Maggie Houtz
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softlylit.com
Maggie Houtz
@softlylit.com
2.2K followers 1.1K following 2K posts
DJ Maggie, founder of Over the Moon Music. Downtempo lover, photographer, digital artist. Ally. She/her. I'm here to share gentle reminders of beauty, whimsy, and positivity in these troubled times.

See Media tab for my originals.

Solo.to/djmaggie
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softlylit.com
Hi everyone. It’s been a while since I've been active here, and I wanted to share an update from my world. 👇 (A thread)
A large bare-branched oak tree in silhouette frames a pastel sunrise view from a hilltop, overlooking rolling golden hills under a clear sky transitioning from peach to pale blue.
August 30, 2025 at 8:42 PM
softlylit.com
#BlueskyArtShow #Green

I love the shapes and patterns we can discover in #MacroPhotography.

I'm taking a social media break for the most part at the moment while I handle some self-care. I applaud each and every one of you sharing your visual magic on Bluesky. It's salve for the soul. 💜
Macro shot of a green succulent with pink-tipped leaves. The central leaf tip is in sharp focus, while the background is a soft, creamy blur of similar shapes and colors, creating an abstract, dreamy effect.
May 4, 2025 at 12:14 AM
softlylit.com
Resurfacing from my Hermit Mode to share a moment of celebration. Recently I won 1st prize in a photo contest co-sponsored by The Icon, a print lab in Los Angeles, for this photo. They printed and hung it in their gallery space, and today I visited. Such a great feeling.

#PersonalMoment #Hooray
A smiling woman with short curly hair stands next to a framed black and white photograph of a modern building. The building has a geometric design with balconies and windows. The woman wears a purple jacket and a beaded necklace. Another framed photograph is partially visible behind her. A modern glass-and-stone building in black and white, emphasizing the angular, zig-zagging design. Strong contrasts between light and shadow highlight the geometric structure, while reflections in the glass create abstract shapes. The absence of color enhances the interplay of depth, form, and mirrored distortions in the windows.
April 29, 2025 at 3:26 AM
softlylit.com
One more for #UrbanGaze

I'm in Ventura tonight to see Yaima in concert. This stage at the Ventura Music Hall is so pretty even before the show starts.

#NightPhotography #Nightclub #PrettyLights #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersofBluesky
An indoor concert venue with a wide stage lit by purple and white spotlights. The view is from a low angle at the center of a long wooden table or railing that leads toward the stage. Rows of empty chairs and barstools line both sides of the venue, and the ceiling features a geometric wooden lattice design. A neon sign reading “Ventura” is visible in the back left corner.
April 25, 2025 at 2:56 AM
softlylit.com
#UrbanGaze

"Framed in Passage" These columns caught my eye while wandering around Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

#VanishingPoint #StreetPhotography #Architecture #ArchitecturalPhotography #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersofBluesky
A symmetrical architectural corridor featuring a series of large, bronze-colored cylindrical columns receding into the distance, creating a strong vanishing point. In the foreground, a white planter with a curved base filled with green foliage and small red flowers adds a contrasting organic element to the structured scene.
April 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
softlylit.com
#UrbanGaze

The corridors of the buildings at Balboa Park are mesmerizing.

#VanishingPoint #StreetPhotography #ClassicMono #Architecture #ArchitecturalPhotography #SanDiego #BalboaPark #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersofBluesky
A black and white image of a grand archway leading into a symmetrical stone corridor lined with classical columns and repeating ceiling fixtures. The carved entrance features ornamental details and soft tonal contrast, with light fading evenly into the distance.
April 24, 2025 at 1:04 PM
softlylit.com
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekQForQs

"The Hidden Palace" - I didn't get many shots when I visited #QuintadaRegaleira in #Sintra, #Portugal, as it was heavily raining a good deal of the time, but I loved coming across the Chapel through the foliage like this.

#EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited
A view of the ornate Gothic spires of Quinta da Regaleira rising through mist, partially obscured by layers of vibrant green trees. The architecture’s intricate stone detailing is softly revealed through atmospheric haze. The scene is framed naturally by overhanging branches and forest foliage in the foreground.
April 23, 2025 at 4:35 AM
softlylit.com
#BlueskyMonday

Monday greetings, Bluesky! This is a shot I took at sunrise yesterday at Balboa Park in San Diego. Such a beautiful place!

#StreetPhotography #SanDiego #BalboaPark #Architecture #ArchitecturalPhotography #Dawn #Reflection #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersofBluesky
A tall Spanish Colonial tower rises above surrounding buildings in early morning light. The structure is silhouetted against a sky of pastel pink, orange, and blue with soft layered clouds. Additional domes and tree outlines appear on the left, with the warmest sunlight touching the lower rooftops.
April 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
softlylit.com
#Stunday

Sunday greetings from the middle of my photo outing day in Southern California! I've had so much fun shooting, starting with sunrise at Balboa Park & st had a great time at La Jolla Cove.

Testing out my new phone's cameras and Lightroom Mobile, a new experience for me. 😁
A rocky shoreline with tide pools and flat green algae-covered stone platforms leading into calm water. The surface of the tide pools reflects a soft, cloudy sky above. The scene is softly lit, with muted tones of gray, green, and blue throughout. Rock textures and shallow water patterns are visible in the foreground.
April 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
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Here's a little glimpse into the other creative part of my life. I just finished playing a DJ set for this fantastic crowd in San Diego.

The song (a new fave of mine) is Grouch's remix of Lele Yane from Kaya Project. Fun times!

#DJMaggie #DaytimeDancing #Downtempo
April 20, 2025 at 1:04 AM
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It's Friday #Scape day. One of my favorite beaches ever - #Polihale Beach on #Kauai. My travel companion shown for scale.

I'm in San Diego this weekend for a DJ gig Saturday and then a major photo outing all day Sunday. I hope you all have a lovely weekend! 🤩📷🎧

#EastCoastKin #Seascape #GoldenHour
A lone figure walks along the shoreline at Polihale Beach during sunset, leaving a trail of footprints in the golden sand. Gentle waves roll onto the shore, reflecting the warm hues of the setting sun, while distant dunes and clouds add depth to the tranquil scene.
April 19, 2025 at 1:23 AM
softlylit.com
#UrbanGaze #AlphabetChallenge #WeekPForPatterns

I must have been an architect in another life, because I could look at beautiful buildings all day long.

#StreetPhotography #ClassicMono #Architecture #ArchitecturalPhotography
#EastCoastKin
#PhotographersUnited
A monochrome image of a tall stone tower on New York’s Upper East Side, photographed at golden hour. The symmetrical façade features classical architectural details including balconies, arched windows, and decorative pediments. A pair of small sculptural figures perch on the upper right corner of the structure. The sky is clear, and the image emphasizes light and texture across the patterned stonework.
April 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
softlylit.com
Good morning, Bluesky! I love finding cool patterns and lines among the mundane. Allure can be found just about anywhere if you pay attention. Have a great day!

#UrbanGaze
#AlphabetChallenge
#WeekPForPattern
#StreetPhotography
#NYC
#EastCoastKin
#VanishingPoint
#ClassicMono
A black-and-white photograph of the 81st Street subway platform in New York City. The glowing fluorescent ceiling lights and the patterned tactile strip create a central vanishing point that fades into shadow. Blue steel columns and tiled flooring appear in tonal shades of gray. The station is empty and geometric, emphasizing light, line, and depth.
April 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
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#AlphabetChallenge #WeekPForPattern

Seen in a boiler room on the rooftop of a midtown Manhattan high rise.

#EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #Abstract #Pattern
A close-up view between two cylindrical metal structures in a boiler room, showing rows of small pyramid-shaped studs along the right-hand surface. The image is shot at an angle that creates a narrowing tunnel effect, with soft light and muted gray-blue tones.
April 16, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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What a fun photo outing with @alinagrafik.bsky.social today! I was in the area so we opted to meet up and go on a photo field trip. No particular shots or destinations in mind. Just what caught our eye. Yes, please! Photo buddies FTW 😁

#EastCoastKin #PhotoBuddies
A snapshot of two women, one wearing a purple top and sweater, with a white round pendant on a necklace, and the other wearing a lavender sweater. They are standing in front of a canopy of tall trees in dappled sunlight.
April 13, 2025 at 10:32 PM
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#BlueskyArtShow #Peaceful

"Enough. These few words are enough.
If not these words, this breath.
If not this breath, this sitting here.
This opening to the life we have refused again and again
until now. Until now." ~ David Whyte

#GoldenLight #Stillness #EastCoastKin #LandscapePhotography
A sunlit dirt road winds through a Santa Ynez-area vineyard in the late afternoon, framed by a large tree in the foreground. The golden light filters through delicate leaves, casting a warm glow over rolling hills covered in autumnal vines. A small white house with a blue roof sits nestled among the fields, with distant hills fading into the soft haze of sunset.
April 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
softlylit.com
#UrbanGaze

"Duskline" - Manhattan 2013

#Silhouette #Dusk #LastLight #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #Cityscape #Skyline #Manhattan #NYC #NewYorkCity
A wide panoramic photograph of the Manhattan skyline at dusk. The buildings appear in silhouette against a softly fading sky, with colors transitioning from pale orange near the horizon to cool blue above. No details are visible in the cityscape, and the lower frame is anchored by dark, indistinct treetops.
April 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
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#UrbanGaze #AlphabetChallenge #WeekOForOodles

"Light Algorithm" - NYC 2013

#StreetPhotography #Abstract #Reflection #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #Photography #Perspective
A monochrome rendering of a perspective view of a tall building facade featuring a grid-like pattern of evenly spaced rectangular windows. The building's exterior is composed of brown stone or concrete panels, with the windows reflecting parts of the surrounding urban environment, including nearby structures and the sky.
April 10, 2025 at 9:39 PM
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#UrbanGaze #AlphabetChallenge #WeekOForOodles

Seen on a stroll through #CentralPark. Have a seat!

#StreetPhotography #NYC #NewYorkCity #InaRow #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited
A wooden park bench with dark iron posts viewed in perspective, with people walking in soft focus along a sunlit tree-lined path.
April 10, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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I always thought these flames, which came out of a few narrow metal pipes at a party, were in the shape of a dancer.

#Fire #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited
Bright orange flames captured mid-burst against a dark background, forming a loose arc with tendrils of fire reaching upward and to the right. The flames appear dynamic and sculptural, with fine detail visible in the curling edges and subtle color shifts from yellow to deep red. There is no visible source or context—just fire suspended in motion.
April 9, 2025 at 3:26 AM
softlylit.com
These 3 images were rediscovered today, forgotten in a huge folder of images for 12 years...I decided to share them as a set. This was part of an installation at The Met in #NYC.

So happy to have found them.

#MacroMonday #BlueskyMonday #AlphabetChallenge #OForOodles #EastCoastKin #Abstract #TheMet
A close-up view of a sculptural arrangement of tubular felt-like forms in blue and tan, curving rhythmically against a vibrant yellow background. The structures have a soft, fibrous texture and rounded edges with metal fasteners visible inside. The lighting creates strong highlights and shadows, emphasizing the object’s undulating surface. A row of repeating U-shaped felt structures in alternating blue and tan tones curves across the frame horizontally. The material has a soft, suede-like texture, and each form casts gentle shadows onto the next, creating a rhythmic visual pattern. The tight framing abstracts the object into a minimalist study of repetition and depth. An extreme close-up of soft, padded blue ridges arranged diagonally across the frame. The textile material is slightly fuzzy, with a smooth gradient from light to deep blue across the folds. The composition emphasizes gentle curvature and surface detail, creating a meditative, tactile impression.
April 8, 2025 at 4:16 AM
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They are! I found a large one while I was in CR... I didn't have a long lens, though! Had to get up close and personal with her. Yikes!
A Golden Orb Weaver spider clings to its web, its long legs banded in black and yellow stretching outward. The spider’s body is speckled with gold markings, and its red-tinted fangs are visible as it tends to the web. Sunlight highlights the delicate silk strands, creating a shimmering effect against a softly blurred, cool-toned background.
April 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM
softlylit.com
#Stunday

Back when I knew less about post-processing, I used to heavily process images through tonemapping apps like PhotoMatix. I've slowly been re-editing those overprocessed shots, giving them new life. This is one of them. Much happier with it now.

#Sunset #BigIsland #Aloha
A tranquil Hawaiian beach at sunset with blue outrigger canoes on the sand, palm trees in silhouette, and a warm glow in the sky above the setting sun on the horizon.
April 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
softlylit.com
#acoloradAyPRIL #Purple

This image reminds me of the photo field trip it came from - a farm I visited with my buddy @lightningb33.bsky.social . It was the first of many photo trips we've taken, and the start of what's become a beautiful friendship. 💜

#SelectiveColor #EastCoastKin #ShotonSamsung
A selectively colored photograph of a vintage bicycle with bright purple fenders and frame, leaning against a weathered wooden fence. The surrounding scene is in black and white, showing scattered dry leaves on the ground and dappled light filtering through unseen foliage. The bicycle is rusted but intact, with a worn leather seat and white sidewall tires. In the background, mismatched objects and rustic textures suggest an old shed or backyard storage area.
April 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
softlylit.com
#Stunday #SensoryArt #light #ClassicMono

I posed under this tree with 2 friends, capturing a snap that still brings a smile to my face. After that, I turned around and saw this stunning light show going on. Twice the delight!

#FortheLoveofTrees #TreeLove #EastCoastKin
A black and white photograph of a large tree viewed from directly below, with a textured trunk rising into a dense canopy. Bare branches radiate outward in all directions like spokes, forming a circular, firework-like pattern. The outer edges are fringed with fine leaves and wisps, creating a sense of motion. Bright sky glows softly through the central area, giving the image a luminous focal point.
April 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM