Tag: Photo Challenge

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #370 – Ancient

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Horseshoe Crab = A living Fossil

Sofia has challenged us to show anything that has been in existence for many years. This can include things that humans have created, natural landscapes, or whatever we think of that is ancient.

My featured image is of a Horseshoe Crab found on an Atlantic Ocean beach in Georgia. Horseshoe Crabs are living fossils that have been in existence since before there were dinosaurs.

The rest of my images feature things that were created by humans in ancient times

Petroglyphs in Utah
These Petroglyphs in Arches National Park in Utah were probably created after 1600 when some of the Native American Ute tribes acquired horses.

Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado probably date from between 1190 and 1280 AD.

Hovenweep National Monument structures were built between AD 1200 and AD 1300

Ancient Bee Hive Huts from about 2000 BC, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

Last week you gave us some amazing responses to Ann-Christine’s Dreamy challenge.

I hope you will join in for this week’s challenge. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to Sophia’s post Lens-Artists #370 – Ancient.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, October 25 at noon eastern time for Ritva’s challenge.

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

Every Day is a Gift

The Flower Hour – Butterflies on Mexican Sunflower

Posted in Butterflies, Flowers, Nature, PhotographyTagged , , , 22 Comments

Many thanks to Terri for this week’s Flower Hour challenge The Flower Hour: Maple Leaves

Watch for a new Flower Hour Weekly challenge from Terri of Second Wind Leisure Perspectives every Tuesday. If you would like to participate you can find out more about this challenge here.

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #369 – Dreamy

Posted in PhotographyTagged , , , , , 36 Comments

Ann-Christine’s challenge is Dreamy. In her post she asks “So, what is ”dreamy” for you, and how do you create a dreamy picture? According to the dictionary it is ”having a magical or pleasantly unreal quality; dreamlike.” Soft dreamy photography is one that uses soft light, soft focus, delicate tones, and other gentle aspects to produce ethereal pictures. A blurred, or hazy feel is typical to the images – an almost surreal or unearthly effect. “

I chose a few images of foggy conditions because I like the way fog and clouds create a dreamy feeling.

Foggy morning on a Florida pond

A Scottish castle surrounded by clouds

This building on the Mississippi seems to be floating on clouds

My husband woke me up at almost midnight to see this surreal sunset of Mount Redoubt in Ninilchik, Alaska. I felt like I was still dreaming when I saw it.

Alaska Sunset
Alaska Sunset

Last week you showed us beautiful autumn colors from around the world in response to John’s challenge of Looking Back – Autumn.

Many thanks to Ann-Christine for this challenge. I hope you will join in for this week’s challenge. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to her post Lens-Artists #369 – Dreamy.

Sofia will be our next host. Be sure to check back on Saturday, October 18 at noon eastern time for her challenge.

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

Every Day is a Gift

Sunday Stills – World Animal Day

Posted in Birds, Nature, North Carolina, Photography, Texas, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , 18 Comments
Whooping Crane, Texas

Terri’s latest Sunday Stills challenge is World Animal Day which was celebrated on October 4, 2025. Two animals that were on my bucket list were Whooping Cranes in Texas and Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Seeing these animals in the wild was an amazing experience.

Whooping Cranes

According to the International Crane Foundation – North America, Whooping Cranes were near extinction with fewer than 20 individuals in 1941. Today, over 849 Whooping Cranes exist in the entire world.

We traveled to the Texas Gulf Coast one year hoping to see some of the Whooping Cranes who winter in and around the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. These birds breed at Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park and migrate to Texas every winter. Today there are more than 500 of these beautiful birds.

We found these magnificent Whooping Cranes near Goose Island State Park, south of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. I posted about this amazing experience at Magnificent Endangered Whooping Cranes.

Pair of Whooping Cranes, Texas

Pair of Whooping Cranes, near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Cataloochee Valley Elk

One fall we traveled to Waynesville, North Carolina in search of Elk in Cataloochee Valley on the eastern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I posted about our Elk viewing adventure at Cataloochee Valley Elk.

In February, 2001, the National Park Service began an experimental reintroduction of elk into Cataloochee Valley by releasing 25 elk from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area on the Tennessee-Kentucky border. Another 27 elk from Canada were released in 2002. Today there are approximately 200 elk.

Bugling Elk, Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina

The breeding season, also known as the rutting season, is in the fall. During this time the bull elk make their bugling calls to attract females and challenge other bulls.

Female Elk, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina

Female Elk, Cataloochee Valley, North Carolona

Many thanks to Terri for her Sunday Stills challenge World Animal Day

Every Day is a Gift