I decided to brave the cold morning and went out on our back deck to get this image. We are just at the point of the year when the sun comes up in a break in the trees. Normally, the trees obscure the sun too much to make a photo worthwhile. Yesterday, the image was worth the effort, at least in my opinion.

Sun Breaking over the Woods Photo of the Day 343/366 This photo was taken from my archives and when I was reviewing images, it just popped out as one that I had to post (or repost). I remember taking this photo more than a few years ago and I thought how lucky I was to have capture the sun just after the clouds had obscured it and just as it was touching the hills and trees at the edge of the woods. I loved the colors - that's why I reposted it.

Tracks into the Sunset Photo of the Day 342/366 This photo was taken last evening on the way home from work. I took a number of photos and could not quite get the sun peeking through  the clouds. This is the closest I got. I love the colors in the sky and the reflections in the railroad tracks. I've taken this scene before, but it always makes me think of life moving on and on, rolling into the sunset of life - as I get older, those thoughts become more frequent.

Dawn Sky over the Homestead Photo of the Day 341/366 I took this photo a few days ago from my parking place on our campus. The "Homestead" is one of the earlier buildings on the campus. I rarely see a photo-worthy scene with this building because it is surrounded by newer buildings. That morning, the angle and sky just came together and I could get a nice shot of one of our historic buildings.

Predawn Sky over Frosty Fields Photo of the Day 340/366   I took this photo yesterday morning. I saw the sky and tried to add the hanging limbs from a tree. I really liked the gold in the sky against the blue of the hills. The light frost in the field added to the feel of the coming winter season. For me, this is very representative of why I love the area I live in - the view, the country feel to the place, and the open space.

Trees Reaching into the Dawn Sky Photo of the Day 339/366 I took this photo last week on the way to work. The sky was almost outrageous with brilliant colors. When I pulled over to try to capture something - I wanted to include more than the sky. I looked and saw an angle where I could get the tree in the center of the foreground. I usually don't have much time in the morning as I'm must pulled off the road with my 4-way flashers on, so I had to move quickly. It's not as good as I'd like - but I still love this shot.

Puffy Sunset Clouds over the Valley Photo of the Day 338/366 I took this photo yesterday on my way home from work. I say the little burnished clouds while I was driving out and when I came to a clearing - I pulled over. I got out, grabbed four photos and went on my way to class. I really loved the vivid sky last evening - the reds in the clouds and the dark, clear blue of the sky just really looked pretty to me.

Afternoon Clouds with Blue Patches Photo of the Day 337/366 I took this photo from the car window while on the way home from my son's house. I saw the beautiful sky and the potential for the sunset - but we were in a time crunch. On the ride home, I tried many photos from the moving car but none came out and the clouds were moving in quickly. In the end, the sunset fizzled, and this was the best sky I could catch. I still like the photo - the cloud colors, the hidden sun, and the blue patches of sky.

Covered Bridge in the Morning Light Photo of the Day 336/366 I shot this photo last week on the way to work. I struggled trying to get a decent exposure of the sky and still see the beloved covered bridge. The sky was gorgeous but seriously overpowered the darkness of the bridge.  I edited the photo substantially to get the shadows to reveal that the rectangle was, in fact, a red bridge, while keeping the colors in the sky and on the water.