Breathing Space: July 2009
![Shells on the beach in Sanibel Island, Florida. Shells on the beach in Sanibel Island, Florida.](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-shells-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by E.G. Kight
Sanibel Island, Florida
Sanibel Island is known for its many shells—there are millions of them.
![Waterfall in Supai, Arizona Waterfall in Supai, Arizona](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-waterfall-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Julie Neal
Supai, Arizona
I took this amazing photo during a hike with my two best girlfriends. We spent three days in the Supai Indian Village; it was a trip of a lifetime. The Supai tribe was hit this past fall with massive flooding. The falls that we climbed, hiked and swam in are forever changed.
![Blue daisy in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Blue daisy in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-blue-daisy-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Gregory Tapler
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
I love photography. I love nature. I want to inspire others to find peace and calm in their every day. These flowers are from a series I titled "Backyard Flowers." It's an attempt to share the beauty that surrounds us—a beauty that many of us tend to overlook or ignore. If one person stops to take a breath while viewing one of my photographs, I have achieved success.
![Zebras in the Serengeti Zebras in the Serengeti](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-zebras-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Dana Atkinson
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
I travel to Africa annually to disconnect from everything. I go to reconnect with nature and my inner self. My hobby during my visits is photography. For this shot, my guide and I were just entering the Serengeti. These thirsty zebras had been traveling with the great wildebeest migration. When arriving at this watering hole, they were very leery of the crocodiles that awaited their arrival. It took several hours and shots to get this picture.
![River in Allegany, New York River in Allegany, New York](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-river-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Sharon Rhoades
Allegany, New York
How the morning sunrise reflects off the water is peaceful and breathtaking. We vacation in Allegany every summer, and I just love the nature that is there to take pictures of. I am usually the first up, and I'll sit by the water with my camera and just take pictures.
![Sunset near Yosemite National Park Sunset near Yosemite National Park](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-sunset-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Alex Stross
Yosemite National Park, California
My husband took this photo on our way back to our hotel after a day of hiking in the beautiful park. I was reluctant to stop on the very steep and winding road, but thankfully Alex insisted!
![Cactus in Trapani, Italy Cactus in Trapani, Italy](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-cactus-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Anna Bruni
Trapani, Italy
Sun, colors—the beauties of Sicily.
![Pink daisy in Schaumburg, Illinois Pink daisy in Schaumburg, Illinois](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-pink-daisy-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by William Kaufman
Schaumburg, Illinois
I love to take close-up pictures in nature. I had an old camera, but this year I was able to save for a new one. Recently, it seemed like there was one or two days when all the flowers on the trees came out in bloom, so I went out and caught some pictures on my new camera. I'm sure glad I have this chance to share some of the beauty out there.
![Rock near the ocean in Newfoundland, Canada Rock near the ocean in Newfoundland, Canada](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-rock-ocean-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Shirley Caldwell
Newfoundland, Canada
The ocean wore down this rock over many years, creating this arch.
![Springs in southern Missouri. Springs in southern Missouri.](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-springs-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Noppadol Paothong
Southern Missouri
Following a big rain in mid-May, I set out to the southern part of Missouri to pursue a photo shoot of the springs. With heavy rain a few days earlier, the water was moving very fast. I used a slow shutter speed to make the water blurry, and I waited until clouds covered the sun, so the light wouldn't reflect on the surface of the water. Overcast weather often gives an overall neutral tone for low-contrast photography and gives more color saturation.
![Sunrise in Devonshire, Bermuda Sunrise in Devonshire, Bermuda](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-sunrise-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Karen White
Devonshire, Bermuda
Sunrise over Devonshire, Bermuda.
![Landscape in Monument Valley, Utah Landscape in Monument Valley, Utah](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-monument-valley-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Patricia Hopkins
Monument Valley, Utah
The sunrise and sunset over Monument Valley, with all of its sight and sounds, provides a wonderful spiritual experience.
![Be on a flower in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario Be on a flower in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-bee-flower-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Juliana Bennici
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
A sure sign that spring has sprung in Niagara!
![Landscape in San Simeon, California Landscape in San Simeon, California](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-california-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Michael Hogan
San Simeon, California
I shot this photo earlier this spring in San Simeon, California. I think what is most interesting about this photo is that you would never realize this beautiful scenic view faces the Pacific Ocean. I think it is fascinating how the landscape changes as you make your way up and down the Pacific coast.
![Field in Sullivan, Illinois Field in Sullivan, Illinois](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-field-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Connie Kissee
Sullivan, Illinois
Weed or flower? Who determines?
![Pink flowers in Minneapolis, Minnesota Pink flowers in Minneapolis, Minnesota](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-pink-flowers-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Aakanksha Arora
Minneapolis, Minnesota
You can almost miss the tiny, most beautiful things if you hurry on your journey.
![Frog in Lancaster, Ontario Frog in Lancaster, Ontario](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-frog-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Ron Gravelle
Lancaster, Ontario
I almost stepped on this frog during a nature walk.
![Walking path in the woods of Chateauguay, Quebec Walking path in the woods of Chateauguay, Quebec](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-walking-path-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Shari-Lyn Wheeler
Châteauguay, Quebec
A beautiful place to walk!
![Tulip in Cary, Illinois Tulip in Cary, Illinois](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-tulip-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Rachel Chianakas
Cary, Illinois
I was experimenting with my new camera and thought this picture was an interesting one! It is a picture of a pink bulb getting ready to bloom.
![Red leaf in Niyodogawa, Japan Red leaf in Niyodogawa, Japan](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://images.oprah.com/images/spiritself/insp/bs/20090701-breathing-space-red-leaf-442x332.jpg)
Photograph by Monica Lloyd
Niyodogawa, Japan
Life cycle complete, yet still beautiful.
Published 02/13/2010