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WQW #28: Livin’ in Sunshine Even When the Sun Don’t Shine

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

Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays (Photo or Writing Challenge)

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.

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…

Good Advice about the Sun

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”

Walt Whitman
Taken in 2002, of a young girl and her shadow holding her arms at a diagonal, practicing being dramatic.

When the Sun Don’t Shine

“It’s the artist’s business to create sunshine when the sun falls.”

Romain Rolland
Taken at sunset on June 16, 2021, in Prescott, AZ.

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.

Unedited picture from my iPhone 12 mini taken at 7:30 pm on July 25, 2022, in Prescott, AZ. Diagonal lines between the clouds added drama.

Tips to overcome SAD

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.”

David Viscott
Introducing shy Baby Moji who grew up to be Diva Moji. She’s showing off her acrobatical skills on the chair.

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.
Taken on the Road to Hana in Maui, HI – definitely in the shade – original photo with no edits.
under a pier at Avila Beach, California

“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
Nutter Butter and Moji, local mulberry tree-climbing champs were living their dreams in the golden state.
Under a tree looking up in the Bunya Mountains, Queesnsland, AU
On a jovial note, sometimes you get lucky and get a UFO in the process.

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.

Some of you photographers might know why I got the lasar beam shooting through the banana plant in Woodlake Botanical Gardens in Woodlake, CA. I thought it was super cool
Poof! I just got disintegrated!
Darren Rowse suggests that the time of day is important when planning your photo shoots. According to my Bridge and Lightroom Classic Metadata, the actual time this picture was at 1:57 am on May 4, 2018. Hmmm – not real!
Reflections are an indication of sunlight, and who doesn’t love reflections? This is Bravo Lake in Woodlake, CA, taken on March 28, 2017, at 8:34 am. That is probably accurate.

Muted Sunlight

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

A picture my husband took with his iPhone during our Accidental Vacation, the road trip of a lifetime.

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.

Lunch at noon at the Cellar Creekside, September 15th Right of Highway 17 on Highway 169 going into Prescott Valley. RSVP

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.

Have a sparkly week.

Other Challenges

Ongoing on Always Write

99 replies »

  1. Pingback: Reverie – Touring My Backyard

  2. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
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  9. 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/

    Liked by 1 person

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    • 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. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  20. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. Pingback: WQW #28: Livin’ in Sunshine Even When the Sun Don’t Shine – nowathome

    • 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. 🙂

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  23. Pingback: Thursday Challenges: Write Photo, Doors, Trios, 99-Word Fiction, and Other Gems – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

  26. 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 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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  28. 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! 🌞

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  30. 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 😁

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  34. 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 💜

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  38. 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

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • 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!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  41. 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!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
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Marsha

Marsha

Hi, I'm Marsha Ingrao, a retired educator and wife of a retired realtor. My all-consuming hobby is blogging and it has changed my life. My friends live all over the world. In November 2020, we sold everything and retired to the mile-high desert of Prescott, AZ. We live less than five miles from the Granite Dells, four lakes, and hundreds of trails with our dog, Kalev, and two cats, Moji and Nutter Butter. Vince's sister came with us and lives close by. Every day is a new adventure.

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