nature Archives • Into the Light Adventures

By Sandra J

Discovering the New Bird Sanctuary

By Sandra | September 24, 2024 | Comments 22 comments

Discovering the New Bird Sanctuary near Paducah KN. I just looked at the map and saw a green area not far from us. So we took a drive to see what it was.

This area had a nice size man made lake with a road that you can drive all around it. Plenty of habitat for a lot of birds and people out fishing on the lake as well.

We discovered this new bird walking along the shore line.

Dozens of Egrets in the trees and on land. I will definitely be visiting this park again to see more birds.

Discovering the New Bird Sanctuary

By Sandra J

Just One Shot

By Sandra | September 20, 2024 | Comments 14 comments

Just One Shot is all I get of these sand hill cranes. They landed in the field next to our place. You can hear them easily in the mornings, as they make their bird calls.

This particular morning they flew right over my head and landed the next field over. I went out there to get a photo of them and only snapped this one before they took off. They were quite far away as well.

I never realized they have red eyes like the black swans until I looked at this photo.

Just One Shot

Have a Great Weekend

By Sandra J

Blue Top Hat

By Sandra | September 11, 2024 | Comments 5 comments

Blue Top Hat. Molting seems to be done with the blue jays. They have their crown of blue feathers back. There are always plenty of them to photograph this time of year.

By Sandra J

A Summer’s Warmth

By Sandra | September 4, 2024 | Comments 10 comments

A Summer’s Warmth. Gently recedes, autumn steps in with its own distinct charm. It drapes the world in a stunning tapestry of golden hues.

There’s a certain magic in this season. Nature’s palette shifts from the vibrant greens of summer to a more mellow, sunlit symphony of golds, ambers, and ochres.

The leaves have started to turn in my neck of the woods.

A Summer’s Warmth

By Sandra J

Discover the Charm of Paducah

By Sandra | August 26, 2024 | Comments 7 comments

A Hidden Gem of History and Art

Discover the Charm of Paducah A Hidden Gem of History and Art. A beautiful little town filled with history and art. Another town that we have camped near for many years, but we never actually went into the town itself. Until last spring. What a surprise we had to find such a historical little town full of brick streets, old buildings and museums. The grand attraction called the Wall to Wall Murals, Portraits of their Past.

This town is full of historic beautiful homes, a vibrant downtown area with lots of original brick buildings and streets. Just a fun place to visit.

This is one of the murals below showing the bustling main street of Paducah from back in the day.

The man behind the murals is;

Robert Dafford, Muralist

Dafford, a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, fell in love with the city on his first visit. He was introduced to several local citizens. He learned about Paducah’s history. He stated, “This river town has vast and colorful history. It would be an ideal location to paint images from its past”. He and his team of talented muralists were commissioned to start painting Paducah’s floodwall the next spring. Dafford has painted over 500 murals across the United States, Canada, France, England and Belgium.

He has been painting murals, signs and fine art paintings for over 50 years. In the past 40 years, Dafford has concentrated on working along the Ohio River. He has painted over 200 large historical images of cities on their floodwalls. Many riverboat and motor coach tours make stops along the Ohio River specifically to see these murals.

He has a team of artist that help him paint these murals. The tour guide at the museum told us that when he started painting these it cost $10,000 dollars a photo. She said now it is over $30,000 to paint one section. There are a few empty pieces of the wall yet in need of a mural, but because of the cost. He has not done anymore lately.

Discover the Charm of Paducah: A Hidden Gem of History and Art

By Sandra J

Days Are Getting Shorter

By Sandra | August 21, 2024 | Comments 27 comments

Days Are Getting Shorter – As I sit at my computer on this serene early morning, I watch the daylight gradually stretch its arrival, casting a gentle glow through my window. I wait patiently, eager to see the birds make their appearance at the feeders.

The blue jays have arrived, bringing their young along to learn the art of foraging. The fledglings, fluttering around with eagerness, receive gentle guidance from their parents as they practice eating on their own.

I have been taking photos of these colorful birds, trying to get shots of them in flights to see their colorful feathers.

As most of you have probably heard, AI is here to stay and it is making an impact on our photography world as well.

Yes, I have been dabbling into the art of AI with my photos as I have extra time these days. Exploring this new technology to make greeting cards for the upcoming seasons apon us.

I only use photoshop and they have incorporated a new AI into its program this month. I quite enjoy using it and creating art by using my photos as the generative reference images.

I have two samples below showing the difference between using your own reference photos and using text to image program.

This first photo below I used my blue jay photos to make this wintery greeting card. It does pretty well I think. I also list on all of my work when it is AI generated or not and how I made the piece.

Now this print below is using the text to image system. Where you describe what you want the photo to look like. I do not prefer this type of imagery. But I can see where some folks might like to use this, for creating children’s books or something like that.

There is a place for art using this new technology I believe, it does not replace photography at all, but it is definitely here to stay and being used throughout industries of all kinds, from advertising to creating movies.

Right now I can still tell the difference between AI and Real, but that may change as the software keeps improving.

I believe there will always be a place for genuine photographs because computers can’t replicate the human touch. While technology can imitate creativity, it can never replace the authentic essence of human expression.

Days Are Getting Shorter

By Sandra J

She is Sneaky

By Sandra | August 16, 2024 | Comments 15 comments

She is Sneaky this little fawn, she is just starting to come out of the woods with mom in this first photo, the minute I come out with the camera she high tails it back to the woods.

Everyday she is getting more brave to not run when she sees me, she is curious and mom keeps a close eye on her.

Have a great weekend.

She is Sneaky

By Sandra J

Heading Out to Sea

By Sandra | August 8, 2024 | Comments 15 comments

Heading Out to Sea – what a job this must be. Staying out on the water for days or weeks. I know I could not do it. I am pretty sure I would get sea sick. I like to boat, but I have never been on really big boats or big waves.

I will stick to taking their pictures instead.

Heading Out to Sea

By Sandra J

The Storm Clouds Gather

By Sandra | August 2, 2024 | Comments 21 comments

The Storm Clouds Gather, dark and dense, A tumult roars, the heavens tense, Lightning cracks the twilight’s veil, A furious dance, a tempest’s wail.

The sky ignites with electric fire, Each flash a fierce, consuming pyre, Thunder’s voice, a booming cry, Echoes through the bruised night sky.

Yet in the chaos, midst the rage, A fleeting light begins to wage, As torrents drench the world below, A secret promise starts to show.

The storm, though wild, begins to fade, Its fierce embrace now softly swayed, And through the tears of shattered rain, A ribbon forms, a hopeful chain.

Colors break through, soft and bright, A spectral arc against the night, A rainbow blooms, a quiet cheer, A bridge of peace in storm’s austere.

Have a wonderful weekend.

The Storm Clouds Gather

By Sandra J

Serenity in Reflection

By Sandra | August 1, 2024 | Comments 11 comments

“Serenity in Reflection: Capturing Nature’s Canvas at the Lake”

First day of August, last year our first frost was on August 25th, but it is near 90 today, so we will see what the month brings.

Finally took the boat out this summer. The loons are swimming with their babies. Hope to get photos of them next time.

Serenity in Reflection

Nature’s Fury

By Sandra | July 31, 2024 | Comments 13 comments

Nature’s Fury: The Dramatic Beauty of Shelf Clouds

Last month brought some stormy weather where I live, two shelf clouds this year so far. They move very fast being pushed by some horrific winds. The clouds roll at you in so many different shapes.

The first one here, it was a big shelf cloud with some cloud movements like nothing I have ever seen. Video Below.

Video Below; or click this title here to see the video on my You Tube Channel, Natures Fury

Thunder Rolls, Scary Cloud Formations, Time Lapse, Heavens Open, Rainbows Shine in the End

The Second Shelf cloud storm was more straight lined right across, rolling like pie dough in a tight line. Both with winds and rain that almost made me run back into the house. 🙂

Nature’s Fury

By Sandra J

The Old Windmill

By Sandra | July 30, 2024 | Comments 3 comments

The Old Windmill – In the 18th century, the Great Plains were considered unfit for cultivation. The area was termed the “Great American Desert.” Droughts would follow rainy spells and the sun and wind would dry up surface moisture.

In 1854, Daniel Halladay developed the American-type windmill. It was smaller, less expensive and could be shipped and built easily. Its sails were held into the wind by a weight, which would rise slowing to reduce the area of the sails when the wind was too fast. Traditional cloth covered sails were soon replaced with smaller wooden blades.

These new windmills were ideal for settlers on the plains. They could pump water from great depths at a steady rate. They could shift into the prevailing winds and functioned well in fast and slow winds. And to top it off, they required little maintenance.

You can still find a few of these scattered across the states. Iowa still has a few, I took this photo from the RV window. There is just something nostalgic about these windmills.

I don’t know how many of these old windmills are in Iowa these days.

But it does say there are 6000 of these wind turbines in Iowa alone as of today. The giant thing in the background of the photo below. A big difference in windmills from the old days.

I won’t get into the efficiency of these or all the controversy about them all over the country. I know at this little horse show I went to, I photographed a lot of children with their horses and had to delete a lot of windmills from the background. Which is not that hard to do in photoshop these days.

The Old Windmill

By Sandra J

In Twilight’s Hush

By Sandra | July 29, 2024 | Comments 16 comments

In Twilight’s Hush, where whispers drift, The storm clouds weave a gentle shift, Like ghosts in realms of azure seas, They float with soft, enigmatic ease.

With edges brushed in shades of grey, They roam the sky in a fleeting ballet, Their wispy tendrils tease the night, An ethereal dance of shadowed light.

They gather slow with sighs of lore, A murmured tale of tempest’s core, Yet in their grace, a calm prevails, An artful play where calmness sails.

No thunder’s roar or lightning’s claim, Just drifting clouds with no ill aim, They kiss the heavens, drift and part, An endless play of storm and heart.

Their fleeting forms in twilight blend, A moment’s breath that does transcend, In wispy trails, their stories told, Of storms unbound and skies unrolled.

In Twilight’s Hush

By Sandra J

Love of Bird Photography

By Sandra | July 24, 2024 | Comments 19 comments

Love of Bird Photography – Some of my favorite shots this summer so far.

Eastern Bluebird on the Fly, update on these birds nesting in my purple martin house. They had 4 babies and I saw one fly out of the bird house with its parent. The other 3 would take turns coming out of the nesting box and sit on the little porch. That is a small space for 4 baby birds so they are all probably about ready to test their wings and fly to a tree.

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird stopping by the feeder.

Shore bird after a dip in the water

Oh and my favorite, the White Pelican in flight. Nothing I love more than photographing these beautiful birds as they fly right over top of me. It is very hard to hold the camera in a complete vertical position but so worth the efforts. 🙂

Love of Bird Photography

By Sandra J

Patience is a Virtue

By Sandra | May 10, 2024 | Comments 16 comments

Patience is a Virtue, The Eastern Bluebird – this colorful bird seems to be all over the Midwest, but I have only recently started seeing it more and more.

This first photo I took of this colorful bird over 10 years ago as I was on a walk and it just happened to land on this sign. One takes a picture no matter what the background is or the perch the bird is sitting on, when you get to see a new bird like this one.

Well, over the years of practice and improving my photography skills. I have learned to be more patient and learned more about birds and their behaviors so I can work at getting just the right shot to highlight the species and not have to many distractions in the photo, when possible.

That is not always possible with wildlife. But we do get lucky now and then.

I kept an eye on this Eastern Bluebird as it went from branch to branch. It was perched deep in the tree at first, as new leaves on the branches were blocking my view from getting a nice clear photo.

UNTIL

It finally landed on a branch that was hanging low under the tree. This is what I was waiting for, a clear view of this beautiful bird on just one branch.

I love it when my patience gives way to a beautiful photo like this. Showcasing the beauty of this little bird. 🙂

Patience is a Virtue

Have a great weekend.

Patience is a Virtue

By Sandra J

The Saffron Finch

By Sandra | April 25, 2024 | Comments 12 comments

The Saffron Finch – probably the prettiest yellow with a touch of orange over the eye. What a bird this one is.

The saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola) is a tanager from South America that is common in open and semi-open areas in lowlands outside the Amazon Basin.

By Sandra J

Little Blue Heron

By Sandra | March 26, 2024 | Comments 14 comments

Little Blue Heron – A new bird for the year. Someone had told me they saw this blue heron and today I went for a walk, and their it was high up in the tree. I wasn’t sure what it was until I got home and looked at the photos.

Adult Little Blue Herons are very dark all over. At close range or in good light, they have a rich purple-maroon head and neck and dark slaty-blue body.

Little Blue Heron

Artistry in Nature

By Sandra | March 14, 2024 | Comments 25 comments

Artistry in Nature, The Wing, it never ceases to amaze me, the intricate detail and design of the wing on all of the birds. I count at least 10 different lengths of feathers on this white pelicans wing. But they look so perfectly in line and a master of art itself from our creator.

Each feather with a purpose that only the designer knows exactly why and how it works. If someone asked me to design a wing. I would just make all the feathers the same because I don’t actually know the true purpose of all the different lengths.

But they are beautiful to look at.

Artistry in Nature

Gulls in Flight

By Sandra | January 10, 2024 | Comments 56 comments

Gulls in Flight – Gulls are a very unique bird, some may say they are pest and some may say they are extremely smart.

They are definitely good at finding food or stealing food. But, if you are new at photography and want to learn how to photography birds in flight. Gulls are the perfect subject.

I learned so many better techniques by photographing gulls, because they glide and hover which makes it easier to track them with your camera.

It is fun to get a photo with their maximum wingspan and tail feathers spread out.

Plus they sit still for long periods of time so you can practice your still shots as well.

You may not know this, but they do dive head first into the water to catch a fish now and then.

Gulls in Flight

What’s Up

By Sandra | January 9, 2024 | Comments 25 comments

What’s Up – How you doin?

These two birds were following each other the entire time we were on the beach. One would pick up piece of food or shell and then the other would run right over to check out what he had.

Friendships on the beach

What’s Up

Sepia Toned

By Sandra | December 13, 2023 | Comments 32 comments

Sepia Toned – Sepia is a reddish-brown color, named after the rich brown pigment derived from the ink sac of the common cuttlefish Sepia.

I like to use the sepia finish on some of my flower or insect photos, so I had to look up what the word actually means and surprised myself finding the answer.

Fun Facts

What is a cuttlefish you might ask 🙂 – Cuttlefish ink was formerly an important dye, called sepia. That is where the name of this color comes from. I did not know that myself.

I like how the white on the tip of the wings of this butterfly did not change much when changing this photo to sepia tones.

Sepia Toned

Swan Dive

By Sandra | November 21, 2023 | Comments 46 comments

Swan Dive – Look at the size of those flippers. I took these photos in Iowa a couple of years ago. I just had to bring them back up being I have been posting about swans.

We were walking along the edge of a small lake surrounded by tall vegetation and we could here this loud noise and the sound of water splashing. We walked over to a clearing and looked across the water and found the source of all this commotion.

Seeing a swan taking a bath is quite something. They have a wing span of 6 to 10 feet long. The longest wingspan recorded is 10 feet 2 inches.

The trumpeter swan is the largest extant species of waterfowl, and both the heaviest and longest native bird of North America. They come in at 15 to 30 lbs.

These swans need at least a 100 meter-long “runway” of open water: running hard across the surface, they almost sound like galloping horses as they generate speed for take off. About as long as a soccer field.

Hopefully I will photograph that one day, landing and taking off.

Swan Dive

The Black Swan

By Sandra | November 20, 2023 | Comments 14 comments

The Black Swan – Normally it was only found in Australia, but with the transporting of rare birds, these swans can be found in the states as well.

This swan I photographed at a campground in New Mexico called Rusty’s RV Ranch where Rusty, who is a woman, had quite a few exotic birds that she took care of. Two black swans included with their own pond, which was nice.

Like most swans, this species has a characteristic “S” shaped neck and a large body. Black swans have one of the longest necks of all swan species relative to their size. They are large birds, with a wingspan of 6 feet or more, and a maximum weight of 20 pounds.

The Black Swan

Autumn and Thanksgiving

By Sandra | November 2, 2023 | Comments 18 comments

Autumn and Thanksgiving – this first photo I made for all the young children in our family for them to try and find all the animals in the photo. This makes for a great puzzle as well. You can make a puzzle out of any photo you take these days.

This years fall colors were so different I think, they had a softer, almost pastel color to the leaves.

Like that old cereal called Captain Crunch, these colors remind me of that.

Autumn and Thanksgiving

Eagles in the Corn Fields

By Sandra | November 1, 2023 | Comments 29 comments

Eagles in the Corn Fields , this is a new sight for me to see eagles in a corn field after harvest. I have only seen eagles by water or where we live, if there is a carcass in the ditch, you will sometimes see an eagle there as well.

This field had about 12 eagles on it, but this one below was the closest one. Amazing birds.

Iowa Eagles

Eagles in the Corn Fields

Quiet Morning Hours

By Sandra | October 25, 2023 | Comments 36 comments

Quiet Morning Hours to calm ones spirit. It is my favorite time of day when the waters are calm and the light reflections on the water gives way to patterns of ethereal beauty.

Water Droplets and Flowers video below; ASMR

Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography

Life on the Beach for the Blue Heron – Video

Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography

Quiet Morning Hours

Transition to Autumn

By Sandra | October 11, 2023 | Comments 35 comments

Transition to Autumn from the lush green and blue to the warm colors of autumn.

Tree Tops in Full Color

Autumn Colors

Transition to Autumn

Landscape Photography

By Sandra | October 10, 2023 | Comments 30 comments

Landscape Photography or should I say waterscapes. Waterfalls and lakes a plenty this summer. Blue being my favorite color. Or is it green, yep it is blue and green.

The combination most often found in summer landscapes. Blue sky’s and lush green forest and add some water and it is an oasis of peace and solitude.

Landscape Photography