The Year Ahead

The Year Ahead - Photograph by Laura Lecce
The Year Ahead – Photograph by Laura Lecce

As yet another year is coming to an end tonight, it is nice to reflect on all the new things this year has brought with it. For me, starting this blog has been a big part of it, and a nice way to end it. It has truly been a pleasure discovering the wonderful people that are out there blogging, and being welcomed to observe all your wonderful talents. I look forward to sharing so much more with the world in 2016, and hopefully continue to add beauty and positivity into the world. Happy New Year everyone!

Sunset on Maho Beach

Sunset on Maho Beach - Photograph by Laura Lecce
Sunset on Maho Beach – Photograph by Laura Lecce

First day back in rainy New York after a wonderful Christmas trip to Saint Martin, a teeny island in the Caribbean. This particular beach, Maho Beach is located right next to the airport. Its a great spot to watch all the planes flying in, which makes for a beautiful photograph at sunset.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays - photograph by Laura Lecce
Happy Holidays – Photograph by Laura Lecce

This will be my second Christmas away from home, and it still seems weird not to be having a hot and sunny Aussie BBQ Christmas. This photo is of some of the decorations that light up New York at this time of year. The original photo has white Reindeer and red trees on a black background. However, to satisfy the expectations of Australians that believe the other side of the world has snowy Christmases, this photo is for you. A very merry Christmas to all, (or as is said over here), HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

He Dreams of Sailing

He Dreams of Sailing - Art by Laura Lecce
He Dreams of Sailing – Art by Laura Lecce

I have a friend who talks of taking sailing lessons. To be out on the water, free to explore. With good friends, good food and a full glass of wine, watching the sun setting over the horizon. This was painted for him, as a reminder to one day pursue his dream of sailing.

The Polka Dotted Butterfly

The Polka Dotted Butterfly - Photograph by Laura Lecce
The Polka Dotted Butterfly – Photograph by Laura Lecce

This photo was taken in Ontario, Canada, on the way to see Niagara Falls. I sat next to this large pot of colorful flowers, and this butterfly decided to sit next to me. I absolutely love the white polka dots on his black and brown wings.

Making Honey

Making Honey - Photograph by Laura Lecce
Making Honey – Photograph by Laura Lecce

Yet another lovely nature photograph from Tasmania. Spring time brought with it many intensely colored flowers and the bees were all hard at work. The purple flower, yellow and black bee and lime green background all work together to enhance each of the colors even further. I was just lucky I finally got one photo where the bee stood still long enough to be in focus! There were so many of them on these particular flowers, and at first I was trying to follow the bees with the camera, which was not working. After much frustration and blurry bees, I eventually changed my strategy and just held the focus on the flower instead, until the bee landed in the frame. This gave me much more control over the focus without my camera moving around as much. This photo also reminds me that purple was my favorite color as a child.

On The Hunt

On The Hunt - Photograph by Laura Lecce
On The Hunt – Photograph by Laura Lecce

This very cute echidna was photographed just outside of our lodge near Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. The echidna is a uniquely Australian creature with a resemblance to hedgehogs and porcupines, except that strangely, they lay eggs. On this particular afternoon, this echidna was on the hunt for ants and termites, using long claws to rip apart this tree trunk. Tasmania is rich in Australian wildlife and a wonderful place to get away and relax.

Spring Sunshine

Spring Sunshine - Photograph by Laura Lecce
Spring Sunshine – Photograph by Laura Lecce
Eye Catching - Photograph by Laura Lecce
Eye Catching – Photograph by Laura Lecce

These beautiful flowers were photographed in Tasmania, Australia. Usually not a fan of the color orange, these brilliant and vibrant flowers were too wonderful to ignore. They are the bright sunshine on a gloomy day. Looking back at these photos made me wonder why that particular flower, out of all of them, deserved a close up. I will never know the answer, but it’s nice to think that there is still an individual in a seemingly endless sea of perfect flowers.

Eruption of Gerberas

Eruption of Gerberas - Art by Laura Lecce
Eruption of Gerberas – Art by Laura Lecce

This painting was a snapshot of a bunch of gerberas sitting in a vase in my apartment. I absolutely love the deep redness of these flowers, which translated into a painting with great intensity. The colors and positioning of the flower emulates an explosive volcano which lends itself to the name of this paining.