Tag: adventures outdoors

My Art From the Island

My Art From the Island

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My Art From the Island, we spent a few months at one of my favorite places last winter. Dauphin Island Alabama. The weather is mostly in the 70’s all winter and some humidity. But come April the song birds and water birds start to arrive.

My bird count went up to 217. I may have mentioned this before, I took some of my art work down to the art gallery on Dauphin Island to see if they would like to have some of my work to sell there. I am very pleased to say they like my work and took quite a few samples to showcase in the gallery.

This is a photo I took of the gallery there on Dauphin Island. I only have 5×7 prints on sale there and they are all digital oil paintings. Of some of the iconic places on the island and birds. People really like the Blue Herons on the island.

My Art From the Island

This is a sample print of mine hanging on a wall as a display.

My Art From the Island

I also made some postcards for the art gallery, this is something new for them. But they are doing very well in the store.

My Art From the Island
My Art From the Island

There are a lot of stores out there that are happy to hang your art work up for free as well. I just add my business card onto the print and it is a fun way to show your work besides just on the internet. A little footwork required. 🙂

Have a great weekend.

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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In Defense of the Grackle

In Defense of the Grackle

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In Defense of the Grackle – In North America three grackle species occur: Common, Great-tailed, and Boat-tailed. All are generally similar in appearance, with males glossy iridescent black and females brownish.

Grackles, it turns out, do more than weigh down power lines, steal tortilla chips off your dinner plate and squawk in really loud voices. The gleaming black birds actually play a beneficial role in our society. (Well, besides cleaning up those food crumbs you dropped on the sidewalk.)

Grackles eat insects, for one. And that includes those you might not like crawling on you, such as wasps and spiders, and ones that damage crops, including moths, grasshoppers and beetles.

Video Below or click this link; Grackles Puffy Up at the Table

In Defense of the Grackle

I get why people don’t necessarily like them, but I think they’re fascinating. They do eat insects, so that means fewer insects that are eating plants — or us. There’s also the argument that they’re part of a web of life — they’re part of the system.”

Along with the most amazing colors when they are in the sunlight. Just some of the reasons to like these birds as I do.

In Defense of the Grackle
Birds Chirping, Bird Songs, Cat TV, Birds at the Picnic Table, Grackles Puffing Up, Funny Birds
In Defense of the Grackle
In Defense of the Grackle

In Defense of the Grackle

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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The Colors of Spring

The Colors of Spring

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The Colors of Spring we see in wildlife as well as flowers. Males of many species take on brighter, more eye-catching plumage in spring for a single purpose: to attract females.

This the Reddish Egret is a conspicuously long-legged, long-necked wader of coastal regions, more tied to salt water than any of our other herons or egrets.

The Colors of Spring

Often draws attention by its feeding behavior: running through shallows with long strides, staggering sideways, leaping in air, raising one or both wings, and abruptly stabbing at fish.

This is the first year I have seen this bird in the spring and its bill is the most colorful with blue, pink and black. Quite beautiful.

I like this photo below as if he is looking under their and thinking; ” It is so hard to clean my feathers way under here.”

The Colors of Spring

The Colors of Spring

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Artificial Intelligence Photography

Artificial Intelligence Photography

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Artificial Intelligence Photography, well it has arrived. AI is popping up everywhere in photo editing software.

I edit all my photos in Photoshop, they now have AI in Beta so we can all see how it is going to work in the future. AI with photography is very similar to making composite photos, which I have done when I am making a piece of art work to sell. But I also list my photo as a composite.

AI is making it much simpler, as far as trying to blend the object you are adding to your photo a little better so as we don’t have to do as much work. But, here is what it is doing, you have to have the internet on when using AI because it is searching the world wide web for the image you are asking for and taking it from that.

For example, which one of these horses below is the real deal?

Artificial Intelligence Photography

The horse on the right is my photo of a paint pony in a pasture. I then asked AI to add a horse and lighting. The horse on the left is one it picked from the internet. It has skewed the horses face, but it did put the shadow in to mimic the real horse.

AI is here to stay because when it comes to big business and making advertisements, they will be able to make what ever they want and not have to hire photographers or models for that matter.

Artificial Intelligence Photography

But as far as I am concerned, I will always go out into the field to photograph the real thing. If I am in the mood to create art I will list it as a composite. I do sell a lot of photos on Adobe stock and they like AI generated photos. So one has to pick and choose what you like to create.

Art is generated by your imagination and that still makes it an original idea.

Artificial Intelligence Photography

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Time Keeps on Slippin

Time Keeps on Slippin

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Time Keeps on Slippin – Into the Future, these are words to a song that I like by the Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle.

Fly like an eagle – let my spirit carry me. The video is below, for this song, if you click on the visit to go to the web site. It shows up there. It is an old song but I tend to think the songs from my younger days are the best. We probably all do that.

Well, I am going to let my spirit carry me, it is calling me to take a break from the World Wide Web. You know when I was growing up there wasn’t any internet. Younger folks probably can’t imagine not having any internet. Just like when my grand parents told me they did not have electricity or running water. It is hard for each generation to comprehend these things.

I went for a walk by myself today and just had the feeling that it is time to turn off electronics for awhile. It is probably the spring weather and seeing the world come back to life all around me.

Time Keeps on Slippin

There are a lot of distractions in this world because of technology and I must step back from it now and then to reconnect with our Father in Heaven, to reenergize, to sit back and just marvel at the beauty around us as if nothing else exist for just a moment in time.

The older I get the more I realize how precious time is. Reality sets in more and more for me with age, when we are young we think we might live forever. But as the years fly by, I know more of who I am and where I want to be when this life on earth ends.

But I also want to experience as much as possible while I am here, nature, wildlife. Creation itself is magnificent and photography helps me to see it in a way I never thought I would.

I wish you all a wonderful spring time and may our Father bless you with the wonderment of His creation, that which is around each and everyone of us. Immerse yourself in it and be joyous.

I will be back, we are headed out west again soon. I look forward to visiting with you all again. Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments and kind words. 💕💕

Time Keeps on Slippin
Time Keeps on Slippin
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Bald Eagle Catching a fish in water

Time Keeps on Slippin

Sandra J

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Anything With Wings

Anything With Wings

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Anything With Wings is allowed at the airport. I think this bird was watching the big planes with me here at this small airport. Maybe dreaming of flying high and fast like they do or thinking they need to get off his airport runway. 🙂

Anything With Wings

I don’t know what kind of plane this one is below. But they put on a great show for me on this day. They landed and took off so many times and the pilot waved at me here as I took his photo. Video below of this airport or click this link; Dauphin Island Airport

Coolest Plane, Coast Guard Helicopter, Black Hawk, Amazing Aircraft at Dauphin Island Alabama
Anything With Wings

Plus a coast guard helicopter made a quick stop and then took off.

I was able to stand right next to the runway to get these shots as they flew right over me. I was using my 600 mm lens which makes them look very close.

Anything With Wings
Anything With Wings

We are travelling north again and spending time with family along the way. I have not had time to read all my favorite bloggers post as of late. But I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful spring weather so far and thank you again for all your wonderful comments. I appreciate it very much.

Have a great weekend.

Anything With Wings

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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The Osprey Nest

The Osprey Nest

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The Osprey Nest – the osprey birds are picking out their nesting boxes. I photographed this one below at sunrise, as the osprey was perched on top of the man made nesting box.

The Osprey Nest

It must be exhausting making their nest. I was watching these two one morning, the one bird is going back and forth bringing one branch at a time. But when I looked closer at the bird perched on top, its eyes are closed.

Trying to get a nap in while its mate is bringing in housing material. He is just going to rest a minute. Needs a quick cat nap. 🙂

Video below of the osprey hovering or click here; Osprey Hovering

The Osprey Nest
Pair of Osprey Birds Nesting Season - Osprey Hovering - Sandra J's Photography & Fine Art Prints

The Osprey Nest

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Unusual Critters

Unusual Critters

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Unusual Critters I have seen this week. I was walking across a board walk early in the morning when this snail was slowly making its way across the path. What a strange little creature this is and such a long journey it must be for them when they move. Being it is at such a snails pace. 🙂

Unusual Critters

The next morning I went out onto the beach when it was still very dark outside. I had my flashlight with and in front of me I could see things moving very fast in the shadows of the soft light. One such creature stopped when my light shined on it. So I took a quick photo of this crab, another strange looking creature of the seas. Creation never ceases to amaze.

Unusual Critters

Unusual Critters

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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A Touch of Green

A Touch of Green

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A Touch of Green and the sounds of spring await us as the earth awakens to new life after a long winter.

I love seeing things turn green this time of year, spring is such an encouraging month as the flowers emerge from the ground or ponds like these lilies.

A Touch of Green
A Touch of Green

The dried grasses in the fields return to their lush green colors, full of life for all.

Nothing says spring more than hearing the sounds of the Red Winged Black Birds.

redwinged,blackbird,songbird

A Touch of Green

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Shore Birds Enjoying a Sunrise

Shore Birds Enjoying a Sunrise

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Shore Birds Enjoying a Sunrise, spring is in the air. Multiple birds hanging out on the sea shore. Such a fun sight to see as they all are just enjoying a stroll on the beach together.

Shore Birds Enjoying a Sunrise

I came across these cute little sanderlings searching for food in a huge pile of broken sea shells. It looks like they are trying to climb a mountain but keep sliding back down all the shells. Video below or click here; Sanderlings and Sea Shells

Little Sandpiper Birds Trying to Climb a Mountain of Sea Shells #shorts, So Cute
Shore Birds Enjoying a Sunrise

Shore Birds Enjoying a Sunrise

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Train Tracks Moving

Train Tracks Moving

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Train Tracks Moving up and down as this train passed us at a crossing. I have never noticed this happening before. We were parked at the crosswalk as this train went by and it was a very long train, so we were looking at the tracks right in front of us and that is when I noticed them moving up and down.

I don’t know if that is normal or not. I would assume there has to be some movement from the weight of the train. Fascinating things we see when we stop and look really close at what is in front of us. 🙂

Video below or Link here; Train Tracks Moving

Train Tracks Moving
Train Tracks Moving Up and Down as Train Moves Over Them - Engineering Marvels
railtracks,traintracks,railway,photograph,adventures,
Train Tracks Moving

Train Tracks Moving

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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External Light Source

External Light Source

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External Light Source for small subjects. Someone asked awhile ago about using separate light source in dark areas, like in the forest. So I went out into the woods and found these pine cones to photograph for an example.

This first shot is natural light in the forest that works fine, but you might have to increase your ISO a lot to get the proper exposure.

But for this photo below, I used an external light source because I wanted to bring out more of the detail on the pine cone. Which is much easier to do with directional light that I add to a subject. My source of light is a small flashlight. I always carry one with me just for this type of photo.

If my light is to bright for the subject I will put something in front of my flashlight like a piece of paper or plastic. What ever I have in my camera bag. There are all sorts of ways to change the softness of your light source.

External Light Source

I typically do not use the flash on my bridge camera, even though there are settings on it to make a softer light. It still tends to blow out the scene because the flash is mounted on top of the camera.

This is a fun way to change up your photos when taking shots of items in dark areas. Just remember to take a flash light with you on your outings.

This blue jay looks like he wants to hear what I have to say 🙂

External Light Source

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Spring Time Out Doors

Spring Time Out Doors

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Spring Time Out Doors, lots of birds and more fishing for the husband this week. Nest are being built and the migration of birds is underway. I will have more new birds coming up the next couple of weeks.

My bird count has risen to 200 from 160.

Spring Time Out Doors
Spring Time Out Doors

Spring Time Out Doors

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

https://sandrajsphotographyfinearts.zenfoliosite.com/

Book a Photo Painting Here; https://sandrajsphotographyfinearts.zenfoliosite.com/book

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Eyes of Blue

Eyes of Blue

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Eyes of Blue, I think this bird is a cormorant, But I am not sure which one. As I type this I am adding the Merlin bird finding app to my phone. So now it should be easier to identify all these birds.

Someone was showing me the app and it will actually tell you the bird by listening to its call as well. Technology is amazing. So much better then having to get an encyclopedia out like the old days. 🙂

Eyes of Blue

Eyes of Blue

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Through the Forest of Trees

Through the Forest of Trees

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Through the Forest of Trees

You can’t see the forest for the trees! It’s a widely known saying that is accepted by many as truth whether they are talking about issues in the workplace or about life in general. You-can’t-see-the-forest-for-the-trees means that we sometimes cannot see situations as they really are while we are in the midst of them.

Through the Forest of Trees

The forest hold so many hidden gems. Tiny creatures to unusual leaves and trees.

I was walking past this tree that has all these gorgeous green leaves shinning in the morning light. So I stopped to take a photo as the green color was very eye catching.

I did not even see all these spots on the leaves until I looked at the photo later. They are not bugs, my guess is they are seeds for new life of some kind.

Through the Forest of Trees
Through the Forest of Trees

Through the Forest of Trees

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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Nature Provides

Nature Provides

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Nature Provides plenty of food for all species. Birds have a wonderful diet that includes some very healthy options

Fruit being at the top of the list, or at the top of the tree if you will. This Cedar Wax wing is enjoying some fresh mulberry’s to replenish its system after a long migration flight.

Nature Provides

This beautiful Summer Tanager is eating some sort of bug, which I am happy about. There are always plenty of bugs that provide a great source of protein.

Nature Provides

Along with some nuts and seeds for fiber, they are a great food source to keep the system running smoothly. This Brown Thrasher is enjoying his fill of these today.

Of course we cannot leave out the best choice of food for a lot of species, its fish. I have seen a lot of birds doing pretty good at fishing the last few weeks.

This Belted King Fisher is an expert fishermen when it comes to diving into the water to catch a tiny little fish like this one.

Nature Provides

This gull picked up a fish floating on top of the water after a fishermen through it back in.

The Great Blue Heron loves fish. They can eat up to a pound of fish a day. We have helped them get their fill this month. When we catch small fish we will sometimes throw them to the herons who are always hanging about looking for a good meal.

Nature Provides

Nature Provides

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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The Sun

The Sun

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The Sun

It radiates light and heat, which makes it possible for life to exist on Earth. Plants need sunlight to grow. Animals, including humans, need plants for food and the oxygen they produce. Without heat from the sun, Earth would freeze. A true metaphor to life. 🙂

The Sun
The Sun

The Sun

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

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New Home Weather Vane

New Home Weather Vane

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New Home Weather Vane – Is it real? Yes, this is a Great Blue Heron perched on top of a roof. He just looks like a weather vane.

New Home Weather Vane

This is a regular weather vane that spins around to tell you what direction the wind is blowing.

Technically this one will work, you could go by his crown feathers if they are blowing in the wind.

New Home Weather Vane

The only problem with a real bird for a weather vane is, when another one shows up that wants to sit on the same roof.

There goes the weather vanes. Good thing one did not have to buy them.

New Home Weather Vane

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

https://sandrajsphotographyfinearts.zenfoliosite.com/

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Sandra J

Sandra J

I am a traveling photographer, I like to travel rural America, the roads less traveled when I can. I love the great outdoors, my Photo Galleries contain Landscapes, wild life and a few just for fun photos. Thank you and have a great day.

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