Sea Shells
Sea Shells by the Sea Shore, say that fast 3 times. Almost always I say Sea Shells by the She Shore. 🙂
Sea Shells
Sunrise at the Gulf
Sunrise at the Gulf – Have a great week ahead. 🙂
Sunrise at the Gulf
Imagination
Imagination, photography lets one’s imagination go in all different directions. Take for example this photo here. I took this photo from the Jeep’s window as we were driving along the coast.
I saw this pier coming up on my right and the water is so calm around it, plus the clouds have a hint of blue in the background. But I thought right away, if the beach and the people and the logs were gone, it would really highlight the calm water and the tranquility of the lone pier.
Yes, I thought all of this as this pier was approaching, driving down a road. So I snapped a photo with my phone camera.
So then I had to change the vertical format of the photo to a horizontal format for composition with a horizontal pier. Next to remove the distractions in the foreground.
And this is what I saw in my mind when I saw this lone pier out in the calm water.
Have a great weekend. 😉
Imagination
As the Sun Rises
As the Sun Rises the colors change. The clouds thicken and the boats going out to sea are just a silhouette against the morning light.
As the Sun Rises
Ocean Vessels
Ocean Vessels on the Gulf Coast. Shipping containers are spotted quite often heading south on the gulf coast. Occasional dredgers being pulled across the bay and barges going back and forth.
Always makes for some interesting sights when out walking on the beaches.
Ocean Vessels
Mocha Latte
Mocha Latte is the name of this little dog. It is one of the cutest little dogs I have had the pleasure to photograph this past week. When it was a new born, it fit in the palm of your hand. Now it is a fiery ball of fur that is constantly on the go.
It is at the campground here and just another pup I have photographed this past month. Happy Monday. 🙂
Mocha Latte
My Pet Photography Board
My Pet Photography Board for February, and this is not all of them yet. I could not fit them all on one page.
These 3 cats are quite the buddies. I was watching these three for their owner while they were away. The owner was in the hospital and I took lots of pictures of her cats while she was recuperating. Yes, all 3 are one persons cats.
Well, I wanted to try and get all 3 together for one photo, but that is not easy with cats. So I did have to photoshop this one together. I happened to get each one to look up at me as I was holding some treats.
The owner loves this photo, she did ask how I got them all to sit together like that. I said it was impossible. But photoshop helped a lot. 🙂
My Pet Photography Board
Parade Horses Team Belgians
Parade Horses Team Belgians, my second favorite photo from the parade. Northing pretty then a working team of Belgian horses. Their harness shimmering in the sunlight.
Parade Horses Team Belgians
For the Love of Horses
For the Love of Horses
This is my most favorite photo that I took this winter.
There was a small parade where we were camping and a group of horses were headed my way as I stood on the side of the road with lots of other folks watching the procession of horses and festive floats.
When it comes to photographing animals, dogs, cats, or horses. I take a lot of shots because I am looking for that one photo that stands out from the rest. When the animal is moving, the more shots the better to get that right look.
Well, this shot below was exactly was I was looking for. The two horses in front both looked at me at the same time. The are draft horse mix breeds, the one on the right front is a Belgian mix and the one on the left is a Percheron Thoroughbred mix. Beautiful horses.
But the magic comes when I crop in to see only the horses face. I just love this shot. Both horses have their ears forward, which makes for a great shot as well. I have printed this one to hang on my wall. 🙂
For the Love of Horses
Good Morning March 1st
Good Morning March 1st, Hello all, how was everyone’s month of February? I had a wonderful couple weeks off, visiting with friends and family. I look forward to catching up with all of your blogs over the next few weeks.
Spring is in the air, flowers are starting to bloom down here in the south. I have been so busy photographing pets the last couple of weeks. Word got out from folks sharing their pet portraits and I have them calling me everyday to do more. Which I love to do, I will be sharing some of those in the coming weeks.
We only have a few more weeks down here in the south, and then it is time to start traveling again. Heading north for the summer months. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Good Morning March 1st
Stay well, RJ. Blessings to you, may our Lord guide you in all your days. 🙂 thank you.
Taking a Break
Taking a Break – It is time for a little break from the world wide web. Here are some of my favorite photos that I have taken this year so far.
I like to take time off from the internet now and then. It is so refreshing to not be connected for awhile. We are bombarded with advertising and news that never seems to be uplifting at all. Except for sites like all of ours here in the blogging world.
But, I remember the days before there was any internet. Days were filled with activities and being in nature. Connecting with humans face to face. Spring time is a beautiful time to turn the electronics off for me. There is a lot to explore out there, and I am ready to dive right in.
I will be back next month, have a great weekend and see you all soon. 🙂
Taking a Break
Seeing Double
Seeing Double – Well, this is my Chloee below. She is a mixed breed dog that we got over 10 years ago from a shelter. I just love her markings on her face. She is the best dog, she makes me smile and laugh and she leaves puppy glitter all over the place.
Puppy glitter is what we call her dog hair, it is everywhere at times like glitter can be.
Well, we were at a campground out for a walk and here comes another dog that is almost identical to our Chloee.
The dog on the left is named Georgia, and I just had to take some photos for the owner and for me to see the comparisons.
Georgia is only 3 years old, and Chloee was all white like that when she was that age. The left side of the face is a little different.
But here is their right side comparisons. How unique is this, maybe her long lost sister.
Seeing Double
Image Cropping
Image cropping is an integral part of photo retouching and product retouching services. It can change the look and feel of an image and its meaning.
Image cropping can be used to improve the composition of an image, remove distractions, or focus on a particular subject. It can also create a more powerful image by emphasizing certain elements.
This photo below is a wonderful illustration of the need for cropping. One might never guess that the background of this photo is a truck window. The bird is sitting on a truck mirror.
When I first look at the photo below, I see the orange light and the mirror and the bird poop on the mirror. So cropping was definitely needed on this photo.
Cropping is easy to do, but you also need a good photo to start with.
- If your original image had a high resolution, cropping might not significantly impact the overall quality.
- However, if you started with a lower-resolution image, the loss of pixels due to cropping could be more noticeable
Image Cropping
Oceans Green
Oceans Green, depending on what part of the ocean you are at, the colors can range from blue, green and turquoise.
Have a great weekend.
Video of ocean waves crashing below or click here; Ocean Waves
Oceans Green
Sparkle Like Sunshine
Sparkle Like Sunshine and leave glitter in your wake.
Sparkle Like Sunshine
If Mushrooms Grow
If mushrooms grow above the soil, that hints at the abundance of fungal life you do not see under your soil.Â
A great time to find them is after a rain and some warmer, humid type weather.
Oceans Blue
Oceans Blue – I could do a series and title it Oceans 12 from the movie.
I like this first shot, the cloud patterns and the shimmering water. Nothing but the horizon. Peaceful.
Oceans Blue
Little Birds Taking Cover
Little Birds Taking Cover where ever they can find it on the beach before a storm. As these little guys try and hide behind this rock as the winds blow sand and debris across the beach. They hover together and hide their faces in their feathers to protect their eyes.
They learn to adapt. Amazing birds. Have a great weekend.
Video below of birds braving the stormy winds. Or click here; Little Birds in High Winds
Little Birds Taking Cover
Brother and Sister Pups
Brother and Sister Pups – These two pups are so pretty with their long flowing hair. It was really fun taking their photos and making prints for their people.
I have talked before about one thing that I like to have in my pet portraits, and that is Specular Highlights in the eyes.
The specular highlight appears on shiny objects. It normally appears on a mirror-like surface. Its appearance is often found on the top of a rounded surface. The incident light hits the object and creates the specular highlight and the light is reflected off the object toward the viewers eye.
Some people think the light reflection in the eye can be distracting in a photo. But, I find it necessary to have to give the eye more life. A bright spot that draws the viewer to the eyes. Eyes are always my focal point with pet and people photography.
Example. The photo on the left, I have removed the specular highlight. I find the eye looks less cheery, darker, lifeless to be more accurate. But the photo on the right, when the light spot is visible gives a much better overall photo for me.
It is much harder to achieve specular highlights in bird photography, because the birds movements can put them in the shadows at times. But it makes a big difference with birds as well.
Brother and Sister Pups
Water and Light
Water and Light – I found this Blue Heron doing some fishing the other morning. I found the light reflecting off of the water onto the bird was quite cool looking. Almost like strobe lights dancing across its feathers.
Water and Light
Southern Trees
Southern Trees – I love looking at trees and plants. Just so many different kinds from state to state. Southern trees are just so unique compared to where I live in the north country.
From beautiful palm trees reaching high into the air.
To twisted and bumpy, branches going every which way.
Oh, the lemon trees. The fragrance alone is quite a nice addition to any garden.
Bamboo, I have never seen a grove of bamboo until we found these at a botanical garden.
Last but not least, the trees found on beaches. Parts and pieces, worn and weathered. But still standing for years to come.
Have a Great Weekend.
Southern Trees
St. Simons Island Light
St. Simons Island Light – Now this little island was just across the bridge from Jykell island. A wonderful festive little town surrounding this light house. Plenty of shops, board walks along the coast and plenty to see.
The beach community of St. Simon’s Island is home to the St. Simon’s Island Lighthouse, which was first built in 1810. It is one of five in the state with its restored Fresnel lens and still operates in guiding ships.
The island is an easy day trip from Savannah and other islands like Jekyll. Visitors can climb the 129 cast iron steps to the top. It’s also rumored to be haunted.Â
I just love porches on homes. They are so inviting I think. We have a porch on our cabin, nothing like these, but it is my favorite place to sit at home and enjoy the views.
We did not go into this museum, but I love the architecture and the gardens around the building.
St. Simons Island Light
Sydney Lanier Bridge
Sydney Lanier Bridge – the longest bridge in Georgia. We crossed this bridge heading to Jykell Island.
Its outstretched arms linking Brunswick to the rest of the Golden Isles, the Sidney Lanier Bridge soars over the Brunswick River. This, the longest-spanning bridge in Georgia, stretches 7,779 feet across and reaches 480 feet at its highest point. The sleek design creates a sense of lightness that belies the 95,283 cubic yards of concrete and 14,810,095 pounds of reinforcing steel used to construct the massive structure.
Sydney Lanier Bridge
Leaving Jykell Island
Leaving Jykell Island – a unique place we visited and yet never to return. But my photographs are a way for us to remember this place, a place in passing, as we stood on this beach looking at the eerie shadows of the trees with no life. There lies our shadows as well, a moment in time, an eerie feeling that we left something behind.
Video below of drift wood beach. Or click here; Drift Wood Beach
Leaving Jykell Island
Gus the Pup
Gus the Pup – another campground pup. A never ending array of colors and sizes of dogs to photograph. The little ones are fun to do, as long as I drop to one knee to get down to their level to take their photo.
Have a great weekend.
Gus the Pup
Beach Bird Art
Beach Bird Art – all my art work starts with a photograph. I use my own photos that I have taken when I decide to make a piece of art work for a composite or a digital painting.
This first photo is a composite of 3 different photos that I have taken. Blending them all in so that the colors are similar is the trick. Not always easy to find, but fun to make none the less.
Beach Bird Art
Hidden Gems in the Background
Hidden Gems in the Background – guess what. One cannot be on the pacific ocean without finding one Light House.
Look past the tree to the other shore line, there stands a light house on One of four barrier islands comprising the Golden Isles of Georgia,
St. Simons Island, the largest of the Golden Isles, captivates visitors with its fascinating blend of history and natural beauty. Steeped in a rich heritage, the island is home to historical sites like the St. Simons Lighthouse,
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hidden Gems in the Background
So Many Photo Opts
So Many Photo Opts – the driftwood itself is very interesting and artistic all on its own. But here at drift wood beach, you have so many different compositions you can pick for your photo.
The waves are never very big and the clouds can add some dramatic movement to your photo.
But the best thing to capture are the shadows of the trees on the beach. I will show that next week from the drone photos. Kind of eerie with the long limbs of the branches reaching out like they are arms moving in the shadows.
So Many Photo Opts
Silhouette of Life and Death
Silhouette of Life and Death
A photograph of now and then. They tell me life is a journey, that which we must all take. Moments like this is where I am in awe of creation.
As I stand before this vastness of water, where it seems like I can see forever into the unknown, it reminds me of the light of the future ahead of me, yet behind me is my past of many roads resembled by this tree. All of which brought me to this place in time, a teaching moment that only creation can explain.
Our paths take so many different twist and turns, but the light that shines before us is calling us to continue, even though the past is always right behind us, it slowly disappears and gets lost in time and buried by the sands of creation.
Amazing this thing called life.
Silhouette of Life and Death
Jykell Island
Jykell Island – the one thing the gentleman told us to see when visiting this island, is drift wood beach. I looked on the satellite image from google maps and it looks like a few branches and such scattered along the beach. So I thought, maybe it will look better when walking on the beach. So off we went.
Jykell island has a lot of history of who founded the island and how it has changed over the years. It is known for the secret meeting of 6 men who decided they needed to change the federal reserve system.
The Meeting at Jekyll Island
November 20, 1910–November 30, 1910
The state of Georgia purchased Jekyll Island from the Jekyll Island Club through condemnation proceedings for $675,000. Then it was opened to the public as a State Park
Now one must pay a daily fee to enter the island. It is $10.00 a day now.
Drift wood beach is at the far end of the island and we drove there first. Parking all along the main stretch of road. We chose a spot with a short walk to the beach. At first glance as we got closer to the beach, it was beginning to look very interesting.
According to my research, photographers love showing up here at sunrise or sunset and you will see why on my next couple of post. We arrived mid morning as it was a long drive from our campground.
Scattered with the sun-bleached remains of gnarled and weathered trees, stepping onto Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island, is like stepping into an alternate reality. It feels like what you’d imagine a post-apocalyptic world to feel like – signs of a life that once was intertwined with a life that now is, all under the watchful and commanding eye of Mother Nature.
Over the last 120+ years, erosion has claimed more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) of Jekyll Island’s coastline, the consequences of which are no more evident or more visually dramatic than they are on Driftwood Beach.
Due to the effects of decades of erosion, what was once a lush, maritime forest has become a boneyard for ancient oak trees and pine trees that have fallen victim to Mother Nature. Over time, as the ocean crept its way into the forest and strong winds and saltwater ate away at tree roots, the soil cover needed to keep it alive became stripped away.
This caused the trees to uproot or to die, some of which miraculously remain standing while others lay half-buried in the sand. And because the tides along this part of the coastline aren’t strong enough to sweep them out to sea, the trees remain. Together forming the hauntingly beautiful landscape that Driftwood Beach is known for today.
Jykell Island
