There is a specific kind of magic that happens in the high desert of Big Bend Ranch State Park when winter’s grip begins to loosen. It’s a landscape defined by its “hardness”—rugged volcanic rock, heat-shimmering horizons, and plants that have … Read More

The saying may not come from this perennial shrub, but I can certainly see that it would apply to a Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) shrub. Even though this shrub may look a bit like a weed for some people, the round … Read More

Lens-Artists Challenge #385: Unusual Crop Photography rules can help create a balanced photo. However, the old saying that rules are written to be broken should be kept in mind if a photographer wants to blur the lines and show creativity. … Read More

Just ten days after our three-day freeze, I was walking along the Play for All Abilities Park in Round Rock when my eyes caught the beautiful sight of Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) flowers. These tiny wonders did not seem affected … Read More

In mid-November 2025, I paid a visit to the Sunken Garden at the San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, Texas. Although small, the garden is known for its vibrant array of colors. In this particular visit, one flower caught my eye. … Read More

Lens-Artists Challenge #386: What Astonishes You? Beth (of Wandering Dawgs) sets the theme for this week’s challenge. She wrote: “What have you seen or experienced that has astonished you? The challenge is to include photos about things that astonish you … Read More

I have lived in Austin for many years and have hiked the Bull Creek Preserve area several times. Bull Creek is a very popular area, but I had never explored two trails right by the busy Capital of Texas Highway … Read More

Let’s talk about rejection this week. Don’t panic! I mean rejected photos, of course. With the low cost of cloud storage and external drives, I rarely delete an image, even if it’s blurry or has a less-than-ideal composition. Furthermore, I … Read More

Lens-Artists Challenge #381: Minimalism inBlack-and-White Photography Ritva is the host for this week’s challenge. She wrote, “The stark contrasts and the interplay of light and shadows in black and white can evoke a range of emotions, allowing the essence of … Read More

Among all the beautiful wildflowers we see growing around in Texas, one stands out for me. The Texas Prickly Pear cactus (Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri). The photos I share here were all captured at the Pecan Springs Karst Preserve, a … Read More