Anne’s challenge is Reflections. She shared many beautiful examples of reflections and also shared some good advice on how to capture a reflection. Thanks also go out to Leeanne Cole for sharing her tips and images.
I often find reflections in water. I’ll start with a gallery of birds reflected in water.
Reflections at sunsetReflections of Cypress Trees in LouisianaReflections of trees in South GeorgiaPurple reflection of a bridge across the Mississippi River in New Orleans a few days before Mardi-Gras
Mirrors are a great way to photograph reflections even if you didn’t mean to get a reflection of yourself.
Thank you to everyone who responded to my first Lens-Artists challenge. The topic was stormy and I had a lot of fun reading all the responses and seeing all of the amazing stormy weather images from around the world. Next week Ann-Christine is leading the challenge so be sure to look for her post on Saturday, June 28 at noon Eastern Time. And as always, please remember that Every Day is a Gift.
Let’s take a walk on the wild side with Egidio’s challenge “Going Wild”. I love being in wilderness areas and photographing the landscapes, wildlife, wildflowers, and birds I see there. For this challenge I chose images from my three favorite wilderness areas.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is closer to my home than any of my other favorite wilderness areas. We have been there many times and always enjoy the wildlife and birds we see there. The butterflies on wild thistle in the header image was taken in the Okefenokee.
Young alligator in the Okefenokee National Wildlife RefugeGreat Egret in the Okefenokee Swamp
Everglades National Park, Florida
We have visited Everglades National Park in Florida many times through the years. There are several entrances to the park with Flamingo being the most remote area. The Everglades is a bird lovers dream with many varieties all throughout the park. No matter where you go in the Everglades you are likely to see alligators.
Egrets and Spoonbills gathering in a pond near the Flamingo Campground in Everglades National ParkThis alligator ignores the human invaders of his territory at Shark Valley in Everglades National Park
Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali National Park is the most remote wilderness area I have ever visited. I loved the feeling of being miles away from civilization while we were there. The scenery is breathtaking and the wildlife abundant. Most of the wildlife we saw was too far away for a good photo even with my telephoto lens.
Polychrome Overlook, Denali National Park, AlaskaMoose in the Denali Wilderness
Celebrating 12 Years of Wandering Dawgs
I started the Wandering Dawgs blog in March, 2013 as a way to document our 4 month RV journey from Georgia to Alaska and back. In the beginning, the only people who read my posts were friends and family. Today, I have blogging friends from all around the world! I recently celebrated the 12th anniversary of Wandering Dawgs! Many thanks to everyone who reads my posts and leaves me comments.
Ritva’s challenge is Portraits. She says “Whether you choose to ask a stranger, do a self-portrait, take the portrait of a friend, family member, or acquaintance, or photograph animals and birds, the goal is to connect with another person or subject and tell their story through your image.”
I enjoy nature and wildlife photography and am not comfortable asking strangers if I can take their picture. I didn’t have to ask this young man to pose for a portrait. I was holding up my phone taking pictures of a Junkanoo Band from the Bahamas performing as part of a St. Patrick’s weekend celebration when he walked over to me and posed. He liked having his picture made!
I’m much more comfortable capturing bird and other animal portraits.
This bear and the female elk seemed to pose for me.
I will end with my favorite portrait of Blondie, our beloved Yellow Lab who was part of our lives for many years. She’s been gone since 2017. I still miss her every day.
The color rosy red makes me think of Roseate Spoonbills. A few years ago I captured these beauties when we visited the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Wading Bird Rookery. During nesting season wading birds come to nest in the trees there. These nesting birds are wild and can come and go as they please.
Shared Terri’s Sunday Stills color challenge Rosy Reds
Feeding and watching the birds is a favorite pastime of mine. I have many bird pictures in my archives but I chose a few recent ones for Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge.
Great Egret
House Sparrow at the feederNorthern CardinalRed-Bellied WoodpeckerSnowy Egret, Cormorant, and Seagull
Wandering Dawgs 