Beauty is ...

 

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."

                                                                                            --Kahlil Gibran

Twilight at the Lake

 

"I often think the night is more alive

and more richly colored

than the day."

                                                               --Vincent Van Gogh

Gnarly Spine

 

 

"I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else."

                                                                --Pablo Picasso

 

At the Lake: After Dark

Technically no lake is visible; however, while shooting this image, I was standing on a dock on West Lake Okoboji just outside of Arnolds Park Amusement Park.  Throughout the Iowa Great Lakes region this area is widely known and extremely popular during warm-weather months.  This historic attraction remains one of America's oldest operating amusement parks and is beautiful day and night.

At the Lake: Got a Paddle?

This extremely popular form of stand-up paddle surfing on generally 'flat' water has even caught on here in Iowa.  Although I found several folks enjoying this sport while vacationing in tropical destinations, I must admit I was surprised to find this so popular right here at home.  And, if you happen to be in the Iowa Great Lakes region and want to try your hand at balancing and paddling, just stop at any popular watersports rental spots and they will have everything you need.

 

 

At the Lake: Kids at Play

Playing in the sand, jumping off the dock, swimming with friends and spending hours on inflatables in the lake seem like great ways for kids to enjoy hot summer days.  And, honestly, I love to see kids engaged in outdoor activities where they are simply free to play and enjoy their unstructured time...kids just being kids.

At the Lake: Boats Galore

For the remainder of the week I plan to feature images from a recent trip to the Iowa Great Lakes region in the northwest corner of the state.  With summer in full swing, there isn't a better place to be, and the photos will demonstrate that.  So, let's start things off with what you might expect -- boats. 

Both scenes are of West Lake Okoboji