Sherry Friel
A Natural Photographer
Sherry Friel graduated from Old Dominion University with a Master of Arts in English and has since spent time as a community news reporter and photographer, a seventh grade English teacher, and most recently worked in healthcare writing and marketing. She continues to work part-time on healthcare-related projects, but her greater efforts today are dedicated to her family and the volunteer work she does in her son’s elementary school library.
Sherry is a Hampton Roads native and has lived in Virginia Beach for 17 of those years. She fell in love with Virginia Beach while she was an intern in the city’s public information office, where she worked on a variety of projects that gave her an intimate view of the city’s natural beauty. Sherry enjoys walking the neighborhoods, trails and parks of Virginia Beach along with her husband and eight-year-old son, and capturing points of beauty along the way.
Sherry truly “lives the beach life” through her love of nature photography. She and her son share that passion and together have photographed everything from the glorious Spanish moss at First Landing State Park to breathtaking sunsets at Great Neck Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Author Entries
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 by Sherry Friel
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” ~Buddha
I’m lucky to be surrounded by people with a great deal of wisdom–sage souls who consistently and naturally blend experience, knowledge and good judgment. They’re also a fabulously creative group, with a uniquely balanced approach to “Living the Life” in beautiful Virginia Beach. I’d like to think I am wise too, or at least on my way. I know I certainly try to heed the wisdom of close family members and friends because collectively, they have it in abundance.
Lately I’ve been contemplating wisdom I’ve attained through my son because I have so much respect for the complex and thoughtful way he considers his world and the people in it. At 8 years old, Nathaniel is startlingly honest, direct and verbal–more so than I was at his age. He expresses unique opinions on a variety of subjects, from the fact that he does NOT like when I paint my toenails pink (it just doesn’t look right), or that the music I listen to makes him feel sad sometimes. Of course he is absolutely correct on both counts. The toxic fumes of freshly painted nails are not natural or healthy and some of the music I listen to is sort of moody and slow in tempo.
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Tags: Living the Life in Virginia Beach
Posted in Living the Life
Friday, March 9th, 2012 by Sherry Friel
 This week in The Beach Report, Sherry Friel shares her summer sand bucket list. Maybe a few of these are on your “must do” list? Enjoy!!
Summer Sand Bucket List
In the blink of an eye summer will be gone before I’ve had a chance to sample all it has to offer. How can this be when spring hasn’t officially arrived yet? Year after year, I miss important eventsthroughout the warm season and tell myself I’ll get to it next year. And then next year arrives and I tell myself the same thing. But no more! I’ve devised what I’m calling my Summer Sand Bucket List. Each item on the list represents seasonal activities I wanted to do last year, but ended up either visiting too late or not at all.
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Posted in Events, Living the Life, The Beach Report
Friday, February 24th, 2012 by Sherry Friel
Update 2/25 @ 9 a.m.
Always wanted to learn how to attract amazing butterflies to your garden? Catch a free lecture at the AREC tomorrow (Sunday, 2/26) featuring “The Butterfly Lady.”
 It’s the last Friday in February and it’s hovering right about 76 degrees in Virginia Beach! Amazing weather for what is usually considered the dead of winter almost everywhere in the US. It’s perfect timing for a spring-centric read, so sit back and enjoy this post, accompanied by some fabulous photography, courtesy of ShoreLines blogger Sherry Friel.
Off the Beaten Beach Track
 Shhhh! I’m about to share one of my favorite secret photography spots in Virginia Beach, a destination local horticulture and agriculture experts are very familiar with, but is often off the radar of visitors and some long-time city residents. It’s called the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC).
Now, I love all the regional botanical gardens and try to visit them throughout the year to see the very best each season brings, but when I need a “garden fix” in Virginia Beach, I head out to AREC. It’s conveniently located at 1444 Diamond Springs Road and is open seven days a week from dawn until dusk. Look carefully for the sign, as it is easy to drive right past it.
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Tags: great photography spots in Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Beach in spring, Virginia Beach Master Gardeners
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors, With The Kids
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 by Sherry Friel
“Sometimes we have to walk from the past and sometimes we have to embrace it. Heaven help us know the difference.” ~Adaleen Henrickson, character in the HBO Series Big Love.
 Awhile back my Dad and I visited my childhood home with my son, Nathaniel. Having grown up locally, this only entailed a short 30-minute trip and lots of courage. Why courage? I’m not really sure. I guess I’ve never been one to look back so much, and the idea of seeing the home where awkward childhood and pre-teen years unfolded held about as much appeal as middle school gym class (and I hated gym class!).
But with my son approaching 8 years old, I naturally found myself reminiscing more and more about the places and activities I enjoyed when I was his age. I also kept wondering if my favorite climbing trees were still standing, so I called Dad to see if he’d like to photograph them with us. Of course he wanted to! My parents planted three small pine trees well before their children were born, and to them they would always symbolize the three lives they brought into the world. By the time we were in elementary school, those trees were as tall as the house and perfect for climbing and hiding out.
To my surprise and delight, what were once small pine trees now tower enormously over the tiny house my parents lived in as a young couple. It was pure joy to take my son back to my humble childhood home. He took to the trees in that yard as we had as children: climbing, playing, and fearlessly stretching further to see how high he could go before I’d stop him. The house is currently vacant, which gave us a rare opportunity to explore the yard, peek in the windows, and warmly embrace the lights of the past. We also got a treasure trove of photographs.
 My son, Nathaniel, enjoyed the trees just as much as I did as a kid
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Tags: growing up in Virginia Beach, Playgrounds in Virginia Beach, Top City to Raise a Family
Posted in Living the Life, With The Kids
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 by Sherry Friel
If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for the Creator, there is no poverty. Maria Ranier Rilke
 I’ve always loved poetry. As an undergraduate at Old Dominion University, I tried my hand at writing a few poems, but the results were pretty embarrassing. Eventually I gave up trying to write in stanzas and focused instead on courses in journalism and technical writing. Such training served me well, but I can’t seem to shake that longing to write in the vein of Emily Dickinson or Mary Oliver. Over the years I have read poetry that caused the hair on my neck to stand on end and my ears to tingle. If it’s a particularly good read, my whole body goes completely cold! For me, good poetry taps something deep and inexpressible and I am grateful to have encountered such moving works.
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Tags: First Landing State Park, outdoor experiences in Virginia Beach, photographing nature
Posted in Living the Life, The Great Outdoors
Friday, December 30th, 2011 by Sherry Friel
Natural Photographer and blogger Sherry Friel shares insight about the joy she experiences while capturing wonders of nature in Virginia Beach.
An Indescribable Peace at Bayville Farms Park
 Photo credit: Sherry Friel
I had suffered a great personal loss around the time my husband presented me with a new digital camera for Christmas. So while I was excited about receiving such a thoughtful present, it stayed in the camera bag for some time before I finally decided to venture outdoors with it. Maybe it was the cold weather, winter blues or gray skies, but I just wasn’t immediately inspired to attempt anything beyond pictures by the Christmas tree.
After the holidays, my friend Beth and I gathered the kids and headed out to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. We were chatting about cameras and photography when we suddenly realized we had the same model Nikon. Figuring we could learn from each other about settings and some of the more technical aspects of photography, we planned an outing dedicated to capturing some highlights of the winter season. Now, I am a big baby when it comes to wintery days. In fact, I am writing this blog seated in front of a toasty fire wearing a sweater, fleecy jacket, jeans, and thick wool socks. It’s not that cold, but I’m not taking any chances. So on the frigid January morning of our walk through Bayville Farms Park, I bundled up in a long wool coat, hat, scarf, and wind-resistant gloves.
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Tags: Bayville Farms Park, outdoors in Virginia Beach, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Posted in Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 by Sherry Friel
 Clouds at First Landing by Sherry Friel
I’m guilty and there is photographic evidence of my transgression. I confess that one day last week, I neglected work, decorating, gift wrapping, and all the details of holiday madness that has everyone using words such as “overwhelmed” and “swamped.” And if you’re not overwhelmed, well, you’re most certainly guilty of something. Today has me reliving last week’s day of play at First Landing State Park, on one of those gloriously warm winter days we get blessed with regularly in Virginia Beach. When the forecast predicts an unseasonably warm day, locals have been known to drop everything and head outdoors.
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Tags: First Landing State Park, outdoor fun in Virginia Beach
Posted in Beaches, Living the Life, The Great Outdoors
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