July 27: Sun/ or Writer’s Choice/ or YOUR WOTY Review

Sorry, I’m late today, friends. Normally I post at 9:00 am, but I got lost in Lightroom sorting and processing photos – AGAIN!
Featured Bloggers for WQW #27: Agreeable Animal Amigos
Thank you to those who linked.
- CATH’S CAMERA
- CEE’S PHOTO CHALLENGES
- KEEP IT ALIVE
- LADY LEE
- LOVING LIFE
- NEW 2 WRITING
- NOW AT HOME
- SECOND WIND LEISURE
IT’S EASY TO PLAY ALONG WITH #WQW
This weekly writing challenge runs from Wednesday through Tuesday at noon. All you need is a quote to go with your post. Write a poem, story, or memoir. Share photos and a story or no story. Just have fun with it and let the quote or quotes lead the way.
Topics for the year (subject to change) are listed on the WQW Page. Feel free to post weekly, or drop in from time to time – All are welcome.
For More Ideas about Sun, End-of-the-Month Stuff, or Writer’s Choice…
- YOUR BLOG POST GOES NEXT
- CATH’S CAMERA
- GREG’S BLOG
- KEEP IT ALIVE
- LADY LEE MANILA
- LIGHTWRITELIFE
- LOVING LIFE
- NEW 2 WRITING
- PICTURE RETIREMENT
- SECOND WIND LEISURE
- SECOND WIND LEISURE (2)
- WIDE EYED WONDERINGS
Good Advice about the Sun
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”
Walt Whitman

When the Sun Don’t Shine
“It’s the artist’s business to create sunshine when the sun falls.”
Romain Rolland

Western states like California, Hawaii, and Arizona are popular states in which to live because they have so many days of sunshine. Constant sunshine seems essential for those who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and are depressed if they don’t see the sun for a few days. Like four to six percent of the population, my husband suffers from this type of depression. This post should help people like Vince who suffer from this.

Tips to overcome SAD
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.”
David Viscott

Here are eight of fourteen tips I listed from an article in Everyday Health
- Get enough vitamin D
- Keep a journal
- Keep moving
- Plan a vacation to the sun
- Avoid alcohol
- Consider antidepressants
- Engage in social and mind activities
- Use bright indoor lights
Photography Tips for Great Sunlight Pictures
Speaking of making my own sunshine, that’s what photography and blogging do for me. I’m learning tips for taking and processing photos every day. Eighty-two thousand people loved the eleven tips that photographer Darren Rowse shared about photographing in harsh sunlight. Here are my favorite three tips that require no camera know how.
- Move to the shade or create shade with your body or another object.
- Use a filter. That’s a good idea to protect your lens anyway.
- Shoot silhouettes.


“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”
Louisa May Alcott



I love backlighting and silhouettes. These pictures come from shooting directly at the sun. This is one of my favorite rose pictures from Woodlake Rose Garden in Woodlake, California.




Muted Sunlight
Other than direct shade, clouds mute the harsh sunlight beautifully.

IRL (In Real Life)
We are having another blogger meet-up if anyone happens to be passing through the Prescott area on September 15th. Let Janet of This That or the Other Thing, Lisa from Micro of the Macro, or I know if you are interested in meeting us for lunch.

What About Your Experiences?
Remember if you are researching a topic, you have found a gold mine of quotes. I summarized articles, and the name or website behind the post adds the gravitas I might lack about a topic. Don’t forget that songs count as quotes, too.

Other Challenges
- CMMC (Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge) Words ending with L (my words are bolded.)
- Cell Pic Sunday
- Sunday Stills – Road Trippin’ Accidental Vacation photo
- WWE (Water, Water Everywhere) #136
Ongoing on Always Write
- On August 9th Story Chat will present Gloria McBreen’s new story, “Backstab”
- Read the Story Chat Summary of July story, “Not a Proper Job” by Philip Cumberland
- PPAC #56 – “Publically Going in Circles” (Photographing Public Art Challenge) is your choice of art – no theme! Two more days to link.
- Upcoming topics for WQW
- August 3: Water: Rivers
- August 10: Water: Lakes
- August 17: Earth: Mountains, Rocks
- For a list of past WQW posts visit my WQW Page

Thanks for linking to both challenges, Ju-Lyn. This post fits perfectly for both. 🙂
LikeLike
So much in this post Marsha ….
Great music, of course – one of my favourites Katrina & the Waves songs.
And of course, tribute to the Sun, without which there would be no life.
Yet we take it for granted, and I am glad that you gave SAD time & space – too many suffering from it without even realising it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ju-Lyn. I’m sure I have a touch of it. We all need to get out and enjoy the sunshine more as long as we are careful to protect ourselves. It makes our world so beautiful 🙂
LikeLike
It all comes down to balance yet again, doesn’t it? Not always intuitive or easy, but it sure is fun trying!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Balance is what we all need. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post, Greg!
LikeLike
Have a great week. Thanks for linking up!
LikeLike
Hi Marsha, here’s my post;
http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2022/07/31/living-in-sunshine/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous post for WQW this week, Sadje. 🙂 Shine on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks 🙏🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person
What fascinating photographs, Marsha! I too took many with an ‘ordinary’ camera many moons ago. Ancient photographs can bring so much pleasure. Here’s to continued ‘happy snapping! Cheers! xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Joy. I’ve rediscovered my old photographs using an app on my phone that digitizes them. It’s so cool and it is called Photomyne, if you’re interested.
LikeLike
Marsha, I am glad you mentioned SAD. I’ll bet many people experience that without knowing what is happening. A good dose of sunshine and some vitamin D will work wonders for what troubles you. Here is my link to Sunshine Vhttps://picture-retirement.com/2022/07/31/17175/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous photos, Suzanne!
LikeLike
Wow – thanks for the tips to combat SAD- and your sunny pictures and words. Here’s my take on sunshine from the depths of our NZ winter. https://lightwritelife.wordpress.com/2022/07/31/wqw-july-27-sunshine-or-winter-which-would-you-choose/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your post is amazing. New Zealand is such a beautiful place, and I don’t see too many pictures of it posted online.
LikeLiked by 1 person
looks like the sun is shining plenty or you captured it just right with your lens Marsha!
Those little rascals. Nutter butter and moji are always the cat’s meow. 💖💖💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cindy. They are our cat’s meows, for sure.
LikeLike
Love the snowshoe picture! 🙂
LikeLike
I like this quote:
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”
Walt Whitman
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know. We tend to seek the shade (and should if we want good pictures), but if we want to overcome our problems, we have to face them and let the shadows trail us instead of blocking our paths. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos and tips, Marsha. I enjoyed your creative captures of the sunbeams and lights and shadows. The purple UFO and the photo taken under the Avila Beach pier have to be my favorites, but I love Moji and Nutter Butter (nice names) and the lines between the clouds too. My first time seeing them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, for your kind words, G. Moji got her name from emoticon because her face and voice are so expressive. Nutter Butter obviously from his coloring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
THIS IS JUST ABOUT MY ALL TIME FAVORITE. The photos are stellar! The kitties made me smile. Ditto all the positive things your readers have written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Monica, you are so funny and super sweet. You say that every time. It’s so weird when you sit down to write a post like this. I had planned to go in a different direction entirely, then I gathered quotes – and off I went in an entirely different direction. You should really try it. My post today BTW has a link to the post I did about all of Jack’s horns. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi, Marsha – I clicked on the John Denver song to listen while reading this post. Beautiful combination. Thank you for the uplift!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t you just love him, Donna? He was one of my favorites when I was young.
LikeLike
Wonderful photos for this week sunshine theme. I also liked our words ending in “L”. 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post, Marsha. I love all the different times of your photos, that’s dedication. I seem to have dropped off the animal round-up: https://new2writing.wordpress.com/2022/07/23/pets/
I have prepared a post for this week which should come out Saturday (I’m taking a little time away this weekend as we’ve just found out a family member is terminally unwell, so I’ve scheduled a few posts to publish at times when I know I am away). Thank you for continuing this marvellous prompt. Take care. KL ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words, KL. I’m so sorry about your family member. I’ll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are so great Marsha! I love those songs too. Several came to my mind.
Here’s my link. https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2022/07/wqwtheme-sunshine.html
Here’s my link to last week as well. https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2022/07/wqwtheme-amazing-animals.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome posts, Kirstin!
LikeLike
I love your photos & quotes, Marsha. The sound of John Denver takes me back to my childhood. We had an aunt live with us who was 8 or 10 years older than me, and she used to have an 8-track of him that she played over and over! I think I still remember the words to those songs! And that Katrina & the Waves tune is one of my favorites! Thanks again for the mention & I look forward to our meet-up! 🌞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lisa. I love both of those songs. I remember dancing all over the house with some friends (as adults) to Walking on Sunshine. So fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great shots! I adore the laser beams 😉 lol
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bam! I still have no idea how that happened, but I felt like a screen producer of a sci-fi movie when I saw it. 🙂
LikeLike
Amazing post, Marsha 👏 So many images to enjoy. I see you like interesting lens flare effects as well; I also enjoy shooting into the sun. My favourite time of year is spring or autumn when the sun is low in the sky & you can interesting effects through trees & great elongated shadows 😃 My favourite shot was under the pier, so many contrasts & shadows to enjoy 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jez. I liked that one as well. The water makes so many interesting photographs when coupled with light. You are especially good at getting great reflections. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Marsha 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course!
LikeLike
Ah, sunshine. That John Denver song is one of my favorites.
Some beautiful images, Marsha. You’ve got some natural light leaks that compositors work hard to introduce into their images.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So how did I do it, I wonder?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you had the camera in the right place on those backlit shots and light leaked onto the sensor from refraction through the camera lens system. (Just a guess.) 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m glad to spring a photo leak! 🙂 Thanks John. Continue to feel better. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walking on Sunshine is a good one to get in the sunshiny mood. So is Stevie Wonder You are the Sunshine of my Life. 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wZ_b_uUAdQ
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do love that song as well. 🙂 How are you my sunny friend?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Full of sunshine and cold. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad all is well with the world, then. Cold where it should be and hot in its place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! 🌞❄
LikeLiked by 1 person
An awesome post with full of positivity. I always love sunshine and its message. Baby Moji is superb.👌💐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, KK. We adore her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful post full of everything to bring sunshine and joy. Music, cats, views sea and sky. Enjoy your meet up would love to meet you all but I am on the other side of the world so will only be there in spirit 💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
We will name drop, so you will be part of us. xxx
LikeLike
Thank you that will be lovely 😉💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll let you know how it goes.
LikeLike
Thank you 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://nowathome.wordpress.com/2022/07/20/wqw-27-agreeable-animal-amigos/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Adorable photos, Aletta.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
lovely post, Marsha 🙂 have a great day ❤
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2022/07/28/sun-quotes/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great water shots, Marsha. Especially the Road to Hana Maui one.
The cats in the tree couldn’t be cuter and thanks for the John Denver song. Such a distinctive voice 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Those kittens in the tree are my babies, of course. 🙂 Thanks for the compliments. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is definitely one thing that I appreciate about AZ…those 300+ days of sunshine. Do you know when we first moved out here, my mom complained that every day was so boring because it was always sunny? LOL
And taking photos in the sun is so challenging. We know that we should do it around sunrise or sunset but that isn’t always convenient. And being retired is all about convenience, right??
XXOO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your mother should move to Prescott. It is anything but boring. I love the rain, but it does depress me after days and days of it. Rain keeps you inside all day, too. I grew up in Indiana where it rained all summer and had blizzards during the winter. YIKES!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Avila Beach and the road to Hana – happy memories!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very much so. 🙂 Bunya Mountains same thing! 🙂
LikeLike
what kind of tree was it that you were under?
LikeLiked by 2 people
It might have been a Bunya Pine with Strangler Vines growing up it.
LikeLike
they are a interesting tree and apparently dangerous for several reasons!
https://theconversation.com/bunya-pines-are-ancient-delicious-and-possibly-deadly-96003
LikeLiked by 1 person
My friend Carol told me that dangers were all around us as we hiked. I was glad I had on sensible shoes. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
PS, watch for falling pine cones! Great article. Thanks for the link. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a sunny, fun post to read, Marsha! I’m glad you went with “sun” which will help inspire more for Sunday Stills this week! Plenty of sun in the desert! Can you believe that I still suffered from SAD even living in both Northern and Southern Cal? I guess I’m one of the 4% along with Vince! Having a pet helps with the depression that SAD brings–Moji is adorable! In dark Eastern WA, I can feel it coming on by February, and this past year, we had enough sunshine with snow on the ground that I escaped SAD by the skin of my snowshoes 🙂 Love your sunbeams, aliens, fairies, and sunshiny pics, my friend, and high fives on capturing those unedited ones! Wow! Thanks for sharing the tips as well!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the beautiful response. I think I have it today. We are having monsoons for days. I have to sneak in my walks between downpours. I need to do something that will get me some exercise and perk me up. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Send me some of that rain!! Feel better!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t complain, we need it so badly. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am enamoured of John Denver. Sunshine almost always makes me smile.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, Jo. Today I’m ready to see the sun again. Bring it on! 🙂 I can’t complain, though because we’ve been in such a drought. Vince thinks a canal or pipeline should be built between the Mississippi and the western states that are so dry to alleviate flooding there and having no water here.
LikeLike
That sounds like an excellent option, hon.. One I imagine the government are investigating?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They haven’t mentioned it, LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great gallery of sunshine photos Marsha but that kitten on the chair is priceless 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You would love Moji. She has so much personality. 🙂 (And she talks) Mostly just says, “Huh, or What?” She also does bird imitations.
LikeLiked by 1 person