Lens-Artists Challenge #409: Best Ever Images
This week, our guest host for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge is Steve Hyde, of Steve Hyde Photography Blog. Celebrating World Photography Day on August 19th, Steve thought this would be a perfect opportunity for everyone to share their “best ever” images with the Lens-Artists community. Some of the images I chose may not be my objective best, but each one is meaningful to my journey as a hobby photographer. Together, they span nearly nineteen years. Picking this handful of images mattered to me because looking back shows how much I’ve grown behind the camera. As I like to say, it isn’t about whether someone else’s photo is better than mine — it’s about how far I’ve come when I compare where I started to where I am now.
The first image takes me back to where this all began: the Frio River at Garner State Park, photographed in December 2007. Nine years later, a friend encouraged me to enter the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s monthly “Focus on the Wild” competition, held in 2016 to mark the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. I submitted this photo of bald cypress trees glowing at the river’s edge for the February contest. To my surprise, it was chosen the best of that month, and by year’s end, the best of 2016. I re-edited it especially for this post, coaxing a bit more warmth and depth out of the original file.
We jump twelve years for this next one, to a dramatic sunset at Davis Mountains State Park. Skyline Drive offers sweeping mountain views, and on most evenings the sunset there is something to behold. This is just one of many I’ve photographed over the years, and I’m already thinking about going back this fall to take in the beauty of that island in the sky again. Like the first image, this one was re-edited for this post.
Also from 2019, but in the Texas Hill Country just outside Austin, I visited Westcave Preserve. The 45-acre (18-hectare) preserve offers public tours that take visitors down into two very different ecosystems. At the end of the tour, when we reached the grotto, we were allowed inside the cave, where I captured this view looking back out. Nature Photographers Network later selected it as an Editor’s Pick.
While spending a couple of days at Inks Lake State Park, I got a front-row seat to nature’s balance in a way I’d never witnessed before. I had set out to photograph the sunset over the lake and the pink granite scattered throughout the park. Nature had other plans. Stepping onto a short footbridge, I was startled to find a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) with its supper in its talons. I stopped and started shooting photos and video right away. The hawk moved off in a few short hops, finally settling on a boulder beside the trail, which let me step off-trail and work my way around the scene. It wasn’t until I got home that I noticed the details I’d missed in the moment: the squirrel’s last breath, its mouth open, and a trace of blood on the hawk’s beak. I could not have staged a scene like this if I’d tried. I was simply lucky to be there at the right time and place.
Finally, an image I captured recently and already featured here on the blog. I’ve lived in Teravista for two years now, blessed with a pond behind our house, and I spend a lot of time on the deck watching and learning from the wildlife that visits it. The morning I photographed this green heron (Butorides virescens) was the first time I’d seen one stretch and preen instead of crouch and hunt, which is how I usually find them at the pond. The light caught its wings just right, revealing a teal I rarely get to see so clearly.
This post is a reminder that nature is my favorite photography genre, whether I’m working a wide landscape, a wildlife moment, or a single wildflower. Vast or intimate, I feel lucky every time I get to capture it. The journey continues.
Thanks to everyone who joined my “Over the Top” challenge last week — I loved seeing your wonderfully over-the-top images and your interpretations. Your creativity excelled, as always. I hope you’ll join Steve’s challenge too, and share some of your own best-ever images. Be sure to check out Steve’s post for more inspiration, and don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag to help us find your responses in the Reader.
Next week, Ritva returns with another fun challenge. It goes live Saturday at noon Eastern. I hope to see you there. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history. If you don’t want to miss any future challenges, please consider subscribing to the team members’ websites. Here they are:
- Tina of Travels and Trifles.
- Patti of P.A. Moed.
- Ann-Christine of Leya.
- John of Journeys with Johnbo.
- Anne of Slow Shutter Speed.
- Sofia of Photographias.
- Egídio of Through Brazilian Eyes.
- Ritva of Ritva Sillanmäki Photography.
- Beth of Wandering Dawgs.
That is the story behind the shots. For more like this, enjoy these related stories: Davis Mountains SP, Frio River, Garner SP, Green Heron, Inks Lake SP, Landscapes, Lens-Artists, Parks, Red-tailed hawk, Skyline Drive, Sunset, Teravista, Texas, Westcave Preserve, and Wildlife. Until the next shoot, keep chasing the light and the wonders it reveals.
Sources:
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation — Our Story — https://www.tpwf.org/our-story/
- Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — Garner State Park — https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/garner
- Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — Davis Mountains State Park — https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/davis-mountains
- Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center — https://www.westcave.org/
- Nature Photographers Network — https://www.naturephotographers.network/
- Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — Inks Lake State Park — https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks-lake
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds — Red-tailed Hawk — https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/overview
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds — Green Heron — https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/overview
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blhphotoblog
Well that Hawk shot is something else! Chances like that rarely come along, lucky you.
Love the view from the grotto as well.
Egidio Leitao
Many thanks for your comment, Brian. I knew I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when I spotted the hawk. I did everything I could not to disturb it, while capturing as many photos and videos as I could. Thanks.
Kirstin Troyer
WOw. Absolutely stunning!!!
Egidio Leitao
Many thanks, Kirstin. Your compliment is very much appreciated.
leya
A fantastic gallery of amazing images! I always love your landscapes and here you treat us to true magic. The light is only one of your magical strengths and you know I love trees. The grotto is otherworldly!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Ann-Christine. I love landscapes a lot. I want to go to that grotto again and spend more time, if possible.
Dawn M. Miller
These are incredible!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your note, Dawn.
Tra Italia e Finlandia
Una bellissima collezione, Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Sono contento che ti sia piaciuto.
Anita
What a magical collection, Egídio! So much beauty and such a wonderful variety, a beautiful reflection of your journey behind the lens. Choosing a favourite would be impossible, they are all simply breathtaking.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the compliment, Anita. It was difficult to come up with five images, but those hold a meaningful place in my journey. Thank you.
Steve Schwartzman
Good selection, especially the dramatic close-up of the hawk and its prey. Re-editing is a welcome fact of life. The software keeps improving, allowing us to get more out of old pictures than we might have thought possible when we took them.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Steve. The hawk was surreal for me. As for the software advances, I totally agree with you. That is why I rarely throw away any images I capture.
Bob Ramsak
Excellent selection Egidio! The Green Heron shot is spectacular. Really glad to have crossed paths with you and your work here.
Egidio Leitao
Bob, having this compliment coming from you is wonderful. Many thanks. I am also glad I found your blog.
PR
Gorgeous shots, Egidio! The first one is surreal!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, PR. That was a new edit of the scene.
Sofia Alves
Amazing photos, Egídio. I truly think you excel at landscape photography.
Egidio Leitao
Sofia, your feedback is very meaningful to me. Thanks for pointing this out about my landscape photography. A photographer here in town also says the same.
Toonsarah
I knew you’d present us with a wonderful selection of images, and these certainly don’t disappoint! I have to mention in particular ‘Island in the Sky at Dusk’ and ‘Nature, Uncut’ as particular favourites of mine 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Sarah. Your words make this a better morning. Those photos have special meaning in my journey.
shoestringdiary
Gorgeous selection of landscape and wildlife shots!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Leo. I appreciated your compliment.
Pepper
Egidio, your selection of photos are stunning. Love them all! 👏
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Pepper.
photobyjohnbo
Those cypress in your opening image are beautiful. I can see why it was your opening image. My favorite, though, is Island in the Sky. It’s a beautiful edit, Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks so much, John.
Ana
I love your selection, they’re wonderful.
Egidio Leitao
I’m glad you liked them. Thanks, Ana.
Teresa
These are all lovely choices, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Teresa.
Vicki
Striking images, Egidio, but I have to say the hawk is my favourite. Get up close and personal with a bird of prey would be my ultimate bird shot.
I haven’t seen it yet, but apparently if I lived on the other side of my apartment building, I’d score more than one shot.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Vicki. I was using my zoom lens on that bird shot – as I do with all my bird shots. I believe Nature was gracious and very giving in allowing me to see and photograph that. Thanks.
pamperrault21
They’re all lovely, of course, but my favourite is the first image. The base of the trees look like elephant feet and toes. :-). I’ll bet you had a very hard time whittling down your list! Great post! pp
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Pam. You’re the second person who sees elephant feet and toes in the cypress image. As for how hard it was to select these photos, I went with how much significance those images are to my journey. Thanks.
pamperrault21
Truth be told, I followed your example. I’m not in the “best-ever” category yet. But I’m working on it! I really enjoyed your post, Egidio, thank you. pp
Egidio Leitao
Thank you again, Pam. The thing I did was to look at my old photos and the new ones. That’s when we are able to see how much progress we’ve accomplished. Comparing with others is not a fair take.
Tina Schell
Wonderful choices Egidio (no surprise there!). Your birds are my favorites this week – really terrific captures. We often see green herons here but I’ve never seen one with the wing extended like that. Great get – as is the hawk and its prey. Superb!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Tina. The green heron was also my first time seeing with the wing spread open – an unforgettable moment. Just like in some of your photos, some moments just present themselves unexpectedly.
Steve Hyde
Wow, Egidio. I’m glad I set this challenge if only to see these images and read the narrative behind them. You set yourself a high bar with your first image of those cypress trees. The Westcave Preserve Grotto image is something else. I’ve gone back several times to look at it again 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Steve, many thanks for this wonderful challenge and your comments here. The challenge gave me the chance to re-edit a couple of the shots here, including the cypresses.