A Winter Walk

Last Monday I felt a strong need to break out of holiday couch-potato mode and enjoy the beautiful day.  The holidays are great, but at some point I felt like I turned into one gigantic Christmas cookie.  I was seriously concerned my clothes might never fit again.

I'm sure all of you are svelte, and skinny, and exercised like maniacs during the last few weeks.  I'm sure you also lived on celery sticks and water while I gorged on cow(s?) to the point of mooing in my sleep.

Also?  I might have consumed a See's truckload little bit of chocolate during the holidays.

(The See's family is part of my family tree so you really can't hold me accountable for this particular weakness.  I'm genetically predisposed to consume See's candy.)

Surprisingly, I was able to fit into a pair of pants so I could leave the house.  Shocking, isn't it?  

They might be those stretchy kind of pants, but let's pretend they're not.

There's a man-made lake in a neighboring city.  My long-term readers have seen pictures of it before.

 

The perimeter of the lake is exactly one mile in length.  I decided I could accomplish two tasks at once by walking around the lake a few times and shooting photos while I was at it.

I walk around lakes a lot for exercise.  This isn't the only one within driving distance of my home.  There are always a lot of other people out walking/running/biking around the lakes.  

The mountains are beautiful this time of year.

By the way, the picture above is of Saddleback Mountain. 

While walking, I realized it really looks like winter right now.  (Well, the Orange County version of winter!)  Some of the trees have lost most of their leaves.

There were a lot of birds/ducks/coots/geese swimming in the lake too.

I was looking for an opportunity to play with my Lensbaby Composer lens.  I've had it for awhile, but I haven't had that many opportunities to use it.  If you aren't familiar with Lensbaby, it's a camera lens which allows the photographer a lot of creativity while shooting.  I'm far from an expert with mine, but it's wonderful for going completely creative-crazy as a photographer ... as I did with the flowers-gone-wild shot below.

More often, I'll be using the Lensbaby simply to show motion in a creative way.  You can see an example in the picture of the birds eating below.

My favorite Lensbaby photo so far, is my final photo of this post.  A lady, walking her dog, came by and scared the birds.  Instead of flying, they began running for the lake to escape her dog.  It was a humorous sight and a perfect shot for a more creative lens.

Wishing all of you a very happy, and safe, New Years Eve!

© Twenty Four At Heart  

Comments

[vodkamom]

Those pics are FANTASTIC!!!

Happy New Year my friend!! oxoxoxo

[Jan]

Oh, you're FUNNY. Skinny and svelte. Yeah, uh-huh, right. :P

Great pics! I liked them so much I was inspired to go out and take my own winter/camera walk, only around my house instead of around a lake, since there is 4 inches of snow on the ground, it's hovering around the freezing mark and we are expected to get another inch today. (I took my macro lens.)

I'd take your version of winter any day of the week.

Have a Happy New Year, girl! Muah!

[Liz Tee]

OMG - are you really connected genetically to the Sees? You poor thing! You don't stand a chance of resisting. See's candy is a big thing up here (Seattle) around the holidays and they have stands set up in all the malls. Next time I see one I'll wave and tell them you said 'hey'.

You're ahead of me -- I haven't broken out of couch potato mode yet. I simply don't look at my lower half when I get dressed in the morning.

[Kelly]

So beautiful where you live. I want to swim that lake. The picture of the geese running made me smile too.

[Pseudo]

Your photos are stunning 24!

Happy New Year's to you and yours!

[Jack]

Pix look great. Have a Happy New Year.

[Debbie in Memphis]

Happy New Year!! I hope 2010 brings you many blessings.

[Lorna Harris]

I love the photo of the tree - such beautiful colours.

A very happy and healthy New Year to you and your family.

Best wishes!

[stephen]

Suzanne, it's so nice to begin to see some of your photography now that you are occasionally brandishnig a "real" camera again. When I grow up I want one. My old antique Coolpix 5700 is back from the shop and it has been fun to shoot with it again. We are fortunate aren't we to live in balmy climes. I wonder what that tree pic would be like in black and white? Great pics, stephen

[Momma Pixie]

Happy New Year! First time I've seen shots from the lensbaby. I don't think I could shoot with it. I got motion sick just from looking at your shots. Great Captures!

[Jason]

Thanks for taking me on your walk!

Happy 2010 to you, 24.

[Mad Woman]

I like walking around lakes and along rivers too! Those are great pictures...the ones with the lensbaby lens are super creative.

Happy New Year