Early Morning Fog

January 12, 2012 in Day-Trips, Parks, Photos

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Fog was abundant in the early morning of last Sunday (1/1/12) in Southeast Texas.

I remember always being drawn to the fog, with the exception of a few years of my youth...thank you John Carpenter. So, right after breakfast I began driving around, hoping something would pull my attention. In the suburbs, you have to really search for photo opportunities because it can be difficult to find something without obscurities, such as power lines (unless you want power lines to be part of your composition). Then I remembered Bay Area Park's wooden walkway out over part of Armand Bayou. I have taken many photos at this location because I love the numerous dead trees and the wetlands themselves. Fog is one of the conditions that I had not yet photographed in this setting. Also, on this particular morning, the fog and humidity enabled water beads to form on the numerous spider webs.

I believe my decision to go back to this location was a win win.

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Full Bay Area Park gallery on Google+

Fog or mist adds mystery to just about any landscape composition. Especially if it contains cool dead trees.

Additional Information

Bay Area Park Info

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.” -Ernst Haas

Check out my About.Me page for my complete web presence

A National Wildlife Refuge Weekend

July 24, 2011 in Day-Trips, Parks, Photos

On Saturday morning I left before sunrise and headed toward the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. There were a couple of cool photo ops along the way. On FM 2004, there is a large bridge that goes over Chocolate Bayou. I stopped at a public boat ramp located underneath the bridge and was able to get a couple of nice photos.

Once I arrived at the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, I was astounded at how low the water was. I guess I should not be surprised with the drought and all.

But even with the lack of water, there was such beauty. I can’t wait to go back when the water level is up and there is an abundance of wildlife to see.

On Sunday morning, both my husband and I went back to the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge for a short time and then began making our way to the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge, like the Brazoria refuge, was very very dry. We did find some water and there was a family there taking advantage of the water and doing some fishing. This is another area that we will definitely be going back to when we make it through this drought.

Additional Information & Links

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Texas - Texas Explorer
My National Wildlife Refuge Flickr Set

“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

Park Channel

June 26, 2011 in Parks, Photos, Project365

Taken at Walter Hall Park in League City, Texas. I love the part of the park that is by the channel. Playing around with NIK Silver Efex Pro. Using the Yellowed 2 filter.

Camera | Nikon P7000
Aperture | f/4.0 ~ ISO Speed | 100
Post – Photomatix Pro/Photoshop/Silver EFEX Pro

Alternate Views

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"A photograph is usually looked at – seldom looked into." -Ansel Adams

Night Heron

June 04, 2011 in Day-Trips, Events, Parks, Photos, Project365

I met my photography group at Brazos Bend State Park early this morning. This guy stood still for a long time. I am not very good at wildlife, so he figured he would give me lots of tries. ;)

Camera | Nikon D90
Exposure | 1/60 sec ~ Aperture | f/5.6
Focal Length | 100 mm ~ ISO Speed | 200
Flash off – No Tripod
Complete EXIF Data
Post – LightRoom/Photoshop

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“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” -Robert Capa

Brazos Bend & A Wood Stork Migration

October 17, 2010 in Day-Trips, Parks

On Saturday, we decided to jump in the car and start driving without any plans. We started down 288 toward Lake Jackson and came across the exit to Brazos Bend State Park and decided to take it. Yes, we've been to Brazos Bend a lot, but it is a hard place to get tired of.

This time we were in for a real treat. We had been there about two hours and were about to leave when we decided to take one more drive around the park. We happened across these trees filled with large birds. I am not a birder, so at the time I had no idea what they were, I was just amazed at the sheer number. One of the park attendants came through and told us that they were Wood Storks and they come through here once a year on their way to Mexico. About fifteen minutes later, they started getting restless and in about another twenty minutes they were all gone. The mass exodus was simply amazing...it is the only words I have to describe it.

Additional Information

Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art. ~Ambrose Bierce