Katrina Coombs

@klcoombs.bsky.social

1585 Followers 488 Following

LA and Palm Springs based Landscape Designer, very amateur photographer, and an ok surfer. Common thread: Beauty, patience, balance, imagination, fun... All photos and videos (except reposts) are © and cannot be used without permission.

Capture of a waterdrop covered pink epiphyllum flower set amongst its deep green lobed edges. All epi blooms are oversized and open only when the sun fades, then once again retire when the sun arrives again.
Image shows a small delicate butterfly dressed in light brown and red-orange. The butterfly has muted stripes that appear irregular and taper to what appears to be an eye—yet the black dot is just a decoy for predators who may be drawn to attack the wrong end. A bright yellow, orange, and pink-red hibiscus flower, with yellow stigma and anthers, acts as a place to rest under the bright blue Queensland sky.
Monochrome image of a vast beach covered in large boulders. The ocean waves reach over the narrow stretch of sand only to be stopped amongst an impossibly heavy rock expanse. White water gives way to distant grey clouds made light by an even darker wispy ceiling of fog. The arctic surf proved flat so few ventured into the Norwegian Sea.
Black and white image of a cockatoo’s rear end while they were feeding high up on a Eucalyptus.
A landscape of native Montana plantings with colors of red, yellow, and green light up the foreground and wrap around a distant sheer rock outcropping. The steep cliff appears grey, but topped with a large stand of indigenous conifers that appear to run along the wall’s edge. Behind the outcropping, a visual background of sharp peaks now void of glaciers, reach up into the smoke-covered blue sky.
Cloudy landscape image of ancient rocks covered with bright green native moss. A singular Viking cairn, or Icelandic pile of rocks that give travelers direction, stands tall amongst the volcanic boulders. Cairn comes from the Scottish Gaelic name, “càrn” or Irish “carn” for “heap of stones.”
Close up image of a Black-billed gull looking directly into the camera. The bird is black and white with grey eyes and a black beak.
Color image of a wide expanse of native California palms under a wispy cloud sky. The oasis shows desert greenery with a gentle stream cutting through the wide expanse. Brittlebush bright yellow flowers cascade down the overlook and provide a close up to complement their distant yellow counterparts.
Image of two cat brothers, one a striped tabby and one all black, side sleeping and stretched out on a light tan sofa.
Color image of a large grouping of wild bright orange California poppies. A solitary white Cloudless sulphur butterfly holds steady to a spent bloom. The green stems and sunbathed flowers contrast with the sulphur, yet although the butterfly is not in sharp focus, the photo shows the abundance of hope the side of the freeway brings.
Photo shows a young couple dressed beautifully in wedding attire. The tatooed bride with brightly colored red-rust hair wears a beautiful white wedding dress, while the groom, with short natural red hair and matching earrings, wears a handsome crisp black suit. The couple, seen only from the back, walk down a busy street adjacent to The Thames.
Color image of an Australian Crested pigeon looking directly at the camera. The bird has a black mohawk-like tuft, or crest, that reaches up to a point. The eyes are orange with pink surrounds that complement its red-pink legs. The body is a bit round with feathers of grey and salmon pink and wings of intermittent black and light brown patterned striping.
Joshua Tree National Park capture of a wild Jackrabbit. Extremely large natural boulders and Joshua Trees bring up the far distance. The jackrabbit is caught from the back mid jump as it runs out of sight. Creosote and desert native plants and grasses frame the grey, brown, and black, hare/rabbit.
Color image of pink blossoms on very spiny green desert cacti. The three plants are eight inches across and nearly 6 inches high—but will grow closer together to insure a nice bouquet when blooming. The dusty muted pink flowers, with yellow stigmas and stamens to complement, open up amongst the sharp spines only to tease a few days of life.
Black and white photo of a magnificent expanse of gnarled Olive trees. The foreground tree appears to have grown around an over an old field stone pony wall—the roots reaching out and extending into the soil. The thick trunk trees show their age as if sculpted pieces of rare ancient artwork—a valuation that has increased over time. Rolling hills and scattered white clouds bring up the background. It is said the olives have a taste as sacred as this venerable stand of trees.
iPhone macro image of a soft focus Magnolia blossom. The flower’s pure white petals unfold to reveal the interior cone-like carpels and stamens.
Photo shows a black and white image of a moving rattlesnake. The Western diamondback slithers along over twigs and decomposed granite until way out of site.
Macro image of a male orange and black butterfly, seen from the back with wings spread, atop a raspberry-colored flower. The echinacea flower appears past its prime and rough around the edges as does the monarch butterfly. The blurred green background contrasts with the bright pink and orange.
Photo shows glacier-worn steep mountain peaks that circle a portion of Reinefjorden, a fjord served by the Norwegian sea. The peak facades show colors of grey, light green, and deep green against a moving cloud backdrop that quickly hides the sun. The last of the local glaciers break through the grey and save themselves for another day. Light cotton ball clouds drop down and overwhelm the peaks, trees, and bright blue sky, while five distant red kayaks move slowly across the calm ice cold water.
Macro image of a light orange, black, and cream Painted Lady butterfly drinking from the sun-kissed purple blossoms of a Buddleia Black Knight.
Image shows a close up view of a bright yellow and orange blossom of a Mexican Bird of Paradise. Seen from the back, a Western honey bee dives deeply into the flower’s center.
Color capture of a female dragonfly grasping firmly to a thin blade of green native grass. The yellow-gold dragonfly can move from flower to flower—not as an actual pollinator—but an insect like others that pollinate inadvertently.
A bright green backdrop behind a macro image of a yellow-orange and black striped bumblebee digging into a white Starflower. The bright fluffy bee has large orange pollen baskets on its legs—but gathers more as it forages through the garden.
Image of the very distant Vestfjorden and Norwegian Sea at low tide. Glacier-worn large grey rocks make up the calm cloistered pond-like area where seaweed, native grass, plants, and empty green stockfish “drying” nets take up the surrounds. Overhead grey clouds can be seen for miles as they cover the ice blue sky.
Black and white image of two rock doves bathing in a strong stream of gutter water.
Color image of a loan red manbug, or ladybug/ladybird without spots, on a bright green leaf. A ladybug without spots is considered good fortune—one will find new love or revive an old.
Mojave Desert California native plant that develops pink lobes, or bladders, around the plant’s tiny fruits. Image shows a shrub of thin green branches with very small leaves that appear entangled. The leaf size is directly related to the plant’s ability to maintain photosynthesis and keep energy stored without burning up in the desert heat. Pink inflated “bladders” cover the plant in various stages of flower development. The pink will eventually fade in color but will maintain its shape around the protected seeds. A small back and white striped Mason bee finds its way around the desert showpiece.
Black and white image of an architectural masterpiece by architect, Frank Gehry. The curved exterior is fashioned with rectangular panels of stainless steel that “push the boundaries of structural engineering.” A construction lift holds a gentleman who is spraying down the building’s facade.
Color macro image of a a Swallowtail butterfly maneuvering along a citrus leaf. The caterpillar displays the colors of green and yellow with numerous black stripes and facial markings.
Color image of a grey, black, beige, and white striped green-eyed tabby kitten. The baby rests on a sofa with his feather topped rainbow play toy draped over his precious little body.
Black and white macro image of small round cacti. The Powder Puff cactus must have been named by another who was delusional—or clearly had not touched the sharp spines.
Black and white image of Auckland, New Zealand looking back from a speeding ferry. The photo shows the ship’s wake that appears to fade into the bay. Large thunder heads cover then reach beyond the city, while way in the far distance rain begins to fall.
Black and white capture of bagged trash collected from the streets of Sorrento. The oversized bags and bins sit under trees and street lights a short distance from what appears to be a high end hotel, Excelsior Vittoria. The hotel’s name shines brightly through the night—a juxtaposition to the trash, or what is not usually seen, and what is clearly seen through deliberate upscale illumination.
Color image of bright red raspberries in a small glass bowl. The bowl sits on a Gruyères plate rimmed with cows and Swiss alpine farmers. Next to the raspberries sits a carved wood bowl filled with heavy cream. The bowl is small—like the glass bowl—but it has the stamped Gruyères “oji” that translates to “bird” in the old Swiss dialect. Some of the cream has been placed on the raspberries—an artistic ritual that looks perfect for a moment, but even more perfect when it’s eaten. A spoon awaits.
Black and white image of New Zealanders enjoying life in and around a public swimming area. The foreground shows the enormous pool next to sailboats and various yachts that have made their way to a dock or mooring. Children and adults gather and swim within full sight of the iconic pointed Sky Tower, the tallest building in New Zealand. The Sky Tower has the shape of a quintessential space age structure; a tall needle-like building that shoots skyward, then mushrooms out into a restaurant and viewing space until it morphs into another—but sharper end point. Hotels and office space surround the tower while white puffy clouds begin to take shape and foreshadow a downpour.
Image shows five tall carved tree trunks with numerous individual New Zealand native sea and land animals. Acclaimed Maori artist, Pita Rue Lagan, was commissioned by the people of Oamaru to utilize his chainsaw carving skill and create educational sculptures for the children’s playground. Each piece of the sculpted Macrocarpa included native New Zealand birds, seals, lizards, dolphins, whales, and penguins. Full body images were carved directly into the wood and tell a story as they wrap around the entire trunk. Some of the carvings stand out more than others given the use of a preservative paint that has allowed greater demarcation. Green native grasses and plantings as well as a bright blue sky of intermittent clouds contrast with the grey and brown weathered wood.
Color image shows a group of five Icelandic puffins with a grassy hill backdrop. Four puffins go about their business of looking out to the ocean, while another takes off into the gusting wind. The flying puffin turns its head and looks directly at the intrusive photographer.
Black and white capture of an old olive tree found growing from a wall crevice. The olive is seen from below as it reaches across an open area high above. The tree’s branches, which are thin and spindly, touch another castle wall at a right angle and act as a canopy for the courtyard below.
A white anthurium flower emerges from the shadows. The light shines on the ivory colored spadix, the long center part of the flower that reaches up from the center, and draws a shadow onto the white spathe—or large singular petal. The plants green leaves fill up the dark.
A large Kihei rainbow reaches across the deep blue. The wind blows whitecaps in the distance, but the swell fades as the current pulls the break south.
Black and white macro image of numerous tiny water drops. The water has become attached along the thin blades of an ornamental fescue grass.
A small tan yellow-headed bird with a deep red shoulder patch works tirelessly constructing a new nest of various twig sizes. The bird maneuvers in between a tight space of long hefty spines from a tall upright Senita cactus. The family may nest and find protection, but the Verdin will make more than one nest—another for roosting and others to draw away attention. iPhone image was captured through a closed window.
Black and white iPhone image of Stockholm Brewing Company’s mobile beer bar. The drivable vintage white VW van has been converted to allow keg taps from the bus’s side. Two women hide from the rain under an umbrella as they chat and wait for their liquid sustenance.
Black and white capture of Swiss fishermen returning to Lake Geneva’s shore. Numerous gulls follow and fly above the speeding boat in hopes of a shared morsel. A backdrop of forested and snow covered mountain peaks present an iconic Swiss landscape.
Very distant semi-blurred capture of many various cormorants and shags on an old timber Victorian pier. The sky is bright blue with a deeper blue water expanse. The birds congregate on a locked and abandoned pier annually and include a mix of Matapo Otago, Stewart Island, Spotted, Black, Double-breasted, Auckland, King, Great, Little pied, Australian, Bank, and Little Black shags and cormorants.
Up close image of bright red Canna lily flower with petals unfolding.
V formation of twenty-two Canada geese against a bright blue Southern California sky.
Image shows a grouping of small islands off Heimaey, the main and only inhabited island in Iceland’s Vestmannaeyjar Archipelago. The immense rocks emerge from a deep blue ocean and serve as a perfect puffin fishing spot for the nesting birds. Many black and white dots, which are actually puffins, awkwardly maneuver in the extreme gusts of wind.
Street art stencil painting of an individual with a large black, grey, and red oversized coat over light pants. The individual, shown from the side, wears a traditional Asian conical hat with gloved hands raised as if letting go of something precious. From the unseen open package, fifteen butterflies of various colors and sizes drop into freedom.
Image of a New Zealand Little Pied Shag. The shag is similar to a cormorant but smaller with his black breeding crest, yellow beak, white eye surrounds that cover most of his head, and a chest of white and black random feathering. He rests on an abandoned old timber pier and looks out over the calm turquoise water of Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand.
Australian native hover fly, with similar sounds, markings, and colors of a honey bee, grasps hold of a green Antique euphorbia. His oversized eyes are gold-orange with an odd smattering of tiny brown dots.
Image of a young bird with dark head and grey breast. The young Scrub-jay sits on a thin branch and observes the campsite below for forgotten treats.
Macro image of bright orange and black butterfly. The young Monarch flaps its wings as it rests on a nearby Leucadendron cone.
Black and white iPhone image captured over water and towards a singular tree high on a distant hill. Enormous white-grey storm clouds move in and darken the sky.
iPhone color image of a pepper tree with two lateral branches cut flush. The fresh cuts can be likened to owl eyes with a feathered body that appears from the tree’s peeling grey-brown bark.
Black and white image of eight women with matching white shirts that read in Chinese characters, “Health Club: Riding the Waves, Health is Paramount.” The women are lined up next to each other and are seen only from the back. They look out from the Ponte Vecchio bridge over Florence’s wide Arno river. Spectators line the shore and wait for the Dragon Boat races, but the women have a perfect vantage from where they stand. The Ponte Vecchio bridge reaches over the water so the women will be directly above the boats when they pass under.
Macro image of yellow and white rose petals unfolding.
Color image of vintage red timber fishermen’s cabins on rough-hewn stilts. Norwegian classic fishing cottages lined up on the rocky shore where the shallow water reflects the bright red color while Black-legged Kittiwakes nest on the many window ledges.
Color image of distant mountains that line the shores of the Norwegian Sea. Clouds hover over, but the weather quickly changes as the sun’s rays and bright blue sky emerge.
Macro image of soft pink rose petals with an opening of yellow anthers.