Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #162 – It’s all about the Light

For this challenge our host Tina has asked us to explore the magic of light.

To help celebrate this week’s anniversary of America’s National Parks I am focusing on images from three of the National Parks we have visited.

Sunrise in the Everglades is always a special event. The following images were captured at sunrise from the Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park. The sky put on a beautiful light show as the sun rose over Florida Bay.

The next two images were taken two years apart at Many Curves Overlook in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. The sun was shining in the spring of 2011 when I captured the image on the left. We returned in the summer of 2013 when I captured the image on the right.

Next we go to Zion National Park in Utah. I captured the following two images of the Watchman peak while waiting for sunset. As the sun was setting a full moon was rising.

Many thanks to Tina for challenging us with Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #162 – It’s all about the Light

I’m taking a short, much needed blogging break. I’ll be back in about two weeks.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – A Glimpse into my World

Welcome to my world along the Georgia coast where I am surrounded by salt water creeks and rivers, salt marsh and a beach on the Atlantic Ocean is only a five minute drive away. Please join me for a glimpse of some of the natural beauty that is in my world.

Birds and Wildlife of Coastal Georgia:

Salt Marsh, Beaches, and Waterways

Sunrises and Sunsets

Flowers and critters in the garden

Wild Georgia Shrimp and Georgia Blue Crabs fresh from the sea.

Many thanks to guest host Sheetal for this week’s Lens Artists photo challenge #135: a Glimpse of my World.

Lens-Artists #122: The Sun will Come out Tomorrow

No matter what happens today or what happened yesterday, the only thing we can know for sure about tomorrow is that the sun will rise.

Coastal Georgia Sunrise
Morning Sky at sunrise
Sunlight bursting through the trees at sunrise
Sunrise at Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, GA

Many thanks to Ana for guest hosting this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: The Sun will Come out Tomorrow

Driftwood Beach Sunrise, a Historic Island, and a Capsized Cargo Ship

The morning after our anniversary celebration, Henry slept in while I got up early to watch the sunrise at Driftwood Beach.

Sunrise at Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, GA
Sunrise at Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, GA

A Brief History of Jekyll Island and the Jekyll Island Club:

  • 1886 – The island was purchased for $125,000 by wealthy American industrialists to create a hunting retreat, the Jekyll Island Club.
  • 1888 – The Jekyll Island Club opened.
  • 1896 – The San Soucie (meaning ‘Without Care’) was built with six units. It is one of the earliest condominium buildings in the United States. William Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan were two of the owners.
  • 1910 – A plan was made for the Federal Reserve Banking System during a secret meeting of the Jekyll Island Club.
  • 1915 – The first transcontinental call was made by one of the club members.
  • 1947 – The State of Georgia purchased Jekyll Island for $675,000 and the island became a state park.
  • 1972 – The Jekyll Island Club was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 1985 – 1986 – The Jekyll Island Club was completely restored and opened in 1986 as the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
  • Today, Jekyll Island is a popular beach destination on Georgia’s coast with several hotels, a campground, easy access to miles of beach, and many activities to enjoy.

Here are a few images from around today’s Jekyll Island Club Resort. Click on an image for a closer look.

We took some scenic drives around the 7 1/2 mile long and 1 1/2 mile wide island. At the fishing pier on the north end of the island we had a great view of the Sydney Lanier Bridge and the Golden Ray cargo ship.

Sydney Lanier Bridge

We came across some birds as we wandered around the island.

Osprey on nest, Jekyll Island, Georgia
Tri-colored heron on Jekyll Island near Driftwood Beach

On September 8, 2019 the Korean cargo ship the Golden Ray left the port of Brunswick loaded with cars shortly before it ran aground in the St. Simons sound. The ship caught fire and thankfully, all of the 24 crew members were rescued. Since then, a special response team has been working to remove the ship. Recently, the team has put the efforts on hold because of COVID-19 and hurricane season. For more information go to St. Simons Sound Response.