Black-and-white macro photograph of a shrimp plant flower cluster against a dark background, showing overlapping bracts with crinkled, paper-like texture, fine hairs along their edges, and a single curled filament extending from the tip.

A Heart with Two Valves — Shrimp Plant in Macro

|

Whenever I photograph our Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana) in macro mode, I am surprised by what the lens reveals. Take the monochrome header image. Stripped of its color, the flower is all texture: the bracts turn paper-thin and crinkled, every … Read More

Black-and-white scrapbook-style collage of five macro photographs — card slot contacts, a battery connector, a lens filter’s ridged edge, the nozzle of an air blower, and folded cleaning wipes — arranged at overlapping angles.

Everyday Objects, Uncommon Views

|

Lens-Artists Challenge #411: What Is It? I took Sofia’s lead for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge and stayed very close to home. In her post, she wrote, “The only thing you need to do is find photos that will leave us … Read More

Fall foliage at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, with Prairie Flameleaf Sumac in shades of red, orange, and yellow and the white, feathery plumes of Roosevelt Weed rising in the background.

Yellow Hues at Balcones Canyonlands

|

Whether you go on a long hike or a short walk, the sights at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge will always please you. In the fall, you have vibrant colors from the Prairie Flameleaf Sumac (Rhus lanceolata) and Roosevelt Weed … Read More

A three-image collage of flowers: a cluster of hooded yellow Jerusalem Sage blooms, two magenta Trailing Ratany flowers with fringed petals, and a spiny purple Leavenworth's Eryngo flower head resembling a small pineapple.

JKLoriously Floral

|

The time has come for another edition of Floral ABCs. This week, Terri’s Flower Hour #42 reaches the letters J, K, and L. I wasn’t sure I’d have an example for every letter. My photo archive and a quick internet … Read More

Female Smoky Rubyspot damselfly with a metallic green thorax and blue-green abdomen perched on a pale twig at Hornsby Bend, Austin, Texas.

Two Sides of the Smoky Rubyspot

|

On Sunday morning, I met some master naturalist friends at Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory. Our intent was to photograph birds, but we got sidetracked by the insects. In a couple of different locations during our walk, we saw several Smoky … Read More

Tranquil pond reflecting a blue sky filled with white clouds, framed on the right by leafy green branches, with suburban houses and a grassy lawn visible across the water.

Lens-Artists Challenge #399: Stuck in Place

|

At one time or another, some of us feel a lack of inspiration or motivation to photograph new things. Some people address those times by going out with only one lens. Others force a change in perspective by switching to … Read More

A small pond seen through overhanging branches, surrounded by spring-green trees whose foliage and reflections fill the frame; a soft, painterly edit gives the scene a dream-like quality. Copperfield Nature Trail, Austin, Texas.

A Different Green Every Spring

|

Lens-Artists Challenge #398: Choose a Color “Nature in her green, tranquil woods heals and soothes all afflictions.”  — John Muir Ritva sets this week’s challenge: Choose a Color. In her post, she gives us plenty of beautiful examples and ample … Read More

A small stand of Wild Bergamot in bloom, its lavender-pink flower heads rising on slender stems above green foliage, with a softly blurred stone courtyard wall in the background.

Touched by Light: The Textures of Wild Bergamot

|

Lens-Artists Challenge #397: Texture For this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, Anne has chosen a topic close to my heart: texture. As she puts it, texture “gives us the visual quality of a surface — how rough, smooth, gritty, or soft it … Read More

A cluster of pickerelweed plants along the edge of a calm pond, violet flower spikes scattered among bright green heart-shaped leaves and tall reeds, with the water reflecting the morning light.

Pickerel-What? Weed by Name, Wonder by Nature.

|

Last year, I revisited a friend’s ranch just outside Caldwell, Texas, for a refresher on macro photography of bees and odonates in flight. After an early morning session photographing bees, I found myself gravitating toward other treats on his property. … Read More

A weathered wooden arch marks the trailhead entrance to Twin Springs Preserve, flanked by a stone foundation and framed by the dense canopy of Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei) and mixed Texas Hill Country brush.

Off the Beaten Path: A Quiet Afternoon at Twin Springs Preserve

|

I recently completed a two-part training on the Leave No Trace Seven Principles — a meaningful program that encourages us to be more mindful of protecting the places we visit and hike. For those unfamiliar, the seven principles are: Plan … Read More

1 2 3 4 … 13