Looking Back to 2015

"Looking Back to 2015"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

As I look back to 2015, I find myself blessed in many ways: I am thankful for the opportunity to have my photography on Guideposts.org, I celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary with my wonderful husband by going on a cruise, my son graduated from high school, my daughter graduated from college, and my family was healthy.

The year did not go by without any hardships, but that is life. I am not promised an easy life as a Christian, but I know Jesus is right beside me helping me through my adversities. Notice the willet is missing his foot, but he is still moving forward! 

The Lord showed me many miracles this year and even used a hummingbird to affirm what He wanted me to do in a particular situation. I am thankful and abundantly blessed! 

Location: Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, Alabama

The Chase

"The Chase" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

One of the more challenging tasks of photographing nature and wildlife for me is photographing butterflies. They flit and flutter with no rhyme or reason from one flower to the next.

I photographed this butterfly in the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. It is a great opportunity to photograph them as they are in an enclosed space….although that does not guarantee an easy photograph.

YouTube Interview with wildlife & nature photographer Judy Royal Glenn

"YouTube Interview with wildlife & nature photographer Judy Royal Glenn"

This link click here is a video interview with wildlife and nature photographer Judy Royal Glenn from Athens, Georgia. In her interview, Judy shares her passion for photographing nature and wildlife, and talks about the roll the Lord has in her photography. Cinematography by Kidd Fielteau. 

Location of video: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Winter 2015 is Here

"Winter 2015 is Here"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Today may be the first day of winter, but it is warm in the Conservatory at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia where abundant orchids and plants thrive.

I went yesterday to the Garden with a cinematographer/photographer yesterday, so he could interview me about my nature and wildlife photography. He wanted to also video me in action as I photographed this lady slipper orchid. I will post the interview soon. 

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Hello

"Hello"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I love finding wildlife in nature. It is a surprise for the wildlife and for me!

 Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

A Shining Star

"A Shining Star"

 Judy Royal Glenn Photography

The Hoya plant is native to Asia including India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. This photo shows just the flowering part of the plant.

So much of our Heavenly Father is reveal through His nature and the wonderful designs found in it. I am sort of mesmerized by its design.

The middle of the flower is shaped in the form of a star and has a neat texture. It looks like a shining star….possibly like the one that shined at Jesus’ birth. 

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

A Tad Too Long

"A Tad Too Long"

Judy Royal Glenn Photograph

I wanted to post a photograph shot at a different angle than the "Moonlit Christmas Tree at Driftwood Beach" photograph I posted last week. 

In this photograph, Emory helped me paint the tree red again while I took a long exposure. I wanted to photograph the tree with the stars in the background. We started talking, and I forgot to look the time, so I ended up getting star trails in my photograph.

I still like the outcome of the photo:)

Ring Around the 'Horsies'

"Ring Around the 'Horsies'"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

While I was in Alabama on my birding trip, I passed two horses being encircled by cattle egrets.

King Tide 2015 on St. Simons Island….a Matter of Perspective

"King Tide 2015 on St. Simons Island….a Matter of Perspective" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

When I walked out on the beach on St. Simons Island, Georgia last week, I became very excited by what I saw. I witnessed waves larger than I have ever seen on the island. They were huge!

The reddish egret I was photographing closer to the dunes was scared off by a dog. It flew and landed close to the waves. I waited till a large wave formed before I took the shot.

I researched a little about the 'king tide' and found the term is used to describe as especially high tide. A 'king tide' occurs when there is an alignment of the gravitational pull between the sun and moon and occur twice a year.

I don't know how high the tides were on St. Simons but, I read they were predicted to reach 9.9 feet on Tybee.

This photograph is a matter of perspective. The seagulls close to my camera look large while the egret is dwarfed by the huge wave. 

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Moonlit Christmas Tree at Driftwood Beach

"Moonlit Christmas Tree at Driftwood Beach"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

The Lord blesses me in so many ways with my photography. This past weekend, I went to Jekyll Island, Georgia to photograph the almost full moon at moonrise on Driftwood beach. My goal was to photograph the moon rising between the driftwood on the beach.

I could not figure out how to light the driftwood and expose the moon properly. This is a new adventure for me as I usually photograph birds. I tried my flash, and I tried to light paint the tree with my iPhone but neither worked.

Before long, the Lord sent and an angel named Emory. He is an awesome photographer that knows well how to photograph a combination of the stars, moon, and trees at night. His photographs of star trails and the driftwood are beautiful!

We used flashlights with a red beam to light paint this tree during a long exposure. He "painted" one side while I "painted" the other. It was a lot of fun and I am thankful for his help!

Since the tree is painted in red, I decided to call it a Christmas tree. Wishing you an early Merry Christmas! Location: Driftwood beach, Jekyll Island Georgia

Cacti Obsession

"Cacti Obsession"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I never thought I would enjoy photographing cacti, but while I was at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia I became obsessed with photographing them. 

This cactus is the one on the bottom right of the shelf. I love its spiral pattern.

Location: Athens, Georgia

Hey, Focus on Me!

"Hey, Focus on Me!" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

It is hard when photographing a subject to determine where you what the focal point of the image to be. Of course the focal point is the flower as I have blurred out the background, but I wanted to take that step a little further. 

I want your eyes to rest on the stamen in the center of the flower. The stamen are standing at attention as if to say, "Hey, focus on me!" 

Location: Lake Junuluska, North Carolina

The Center of Attention?

"The Center of Attention?"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I tried to frame the St. Simons Island lighthouse between the driftwood on Jekyll Island. The lighthouse appears really small, and may be overlooked if not pointed out, but it was an important part of my photograph:)

The Beauty of Flowers

"The Beauty of Flowers" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

The beauty of flowers bring me much joy. Hoping this photo makes you smile and brings joy to you. 

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Lurking

"Lurking"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

A great egret looking for a bite to eat on the beach at St. Simons Island, Georgia.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! 

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia 

Autumn Abstracts

"Autumn Abstracts"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I decided to posts the abstract reflections I saw in the lake when I photographed the duck I posted on Monday. Even though I am not really an abstract person, they were amazing to look at. My eyes dance all around while looking at the details. I posted my favorite five in the order I like them best. The first photo is my favorite. Enjoy looking:)

 

  

Location: Little Mulberry Park, Dacula, Georgia

On Golden Pond

"On Golden Pond" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I enjoyed photographing this duck at the Little Mulberry Park. I saw the fall reflections in the water…..I just needed a subject. Then I had a little help from above. A duck flew into the air, made a u-turn and landed right in front of the dazzling reflections. 

Location: Dacula, Georgia

The Essence

"The Essence"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I normally do not photograph people, as my passion is nature and wildlife. But, while walking on the Grand Cayman beach, I found beauty in the serenity of a lady enjoying the nature around her. It is the essence of what I felt while on my Caribbean vacation. I am ready to go back!

Location: Grand Cayman Island

Fishing the Easy Way

"Fishing the Easy Way"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

This great blue heron fished the easy way. Nick the fisherman caught a fish and tossed it to the heron so I could take a photograph.

Location: Photo taken during the Alabama Coastal BirdFest at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.

Miss Me Yet?

"Miss Me Yet?"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

It makes me sad when the hummingbirds leave each fall. A worker from the Garden saw a hummer October 15 at the Garden. That is a record for the hummers leaving the Garden since I have been keeping track in 2011. At least they are sticking around a little longer. 

It does give me something to look forward to during the LONG cold winter:) 

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia - Athens, Georgia

He Calls Them by Name

"He Calls Them By Name" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

The Milky Way was an amazing sight to behold when I photographed the stars last week. I loved being able to look at it with my naked eye.

I looked in one direction across the open field and saw where the Milky Way was just above the trees. I followed it with my eyes until I was looking across the field in the opposite direction where it dipped below the horizon.

What is even more amazing is the Lord calls each one by name!

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." Psalm 147:4

Andromeda Galaxy

"Andromeda Galaxy" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

A member of our Athens Photography Guild (APG) asked if anyone would be interested in coming to his house for a star party. He has an observatory at his house with several telescopes to observe the night sky.

I went Wednesday night to his house and was able to photograph the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). I was amazed seeing all the Lord had made!

This photo is of the Andromeda Galaxy also called M31 or Messier 31. I was so excited I was able to photograph a galaxy. One can see this galaxy with the naked eye.

It is the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way and contains an estimated trillion stars. It is much larger than our own Milky Way and is 2.5 million light-years away.. If you can’t imagine how many stars this is, the Milky Way contains 200-400 billion stars.

The dark bands visible to the top left are bands of dust. The dust blocks the light from the stars behind them.

My camera was piggy backed to his telescope and the scope matched the movement of the earth’s rotation so during the long exposure the stars did not streak.

Setting: Nikon D800 + Nikon AF-S 80-400mm, 30 seconds, f/5.6, 12800 ISO, 320mm

Junk Food Please!

Junk Food Please! 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I did photograph animals besides birds while at the Alabama Coast BirdFest. This particular day, our group stopped for a lunch break while we were on Dauphin Island. 

We had a sack lunch packed for us and we ate at the picnic tables at a small park. This little guy wanted some of my lunch. I tossed him something healthy....lettuce. He turned up his nose. He did enjoy the bread and M&M cookies and took them to this branch and ate them!

Location: Dauphin Island, Alabama 

Dew Bee

"Dew Bee"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I was on an expedition at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to do my yearly documentation as to when the hummingbirds leave the Garden. An immature male hummingbird is there as of today which is a tie for last year's final hummer departure. 

I was able to photograph the hummer, but my favorite shot from today goes to this sleeping bee. I love seeing the dew on his body, especially his eyes.

I had to stand on a borrowed bucket to get high enough to photograph down on the bee, but even then I held my camera in the air and tried to look through my LCD screen to photograph him. I normally do not put the subject in the middle of my photo, but hey.....I'll take what I can get while standing on a bucket:) 

Location: Athens, Georgia

George

"George" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

This is George the resident great blue heron on the beach at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This photo was taken while I was at the Alabama Coastal BirdFest. 

When I first got to the beach, I saw George off in the distance next to a few fishermen. At first glance, I said out loud, "Is that real?" He was a very large heron, and I did not know if it was a decoration. 

George also wanted the shrimp on the line of the fisherman just like the willet. The fisherman threw George a shrimp to eat and then caught a fish and gave it to George so I could photograph him.

Tug of War

"Tug of War"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I am at the Alabama Coastal BirdFest this weekend and having a blast! This willet was playing tug-of-war with a fisherman's line.

Location: Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Flowing

“Flowing”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Saturday, my husband and I headed out to photograph waterfalls. There were so many striking images to view, but this one is one of my favorites. I was a little safer this time and sat on a handrail instead of standing on it. I even had my husband stand beside me and hold onto me as I focused on my equipment and getting the shot.

I used a six second exposure to capture the milkiness of the water flowing over the rock. What are we letting flow over us? As for me….God’s love and strength.

Location: Anna Ruby Falls near Unicoi State Park in White County near Helen, Georgia