Ocean Force

"Ocean Force"

Do you know those moments when something captivates you so deeply that time seems frozen in that very second? This was my experience over and over again at the beginning of 2014, when I had the joy of visiting the Pacific Ocean at Morro Bay, California. As always when I go to the coast, my favorite thing to do is sit on the beach and capture the waves. On this particular time though, I had a special treat. There was going to be a storm coming into California, and not only was it high tide, but a high surf warning was also issued. I stopped at one beach so that I could take pictures of the Elephant Seals that were traveling through the area, and decided to walk out to the pier to see the view of the beach. I happened to notice a person trying to snap a picture of one of the seals while the waves were growing in size. It was the perfect time to catch the shear size of the ocean's force. I started taking photos of the waves, and all of a sudden, a huge wave rolled in, crashing on a lone rock. The man on the beach looks dwarfed by the size of the powerful water burst. These are the moments in nature that take my breath away.

If you would like to purchase this photo, please visit etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. You can also find me on facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. I invite you to like my page, look through my photos, and share what you think.  Your shares, comments, likes and follows are so important to me!

Photo Details:

Canon EOS 70D

Lens: 18-135mm

Focal Length: 135mm

Aperture: f/5.6

ISO: 160

Exposure: 1/1600

Other places you can find me:

Instagram: Smileygirl469

ViewBug: viewbug.com/member/smileygirl469

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/shaidphotography/
500px: 500px.com/shaidphotography
email: shanna@shaidphotography.com

Where Water Meets the Sky

"Where Water Meets the Sky

Sunsets on their own are incredible. Well, at least I think so. The colors amaze me. So view that beautiful sunset over an ocean and I become speechless as for the words to describe how uplifting the wonder makes me feel. Suddenly, the blue sky becomes an open canvas for the sun to paint on, and the water acts as a mirror to the spectacle. I believe I took about two hundred or so photos with this sunset. I didn't want to miss one single second of it, and wanted to be able to relive the beauty over and over. Although it was getting chilly along the ocean, I insisted on laying down in the sand to get this shot of the foliage on the beach, along with the water and colorful sky. I'm glad that I did, because although my body wasn't feeling great the next few days, I got some great angles I couldn't have otherwise gotten. That's what was important to me. I highly suggest if you have a chance to get to the Pacific Ocean, bring some warm clothes just in case, a lawn chair and your camera, because you'll see an amazing sky show once the sun is ready to set!

If you would like to purchase this photo, find me on facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. I invite you to check out my page there, look through the photos and let me know what you think. Your shares, comments, likes and follows are so important!

Photo Details:

Canon EOS 70D

Lens: 18-135mm

Focal Length: 18mm

Aperture: f/5

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/250

Touch Down

"Touch Down"

I've always loved looking out the window of an airplane while flying. The different view of our world astonishes me to no end. With that being said, I have spent countless hours while in flight trying to capture these special views of the planet. Out of every view, one I had never been able to save the one moment that I find most intriguing. Time and time again, when landing, I have listened, felt and watched as the airplane once again meets up with the ground. In that moment, you can truly see and feel the force that is used to make such travel possible. In the sky, you travel hundreds of miles per hour, and barely feel the motion at all, other than the occasional turbulence from the weather. Unknowingly, I had taken it upon myself to freeze that crucial moment in time. That moment when you're seat belt is fastened, your seats are in the upright position, and you descent. Suddenly, you are enveloped by the sheer strength of your speed you hardly noticed. Now I can finally say that I have Touch Down.

I invite you to view and like my page at facebook.com/shaidphotography. You can find all of my photos here, and I'd love to hear your thoughts!

This photo is also available for purchase at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography.

Lake Erie Waves Hello

"Lake Erie Waves Hello"

Growing up on Lake Erie, I loved going to the beaches and swimming in the lake, riding the waves. Being young, I figured that's what all lakes looked like. Of course, now that I'm grown, I can fully understand why it truly is a Great Lake. Its size and beauty never cease to amaze me. I now live in an area that has a lake, although nothing like what I'm used to. In my eyes, the Great Lakes are like mini fresh water oceans. Especially when I'm reminded of the waves I used to ride when I was young. Any time I return home for a visit, I make sure to put some time aside so that I can return to the beaches I went to so often so that I can take in the beauty and wave hello back. Please follow me on facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. This photo is available for sale at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography.

Autumn Beginnigs

"Autumn Beginnings"

Before I moved to California, I lived in an area where I was able to experience all four seasons. At the time, I guess you could say I took the beauty for granted, since it was all I had ever known. Changing colored leaves was just the normal around autumn. Once I moved to California and into the Mojave Desert, I was shocked to discover that the distinct seasons I once knew were pretty much non existent as I had known them. The green grass, rolling hills and tall trees were replaced with brown dirt, expansive mountain ranges, cactus and Joshua trees. Without the water being supplied from rain, very few trees were around that actually had trees that would change color. Because of this, I was adamant about having at least one tree in my yard that could change color and remind me of the home I once knew. Every year, I look forward to seeing the green of its leaves change from green to the bright marvelous colors I remember and hold so tightly to. Every year I'm reminded about how truly amazing nature truly is. So here are some Autumn Beginnings from the Maple tree in my front yard. If you like this photo, you can purchase it, along with other photos of mine at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. I also invite you to visit and follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. I'd love to hear what you think. Have a wonderful day!

Frozen In Purple

"Frozen In Purple"

Growing up in Pennsylvania, I was (and still am) used to having four distinct seasons every year. I loved making snowmen and forts in five feet of snow while trying to catch flakes on my tongue. Saying that, when I moved to central California, I felt as if I was thrust into a new world. Four seasons were not known. If I wanted any snow at all, I had to travel up thousands of feet into the tall mountains for a few hours of delight before coming back down to my new desert home. Now a couple years later, living in the mountains at least gives me a small taste of both worlds. I'm still not used to it though. Granted that during the winters here I still get a couple inches of snow, it still doesn't have the constant freezing cold weather, so I forget that the nights can get chilly. One January day, I was watering my garden, and when I was finished, I had forgotten to turn the hose water off. That night was one of the few nights that it got below freezing for a few short hours. When I awoke the following morning, I was welcomed to an ice wonderland. The cold weather had frozen the water in my hose, causing it to break apart and allowing water to rain freely over my entire yard throughout the night. Icicles covered every flower, tree and cactus I had, with some icicles being well over 4 feet long. Rocks and leaves were covered solid in a thick layer of ice. For a brief moment, I felt like I was little again, enjoying the beauty of nature. I sat there all morning until it warmed up, enjoying my garden being Frozen In Purple. If you like this photo, you can find it for sale (along with my other work) at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. I also urge you to come view all of my work and follow me at facebook.com/shaidphotography. Have a great day!

After the Rain

"After the Rain"

Any time I know there's going to be rain coming nearby, my first thought is to grab the camera, run outside, and start shooting. I love how water works in nature. The way that it acts as a tiny lens giving me views that aren't otherwise easily seen calls to me, begging to be captured. The way the droplets lay on a leaf is nothing short of perfection, and I long to keep this frozen in time forever. Although my camera doesn't like the rain nearly as much as I do, I usually find ways to win the ability to get the photos I want. And so I present to you, my rose garden, after the rain. If you like this photo, it is available for purchase at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. I also urge and invite you to follow me on facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. Check it out and keep clicking!