Surrounded By Color

"Surrounded By Color"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

 

Location:  The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Iron Horse

 

"Iron Horse"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

This shot came right after a hard lesson learned. This particular morning, I left my house a little after 5:30 a.m. to photograph the Super Moon of 2013 as the moon was at it's closest position to the earth. I need to mention that I am not a morning person. As I was driving, I saw the clouds nearing the moon, so I pulled over and took a few shots just in case the moon went behind the clouds. 

I continued to drive up and down the road, I scouted the night before while looking for the perfect spot. The heavy fog and running out of time eventually kept me from getting the shot I wanted. To make matters worse, I did not check my setting before I took the photos of the moon. I had to switch to manual focus the night before because my camera struggled to focus in the dark. I thought the camera was set in automatic focus but because it wasn't, the photos of the Super Moon weren't sharp. I was very frustrated and mad at myself and will have to wait for the shot next year.

I did not let my disappointment get to me and knew I could hopefully go to the Iron Horse and get a sunrise photograph. I was in luck, and the fog was beautiful!  

Luckily, I went out the night before and took shots of the Super Moon:) 

Location:  Greensboro, Georgia near Athens, Georgia

Super Moon 2013 & The Iron Horse

"Super Moon 2013 & The Iron Horse"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

My husband suggested taking photos of the Super Moon of 2013 at the iconic Iron Horse near Athens, Georgia.

I set out to Greensboro which is near Athens, Georgia to photograph both the Super Moon and the Iron Horse.  Great minds think a like, because when I got there another photographer was there setting up his tripod as well.  He wanted a distant shot, and I wanted an up close shot.  So I knelt down to try not to get in his distant shot:) It worked out well.

The frustrating part was waiting for the moon to clear the clouds.  We were both in place to catch the moon right as it cleared the horizon with the Iron Horse in the foreground, but as you can tell from the above photos, the moon was high in the sky before it cleared the clouds. 

I noticed lightening in the distance.  So, I took some longer exposure shots to hopefully capture it.



I captured one shot with lightening in it.  I called my husband and asked him to look on the weather map to see where this storm was.  I knew it was far away because I could not hear any thunder.  The storm was in Augusta, Georgia which is 100 miles away.  Even though the photos aren't spectacular, I had a great time nonetheless.

Location:  Greensboro, Georgia......near Athens, Georgia

No Name

 

"No Name"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

 

While on vacation, I visited the Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to view the wild elk there.  I spoke to a ranger there, and she told me this particular elk's name was "No Name."  When he was born, I guess they did not catch him in time to tag him or give him a collar.  I liked it because it made for a better photograph.

 

The elk were reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2001.  Twenty-five elk were first brought in and another 27 in 2002. 

Location: Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Dreaming

"Dreaming"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

 

This photo is a first for me.  I love my photos to be sharp, but in this photo I wanted to change the clarity to make the photo appear soft.  The cat now looks peaceful as though he dreaming.

The Rose Walk

"The Rose Walk"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

 

There is a beautiful rose walk at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina.  I had not taken the time to photograph it while I was there but decided to do so the morning we left.

A Mouth Full

 

"A Mouth Full"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

 

I found this baby Tree Swallow nest at Lake Junaluska this week.  I captured the baby being given a dragonfly.

 

 

When I first saw the baby, I just saw a head sticking out of the box.

 

 

Seconds please!

Soco Falls

"Soco Falls"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I enjoyed visiting Soco Falls with my family yesterday.  It was a challenge using the rope system to get this shot.  My family helped with the tripod and backpack:) 

Simplicity

"Simplicity"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

 

Out To Lunch

"Out To Lunch"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Location:  The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Divine Appointment

"Divine Appointments"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

 While I was at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia on Monday, I heard an owl deep in the woods near the back of the garden.  I contemplated finding the owl, but what were my chances of finding him especially if he did not call anymore?  So, I did not try.  Yesterday, I heard the owl call again, but this time I heard another owl answer back.  I again contemplated, but it was very brief.  I knew it was my best shot, because they were both calling each other.  I quickly packed all my gear and headed into the woods.  Of course, I never heard him call again.  Again, what were my chances of finding an owl deep in the woods? 

So, I prayed and asked the Lord to help me find the owl.  I was walking at a pretty fast pace, when I suddenly stopped in my tracks.  He is in a tree that had fallen over the creek which was about twenty feet in front of my head!  I took one shot, and he flew into another tree.  I took several shots there, then he flew into the creek. 

Two joggers came by and I told them about the owl in the creek.  One of them told me he was a juvenile, and that she has seen the adult in the area. 

He stood in the water for a long time as we watched him.

My hands were shaking as I was photographing him because I was so excited......and my brain was not working straight!  I was changing my settings in the wrong way!   Because it was very dark in the woods, and since I have not had my camera very long, I could not figure out fast enough how to get a faster shutter speed.  But nonetheless, I like the way his head looks like a tornado!

He enjoyed taking his bath and then rested as his feathers started to float in the water:) 

He then flew into a tree because I moved my tripod and it made a lot of noise.

 Thank you Jesus for my divine appointment!

Really??

"Really??"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

"Really??" is something I have been saying a lot lately.  I know I have mentioned frequently how the Lord brings to me what He wants me to photograph, but He really amazes me! 

This particular day I had my camera and tripod pointed at a bush where I had observed hummingbirds feeding.  This male Ruby-throated Hummingbird landed right in front of me!  "Really??"