Mirror mirror on the Wall

"Mirror mirror on the Wall"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I love photographing wildlife up close, but when water is involved, I like to zoom out a tad to get the animal's reflection. This little blue heron looks like he is asking, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"

Location: Daniel Island, Georgia

More Please!

"More Please!" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

My husband surprised me with an orchid for Valentine's Day last year. The plant took a tumble in the car and the flower broke off the stem. I did not mind because I ended up picking out two different orchids to replace the broken one.

I don't have a green thumb, but enjoyed photographing the orchids. This one was photographed in my kitchen.

Enamored

"Enamored"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I throughly enjoyed my time at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia. One of my most memorable moments while there was "playing" with the dolphins. 

I sat on the floor with my tripod and camera behind the thick glass watched and waited. It wasn't long before the dolphins swan over and were either enamored with me or my camera. They frequently swam past me close to the glass or straight towards me. The workers at the aquarium even commented that I should come more often:)

The dolphins made my day!

Comfortable with my Presence

"Comfortable with my Presence"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

One of the things I love about wildlife photography is wildlife walking straight towards my camera! Willets are typically skittish and run away at blazing speeds, but this willet seemed comfortable with my presence. I love how he is looking up at me:)

This photograph was taken during the Alabama Coastal BirdFest.

Hummingbird Fight

"Hummingbird Fight"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I created another YouTube video of my excursions with the mango and red-billed streamertail hummingbirds while in Jamaica. The above photo is a screen shot taken during the video.

 This video shows each of the species defending their feeder very aggressively. Loud noises can be heard as their bodies clash together even while they are off camera. 

Location: Jamaica

A Little of This

"A Little of This" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

We are having a wet winter as forecasted, but we have not had any snow. I love when Georgia gets snow, because I am able to go out and shoot. Snow makes for a whole different landscape. I am sure there are others who will say, "I've had enough of this!" 

Location: Athens, Georgia

Unexpected Visitor

"Unexpected Visitor"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I like my unexpected visitors when photographing nature:) 

Location: The Atlanta Botanical Garden

Getting There

"Getting There"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

"Mouflon are found throughout various countries in central Asia, from Turkey in the west, to Pakistan in the east." http://www.arkive.org/mouflon/ovis-orientalis/

This sheep though was photographed at the Wild Animal Safari, in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Mature male's horns are curved in almost one full revolution, so this male is getting there:) Another photo of a mouflon sheep can be found in my header photograph. 

They are beautiful creatures!

Luminous Light

"Luminous Light" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Last year, while I was at the Blue Ridge Mountains Writers Conference, I went for my traditional hike on the beautiful trails found there. I knew there had been a forest fire because I saw the charred forest as I drove into Black Mountain, North Carolina. More than 700 acres were charred in the fire.

I have never walked through a forest after a fire, so I wanted to soak in what I saw. I tried to document the scenery before me and tried to be astute as I may never have this opportunity again.

I witnessed new life as ants were milling around and new trees and shrubs were blooming. Besides the little bit of new growth, everything was black.

I wanted to photograph a charred tree but found difficulty keeping the light from bouncing off the black bark that produced luminous colors. I even placed my translucent diffuser between the sun and my camera to help block the light, but it did not work. But, I am tickled by the results achieved in my photograph. 

Location: Black Mountain, North Carolina

Twin Frost Flowers

"Twin Frost Flowers"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

With the right temperatures…..in the mid to lowers 20’s, plus the right vegetation….in this case white crownbeard, plus being at the right place at the right time usually equals finding beautifully sculpted frost flowers. 

My friend Don Hunter introduced me to frost flowers last year that he photographed at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. I had never heard of them, but saw his photographs on Facebook and knew I wanted to photograph them too. I went last year with my photography friend Heather to photograph them for the first time. It was amazing to see these beautiful ice sculptures.

Frost flowers form when the sap inside the plant push through and freeze which forms beautiful ribbon of ice. The flowers are very delicate and need extra care so they won’t break as I pick the unwanted vegetation away. I am very particular and want a perfect photograph, but I am disappointed to find a beautiful flower and break it before I photograph it.

I looked ahead at the weather for this week and saw Tuesday and Wednesday mornings would be good days to possibly photograph the flowers, so I asked Don what he thought. He thought perhaps Tuesday morning would be best. He, Heather and I went yesterday and were delighted to find our little friends.

I am not a morning person and I do not like the cold, but I will do what it takes to get the shots I want. There are photographers more dedicated than me that get up most mornings before sunrise and repeatedly getting out in the freezing cold, but not me.

 

Yesterday, I photographed “The Twins” frost flower, aptly named and found by Heather. The swan frost flower was a blessing the Lord showed me last year. The Lord knows I love birds, and I was delighted to find a frost flower in the shape of a swan!

Thank You!

"Thank You!"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I wanted to take the time at the beginning of this new year to thank my followers on Blogger and on my other social media Twitter , Google+ , Flickr , YouTube  and Facebook . I appreciate your comments. Feel free to share on social media as it will hopefully all help my work in the long run:) Click on the links to take you to my other sites.

Fine art prints can be purchased on my nature and wildlife photography website: https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

I love wildlife and nature photography and the beauty found in God's nature. Hopefully, through my photos, you have seen a glimpse of His wonder and glory. I am looking forward to what He shows me this year! 

Thanks again:) ~ Judy 

Location: Grand Cayman Island

Looking Forward to 2016

"Looking Forward to 2016" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I am looking forward to 2016 and what it may bring, but I am not fearful or anxious about the future. I hold unto the many truths in the Bible: 

      25“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" 26“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" 27“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" 28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these." 30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!" 31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?" 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." 34“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 

"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Happy New Year! 

Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama