Stunned

As I was getting out of the shower this morning I heard a loud thud. It sounded like something hit the dining room window. Upon investigating I noticed a smear on the glass, looked down and saw this little hawk on the ground.

The poor thing had smacked into the window and sat there stunned, looking around like it didn’t know what happened. As I started taking pictures, I was just praying that it didn’t have any broken parts. It kept looking up at me and I didn’t know quite what to do. Thoughts ran through my mind of quickly finding a wildlife refuge to call in case it couldn’t recover, but right after I took this image, it started walking around a bit. A couple of minutes later, looking back at me once more, it turned and flew off into a nearby pine tree. It was almost like he was saying, “I’m OK now.” I was so happy!

Fly free, little hawk, and thanks for letting me take your picture. I hope you don’t fly into any more windows. You might not be so lucky next time. Namaste’

Regina (Reggie) is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of the Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.

 

 

Funny Sign

I saw this sign in a coffee shop recently and wondered how often this takes place in all of the coffee shops around the world. The coffee was great but I didn’t hear any gossip. And that’s a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say – LOL! What I did hear was a few cell phone conversations that I didn’t really want to hear. Just wanted to enjoy my coffee. Can’t seem to escape that these days. Ugh! Namaste’

Regina (Reggie) is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of the Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.

 

 

Moody Vines

I shot this image with my phone camera last Fall when I was with my gal pals at our annual reunion in Murphys, CA. We went wine tasting at a boutique (husband and wife owned) winery and it was so nice of them to give us a tour of their vineyards. Such warm, endearing people who are proud of their efforts to produce superior wines. I’m not a wine snob but their Merlot was to die for! Cheers!

I chose to play with this image using Pixlr to give it a moody effect and illuminate the path between the vines. Namaste’

 

Regina (Reggie) is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of the Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.

 

 

Backyard Blooms

Spring is springing all over, including our back yard.  I don’t know what these flowers are (I’m not a botanist, you know) but they’re beautiful. And yes, I messed with Mother Nature and added some effects. I doubt if she minds at all. In fact, I believe she is flattered that we can immortalize her splendor in photographs. Namaste’

Regina (Reggie) is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of the Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Doing the 365 Photo Challenge back in 2012 taught me so much, but the main thing I learned is that I don’t want to be a purist. I thoroughly enjoy taking pictures and playing around with them after I upload them to my computer. So I’ll leave the purist photography to the purists. I’m having too much fun.

Are you having fun taking pictures? I sure hope so. It doesn’t matter if you have high-priced equipment, a disposable camera, a starter camera or a phone camera. Just capture what you see and have a good time doing it. Yesterday I took a picture of my right foot and put it on Instagram. Why? Because I’m in need of a pedicure and was laughing the whole time my toes posed for the photo.

The image below is of my friend “Photog” taken when I lived in Tucson. I loved photographing him because he loves to take pictures, too. I imagine that makes us kindred spirits 🙂 This is his version of the Selfie. Namaste’

Regina (Reggie) is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of the Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.

 

Before the Rain

Hello, beach fans! This image was taken right before the rain was rolling in. My daughter and my dog were frolicking on the beach at Pacific City, Oregon. I just love that place. I plan to spend much more time there with my “girls”

Namaste’

Sunset at Pacific City

Regina (Reggie) is a flunked retirement entrepreneur, co-author of the Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.

Serious About the Cereus

A little play on words today. For throwback Thursday I decided to resurrect one of my older images from 2009. It’s a shot of one of the many night-blooming Peruvian Cereus flowers that grew at our home in Tucson.

Getting up early in the morning to capture images of this amazing plant was such a thrill for me. I’d walk outside and talk to it, asking for it to give me all that it had … and it did not disappoint. This is one of my all-time favorites.

Happy Thursday! Namaste’

Regina (Reggie) Arnold is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of the Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.

 

Haystack Gazing

A famous rock … no, not Alcatraz. That’s called the Rock, too, but this one is much more beautiful. It’s called Haystack, found not far out to sea from Pacific City.

The little girl gazing at it really gave me pause. I found myself looking at her and pretending to be my younger self.   My younger self would be thinking how huge it is. My older self is thinking how grateful I am to be alive to see this wonder of nature.

With age comes wisdom, I guess. Namaste’

Regina (Reggie) Arnold is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of The Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger

Free to Just Be

This is my daughter and my dog, Daisy, running on the beach at Pacific City, Oregon. It was the first time Daisy had ever experienced the ocean. She didn’t know quite what to make of it but soon adapted to running freely. It was amazing to watch. But what was even more amazing that I noticed when I uploaded this image is the look on Michele’s face. Free to just “be.”

The ocean has a way of calling to us, beckoning us to give our cares and worries over to it.  I did … and I plan to go there often to just “be.”  Namaste’

Regina (Reggie) Arnold is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of The Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger

Throw Back Thursday – Blake

My grandson, Blake, is 18 today. It hardly seems possible.

It’s been said that anyone who takes pictures stops time. That’s exactly what this image does for me. I shot it on his second birthday; a day filled with cake, ice cream, games, balloons and lots of toys from adoring family members. I remember it like it was yesterday. (I’m pretty sure he had more fun with these balloons than anything else that day).

Blake made it a game for me to try to capture him in pictures. If he saw my camera, he would run and hide. So I learned to be rather stealth and sneak up on him … many times to the point of actually chasing him. We had such laughs when I would finally catch up to him and believe me, he was fast! But it was always an adventure and the kind of memories that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Blake, you’re like your Mom in so many ways, especially your love of adventure. I hope you never lose that. And like she always says … “much love and adventure often.” Happy 18th Birthday.

Regina (Reggie) Arnold is a “flunked retirement” entrepreneur, co-author of The Art & Science of Recruiting, an award-winning photographic artist, and photo blogger.