New Growth after the fire. We are camped next to an area that had a controlled burn in a bird sanctuary, they do this about every 8 years.

So on today’s walk, I had to photograph the new growth popping up out of the ashes.

New Growth

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Campground Cat – This cat has grown up here at this particular campground that we are at. People take care of it all year. She lives outdoors and the campground has boxes made for the cats to sleep in and get out of the bad weather.

All the cats here have been fixed and they get flee and tick medicine. They also catch rats and snakes. This cat caught a huge rat and left it by our camper. Good Kitty. 🙂

Campground Cat

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Low Angle Shots – Sometimes you just have to get to ground level to take the shot. I know it is hard to do especially as we get older. Getting back up is the hard part. 🙂

Low Angle Shots

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Dog Agility Event February – I have completed my editing for the 2nd dog agility event that we photographed. The folks will have plenty of photos to look through. I had to take a crash course on using Lightroom batch editing, that really helped.

I had used it years ago and never really looked into it again until this month. Now I have time to do some other things again. I look ahead to photographing next years event as well.

Dog Agility Event February

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Sunrises & Sea Shells

Have a Great Weekend

Sunrises & Sea Shells

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Moss Covered Trees and beautiful sand covered trails to walk on.

Moss Covered Trees

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New Campground, well not new but being remodeled since the last hurricane. We had a great time here, I do recommend this park. They were under construction when we were there.

They are doing a great job at rebuilding the area and keeping the natural habitats available as well as building new construction.

Lots of beaches to walk, new campground spots with full hookups.

New sidewalks, roads and utility buildings.

But also keeping a lot of the natural landscapes for wildlife and trails for people to walk on.

New Campground

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Panama City Beach – We stayed at St Andrews State Park right down the beach from Panama City. There is a nice long pier that we stood on to take the photo of the beach. Most all of those buildings on the beach are rentals, condos and a couple of hotels.

We were there during the off season, so it was pretty quiet.

Panama City Beach

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Snow shoe rabbit

Snow white egret

Snow covered deer

Just snow

Snow white sand

Snow

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Older Snow Photos – my niece wanted some snow photo to print for herself. I had to dig into the archives to find some for her.

This first one is Lake Superior a few years ago, I think 5 years ago. Almost completely froze over. That doesn’t happen to often.

Road trip we took 3 years ago heading to Montana to visit my brother. I like this shot because the road looks like a dead end at the base of the mountain.

Older Snow Photos

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Challenging Obstacles – not challenging for the dogs but for the photographer yes. 🙂

This series was a little more difficult to make because the jumps were so close together. A lot of layers and brushing in the dogs on each layer.

The dogs seem to love the tunnels, they come out of there so quick. I had a few blurry shots because I tried to time the click of the shutter button just as they come out of the tunnel.

I could start the burst earlier, but that is more photos I have to go through and throw away. Mainly because I am photographing every dog that I can. I am talking about a couple thousand photos during a 3 day event.

Have a great weekend.

Challenging Obstacles

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Not Going to Make It – you never want to see a dog trip at a contest. But it is inevitable, they run so fast.

Sometimes they get messed up and have to jump over the jump twice, going the other way.

Not Going to Make It

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Combine Multiple Photos in what I call series photography. I have never made a print like this and thought it would be a good way to showcase their dogs jumping all in one photo.

It has to be at the right angle and dogs that start the jump farther back from the poles.

Combine Multiple Photos

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The Little Dogs

The Little Dogs

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My Favorite Shot of the snow week. Have a great weekend.

My Favorite Shot

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It Took a Week for the snow to melt. It is back in the 60’s.

It Took a Week

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Comparison Photos – How quickly things can change.

Comparison Photos

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Art in Snow Drifts – there is just something about snow drifts that I think is artistic. Mostly from the shadows they make. Giving a hint of blue tones in the dark areas against the sun lit areas.

Art in Snow Drifts

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The Ears are The Last thing to come down. or so it looks. 😉

The Ears are The Last

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No Words Needed, cuteness overload.

No Words Needed

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Ears Are Flying High – Photographing a dog agility event has its challenges. But, viewing the photos after the event, is just so much fun. When it comes to photos like these, it is hard not to smile.

Ears Are Flying High

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Nesting Herons at our next stop which is St Andrews State Park.

I definitely recommend this park as well. They are still remodeling the park since one of the last hurricanes. But they are doing a great job of it. The campsites are level and full hook ups. With all the amenities. Trails to walk on, lots of birds, deer and beaches.

We happened to be there when some Blue Herons were starting to make nest on this little island in the middle of a small lake.

You might want to book a spot ahead of time, it is a very busy park. People coming and going everyday.

Have a great weekend.

Nesting Herons

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St Andrews state park. Beautiful Sunsets. Right by Panama City Fl.

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All From Here – on the road again. We had a wonderful time here, a beautiful lake and lots of wildlife. We are headed west from here.

All From Here

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Alligator Place – There are some really old alligators here, the tour guide was telling us.

The alligator in the back is a female who is at the top of the seniority list in this area. They said her front leg is jacked up from battling with other gators protecting her young.

I hope to be back to this park again one day. Maybe during migration. They said the bird count is double to what I saw today.

Alligator Place

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Birds and Alligators – so many birds. This by far is one of the best nature parks I have been to. The birds are everywhere. They are so used to the tour boats going up and down the river that they don’t fly away when you go by in the boats.

But the Alligators, the most I have ever seen in one spot. The tour guide says the birds eat the baby alligators and the alligators eat the birds. Some balance there, because there are plenty of both around.

Birds and Alligators

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Next Stop – Wakulla Springs

I have had this spot marked on my maps for a couple of years to visit. We finally made it this past year. It is south of Tallahassee.

I highly recommend this area to visit.

Wakulla Springs is a place where history stretches back thousands of years, from early Native Americans who lived in shoreline villages to filmmakers who recognized the primeval quality of the park’s swamps and wildlife when they decided to film Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) here

• Depth: The spring’s vent is 185 feet below the water’s surface. 
• Size: The spring pool is 315 feet in diameter. 
• Cave system: The spring connects to an underwater cave system with over 26 miles of passageways. 
• Temperature: The water is near-constant 69 degrees

One of America’s largest springs is protected within Silver Springs State Park. We took a boat ride down river to see all the birds and manatees enjoying the tranquility of this area.

There are plenty of manatees enjoying the warm water.

Plus beautiful views all along the river.

Next Stop

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Treasures from the Sea – A walk on the beach can lead to all sorts of sea treasures. A variety of colors and textures.

Treasures from the Sea

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Seascapes – Have a great weekend. 🙂

Seascapes

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December in the South – Things you find on a beach. 🙂

December in the South

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Merry Christmas

As we embrace the Christmas season, whether we celebrate with faith or simply with the spirit of kindness and connection, may this time bring hope, love, and joy to all.

It’s a moment to appreciate the small blessings, cherish time with loved ones, and find peace in the togetherness we share.

Have a wonderful day, and hopefully a long weekend filled with family and the joy of being together.

Merry Christmas

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Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve signifies a time of anticipation and reflection. It’s the evening before Christmas, filled with moments of togetherness, quiet joy, and often a sense of peace as people prepare to celebrate the holiday.

For many, it symbolizes hope, love, and the spirit of giving, as families gather, traditions are observed, and the excitement for Christmas Day grows. It’s a time to pause, appreciate the moment, and share warmth with loved ones.

Christmas Eve

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Earlier Lighthouses

Eagle Harbor Light House Lake Superior

Saint Simmons Island Georgia

Ontonagon Light House Lake Superior

Copper Harbor Light House. This one you can not get to up close, but you can see it with a long lens from across the bay here.

And Tybee Island Georgia

Plus the one I posted yesterday in Florida

Have a Great Weekend.

Earlier Lighthouses

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Light House Number Six, we went for a drive down to the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge area. Where we found Light House number 6, to add to my list.

This one was right on the water’s edge. So the best shot would be out in the water looking back. But, that wasn’t going to happen, unless it was low tide.

Tomorrow I will show the other 5 that I have photograph. There has actually been a couple more, but some of them one just can’t get to. They are in some pretty remote places or you could only see them by boat.

Light House Number Six

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Sights From the Dock – Every morning I would walk down to the docks at this lake to check things out.

One morning this air boat was going back and forth way across the lake. From the photos he was spraying something from a hose it looks like. Not sure what he was doing. That air boat was sure loud.

There actually was not a lot of birds around here besides all those turkey vultures I mentioned earlier.

This little guy was fluttering around the low branches over the water.

One Egret was always spotted doing some fishing every morning. Just the one.

Sights From the Dock

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As day fades into night and night melts into day, the clouds tell a story of transformation. Golden sunsets paint the sky in rich hues, while soft blue sunrises bring a fresh promise of hope.

These serene, photogenic moments are reminders of the beauty that surrounds us—beauty only found when we step outside and immerse ourselves in the world’s natural wonders, right before our eyes.

As Day Fades into Night

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Standing on the Edge

Imagine standing at the edge of a long, weathered dock, stretching out toward a still, calm lake. The water is smooth as glass. It reflects the pale, ethereal fog rolling across its surface. The fog obscures the view of the far shore. It feels as though the dock leads directly into the unknown.

It seems to extend into a misty abyss where the world disappears into the distance. Each step forward seems uncertain, as though the wooden planks beneath your feet might vanish into the haze.

But then, as you walk toward the end of the dock, the faint glow of sunrise begins to emerge through the fog. Soft, golden light breaks through the mist, casting a warm, steady glow across the scene. The dock ahead, covered in a delicate carpet of autumn leaves, feels inviting, grounded, offering a sense of safety amidst the uncertainty.

In that moment, the fog no longer seems frightening. Instead, it becomes a gentle reminder of the journey ahead, with each step feeling like a step closer to peace, to hope, and to the embrace of something greater.

The light at the end of the dock feels like the presence of the Lord, guiding you forward, giving you the strength to take that first step into the unknown, assured that you are walking into His comforting, unwavering safety.

Standing on the Edge

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Mirror Image – Amazing views this past week here at this lake just south of Tallahassee. The fog has been quite something to see on the lake.

I would wander down to the lake before the first light of dawn, standing on the dock in silence, awaiting the moment when the sun would gently pierce the mist.

In those quiet hours, the water lies as still as a forgotten dream, its surface so serene it feels as if it might hold the secrets of another realm.

It is in this ethereal light that the world seems to pause, and the lake becomes a portal—one could almost step onto its surface, walking effortlessly into the horizon, vanishing into a world beyond the edges of time.

Have a great weekend.

Mirror Image

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Interesting Reflections – I had a lovely morning walk to this beautiful little lake, where I was greeted by some fascinating cloud reflections on the water. As the sun began to rise, it slowly illuminated the sky, adding to the magic of the moment.

The cloud reflections were just the beginning of some truly beautiful mornings at the lake.

As the temperatures finally started to cool, foggy mornings became a regular sight. It turns out that fog rising from a calm autumn lake creates even more stunning reflections.

The image below captures this beauty— as the fog drifts across the water, it creates the illusion of another world unfolding on the horizon, with shapes and patterns reminiscent of a kaleidoscope.

The trees have mostly turned brown, but the lush grasses and lily pads are still clinging to their deep green hues, adding a touch of elegance to the otherwise gloomy lake view.

Interesting Reflections

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Florida Panhandle – there are lots of great campgrounds along the panhandle of Florida. I found this little campground next to a nice lake just south of Tallahassee.

It only had about a dozen spots, this photo below shows our quiet little nook in the campground.

A great lake for fishing as the boats came and went most every day. The fisherman said they catch mostly bass here and speckled perch.

The first morning walk down to the lake, I saw the largest group of turkey vultures I have ever seen.

They were all in the trees in the distance and as the sun was rising they all took off at once and headed north.

One morning this colorful boat was cruising across the lake and the sun was shinning on it just perfect. We started to leave and these folks pulled up to the dock, so we went up to the gentleman as he got out of the boat and showed him the photo.

Asked him if he would like a copy so we text it to right on the spot. He really liked the shot.

Florida Panhandle

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Tybee Island Lighthouse – I have photographed this light house before. There are just so many different ways to photograph it. It is in such a pretty location with lots of beach grass and sand piles.

I like this angle with the old building in front of it.

Now this is a different kind of shot. We were walking back to the parking lot and noticed two Grackles perched on this truck right in front of the light house. Well, they are such a colorful bird in the sunlight, it made for a fun photo.

Then I had to replace the truck with a branch, that was a lot of red. They were sitting all over this persons truck. 🙂

Tybee Island Lighthouse

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Atlantic – We had a photo shoot to do at Tybee Island this year while we were in the neighborhood. Off the North Atlantic Ocean.

Wonderful beaches and container ships coming and going along the coast line.

I took this one while in the Jeep as we were moving. The rainbow popped up right by it. I don’t think that is really the pot of gold though. 🙂

Atlantic

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Looking Up – Yes, even our pets can look like they have a double chin when taking their photos looking up at them. She is all fluff on this one.

Cats

Looking Up

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Our Last Stop we walked down a short path that opened up to a beautiful waterway. With one egret standing in the water. I love the blues and greens surrounding the bird.

The moon was visible during the day on this trip so I had to take a photo of it as well. This is straight out of the camera using a 6oo mm lens.

This is all for this nature preserve.

We crossed the bridge back over to Georgia.

The shipping yard looked empty when we looked down river. No container ships at all in the water.

I will leave you with a couple of photos of Ships I have photographed in different places. Have a great weekend.

Our Last Stop

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Road Through the Preserve – At every turn there is something to see. From the beautiful moss covered trees to birds perched on logs drying their feathers.

Take the time to find out if there are any nature preserves in your area. Makes for a fun drive if nothing else.

Road Through the Preserve

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Next to the Nature Park, it is next to the Savannah river, right off from the North Atlantic Ocean. So as one looks towards the left anywhere from within in the park. You will see the Georgia Ports Authority Shipping Container Yards.

Literally yards and yards of shipping containers. But, one will see places like this all along the coast. I forgot about them as we drove deeper into the preserve and started seeing birds.

I saw this very interesting lone tree along one of the waterways. I had to edit it a bit, by cutting out the shipping containers in the background.

Original photo below this one.

Next to the Nature Park

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Gus the Alligator – There was a giant alligator named Gus who lived in the murky swamp, notorious for his immense size. He was enormous. When he slid into the water, a wave formed. It could knock over a tree. Most people thought Gus was slow because he spent most of his time floating in the swamp. He looked like a floating log, with eyes barely visible above the surface.

One day, a curious human wandered along the edge of the swamp, casually walking by with a sandwich in hand. Gus watched from the water, thinking, Ah, a snack walks by. Perfect. I’ll just stay here and wait…

But as the human strolled closer, Gus got an idea. He was tired of people thinking he was slow. They always see me in the water, Gus thought. They never see me on land.

With a sudden burst of speed, Gus shot out of the water like a torpedo, launching himself onto the shore with a thud that shook the trees. The human turned just in time to see a 20-foot alligator charging at him, jaws wide open.

The human, completely startled, froze. Gus, with his massive legs now moving surprisingly fast on land, was in full sprint mode, his tail swinging like a wrecking ball. He zoomed past the human in a blur, kicking up mud and leaves as he raced by, and disappeared into the trees.

The human blinked, looking around. “Wait, what just happened?”

From the bushes, Gus’s voice echoed, “Don’t ever underestimate an alligator with a good sprint workout, buddy. I’m faster than your Wi-Fi connection!”

Gus the Alligator

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Georgia – We made it to Georgia. Some road construction along the way really shows how much clay they have in this part of the country. Amazing how the world is made up of so many soil types and landscapes that go with them.

I heard a comic talking about the earth, something like this below.

Okay, folks, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how hilariously absurd our lives are! Here we are, trudging through our daily grind—stuck in traffic, scrolling through cat memes, and obsessing over whether we should order pizza or sushi for dinner. Meanwhile, we’re standing on a giant spinning rock, hurtling through the cosmos at a dizzying 67,000 miles per hour!

Seriously, 67,000 miles per hour! That’s faster than your last attempt to get out of a family dinner! And we’re doing all this while orbiting a massive ball of fire that’s about 93 million miles away. I mean, come on, talk about a cosmic game of dodgeball!

Georgia

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Giant Cotton Balls rolling down the Highway. Video below or click this LINK. Pink, Yellow and Green

Free Overnight Parking – I keep certain places marked on my maps so I can find them easy if I ever need to. This is one of those spots.

A casino in Alabama with free parking for RVs. It is well lit and security cameras everywhere. A good place to stop when you need to take a break.

We got there just before sunset and as you can see, the hotel part of the casino is all glass. I looked out our window and the building was lit up like a giant outdoor movie screen. So I had to go out and snap a couple of photos.

Than the moon was rising over the building, I only used the camera on the phone, so this is the best it could do.

We had a good nights sleep and hit the road the next morning.

Have a great weekend.

Free Overnight Parking

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The winding path through the woods is shrouded in an enchanting mystery, where sunlight dances through the leaves, casting playful shadows on the forest floor.

As you follow the path, the air thickens with the scent of pine and earth, and the world outside fades away.

The Winding Path

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November in Mississippi – The word “Mississippi” comes from the Ojibwe (Chippewa) word “misi-ziibi,” which means “great river.” It reflects the significance of the Mississippi River to the Native American tribes in the region. The name was adopted by French explorers in the 17th century and has remained ever since

The photos capture the serene backwaters of a campground we visited, accessible by a winding trail. The grass here is as vibrantly green as it appears in the images.

November in Mississippi

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Daydreaming, “Clouds are the sky’s way of daydreaming, floating softly on the breeze, whispering secrets to the sun.”

Daydreaming

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Bridge Across the Cedar River – One of my favorite spots to visit in a small town in Iowa. This is a walking bridge for people to cross the river. Makes for a great landscape photo.

Bridge Across the Cedar River

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Her Regal Look – My Chloee. In her defense I had to show you how beautiful she can look when she wants to sit for a portrait.

She has such beautiful eyes, masked by the dark fur giving her a bit of mystery to her face.

Oh, and another cat video of her playing with her favorite thing, red light. LINK HERE ALSO

She is 10 years old now and such a good dog.

Plus, after she has played for a bit, she actually looks like she is smiling when waiting for a ball to be thrown one more time.

Video below of Chloee and Kit Kit or click HERE

Have a great weekend.

Her Regal Look

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Cat vs Dog – I have taken lots of pet photos over the years. Including my own pets. My dog Chloee has a thing about the camera, usually when I point it at her she turns around. Or she gets close trying to sniff the camera.

Which I think makes for fun photos, close up of a dogs nose.

But, cats can be just as funny at times. I took this photo below with a wide angle lens on a phone camera. It made her ear closest to the camera look cartoonist big.

Kit Kit enjoying the outdoors video below or click HERE

So then I took some photo up close to the cats fur. Quite the different colors when you look real close.

I am guessing it is the oils in the fur and the light shinning on it.

After pestering my cat with taking her photo over and over. She then gives me this look telling me that is enough. 🙂

Oh but it is never enough for me. 🙂 there will be more.

Glowing Eyes Cat Digital Art by Sandra J’s Photography

Cat vs Dog

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Kit Kit the Cat – when I don’t have a lot of things to photograph, my cat gets her picture taken a lot. I mean a lot. Mainly because she has so much more patience than the dogs. She will sit perfectly still, which makes for much better photos.

When the temperature starts to drop. I find her sitting like this. She wraps her tail around her little paws trying to keep them warm.

A cats tail seems to have a mind of its own and is quite flexible compared to a dogs.

Kit Kit and Red Light Game Video below or click HERE

I have more videos of her on my You Tube Channel, you can click HERE TO SEE MORE OF THOSE.

Kit Kit the Cat

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First Snow Up North, I wrote on my calendar that the first snow in 2023 was in November. But it isn’t anything that is going to collect on the ground, yet.

It is that time of year. 🙂

Digital Art by Sandra J’s Photography

First Snow Up North

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Good Ole John Deere

John Deere the company would not have been possible without the determination of John Deere the man. From the time he created the first steel plow in 1837, Deere worked hard. He was committed to helping farmers handle their daily tasks with ease.

Demand for these plows increased. Deere moved the business from Grand Detour to Moline, IL in 1848. He chose this new location due to the power and transportation benefits it offered. 

Iowa isn’t just farmland, it is made up of beautiful rolling hills and lots of state parks and lakes.

Good Ole John Deere

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Harvesting Beans in Iowa. Harvest was in full swing when we were in Iowa, it is hard to get a photo of combines in the field without some windmills in the background.

Husband has a quick mind for coming up with funny statements. He saw this photo and said, ” So that is how they dry beans in Iowa.” Get it, the big turbines, they are spinning and drying the bean fields. :0 Ha, Love his sense of humor.

I took these photos with a cell phone camera, so the windmills look kind of funny when the camera does not have a fast enough shutter speed.

Harvesting Beans

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Standard Long Hair Collie. Such a beautiful and unique looking dog. This dog is one of the smartest dogs I have been around. Very good dog around the family and he actually won grand champion at the dog show that my nieces daughter took him to.

Below is a photo of how much he has changed since his puppy picture from last year.

Have a great weekend. 🙂

Standard Long Hair Collie

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Horses and Mules. This mule below is a new one to my nieces farm. She just got it. Half mule half draft horse. Really nice mule.

And more photos and a video below. 🙂

I love videoing horses in slow motion. Here is a cute video below of two horses standing by the gate. Or click the link Here – When They Fell In Love

Horses and Mules

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

After the Rain, water going over a dam. I might have posted these photos before. But, here they are again, encase you missed them. 🙂

After the Rain Link to You Tube Video Here

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Beautiful Morning at one of the campgrounds as we head south. It is very dry here in Iowa, as most areas in the mid-west. Harvest season is in full motion. The combines are out everywhere. They are working on the bean fields first and then moving to the corn fields.

Finally some cool nights this month, long time coming I say. I like the evenings when they are in the 50’s.

Beautiful Morning

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Last of the Summer Flowers full of color. Bees and hummingbirds were enjoying them all month, but we have had a couple of frost already. So they are about done now.

Thanks to my husband, I had the best gardening year ever. Below is a photo of my old garden area.

This summer he built this for me. So much easier to work in and keep.

Who knew dill plants can grow as tall as corn. When I finally pulled them out they were almost 6 feet long.

This plant below is Eggplant. I have never grown them before. It is very interesting to watch this plant grow. But I have to start them much earlier in the season. They never produced completely because they take over 100 days to mature. There are dozens of fruit on each plant as well. Next year I will try again.

Overall it was a very productive garden. We were picking vegetables everyday, adding them to our meals. Such a delight to grow your own food. Can’t wait until spring.

Last of the Summer Flowers

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

We Learn From Nature. Look at this amazing dragon fly up close.

Awhile ago I mentioned something interesting. Engineers observed birds in flight to figure out the design of airplanes. Feathers on bird wings have different purposes that help them land and take off.

Well, I am going out on a limb here. I am thinking they may have gotten the design of pilots helmets from these little guys. Look at the next few photos and you will see what I mean. As I keep zooming in closer to the eyes of this one.

Have a great weekend. 😉

So amazing.

We Learn From Nature

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

On pine tree needles, dew drops lie,
In soft, glistening light beneath the sky.
Each pearl of dawn, so pure and bright,
Reflects the grace of morning light.

In their shimmer, a silent prayer,
A testament to love and care.
A whisper of our Savior’s grace,
In nature’s touch, we see His face.

On Pine Tree Needles

The Horse Show. My favorite class to watch at horse shows is the halter class. Where they mostly just show the composition of the horse compared to the others in the class.

The judge is in the pink shirt heading over to this 4 H girl showing her horse. I think her horse has done this a few times. Its eyes are closed, taking a nap I believe. 🙂

This next one has a bit more energy. But the girl has no problem with her horse and lets him warm up a bit before the class.

Short video below of the horse and riders at the beginning of the show carrying the flags.

Horse Show Video Click Here

The Horse Show

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Glowing Spots – I love this shot, as if this fawns white fur is glowing in the morning light. The sun is just coming up over the trees, and with a faster shutter speed. The white really stands out as the background is darker.

Glowing Spots

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Horses at the Fair. I have a couple more photos to share. They are from my visit to the small town fair in Iowa. I went to the fair recently.

I showed horses in my younger days. It was so much fun getting together with other like-minded people. We enjoyed a day or two of hanging around with some very beautiful horses.

They spent some time working on this horses mane below. Lots of rubber bands. Very pretty.

Horses at the Fair

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Local Canine Beauties that I have photographed this past week. Neighbors pups, a little corgi and golden retriever.

The golden is a pure bred with curly hair. I have never seen that before on a golden. Sweet pups.

Local Canine Beauties

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Next Generation. I am so excited, my oldest niece is interested in photography. I have been helping her learn how to use a DSLR camera and the camera on her phone. But she wants to learn with a camera which is so exciting to me.

I love talking photography and teaching her everything I know. Photography is fun and gets you to slow down a bit. It helps you look at everything around you more closely.

Even though I live 8 hours away from her, with today’s technology, she sends me photos that she takes. I give her advice on how to change the composition to make an eye catching photo. She likes to enter her photos into the fair in her town.

Take for example this photo below, She took this with her phone and sent it to me. As she was standing there by the river and it was getting close to sunset.

So I had just a couple of suggestions for her. First there is too much in the foreground with that cement pad there. I can tell the river curves to the left in front of her. The sun is dropping off to the right in the background.

I text her back. I said to go right down to the edge of the river. She needed to turn her cell phone upside down so that the camera was right at the water’s edge. Then put the camera on its widest angle, which is .6 with a Samsung. She said ok and give her a minute and she will try it.

This is what she sent me next. So much better. I love the clouds reflecting in the water and the trees on both sides. By the time she took the shot, the sun was adding a bit of color.

It looks like she is in the water and the viewer has a leading line to look down the river.

I edited it just a bit to straighten up the horizon and sent it back. Amazing that she and I can do this all through texting.

I gave her my old DSLR bridge camera that she will learn from. We will be working with that this fall when I get down there.

I took this photo on drift wood beach in Georgia, An example of using a wide angle lens. With the right landscape, I love how it elongates the scene. It draws the eye down to that tree in the middle of the shot.

Next Generation

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

When They Look right at you. I love shots like this. When it looks like I have made eye contact with the animals I photograph. As if the animal is posing just for the shot.

I also love the fact that this horses main is framing its face. Definitely going into my favorite folder and I am printing this one.

This one is just the opposite, they are all looking at something down the street. 🙂 Well, except for two who look like they are napping.

When They Look

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

Colorful Semi Truck. I always like seeing some of the nice semi rigs out on the road. This one was turning right in front of us. Quite the colors.

I used to go and watch the world of outlaw funny cars back in the day. It was very fun.

Colorful Semi Truck

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850