I love photographing bright colors. Nature has an array of mind blowing ones: dazzling red orange sunsets, turquoise seas and mountains so intensely green you feel you’re part of the easel. But sometimes we can feel blinded by the brightness and the intensity and that’s where a bit of softness and balance is good.
Somehow Mother Nature always seems to know how to create balance. Light and dark contrasts, like colors in the sand that mesh and twirl forming a palette of pastels.
Pastels often blend in with the tones of the earth on our travels, creating a softness in an otherwise stark landscape, a softness that soothes the senses.
Like this bottlebrush which somehow looks calm against the pale green.
And it can be that way on our journey of life too. We don’t always have to be full steam ahead. We can be just as effective when we calmly work our way through our days.
That’s sometimes when I’m the most productive, when I’m centred and even keeled. When I’m able to focus and concentrate and work steadily towards my goal.
While it’s great to have ambition and to want to dazzle the world with brightness, it’s also okay to have softer days where we’re slowly but deliberately focused on the end result.
We don’t need to achieve big and bright results overnight.
The important thing is to keep going and not to stop. To realise that there’ll be days when we’ll temporarily lose our mojo and inspiration but not to beat ourselves up about it. We’ll get there … the important thing is to keep going.
Wishing you beautiful moments, filled with shades of pastel and dollops of brightness, just enough to make a balanced landscape and a perfect day.
Stay safe and focused on where you’re going and continue to enjoy the journey.
This is in response to Where’s my Backback – Travel theme: Pastel
Amazing! You are quite creative.
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Thanks, what a lovely thing to say.
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So pretty! Even the pinks work as neutrals here and the effect is very calming…
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Thanks Diane
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Those pictures are WOW! 🙂
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Thanks Audrey.
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You know Miriam, I am a fan of your pictures. OOOh, the beach with colors on it was just amazing.
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Soo glad you enjoyed, thank you!
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Every bit of it my love…
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You’re very kind
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So are you!
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Beautiful! I love what you say about having softer days. Sometimes these kind of days are my favorite… Staying home, get some paperwork done, blog, work at the computer with my dog in the room. Quiet, no drama, relaxed. Thanks for this calming post! ☺️🌷
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You described a perfect day of calm at home, thanks Jenny. 🙂
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Oh, thanks Miriam! I’d like to have one of those tomorrow, but instead it’s a very busy day ahead😊
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Oh well, hope it’s a good one anyway … 🙂
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It’s so beautiful. All pictures are very impressive.
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Thank you so much.
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I have a particular fondness for pastels, so this one is extra special to me. And I *neeeeed those fuzzy lavender flowers!
I like how you describe it as a balancing softness. That set really well with me for some reason.
I guess bright, bold colors are like lead singers, and pastels are the back-up singers. 🙂
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That’s a great way to put it Ness, I like that. Back up singers, guess that’s me lately. 🙂
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As long as you can find a comfort there, then it’s a good place to be. 🙂
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You need to come and see the wildflowers in WA!
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Oh, yes I do. I went to Margaret River area and Albany many years ago and I still remember the wildflowers along the way. I’d love to come back. 🙂
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An amazing set of pastels. Very nice, Miriam.
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Thank you.
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Lovely post, Miriam! I love the photos and the deeper message behind them too 😀
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Thanks so much Helen.
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I’m wobbling about on a bus as I read this. Not the best place for equilibrium- thank God for predictive text sometimes! Lovely post Miriam. Smiling at you xx
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I’m smiling at the picture you’ve conjured up Jo. 🙂
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Those are so great! Your bottle brush are different than ours. Outs are feathery light, smaller and brilliant red. Nature is amazing.
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Some of ours are too. We have a number of different varieties. Agree Wendy, nature is indeed amazing. xo
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Love the photographs and the sentiments, came at just the right time for me. Have a fab weekend 🙂
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So glad, thank you. Have a great weekend yourself!
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Love your thoughts. You never disappoint. Yeah, brightest is good, but sometimes pastels are better. GREAT POST.
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Aw, thank you so much, really appreciate your kind comments Andrew.
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Have a good one.
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You too. I’m off to bed now!
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Pastels are natures way of smoothing out the sharp edges, soothing the eyes after the sharp contrast of primary colors.
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So true, thank you my friend.
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You are right..pastels are soothing, soften our world. Bright colors are nice, but personally, I prefer the pastels. Great post!
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Thanks Ann, makes for a softer world doesn’t it. Hope you have a great weekend. xo
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Beautiful shot of the drift wood mixed with the flowers.
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Glad you liked it. That’s one of my favs too.
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‘To realise that there’ll be days when we’ll temporarily lose our mojo and inspiration but not to beat ourselves up about it. ‘
This just screams out to me. ❤
I can't think of the word i want and even tried to get Steve to help me figure it out..lol…but the environment (the trees, flowers, birds, bushes…and so on) that you see and shoot are so different from here There is not a picture in this bunch that didn't make me stop and stare for a few extra seconds. It's such fun to go on these adventures with you. 🙂
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I think that’s one of the joys of blogging and sharing our worlds Nikki, we get to see and share things that are so similar to what’s around us. Yet, at the end of the day our thoughts and feelings and what we’re going through are so similar, it really doesn’t matter where we live. I love sharing my world and my adventures and so happy that you get to come along too. 🙂 xo
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Beautiful Miriam! I love the quote at the end too! Perfect. 😌
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Thanks Nicole. xo
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You painted it beautifully. Gorgeous images Miriam.
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Thanks Maverick, you’re always so kind.
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Miriam! I love this. I read it at the perfect time. Had one of those days today. It really helped me to just be present with myself, to be creative, and to keep moving step by step.
Your pastels are beautiful…the pink flowers remind me of you ❤
Blessings and Love,
Debbie
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What a beautiful thing to say, thanks Debbie. I hope your day is getting better and you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Hugs xo
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I had a beautiful weekend, Miriam, thank you! I hope you did, too. ❤ Have a magnificent week ahead.
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Thanks Debbie, I did and I certainly hope to. 🙂 xo
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Another beautiful post filled with my favourite things: nature, inspiration, hope, and bright colours. 🙂 There’s so much positivity in your posts. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy reading your posts.
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Aw, thanks so much Cheryl, I really appreciate that. 🙂
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I wish you a safe journey too – I hope you’re surrounded by the beautiful too! 🙂
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Thanks Simon, that’s kind of you to say.
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That’s OK. I always like to see what adventures you’re up to. Being safe is important ☺
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It is. You stay safe too. I must fly over to your planet at some stage and see what you’re up to. 🙂
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I’ll try… There’s not much going on. Time has been short.
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Another lovely post – I also love looking at all the different colours in nature, as well as your sentiments to go calmly through life. Very inspiring 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed, thanks so much Jenny xo
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What a beautiful post and great photographs. Thank you.
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My pleasure. xo
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Wonderful color ❤❤❤ you’re so creative ❤
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Aw, thanks, you’re so kind Maja! ♥
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❤
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