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

Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors

Real Christianity the Great Awakening

By RJ Dawson

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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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Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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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

Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors

Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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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

Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors

Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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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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Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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The Little Dogs

The Little Dogs

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Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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

My Favorite Shot

Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors

Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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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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Real Christianity the Great Awakening

By RJ Dawson

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Comparison Photos – How quickly things can change.

Comparison Photos

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Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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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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Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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I See You and wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Oh, you may have heard. Yes, there is about a foot of snow along the gulf coast. I have not seen snow in a long time. 27 degrees down here. But pretty.

I See You

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

The Ears are The Last

Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors

Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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No Words Needed, cuteness overload.

No Words Needed

Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors

Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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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

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

As the Fog Lifted – leaving off from yesterdays post. I chose to wait to see what this lone tree would like like in the calm waters.

An hour and a half later, I discovered something more beautiful than I could have imagined—clear skies, the shimmer of the lake, and the tree still standing in its quiet solitude. In the end, the wait was worth it. But perhaps the true beauty lies not in the moment of revelation, but in the patience it took to see it.

As we step into the New Year, may we carry with us the reminder that life is precious and fleeting. Let us not take it for granted, but live each moment with love, gratitude, and joy.

In the stillness of nature, we find our true teacher—guiding us to inner peace, away from the noise and chaos of the world.

Remember, we are created by the One who loves us more than we can ever imagine. Embrace the beauty of the present, smile often, and let your heart overflow with love. A new beginning awaits, filled with hope and endless possibilities.

Happy New Year’s Eve to you all. 🙂

As the Fog Lifted

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850

The Morning Air

The morning air was thick with fog as I took my usual walk down to the lake. The world felt muted, everything wrapped in a soft haze, as if nature itself was holding its breath. The water was invisible, lost in the mist, and the stillness made it feel like time itself had slowed.

I stood there for a few moments, watching as the fog rolled in waves, not knowing if I should wait or move on. Above, a small patch of blue sky began to appear, hinting at the promise of something beautiful. The anticipation of the fog lifting held me captive, but doubt crept in. Should I wait to see what the lake would reveal, or was I simply wasting time?

Life moves fast, and sometimes, patience feels like a luxury we can’t afford. I debated with myself—would it really be worth staying? Should I wait for the moment when the fog would reveal the full view of the lake, or just leave and go about my day?

As I stood there lost in thought, I caught sight of a lone tree, standing tall amidst the fog. Its silhouette was sharp against the misty backdrop, and I snapped a photo, capturing the solitary figure. The fog was still heavy, but there was something quiet and beautiful about that tree, standing firm despite the obscured world around it.

It was at that moment I realized something: perhaps this was a lesson in patience. Not everything needs to be rushed. Sometimes, the world’s beauty reveals itself when we give it time. I could choose to leave, but there was something powerful about waiting, allowing the scene to unfold on its own terms.

The Morning Air

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

#escapetonatureforu #nikond850