Like Velvet: "The hills will look like velvet." That's what my first employer told me to look for in the spring after I'd moved to this semi-arid climate from lush, green Maine and...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

"The hills will look like velvet." That's what my first employer told me to look for in the spring after I'd moved to this semi-arid climate from lush, green Maine and found nothing but dried-out sagebrush

I tried to keep the pp relatively subtle and soft to complement the gently rolling hills. With #3 I admit the story ended up being more about the carpet of flowers.

Thanks for any feedback, suggestions or edits.

(Download)

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I've heard them called The Rolling Hills but have often thought the same especially when the grass turns tan and blows in the wind. Beautiful! S-

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

St3v3M wrote:

I've heard them called The Rolling Hills but have often thought the same especially when the grass turns tan and blows in the wind. Beautiful! S-

Thanks, Steve! Ours are more sagebrush than grass, but what that means is we get tumbleweeds blowing across the road

CSand Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

Beautiful scenery Linda! Did you notice the scent of sage and what were the pink flowers? Interesting to see the drive right through them. As far as suggestions I like the softer, lighter shadows of "1" rather than the darker "bullseye" of shadows of "2". Believe to lighten shadows of hills a bit would cause my eye to travel throughout the scene rather than noticing the 3 prominent dark shadows as much. Look forward to "traveling" with you now that warmer weather is upon us. S

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

CSand wrote:

Beautiful scenery Linda! Did you notice the scent... (show quote)

Thank you for your feedback, Sandy! I didn't notice the sage scent; I think my sniffer isn't as sharp as used to be

I need to pick one of those flowers and then check with Google - unless someone else knows; they are quite abundant around the area right now, but I don't know their name.

A great point about the shadows and I'm reminded of when I shot that area about 3 years ago on an overcast day - a very different feel. Might have to get out of my recliner and head back there this morning.

I'm grateful for your time and interest!

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

These are beautiful, Linda. I love those hills with their soft colours. I admit that I'm sort of drawn to greater contrast and denser colours, so I like the 2nd better than the first. But I wouldn't argue with anyone who said the opposite. It's a matter of taste. AND, I didn't see the scene, so that might change how I looked at the image. Those flowers are beautiful. Is it sand verbena perhaps? Ours is a bit more lavender than that, but it can be pinkish. I love the track that balances the tree so perfectly.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Lovely photos, as usual.
Linda, without any more to go on I'll take a wild guess on shooting stars.
https://www.google.com/search?q=shooting+star+flower&num=20&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS697US697&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT19fqlrPTAhXDESwKHXq9D1sQ_AUICCgB&biw=1453&bih=730

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Linda, I think I have to go with #1. The cattle and fence add to the overall shot. They for me give is some scale and interest. Otherwise it is just a side of a mountain with some shadows. Glad you finally adapted to your new surroundings.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I have a strong preference for your first landscape. I love the horizontal layers of color - soft tan dried grasses in the foreground, the spring green of the pasture, and finally the sage green of the hills. Those layers are enhanced by points of interest - the foreground fence, the trees bordering the pasture and, of course, all those cows in the pasture. I like the gentle shadows that give form and dimension to the hills but still maintain the softness. Based on your comments, I suspect the first shot best represents the special look of the area. The composition takes me into the scene one step at a time.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

AzPicLady wrote:

These are beautiful, Linda. I love those hills wi... (show quote)

Thank you so much, Kathy. I'm very pleased you found #2 appealing. I was in a different area after posting these, and found some flowers, but not sure if the same.

The ones I checked out more carefully today have longer green, leafy stems and tinier flowers in clumps. The sand verbena does look like what I was originally visualizing (or something like phlox). Now I have to go back to the location of these pics for sure - inquiring minds!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

neilds37 wrote:

Lovely photos, as usual.
Linda, without any more to go on I'll take a wild guess on shooting stars.

Thank you, Neil! I know for sure they're not shooting stars, but that's about it

We'll get to the bottom of the mystery!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

NJFrank wrote:

Linda, I think I have to go with #1. The cattle and fence add to the overall shot. They for me give is some scale and interest. Otherwise it is just a side of a mountain with some shadows. Glad you finally adapted to your new surroundings.

Thank you for your lovely comments, Frank. You are so right about scale. I'm glad I abandoned my idea for close-ups

And yes, once I adjusted my brain to look for beauty in this different climate and terrain, I've never looked back

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Cwilson341 wrote:

I have a strong preference for your first landscap... (show quote)

I'm so grateful for your detailed feedback, Carol. I am learning how much I also enjoy the layers of a varied landscape (such as my autumn foggy cow pasture with irrigation wheels and barn). I was glad that the foreground was still in winter colors and textures for the contrast. Your time is much appreciated.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Linda From Maine wrote:

"The hills will look like velvet." That'... (show quote)

At first glance they look pretty similar. Then I noticed the horses in the first one with the lovely trees in the middle ground. That appealed to me very much. The second shot has a nice leading line in the fence; and the contrasts are really very nice. The carpet of flowers are lovely in the third shot and then there is that tree in the foreground. It is placed perfectly. They are all very good and would look nice on a wall as a set.
erich

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

ebrunner wrote:

At first glance they look pretty similar. Then I noticed the horses in the first one with the lovely trees in the middle ground. That appealed to me very much. The second shot has a nice leading line in the fence; and the contrasts are really very nice. The carpet of flowers are lovely in the third shot and then there is that tree in the foreground. It is placed perfectly. They are all very good and would look nice on a wall as a set.
erich

Thanks for taking the time to check 'em out, Erich!