Hues of the Season

“Hues of the Season”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Many years ago, while at Berry College, a friend and I went to the Old Mill towards the back of their beautiful campus. It was my first time seeing the mill.

We found a frog in the pond. He was cooperating and being still while we photographed him.

Step by step, I moved around to get the beautiful autumn colors reflected in the pond.  I had to be careful–one wrong step and my camera equipment or I could end up in the pond.

I am happy we found him!

Location: Berry College, Rome, Georgia

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com 

Raven’s New Hair Accessory

“Raven’s New Hair Accessory”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I love Raven! She is one of my favorite black bears in Cades Cove! She is a quiet, spirited bear and very calm. 

Now she has a new hair accessory–a piece of pine straw!

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

“A Hole”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

There are many quotes about autumn, trees, and the symbolism of dead leaves falling. 

Leaves are beautiful in the autumn—watching their hues change into beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds is stunning. Even though there are holes in this beautiful autumn leaf, the hole is letting the sun shine through. 

I’ve had plenty of dark days and nights, but I know the Lord is always with me. He is the light that is shining through. 

All of us have a hole. We as humans feel that void and many fill it with worldly things. This void is our human spirit which was created for relationship with God. We can either chose to accept Him and let Him fill that space with the Holy Spirit or we can find things in the world to fill that void—usually in unhealthy ways.

“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

He is waiting for you to trust in Him and ask His Holy Spirit to feel the void you may be feeling. But, guess what? That is the easy part.

It’s as simple as ABC. A — Admit that you are a sinner. (Romans 3:23)    

B — Believe that Jesus, God’s only son, was born and died on the cross for your sins. (Acts 16:31)

C — Confess and repent of your sins and ask Him to be Lord of your life. (1 John 1:9) 

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com 

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

Good Job!

“Good Job!”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

A horse sprints gleefully in Cades Cove, Tennessee to meet his buddies at the end of the pasture. 

If you follow my work, you know I love photographing the horses at Cades Cove after they finish their trail rides. The leaves were starting to turn, and I wanted to get some fall color in the background. 

As they bounded towards the last hill, I could see their heads bobbing up and down. They glanced over and saw me–I commended them for their efforts. I said, “Good job” as they galloped past. 

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com 

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Raven

“Raven”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I went into the woods at Cades Cove, Tennessee hoping to find a particular bear. I meandered through the woods hoping to find her, the pot of gold. I hiked and hiked and hiked. 

Signs of bears were everywhere–a fresh mound of scat, a cleared area beneath a tree, a large rock turned over, and fallen trees shredded to bits. I was encouraged and trudged along.

Three ravens squawked and squawked and kept going farther and farther into the woods. It was as if they were taunting me to go deeper.

I followed them thinking that maybe, just maybe, the Lord was using them to lead me to a bear. “Lord, are you leading me to the bears or are they just being birds?”

I asked the birds, “Where is she?” They just kept squawking.

One of the ravens was just above my right shoulder. If a raven could talk what he was saying was, “Up, up, up!” My legs were throbbing begging me not to go. I was exhausted but continued to follow their lead. Each time I pulled the phone up to record his sounds, he flew away. I wanted to prove what the ravens sounded like.

A very steep embankment was before me. I said, “I’ll go to the top of that hill, and if I don’t see any fresh scat I’m going to come back.”

As I got to the top of the hill there before me was a bear staring me in the face. He had been devouring the acorns on the forest floor and glanced up.

What a treat! I enjoyed watching him and of course taking his portrait. 

Yes, I believe God can still use animals to speak. I named my bear Raven.

I got in my car and said, “I’ll listen to ravens now.” Not far down the road another raven squelched at the top of the tree, but I chose to ignore it. 

Farther down the road, I saw a raven squawking in a thin line of trees and decided to stop. After exiting my car, I walked to the right of the area where I heard him. A few minutes later, a bear dashed out of those woods and crossed the road.

The Lord never ceases to amaze me!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com 

Location: Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Don’t Stack Rocks

“Don’t Stack Rocks”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Stacked rocks in rivers are pretty to see and photograph. But what people probably don’t know is there is a good reason why they shouldn’t stack rocks.

While photographing in Cades Cove, Tennessee, I saw I sign which addressed this matter. Rocks should not be stacked because aquatic species live under the rocks and use it as their home. 

Citico Darters live and nest under rocks. These fish are federally endangered and are “currently restricted to a single river system in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.” (Quote from Tennessee Aquarium website.)

So instead of taking a pretty photo, save a species:)

FYI, I did not stack these rocks but did place a leaf on them.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com 

Location: Raven Cliff Falls, Cleveland, Georgia

Gone are the Sunflowers

“Gone are the Sunflowers”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Gone are the sunflowers that brightened the fields of summer—fall is here. Fall brings a new kind of beauty with its brilliant reds, oranges and yellows.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, Knoxville, Tennessee

Time to Fly

“Time to Fly”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Autumn is finally here—I love the cool mornings and evenings. But I have some sadness. The monarchs will be leaving very shortly. 

I have enjoyed their presence since raising them in the spring. My time will now be focused on other things.

It is their time to fly to Mexico—it had to come so they can survive. I look forward to your return!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

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

Mexican Monarch Fiesta

"Mexican Monarch Fiesta"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

Very soon Monarchs will be having a fiesta in Mexico as they migrate there for the winter. I can only imagine the sight!

It has been a very long season for me raising God’s beautiful creatures since April. With their numbers in serious decline, all the long hours are totally worth it!

 Their numbers have dropped as much as 90% in the last two decades in the U.S. 

Would you help by growing milkweed in your yard or field and plant a butterfly garden to help them from going extinct? Milkweed is the only food the caterpillars eat. 

I would love for my grandkids to see them one day!! Thank you!!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Athens, Georgia

Here Me Roar!

"Here Me Roar!"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Since moving to Tennessee, my passion is to find and photograph red foxes. I don't get to see them very often and wish I had more encounters. 

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website: 

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Evil Eye

“Evil Eye”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

This past winter, a friend took me to photograph a canvasback. I was excited because I have never photographed one. Also, canvasbacks in Tennessee during the winter are uncommon.

 

 I kinda felt sorry for him, because he was the only one of his kind living at the pond. The only other birds were mallards. He blended in but stuck out like a sore thumb.

 

Canvasbacks are wary and he proved no different. When I walked around the lake to him, he swam away.

 

In this photo, it looks like he is giving me the evil eye for following him.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Maryville, Tennesse

Chillin’

“Chillin’”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

Last week, I went to Murfree Springs Wetlands. All the critters were in their hiding places and did not want to show their cute little faces.

 

A family of raccoons live in a dead tree in the swamp. The top part of the tree that they hung out in broke off, and they now live in the bottom of the tree. A small black peep hole only gives glimpse of them when they stick their heads out.

 

I met a fellow photographer who also was waiting for their debut. He noticed a raccoon snuck out the back door of the tree and was foraging in the marsh.

 

The raccoon crawled up the tree and began cleaning herself. She grew tired and laid down briefly so we could get our shot!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Magical Morning

“Magical Morning”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

Cades Cove, Tennessee is always magical. This particular morning the fog danced around the Dan Lawson Place like a ballerina making it even more magical.

 

The frozen ground was white as snow and the water reflected an array of colors. It was a stunning sight.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Pigeon Jam

“Pigeon Jam”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

A park volunteer told me about a white pigeon in Cades Cove last week. He said the pigeon had a tag and a light on it and may have escaped from Dollywood.

 

A friend and I were driving around Loop Road when out of the corner of my eye, I spotted it. Thankfully, there was a place to pull off. I quickly motioned for my friend to park.

 

The pigeon was very tame and let us get close to photograph him. One of my goals was to photograph his feet so I could maybe get the numbers on the tags.

 

I wanted to catch it with my butterfly net and hopefully find its owner. I did not know if I would get it trouble so I let him be.

 

A “bear jam” happens when tons of people are looking at the bears. It backs up traffic sometimes causing it to halt. So, I titled this photo “Pigeon Jam” because it caused traffic to back up. The tourist were excited to slow down and take a cellphone photo of the little guy. Before long, he flew away after our photoshoot.

 

I went to the ranger station hoping I would have its tag numbers to report. Anxiously, a looked through the photos and sure enough, I had one tag number. The tag number was 80, which was on the blue and white striped tag. The other tag was orange, but I could not see a number. The workers went to the data base and sent an email with the info to find his owner.

 

Fingers crossed!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

 

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

Curlicue

“Curlicue”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

Hiking on the trails in Cades Cove are always fun. A lot of times I come up empty-handed and don’t see any wildlife—sometimes I hit the jackpot.

 

I hiked on a trail with a friend where there had been bear activity. Before long, we ran into a sow and her cubs.

 

It had been raining, and I did not notice the impact the rain had on the cub’s hair when photographing him. When I edited the photo, I noticed he looked like he had just gotten a perm along with the fern in front of him. I could not have planned that any better.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park