Category: Nature

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #330 – Favorite Images of 2024

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All of the Lens-Artists hosts once again have challenged us to show our favorite images of 2024.

My Favorite Flowers

My header image of Dogwood blooms in the spring is one of my favorites from last year. The camellias brought bright color to my winter garden last year. This one was blooming in January.

My Favorite People Image

These two cooks were working hard grilling lobsters on the Viking Sea during our February West Indies cruise. I love the smile on the face of the cook in the middle.The lobsters were as delicious as they look.

My Favorite Bird image

While at the Savannah Scottish Games we stopped to see a presentation of Birds of Prey from the Oatland Island Wildlife Center. Wassaw, a rescued American Bald Eagle, seemed to pose for me.

My Favorite Wildlife Image

This iguana ignored the people in their beach chairs on the beach at our hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

My Favorite Sunrise and Sunset

I watched some beautiful sunrises and sunsets last year. This sunrise in coastal Georgia and sunset on our West Indies cruise are my favorites.

My Favorite Landscape Image

The famous Pitons in St. Lucia are a beautiful sight to see from the water.

Two Random Favorites

The Tybee Island Lighthouse went through a major renovation last year. Even though the old paint had been removed the lighthouse proudly flew the American Flag on Memorial Day.

I loved the yellow umbrellas on the beach in Tortola.

Many thanks to all of our Lens-Artists hosts for this challenge and for all the challenges from 2024. I’m looking forward to seeing what we are challenged with in 2025.

JohnBo Journeys with JohnBo Lens-Artists #330 – Favorites of 2024

Tina Travels and Trifles Lens-Artists #330 – Favorite Images of 2024

Egidio Through Brazilian Eyes Lens-Artists #330 – Favorite Photos of 2024

Ritva Ritva Silllanmaki Photography Lens-Artists #330 – Favorite images of 2024

Sofia Photographias Lens-Artists #330 – Favorite Images of 2024

Ann-Christine Leya Lens-Artists #330 – Favorite images of 2024

Anne Slow Shutter Speed Lens-Artists #330 Favorite Images of 2024

Patti Pilot Fish Blog Lens-Artists #330 – Favorites Images of 2024

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #329 – Last Chance 2024

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All of our Lens-Artists hosts have asked us to share some of the images we loved that didn’t quite make it into any of this year’s Len-Artists challenges. Here are a few of my favorites.

Wishing you Peace, Joy and Happiness this Holiday season

Many thanks to all of our Len-Artists hosts for this challenge. Here is a link to Tina’s Lens-Artists Challenge #329 – Last Chance

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #328 – Winter

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John has chosen Winter for this challenge. Our winters are usually mild here in coastal Georgia. There is sometimes frost on the ground and occasionally the temperature drops below freezing but snow is a rare sight.

I’ve lived on the Georgia coast since the mid 1970’s. The biggest snow storm I’ve ever seen here took place a few days before Christmas in 1989 when the several inches of snow stayed on the ground for a few days. Everything in coastal Georgia shut down. Roads and bridges were closed, including the bridges on Interstate 95. Sadly, I don’t have any photos to share.

A more recent snow storm occurred on January 3, 2018. The freezing rain and snow that came through that day caused road and bridge closures. For two days schools were out and government offices were closed. Coastal Georgia was transformed into a winter wonderland.

I’m not a cold weather person. The ice and snow are beautiful to see but I would be happy if we never had another snow or ice storm here.

Many thanks to our host JohnBo for the challenge Lens-Artists #328 – Winter

Sunday Stills: Discovering Brown Shades in Wildlife

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, WildlifeTagged , , , , 19 Comments

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

National Bison Day – November 2

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The American Bison was named the United States National Mammal in 2016. This year National Bison Day is celebrated on Saturday, November 2.

Millions of these animals once roamed the American west. They were very important to the Native American tribes who depended on them for food, clothing, and more.

In the late 1800’s, the American bison were near extinction due to over hunting, drought, and disease. Thanks to dedicated groups of ranchers, the federal government, and conservationists the American Bison population has bounced back to an estimated 400,000 animals..

Today, visitors can view Bison herds in places such as Yellowstone National Park, Custer State Park, and the Land between the Lakes.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Custer State Park, South Dakota

Custer State Park, South Dakota

Elk and Bison Prairie, Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky