Sunlit Serenity: A Brief Nature Retreat
While running some errands this afternoon, I made a speedy stop at a local Austin gem: Mayfield Park & Nature Preserve. Nestled in Central Austin, the park is an oasis with short trails, ponds, flowers, and several peacocks roaming freely. … Read More
Fortaleza Sunset
It’s #travelTuesday on social media. So, I’m dreaming of a white… sandy beach. This is home. A sunset at Beira-Mar Avenue in Fortaleza can be magical. It has become a tradition for locals and tourists alike to stroll along the seashore … Read More
MoPOP: Where Metal Meets Music
In 2011, we went to Washington to visit all three national parks in that state. We stayed with a friend in Seattle on the weekends and spent weekdays in the national parks. It was a good plan because it allowed … Read More
How the West Was Conquered
Every time I go to this restaurant near our house, I stop to admire this old carriage by the restaurant’s entrance. I like its setting and how dilapidated the carriage looks. My only problem is that I do not want … Read More
Lens-Artists Challenge #329 – Last Chance
Who said there is no drama in Texas fall foliage? When I saw that Inks Lake State Park was at peak time for fall colors, I drove there the next day. The park is only a little over an hour … Read More
A Flutter of Hope, a Shadow of Doubt
This morning, I read an article about the Monarch butterfly’s plight in the Washington Post. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a significant proposal to declare Monarchs a threatened species. Scientists are saying the species is on the decline. The … Read More
The Graceful Giant: Great Blue Heron
As the largest heron in North America, a Great Blue Heron can reach a height of up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) and a wingspan of up to 6.5 feet (nearly 2 meters). With a distinctive light blue plumage and … Read More
Lone Star Blues
One element that always adds drama to photos is the presence of clouds. This monochrome post shows three examples of Texas parks with clouds enhancing the Lone Star’s landscape. Full disclosure: these are not long-exposure photos. I edited the original … Read More
Watercolor Winter Lights
In addition to capturing moments with my camera, I love post-processing routines. It’s during post-processing, or “developing the film,” as we used to say before digital photography that my creative mind can fly. In addition to Lightroom (where I apply … Read More
Winter’s Weirdest Weather: Austin’s Snowy Surprise
Lens-Artists Challenge #328 – Winter John started this week’s challenge with a reminder that “winter will be upon those living in the northern hemisphere in only two weeks.” That sent chills up and down my body. I knew nothing about … Read More