— Energized is my new year’s word. I am not the kind of person who makes new year’s resolutions. However, for 2023, I chose that word because of an assignment in a photo critique group that I recently joined. The … Read More

— “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” Those are words by Chinese author Lin Yutang. Along those lines, there is also something very comfortable … Read More

— Isn’t it lovely? Here we are in Austin, Texas, just a few days before the official start of winter. This morning I went outside in our front yard to make a photo for a photography group’s weekly challenge. I … Read More

— This week I was able to finally visit Red Bud Isle park, close to downtown Austin, Texas. I had heard about and seen a couple of photos from the area showing fall foliage. I did the short hike around … Read More

— While walking at Copperfield Nature Trail (Austin, Texas), near my home, I saw this flower for the very first time. I was surprised to see it there at the entrance of the trail. As often as I have been … Read More

— I found out about the Pep Ventosa technique in my photo challenge class a couple of weeks ago. As long as I have been using social media, I never saw anyone I follow using this technique in their photos. … Read More

— Just yesterday I went to Northeast Metropolitan Park to look for subjects for an assignment. Although the fall season has barely started in Austin, Texas, I couldn’t help noticing that some trees are already exhibiting quite a bit of … Read More

— I looked at my photo library and considered using one of the photos I have to match this week’s theme in the Nature Photographers Network group of which I am a member. However, I wanted to push myself a … Read More

— When I was a child, there was a song that became a big hit in Brazil. It was called “The Garden Flowers in Our Home,” and it was performed by unimitable Roberto Carlos. It was a sad song talking … Read More

— One knows summer has arrived in Texas when even sunflowers start to wither with the intense heat. A walk to my neighborhood park shows plenty of evidence about the effects of summer heat.  That was the case this week … Read More

— With summer temperatures clearly around us even before the official start of summer, there is not much one would think could be in bloom in the middle of triple-digit temperatures in Texas. Incidentally, for those who use Celsius for … Read More

— I can now check another item off my bucket list when it comes to wildlife. In April this year, I went for a hike at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, just 40 minutes from home in Austin, Texas. … Read More