Lens-Artists Challenge #380: What’s Around the Corner
Anne’s Lens-Artists’ Challenge this week gets us to think about her “theory that there is always something to photograph.” I agree with that wholeheartedly. All it takes is for us to look around the corner, as Anne’s theme suggests. You will be surprised at what you might find. Please check out her post and see it for yourself.
To apply Anne’s theory, I took advantage of spring-like weather earlier this week. I spent a couple of days at Lake Bastrop South Shore (not to be confused with the adjacent Bastrop State Park). There was always something to photograph there. Upon arrival and during my stay, the weather was perfect. On the day I left, things changed.
Although the park has become a popular place for glamping, there are lots of secluded, natural spaces to enjoy. Besides the lake, the trails are very scenic. The main feature for me, though, is that this park is located in the Lost Pines region in Central Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department explains why the region is called the Lost Pines.
Over 75,000 acres of loblolly pines, known as the Lost Pines ecosystem, lie scattered across sections of five counties on the Texas Coastal Plain. […] Over time the climate here became drier, but the local sandy, aquifer-laced soils allowed the trees to thrive. These pines have become genetically unique. They have adapted to 30 percent less rainfall than loblollies from East Texas and adjacent states.
Loblolly Pines (Pinus taeda) create an unexpected landscape in this part of the state, dominated by the common Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei) trees. Looking around the corner, out of 150+ images I captured in my two days at the park, here is a small sample of what I saw around the corner.
Very well camouflaged, this lizard was hiding in plain sight.
By going over near the lake’s edge, it was easy to spot egrets, American Coots, and even a Pied-Billed Grebe.
Looking up into the tree canopy, birds could be seen, including an American Robin.
The hike was peaceful. The ground felt soft beneath my feet.
It was all very quiet, except for animal sounds around me. It was exciting to see the State’s official small mammal: the armadillo.
Thanks for sharing your favorite shots of 2025 last week. Those were great photos. I hope you’ll join Anne’s challenge this week. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts to help people find your wonderful challenge entries.
Next week, Ritva will feature a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about the challenge then. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Green Anole Lizard, Lake Bastrop South Shore, Landscapes, Lens-Artists, Parks, Pied-Billed Grebe, Texas, and Wildlife. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
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sustainabilitea
Looks like another place to add to my list of places I’d love to visit. I liked your use of the slider and I enjoyed the photo of the armadillo, as I haven’t seen one (live or in a photo) for longer than I can remember. Thanks for letting me tag along on your visit.
janet
Egidio Leitao
Janet, it’s a nice, quiet park. Thanks for writing.
Tra Italia e Finlandia
Anch’io sono d’accordo: c’è sempre qualcosa da fotografare, per chi sa vedere!
Egidio Leitao
Ed è per questo che mi piace portare la macchina fotografica in macchina. Grazie.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Such a lovely walk, to see a Green Anole Lizard, or Mexican Long-nosed Armadillo on my walks would be amazing. Beautiful post Egídio, the silent woods captures the mood of this post
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the note, Ritva. I love that park section where I captured the silent woods.
restlessjo
That’s a very dramatic change when the fog rolls in, Egidio. Not so inviting! I love the upwards shot through the trees and the wildlife. Thanks for sharing xx
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for writing. The fog is very mysterious and can be dangerous, especially when driving.
JohnRH
Great photos Egidio. Love the grebe, lizard, armadillo, et al.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, John.
I. J. Khanewala
An armadillo! That’s something to write home about. And that lizard which momentarily misled me into thinking there was moss growing on it 🙂
Egidio Leitao
I.J., although I know green anole can change from brown to green (I’ve seen that right here at home), that lizard stayed that color mixture the entire time I was around photographing it. It never went full brown or full green.
Sofia Alves
I love the armadillo and I had no idea they were common in Texas. I’d be so excited to see one 🙂
It looks like such a wonderful place, Egídio.
Egidio Leitao
I often see armadillos in parks. Once I almost ran over one while riding my bike. They have poor eyesight and often don’t see traffic well near them. That park was my go-to-place during the COVID lockdown. The trails were empty.
solaner
wonderful nature. Nothing, I’d expect from Texas.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your comment, André.
Leya
Loved everything about this one, Egidio! Silent woods and your bird portraits are great. But an armadillo! Wonderful! I have never seen one in real life.
Egidio Leitao
Ann-Christine, I’m happy you liked the post and photos. Armadillos are common in Texas. Thanks for writing.
Wind Kisses
What!?!? You found an armadillo?!?! I think I need a visit there. A wonderful walk with you Egidio. The close up and personal view of your time at Lake Bastrop is intimate and intentional. Thank you. I love the composition of the lizard and how it appears patient, waiting for you to take your shot. But what drew a deep breath for me today was the Silent Woods.
Always a treat to see what you come up with, Egidio
Egidio Leitao
Donna, thank you for your lovely remarks. The best part is that I can almost hear your voice saying these kind words. Re Silent Woods, I did that hike so that I could enjoy that area of the park. It was worth every step I took. Thank you for your wonderful feedback.
Wind Kisses
When I read your posts, I can often hear your voice as well. 🤗
Wandering Dawgs
Egidio, I enjoyed these images from your walk around this beautiful Texas state park. It looks like a peaceful place to spend some time. The image of the silent woods reminds me of some of the Georgia woods I’ve seen. I love the bird images and the green anole.
Egidio Leitao
That image of the silent woods is one of my favorite areas in the park. Thanks, Beth.
Toonsarah
Wow, the armadillo sighting seems rather special! I love the lizard too, and looking up into the loblolly pines 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Sarah. Although the armadillo is the small official state mammal, I don’t get to see it often — thankfully. They can dig lots of holes.
Bob Ramsak
I lover that lizard. Well spotted.
Egidio Leitao
I almost missed it, Bob. Thanks.
shoreacres
I smiled at the mention of a “theory that there is always something to photograph.” I’d go further and say that it’s a fact that there’s always something to photograph. I’m not sure how long I’ve been roaming with my camera — about ten or eleven years — but I’m still waiting for the day that I return home without at least one discovery or pleasing image. This spot that you’ve highlighted certainly provided a wealth of ‘somethings’ for you!
Egidio Leitao
Linda, I agree with you 100%. Having a camera handy is always a sure bet a new photo will be captured.
photobyjohnbo
What a wonderful place to spend some time, Egidio! My favorites are your wildlife photos!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, John.
Rupali
These are amazing shots, Egidio. Oh my the lizard.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Rupali. I almost missed that lizard.
Yinglan
Very nice capture of the lizard and the environment. My favorite is the second from the last photo. It’s hard to such flat forested area in the mountains of northern Utah. The woods here are all either uphill or downhill.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, Yinglan. That photo you singled out is one of my favorite areas in the park. Every time I go there, it’s like I’ve transported myself to another place.
Vicki
Nothing beats nature at her very best and beautifully photographed by one (yourself) with an eye for detail.
That American Robin is a very attractive bird. I like the Pied-billed Grebe as well. What is it about Grebes. They alway seem to swim in the middle of a river or lake making it hard to get a close-up (unless you have a very, very long lens).
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for these wonderful and kind words, Vicki. I appreciate your feedback.
I agree with you about Grebes. They like to stay away from lake and stream shores. That day I captured the image here I had forgotten my Nikon P950. So, I photographed the grebe with only a 300mm zoom lens. I still had to crop the image.
Terri Webster Schrandt
A very nice walk in an area to discover surprises, Egidio! Looks gorgeous! Love seeing the birds and the armadillo!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback, Terri.
Steve Schwartzman
Your Cabin 55 porch view on arrival and on departure made me think what a gift it would be to photographers if we could so easily slide away weather that we didn’t like and replace it with weather that pleased us.
Egidio Leitao
I like your idea, Steve. Can you make it happen, please? Cabin 55 has become my favorite in that park. Every time I stay there, it’s my preferred cabin.
Tina Schell
The park, and especially its winged residents, is beautiful Egidio. Also loved the little anole. The armadillo, on the other hand, not so much. Here in SC as it burrows under homes, gives birth to its 5 babies and generally wreaks havoc with plumbing, lawn care and any wiring it can find. I’d love them to relocate to your world!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Tina. I would also worry if I found armadillos around our home. They’re ok in the wild. Actually, that goes for all wildlife.
Teresa
Egidio, what a great place to find pleasant surprises.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Teresa. That park was my go-to place during COVID. The trails were open with no one around.
prmckee1
I love your photos and comments about one of my favorite Texas ppl parks. We have many great memories there together.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback. That’s a great park indeed.
Anne Sandler
Egidio, you may have not walked around a corner, but you did walk around a beautiful environment. From the trees to the animals, there is beauty.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for your feedback, Anne. Corners were not very noticeable in the great outdoors.