The Daily Joe

Afternoon Sky at my Son's Place Photo of the Day 31/365   I took this photo earlier this week at my son's home. We had arrived to get together for a fundraiser for my daughter-in-law's school. The sky had been outstanding on the drive to their home. When I got out of the car, I noticed the pretty colors in the clouds over the backyards and had to try to capture the scene. This is how it looked there - beautiful.

Pretty Sky Just After Sunset Photo of the Day 30/365 We went on a trip last evening to do a "paint night" with my son and his wife, as a fundraiser. On the way to their house, I noticed the setting sun and I tried to take a number of photos from the car. Well, that didn't work out so well, except for this one. I like the clouds, the sky, and the final sunlight on the house on the far left. It all came together for this shot.

Winter Sky before the Dawn Photo of the Day 29/365     I took this photo yesterday morning from my car window on the way t work. The sky was just lit up with brilliant golds and yellows while the clouds stayed the typical steel gray. If you see my other photos, you know that I love sunrises and sunsets - but the snow keeps me from just "pulling off" the road to grab a show so I get what I can from just stopping or, if I'm lucky, find a parking spot to grab a few shots.

Simple Sunset through the Pines Photo of the Day 28/365 This photo was taken two days ago on a "sunset walk". The sun had just about fallen behind the far trees when I spied it between these two pine trees. I noted the snow in the foreground and the blue sky above fading into the golden glow of the sunset. I liked the layers of tones and colors and the "peek-a-boo" view of the setting sun. A nice way to end the day.

Smoky Winter Sunset Photo of the Day 27/365 This photo was taken last evening on a whim. I decided that I was tired of sitting inside so I went out for a sunset walk, despite the snow and cold. I got my sunset, although I almost missed it. The clouds near the horizon gave it a smoky feel, and the just-setting sun, made the photo. The mud on my shoes, however, did not make my wife very happy on my return. 

Winter Slope at Sunset Photo of the Day 26/365 This photo was shot about 2 weeks ago - we were getting past a moderate snow and one could still see the stubble of plants through the snow. This sloped field is one that, I think, kids would love to use as a sledding hill but for property reasons, do not. The view, however, is outstanding, especially at sunset. The sky was on fire the night I took this one.

Winter Sunset over the Valley Photo of the Day 25/365 I took this photo last evening on the way home. We haven't had much snow melt yet, so I had to take this shot through the windshield of my car. I stopped long enough to put on the caution lights, and took 5 photos before thinking I had to move on. I truly like this one with the barn in the middle-ground and the brilliant oranges in the sky. This is why I don't like the city (except for street photography).

Covered Bridge and Creek in the Snow at Sunrise Photo of the Day 24/365 This photo was beautiful morning site on the way to work earlier this week. The sunrise sky was so colorful and the air was crisp and cold, with the new fallen snow all around. As I get older, I'm not a huge fan of winter, with my age, the extra work, and the cold, but some times, like mornings shown here, make it worth it (sometimes...).

Tree at Sunset on a Snowy Hill Photo of the Day 23/365 I took this photo in the last couple of weeks. I, again, took it on the way home from work and was able to pull off the road safely and grab some photos. I particularly like the single tree standing at the top of this snow-laden hill and field. The golden sunset over the hill and valley also gives me that "country" feeling and nostalgia for my younger days.

 Last Night's Snowy Sunset Photo of the Day 22/365 Today was the first day of work after our 7 inch snowfall this weekend. On the way home, I saw a really nice sunset sky coming.  The problem was that here was nowhere to pull off the road to capture it. I really did NOT want to try to rough it into the snow, so I took a side road with few houses, to find a place to grab a couple of photos. This photo was down between the yards of these homes. I think it was worth it.

Snowy View Before the Dawn Photo of the Day 21/365 This photo was taken a few years ago on my way to work. I had to pull over when I saw this sky in my rear-view mirror. I remember turning onto a back road so I could get the right angle. I found this field with a tree, fence, and the sky just about to burst with a sunrise. I could not pass it up. I can imaging that near here, yesterday morning MAY have looked a little like this.

Backyard View of a Snowstorm Photo of the Day 20/365 This was our view yesterday, from our carport. The actual view is into our neighbor's yard but I like it nonetheless. We received about7 inches of snow overall. This morning, the sky is blue and the temperature has dropped substantially. It is very pretty today and I hope to get the car moving to get some photos, we'll see.

Morning View from the Front Yard Photo of the Day 19/365 This photo was taken over the last few weeks and was shot while I was walking the dog. I knew that timing would not let me get packed up and on my way before the sky was lost, so I took photos where I could. I did edit out some power lines, but I think the sky's colors made it worth trying.

Feathery Clouds over the Grassy Field Photo of the Day 18/365 This photo was taken some time ago. It's not been very photogenic these past few days so I went into my archives and tried to find a nice photo that I hadn't posted. The sky last night was close to this in color, but I didn't have the opportunity. This sky, in this shot, was worth posting it and I can only hope for more like it in the future.

Pink Sky and Winter Sunrise Photo of the Day 17/365 This photo was taken yesterday morning from my back deck. Once again, my youngest child said, "Dad, you should look out at the sky." And she was right, there was pink almost everywhere - I was running later than normal due to an appointment, so I could catch the actual sunrise through our backyard trees. I braved the cold and took a few photos - this was, for sure, the best.

Sunset Sky over the Hills and Fields Photo of the Day 16/365 This photo was taken about 2-3 weeks ago while out on an evening jaunt before the snows came. It's been so cold and we've been too busy to go out this week chasing sunsets so I decided to reach back a bit for a good photo. I like the sunset sky colors, especially the fringes on the clouds and the blue hills in the distance. While lacking a specific subject, the overall country scene is a good one for me.

Cold Sunset on the Dock Photo of the Day 15/365 It's been cloudy and cold over the past few days, so I decided to pull a photo from my archives. This one was taken at our local state park where there is a lake. Not many people venture to the lake shore in the winter so I could get out on the deck by myself. I got down low to get this shot of the reflection light coming through the docking cleat - it was cold, but so pretty.

Sunset Colors and a Full Moon Photo of the Day 14/365 I took this photo a couple of days ago. We were out on a road trip to visit my sister-in-law and my wife noted at the brightness of the moon. The sun had already set, but the colors reflected in the haze and clouds to the east. She was right in that the moon shone very bright. I did my best to capture the image on my phone from the car window. I took at least 20-30 shots to find one that I liked. This one isn't perfect either, but it was the best I got that night.

Sunset and Melting Snow Photo of the Day 13/365 This photo was taken from our car yesterday. The sunset was outstanding and although cold, the sun had been working on melting the snow. The sunset clouds were brilliant and I had to get a few shots and did so. Luckily, there were no cars behind us, so I had a few moments to grab some pictures and a clearing near our home. Enjoy the new week!

Cold Sunrise Sky Photo of the Day 12/365 This photo was taken yesterday morning while on a road trip to teach a women's self-defense course. I was in the passenger seat in the front and saw the sky in front of us. For about 5 minutes, the sun rose and kept going in and out behind clouds. This was the first shot I tried and with a little editing, it was what I saw. There only two photos that were good but from a moving car, I thought it very nice.

Sun Low in the Sky Photo of the Day 11/365 This photo was taken earlier in the season and I wanted to share it. The bare trees and hills seem so small, to me, in this scene. In its original form, the photo was not what I saw or experienced when my eyes saw the scene.  In order to get the photo to be what I saw, I did some editing - and NOW it is what I saw - vibrant colors, warmth in the sun (although it was cold) and the standout clouds. Now it's a good image.

Big Sky Snowy Sunset Photo of the Day 10/365 I took this photo two days ago on the way home from work. The view of the big - open - sky -was just too much to pass up. The sunsets have been fantastic since the beginning of the year. I'm hoping they continue but I suspect, as much of life, it moves in cycles (or fits and spurts) - and I'll have to use more of my creative brain. But until, I'll just enjoy and attempt to capture, the beauty presented to me.

Cold Morning at the Creek Photo of the Day 9/365 I took this photo 2 days ago on my way to work. The sky was almost clear with very few clouds and it was very cold. When I got to campus, I saw the soft colors in the sky, the few clouds which had some color, and the still water in the creek - I put on the hazard blinkers, jumped out and snapped a new photos. This was one of them. 

Another Snowy Sunset Photo of the Day 8/365 I took this photo last evening on my way home from work. I took it with a new acquisition - a Canon 7D which was, technically, a gift, which I had to embellish with some additional lenses and such. In any case, our snow from the weekend came and will be staying for awhile so I could not pass up yet another snowy sunset. Winter is here, in full force.

Snow, Field, and Lone Tree Photo of the Day 7/365 This is a photo from my archives. Yesterday was a snow day and I didn't get out to shoot. The only thing I did outside was shovel snow at the end of the day. The rest of the day, I worked from home. So I decided to pull out an old fave of mine - from 15 years ago. I was younger and trekked up through a snowy field to get this - and it was worth it.

Silos in the Sunset Glow Photo of the Day 5/365 This photo was taken last week while out driving on a sunset hunt. While we didn't catch the actual sunset, due to clouds), we did catch a few scenes in the glow of the sunset light. This was one of the scenes. The clouds caught the colors and the eastern sky had color and hte silos still had a little light on them. It made for a pretty view that I had to capture. I hope your new year is going well.

Farm View at Sun's Last Light Photo of the Day 5/365 This shot, taken just last week, was taken on our way back from a drive trying to catch a sunset. The sunset sky happened but a cloud bank obscured the sunset, as happens, sometimes. On our drive back, we came down a small hill, and I asked my wife to stop. I took two photos from the car, of this farm, bathed in the sunset afterglow before another car arrived. I was fortunate and really like the lighting and color.

Sunset Sky Over the New Snow Photo of the Day 4/365 It snowed yesterday and it was very pretty, but the sunset sky on the way home was the decorations on the icing on the cake. The sky's colors were spectacular. It had been gray and snowing most of the day - and it continued into the evening, but one break in the sky, just after sunset, gave us this view. It was, indeed, glorious.

Morning View over the Homestead Photo of the Day 3/365 I took this photo yesterday morning. I posted a similar photo to this late last year and my comment then holds true. Between my schedule and the way nature works - there are only a few times per year that I can get photos, in the morning, of a beautiful sky and the homestead. Usually more lights are on, or the sky is still dark or too light to make a nice shot.  I saw this when I got out of my car and took the photo.

Streaming New Years Sunrise Clouds Photo of the Day 2/365 As usual, I was the first one up in the morning. Yesterday was not exception and as I ambled out to the kitchen, I saw these wild clouds through the door to the deck. I grabbed my phone and ventured out onto the deck. The temperature was about 40 but with the wind, it felt MUCH colder (the weather lady said 27). I felt VERY cold in my shorts and bare feet - but the welcoming clouds into the New Year was worth it.

Sunrise Sky over the Creek Photo of the Day 1/365 This photo is much like ones I've taken before. To me, this photo combines the hope of a new year, along the with the knowledge that things usually mosey along the same and change slowly.  I hope your year is bright and colorful and filled with accomplishments (be them great or small) and you can be anything, so be kind.