Through Brazilian Eyes

A tall, sunlit red rock formation with jagged columns rises above a hillside of golden grass and scattered juniper at the start of the Indian Lodge Trail, Davis Mountains State Park, Texas.

Island in the Sky

Davis Mountains State Park is one of the most scenic parks in Texas. Tucked into the Davis Mountains and close to The University of Texas McDonald Observatory, the Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve, and the Fort Davis National Historic Site, … Read More

A side-by-side collage of two bright yellow Texas wildflowers — a large, ruffled sundrops bloom on the left and a smaller, delicate flax flower with an orange-red center on the right.

Berlandier’s Beguiling Blooms

Lens-Artists Challenge #404: Subjects that begin with the letter B When Beth issued this week’s photo challenge, I went looking for a single subject that could carry the letter B. “Let’s have a little fun and feature subjects that begin with … Read More

A fiery sunset over rolling wooded hills at Kickapoo Cavern State Park, with deep orange and red hues blazing across dramatic clouds above a darkening landscape of live oaks and Texas brush country.

Wings at Dusk: Inside the Bat Caves of Kickapoo Cavern State Park

The landscape west of San Antonio holds more surprises than most Texans realize. On a camping trip with friends to Kickapoo Cavern State Park — a rugged stretch of Edwards Plateau country in Kinney County — we discovered a place … Read More

Four-panel collage of the Santuário Arquidiocesano São Francisco de Assis in Pampulha, Belo Horizonte: exterior side view with parabolic vaults and azulejo panels, interior vestibule looking out toward Pampulha Lake, interior nave with Portinari altar mural, and front entrance with the freestanding bell tower

Perspective, Depth, and Scale at the Santuário São Francisco de Assis

Lens-Artists Challenge #403: Tools of Photo Composition: Perspective, Depth, and Scale This week’s Lens-Artists Challenge is hosted by John. He continues his series of compositional tools in photography. Specifically, he wants us to focus our attention on the “tools that … Read More

A collage of six backyard birds — Northern Cardinal, Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks, Eastern Phoebe, Green Heron, Red-Shouldered Hawk, and Yellow-Crowned Night Heron — all photographed at the same pond within one hour.

One Hour, A World Apart

Lens-Artists Challenge #402: Looking Back at #1 – Wonder Most mornings, I meditate on the deck facing the pond behind our house. It’s become a quiet anchor to the day — the water, the light shifting through the trees, whatever … Read More

Wide-angle view of the ornate interior of Teatro José de Alencar in Fortaleza, Brazil, with rows of cane chairs, sweeping iron balconies, and a painted ceiling converging in perfect symmetry toward the proscenium arch stage.

Guided by the Frame: Compositional Tools in Fortaleza

Lens-Artists Challenge #401: Focus on the Subject with These Essential Tips A photograph is more than the sum of its subject. The best images are built and constructed with intention before the shutter is ever pressed. As my followers are … Read More

Scrapbook-style collage of four nature photographs set at slight angles with white borders and soft shadows: three Brown Pelicans on a beach, three Great Blue Herons atop a coastal shrub, three Blue Curls flower clusters, and three orange beetles on a pink thistle.

If Two Is Company, Is Three Perfection?

Lens-Artists Challenge #400: Rule of Three Photography has so many rules that anyone trying to learn composition can feel overwhelmed. Others simply trust their intuition. This week, Tina covers a rule that not many people may have heard of: the … Read More

A Greater Roadrunner stands tall and alert in a sun-drenched meadow of Indian Blanket wildflowers, gazing skyward with a composed, slightly regal expression. Soft golden light and a painterly blur of red and gold blooms surround the bird. Likely the female.

Love Dance

I was out walking and photographing wildflowers at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park when a movement in the grass caught my eye. A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) — not an unusual sight on the Texas trails I frequent — but … Read More

A field of Horsemint (Monarda citriodora) in full bloom, their stacked purple-and-white whorls rising above the foliage, with Firewheels (Gaillardia pulchella) dotting the background against a soft, green-bokeh landscape.

The Lemony Neighbor — Horsemint Blooms in the Texas Spring

I really like springtime in Texas. Besides excellent weather, the display of wildflowers is a continuous show. In mid-May, we are finding lots of fields covered with Firewheels (Gaillardia pulchella). Although the vibrant hues of reds and yellows create a … Read More

A double rainbow arches over the rooftops and treetops of a residential neighborhood at dusk. The sky transitions from deep blue-purple on the left to vivid orange and magenta on the right. Both the primary and secondary rainbow arcs are clearly visible. Photographed in the Gardens of Teravista, Round Rock, Texas, on May 21, 2026.

Magenta Skies and a Double Rainbow

Two days ago, after a series of thunderstorms rolled through our area in Round Rock, the sky outside our living room window began to glow in a way that stopped us in our tracks. It was just past 8:20 in … Read More