August 9, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #261 Work in Progress

“Life is a work in progress” – Jeff Rich Ann-Christine is our host this week and she has selected a topic everyone can relate to, Work in Progress. As she says, everything is a work in progress! A work in process is evident in our household now as my husband and I are training our eight month old American Cocker Spaniel, Tucker, to become a good citizen! The good news is things are going well; he has a wonderful disposition and is a quick learner. The not so good news is our trainer says he is going through a puppy adolescent stage which will probably last several more months, Ugh. (As…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in cocker spaniels, Fine Art Photography, Quotes, Wildlife

February 13, 2022

Cellpic Sunday 13 Feb 2022 Great Blue Heron

A beautiful heron watching and waiting for a fish to swim by.  They have an amazing amount of patiences and will stand still like this for quite a while, just waiting.  This was taken one morning a couple of months ago when I was playing golf.  (Ok, usually when I play I also keep one eye out for any good wildlife shots and am usualy rewarded since there is an abundance of birds and alligators around.)  What also attracted my attention was how the sun light behind him (back lighting) created a lovely outline of his body.  Taken with the iPhone Max Pro camera. Thanks to John Steiner at Journeys…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Photography, Wildlife

July 10, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #155 On the Water

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” — Loren Eaiseley Having spent most of my life near the water, it’s the wildlife living in and on the water I enjoy seeing the most.  Three favorite pictures show Bottlenose Dolphins, a Mute Swan and Great White Pelicans enjoying the water.    Some of you have already seen this dolphin picture as they are following behind our boat.  This particular pod lives in the Kiawah River in South Carolina.  There are several previous posts where you might enjoy learning more about these very unusual pods of dolphins:    #88 Chaos,   #89 A River Run Through It   and …

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written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Wildlife

October 22, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #119 A HIDEAWAY

Being outside with nature has always provided special hideaways; a wonderful place to relax and surround myself with beauty and tranquility.  “Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy while cares will drop off the autumn leaves.”  John Muir, Our National Parks This week Ann-Christine wants us to think about our hideaways, where we like to retreat for relaxation and solitude.  So many wonderful places such as early morning walk on the beach while watching Sandpipers feed, sitting by the river’s edge observing canoes idly drifting in the breeze, observing gorgeous sunsets or…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Atlantic Ocean, Birds, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Maine, Silhouette Photography, Sunsets, Wildlife

September 10, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #113 A LABOR OF LOVE

“A Labor of Love is exalted because it provides joy and self-expression to those who perform it.” – Dennis Kimbro This week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge topic is A Labor of Love.  Rusha wants us to recognize those who go the distance and accomplish things which impact life for others in a meaningful way.  Labors of Love can be found around us, all the time.  It is often easy to identify and appreciate what others do for the better good of so many. The volunteers below are members of the Kiawah Island Loggerhead Turtle Patrol Program in SC.  Their dedication and Labor of Love helps protect endangered Loggerhead Turtles by monitoring…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Loggerhead Turtles, Photography, Wildlife

March 28, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #89 A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

This week Amy suggested using the title from the book, “A River Runs Through it” by Norman Maclean as our photo challenge.  What is so important about a river?   It is a source of life for all of nature and also man plus it symbolizes the power of nature and fertility.  I live close to the Kiawah River which runs between Kiawah Island and Johns Island and the mainland area surrounding Charleston, SC.  The river is in a constant flux of change as well as the wildlife that depends on it for survival.  The images below offer a glimpse into some of the life by the river. This river is…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Bottle Nose Dolphins, Capt Sams Spit, Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography, Wildlife

March 18, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #88 CHAOS

Ann-Christine chose Chaos as the word challenge this week. Choas in some form seems to be most everywhere. On Kiawah Island, there is a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins who learned to feed in a chaotic manner called strand feeding. This taught behavior is only seen in a few parts of the in the world.  You can see from the pictures below how chaotic strand feeding is!    The first part of the feeding routine looks more organized.  Working together, they locate a school of fish and begin herding them towards the shore as shown below. Once the fish are boxed in with no escape route, the dolphins attack by herding them…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Bottle Nose Dolphins, Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography, Wildlife

December 29, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #77 MY FAVORITES IN 2019

Patti suggests we show a few of our favorite photograph from 2019.  I also decided to share again a few of my favorite quotes plus my all time favorite from Ansel Adams.    “You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” – Ansel Adams   “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” – Don McCullin  …

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written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

March 15, 2019

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge

This week Tina challenges us to feature our neighborhood or someone else’s that makes us feel welcome or comfortable.  I have always felt comfortable around water so I decided to feature a few pictures of wildlife and activities on Kiawah’s beach, which is in our neighborhood and walking distance from our home.  Except for the first image, these other sights are fairly common.  I believe the quote below also implies being a good neighbor to wildlife, helping them to preserve their future. “To be a good neighbor is one of life’s richest joys!” – unknown   This Loggerhead turtle laid her eggs in the sand dunes and is very slowly…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

February 20, 2019

NATURE: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge

This week Patti asks us to showcase some of our Nature photography.  Most of these pictures were taken on Kiawah Island where there is an abundance of Nature shots everywhere – landscape, birds, animals, flowers, trees, the Atlantic Ocean plus magnificent colors in the sky created by the sun, moon and clouds. “In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”  –  John Muir ——————————-   “Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty.” – Richard Feynman   Over the past year or so photographers everywhere have had the opportunity to capture breathtaking pictures of the moon.  This picture of the moon isn’t anything special but…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography, Wildlife