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 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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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 – 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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sparkle Like Sunshine and leave glitter in your wake.

Sparkle Like Sunshine

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

If mushrooms grow above the soil, that hints at the abundance of fungal life you do not see under your soil. 

A great time to find them is after a rain and some warmer, humid type weather.

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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. 

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J

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

Pet Portraits

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Sandra J