Lens Artists Photo Challenge #327 – 5 Elements

Sofia’s challenge is to feature the 5 Elements of Wuxing, a Chinese philosophy – water, fire, earth, wood, and metal. We can focus on just one element or try to get all five in one image. The following image features four of the elements. I tried but I couldn’t find one with all five.

Metal Bridge, water, wood, and earth

Sausages and metal pots on a metal grill over a wood fire

Pacific Ocean – Wood, water, earth

Pacific Ocean – Water, Wood, Earth

Lake Superior – Water, earth, wood

Bonfire

Headwaters of the Mississippi River – Water, wood, earth

Sunrise over the Mississippi River

Many thanks to our host Sophia for the challenge Lens-Artists #327 – 5 Elements

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #326 – This Made me Smile

For this challenge Ann-Christine asks us to show something that made us smile.

My first gallery shows some of the little things that make me smile.

This next gallery features animals that made me smile.

The last gallery features fun things I’ve see in my travels.

Many thanks to our host Ann-Christine for the challenge Lens-Artists #326 – This made me smile

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #325 – Gratitude

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in America next Thursday, Tina has asked us to show things for which we are most grateful.

Every day I wake up grateful that I have been given the gift of another day on planet earth.

I am grateful for Henry, my husband of 54 years, and for our children and grandchildren. I am grateful for all my friends and family.

I am grateful I was raised in a loving, happy family. I’m grateful for all the places I lived growing up. I am grateful that my parents gave me the love of travel by taking us on family road trips.

I am grateful I have been able to travel around our beautiful country and to many other destinations around the world. I’m grateful for the natural wonders, the wildlife, the other countries I’ve visited, and the many wonderful people I have met along the way.

I am grateful for the little things that make me smile – a butterfly on a flower, a hummingbird on the feeder, flowers blooming in my garden, deer grazing in a field, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a surprise phone call from a friend. I am grateful for laughter.

I am grateful for my home on the edge of the beautiful Georgia salt marsh where I can observe native wildlife in my own backyard.

I am grateful for a roof over my head, clean running water, hot showers, and plenty of good food to eat.

When something unexpected happens or I’m having a bad day, I think of how much I have to be grateful for and whatever is bothering me doesn’t seem quite so bad.

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Many thanks to our host Tina for the challenge Lens-Artists #325 – Gratitude

Sunday Stills: Discovering Brown Shades in Wildlife

Terri’s color challenge: “November’s color theme includes shades of brown and shades of auburn (a rich, brownish red). You are welcome to include images of both colors or pick one to highlight.”

When I first read Terri’s challenge I had no idea what kind of brown things to include. When I realizied that I’ve seen plenty of brown wildlife during our travels I knew what to do.

Wildlife photography is my favorite type of photography. Seeing wild creatures in their natural habitat is always a thrill. For this challenge I’m including some of my favorite brown animals and birds.

The first gallery features Brown Bears in Alaska and British Columbia, White Tailed deer in Virginia, Bison in South Dakota, and Elk in Canada.

I chose some of my favorite birds the bird gallery: an Osprey, an American Bald Eagle, Brown Pelicans, a hawk and a juvenile White Ibis. The Osprey is in Georgia, the Eagle in Alaska, and the rest of the birds are in Florida.

It’s not always easy to capture photos of wild animals when I spot them but it sure is fun to try. Sometimes it’s just pure luck to be in the right place at the right time with the right camera lens.

Shared with Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge Color Challenge – Shades of Auburn and Brown