After death, there is life... After winter, there is spring... (April 2013)

This artist has had an interesting (to say the least) March 2013.

Buds bursting forth after a long
cold winter at Roberstville State Park.

I am blessed that April 2013 (despite any rough spots I will face) is already shaping up to be a good next chapter in my life.

Rain drop hanging from a tree in Pacific, MO.
See the tiny tree reflection in the droplet? :)

Nothing like a little walk in the woods at Robertsville State Park to remind me that after the rain, there is growth -- after the snow melts, green is revealed -- after loss, there is gain. And through it all, I have a higher power watching out for me.

I noticed I was being watched &
started a staring contest with this
wise soul. Always comforting to know that
someone wise (I'd believe that's God)
is looking out for your best interests. 

Life, death, rebirth, gain, loss: it's all a cycle. It's that ride called life and it's a ride I have no desire to stop anytime soon.

Yes, there may be storms...

My rain-soaked umbrella...

However, once those storms pass and the clouds break beauty remains...

Clouds breaking to reveal a beautiful Spring Sky.

... and we have to remember storms bring forth life.

This beauty caught my eye on
Spicebrush Trail at Robertsville State Park.

Last, but certainly not least, it's so important to remember we can't stop reaching for the sky - for our dreams - no matter how rough some storms may be.

Spicebrush Trail. Robertsville State Park. April 2013.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Images can be purchased: canvas, framed or unframed prints, notecards... YOU NAME IT! Just contact me via the contact form on my website: MK Designs Photography or on my facebook page: MK Designs Photography / Fine Art and Portrait.

All words and images by the "M" of MK Designs. April 2013.

Walking Around... Hermann, Missouri

I am part of the Franklin County Area Photographers group. It's a great resource and fun way to get ideas, share tips, have a support system, and more. I am thankful Tyann Marcink set this up for all of us. One thing we also do are photo walks. We had one in early, early March in Hermann, Missouri.

One word: C O L D

Do you see Italy in the ice? I did! 

But it didn't stop me or any of the rest of us from clicking a few pics and enjoying a meal at Wings A Blazin' (I highly recommend this place).

Here's some of my personal favorites from the walk.

Define "dead" - this flower looks pretty "alive" to me!

This is my "window shopping" and if you look close enough and know
me well enough you'll see a lot of items that describe me well in this image. 

Harbor House - Complimentary Colors. Beautiful Decay. 

I do believe there's been MANY "Garage Sales" and "Wine Trails" papers
hung to this light pole - what do you think?

All images by MK Designs - see my website at http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/ and like me on Facebook. 

For more information about Franklin County Area Photographers: look them up on Facebook or see their blog: http://franklincountyareaphotographers.blogspot.com

March 2013. MK Designs Photography Fine Art and Portrait

On... Love.

Pondering, of all things...

...Love.

In "Sense and Sensibility" a tender-hearted woman throws caution to the wind - for love. Her lack of sense tells her to follow her heart...

Many promises made alone, flowers, and sweet words exchanged... 

Sunsets and promises shared...

Suddenly he chooses another... a more "sensible" choice... honoring his public persona he's created... a choice that leaves her alone - staring out the window - waiting for him to come back over the hill to see her once again...

He doesn't return, she falls to utter dispair, only to have her sister and a man who has secretly loved her from a distance pick her up and assure her that indeed it was not her, it was him. It was nothing wrong with her character, her love, her true inner self - he felt cornered into a choice, and he foolishly didn't choose her. 

Despite her broken heart, she slowly heals and learns the man who loved her from a distance, who helped pull her back up - was the stronger man and was worth a second glance. 

It ends with the girl marrying that man... with the other man who didn't choose her watching from the hill upon his horse full of regret for allowing his one chance of true love get away. 

- Jane Austin had her stuff together, didn't she? :)

If you want to, please "like" our facebook at MK Designs / Fine Art and Portrait or go to our website at:

http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com

Until March 31, any one who comments which image is their favorite from this blog entry will get entered into a drawing for a prize from MK Designs!

All images and words courtesy of MK Designs and Jane Austin (paraphrased!) :)

March 2013. 

Winter Blues. Cabin Fever. Dreams of Other Places.

Here in Missouri I am finding myself in yet another "Winter Funk."

I feel like all I do is eat, sleep, and avoid the cold.

Let me explain this to you: if it's 19 degrees I expect some snow with that so we can DO SOMETHING on a sled, etc. BUT - NO SNOW again this winter.

Just dry. And the weather has been a yo-yo with temperature gains and drops.

It just has me dreaming of other places, times, and temperatures... of moments such as these:

The first blooms on the tree in my front yard in Union, MO.

The suprise of finding a place like this in America!
Burney Falls in Northern, CA.
Just took my breath away.

The view of a farm near Trealor, MO as the sun slipped away
on a lovely September night as I killed a little
time till I got to pick up my daughter from a birthday party.

The view of the never-ending hills and mountains
from Mount Shasta in Northern California.

Haystack. Oregon Coast. Something that never
gets old. I have seen this 3 times now and I
eagerly await my 4th!

Remember to "like" MK Designs Photography / Fine Art and Portrait on Facebook and to see our website at:  http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/ 

All words and images by the M of MK Designs, do NOT copy or use without permission. All images are available for purchase, just contact us for details! http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

Published Winter 2013.

Mark Twain National Forest

Big Piney. Ever heard of it? It's a river, a town, and what built me into who I am today. Look on the map. Big Piney, Missouri. Lots of "green" - Ft. Wood and the Mark Twain National Forest surround it.

Even though I haven't lived there since I ended the first quarter of my 4th grade year, I remember it. I revisit it. I love it. The Mark Twain National Forest is a place of refuge. Somewhere to recharge the batteries.

It holds names like "Marble Creek" and "Paddy Creek" and "Roby Lake." Deep forests, spring-fed creeks, hills and "hollers" filled with lush green trees and dotted with wildflowers.

There is a constant sweetness to the air that is often heavy with humidity in the summer, but much more crisp in the winter.

It's somewhere I love dearly and I am proud to share it with my daughter and with you... I am sharing it right here in this blog; this little celebration of how I use my camera to see the world.

Remember to "like" MK Designs Photography / Fine Art and Portrait on Facebook and to see our website at:  http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/ 

All words and images by the M of MK Designs, do NOT copy or use without permission. All images are available for purchase, just contact us for details! http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

Published Winter 2013.

Critters.

I don't even pretend to be a wildlife photographer. The idea of camping out for hours, days, weeks, months - waiting for one fox family to pop out of a hole in the side of a hill or a elk to come into perfect view... it just doesn't fit my ADHD nature. However, I do sometimes get lucky.

Sometimes, my daughter notices a little critter on a flower, with a perfect sky as a backdrop... while other times a little turtle likes to make a home in my Grandma's flowers...

In the case below, as I walked around Mono Lake in Northern, CA - this little critter thought they were hidden from my view - so I was able to softly walk up and capture this moment in time. 

In the case of a vibrant duck on a half frozen lake, I cannot lie - this was courtesy of the St. Louis Zoo's 1904 birdcage. However, the slithering green creator of many screams below is courtesy of my friend Kathy's eye. As we walked around Paddy Creek in the Mark Twain National Forest, Mr. Snake caught her eye. I got closer. She did not. (She's always been a bit smarter than I am.) 

While wildlife photography isn't my first love and I certainly am not a pro at it, it's something that when chance meets me when I have a prepared mind and equipment in tow - I will pursue it. 

All images and words are by MK Designs Photography. Do not copy without permission. If you would like to, visit our website: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

If you want more information on how to order prints, just comment on this blog post, contact us on facebook, or on the contact area of the website. 

Thanks for reading and happy clicking! :) 

Jan 2013. 

2012: Three Images.

As I sit here pondering the past year... many images come to mind... and isn't that natural since I tend to think in terms of photographs?

The image above is one that for sure sticks out in 2012. "Blue on Botanical" was juried into the Framations "Monochromatic" art show this summer in downtown St. Charles. This fall it sold at Zia Gallery in New Haven, MO. Am I getting rich? No... but that's not the point, the point is people saw this and loved it... and someone now has it hanging in their home. That is the HIGHEST compliment any one can get as an "artist" (I still chuckle at the thought of being called an artist). 

"Hopewell Cross" (above) is another image that remains in my mind from this past year. Not only does it have a personal connection for me because of the location (Big Piney, MO) and memories I have (sweet memories)... it's one that I have gotten positive feedback on. I was able to enlarge it on metallic paper and frame it for one of my aunts, too. It looks stellar on her wall. 

Lastly, there is this image I captured on a backroad near Lesterville, MO This image (in my opinion) typifies Missouri. Autumn in Missouri is my favorite time of the year. Crispness in the air you fight back with a little campfire. Bright colors shapes as leaves literally rain upon you as you walk in the woods or drive down country roads. Nature likes to put on a show for us here in Missouri come October and this year she did not disappoint. While this hasn't been enlarged to a 16X20 canvas (yet!) it has gotten a lot of nice feedback on my facebook page and it's one that I often think of when I close my eyes. Where does the road lead? Ahead. To where? Only time will tell! 

All images are available for order through MK Designs, just contact me for prices on notecards, postcards, framed/unframed prints and/or canvas wall art. 

Check out my website: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

or like me on Facebook at MK Designs Photography / Fine Art and Portrait

Please do not copy these images or distrubute them without permission. Thank you.