In Love!

"In Love!"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Yesterday was strictly devoted to photographing birds while I was in Texas. I did a lot of research before we went there and knew the locations I wanted to shoot.

I greatly anticipated the opportunity to photograph the black-necked stilt, and it felt like Christmas morning when I saw them in the pond! 

Location: El Paso, Texas

He Has Risen!

He Has Risen!

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I have enjoyed seeing all the beauty the Lord created as I moved my daughter to El Paso, Texas. As we drove in, I saw several crosses on tops of hills and mountains.

This 29-foot cross stands on top of the Sierra de Cristo Rey and was erected in 1940. For more history of the cross, click here.

I wanted to capture the cross at sunset and post the photograph as my Easter post. We drove around and tried to find the perfect location.

He has risen! 

I hope He resides in your heart as He does in mine! 

Happy Easter:) ~ Judy

Spring has Officially Sprung!

Spring has Officially Sprung!

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

A beautiful red tulip at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia!

In Search Of

"In Search Of"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Birds have to search daily for their next meal, which means birds like the egret can be found near water. When I am on St. Simons Island, Georgia, I love looking for large water birds. I found this guy in the marsh near East Beach. 

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

To Each His Own

"To Each His Own"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I was outside yesterday getting water for my birdbath, when I saw something black in the bushes. It looked like a bicycle tire hanging in the bush. Of course I had to get my camera, although I hate snakes! 

Look at his pillow. That doesn't look comfortable to me, but to each his own.

Imagine

"Imagining"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I am continuing to do my homework for my Lensbaby Magic class. For this assignment, we were to bend our Lensbaby lens to experiment with the different ways to distort the outer parts of our frame. I am using the Composer Lensbaby Pro with sweet 50 optic for this shot. 

 While I look at this photograph, I can imagine the conversations people may have had as they sat on this bench. I am sure there would have been plenty good conversations, but sad ones as well.

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Spring is Almost Here!

"Spring is Almost Here!

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I took this photograph last spring as the trees and flowers were beginning to bud. One of my favorite little birds is the chic-a-dee. They are so cute! 

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Bunny Ears

"Bunny Ears"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

These are the flowers on the Hoya plant. I love the flowers are in the shape of a ball. The petals are real fuzzy like bunny ears or slippers.

I shot yesterday to work on my homework for my "Lensbaby Magic" class I am taking. For more info read the post below titled "My Lensbaby."

I finally got my close-up filter and extension tubes. I kinda went overboard trying to figure out three new pieces of gear instead of focusing on one. But for our homework, we could not crop, and I wanted to shoot super tight.

The thing I struggle with the most with this lens is it has a fixed focal length and is not a zoom lens. Instead of zooming my lens in to get closer, I have to move my cantankerous tripod forward, backward, up and down to get the shot I want. I photographed this flower for over an hour, but it was well worth it to me:) 

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

The Journey

"The Journey"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Photography to me is not limited to one particular subject I intend to photograph that day. It is whatever catches my eye, or runs, hops, or flies in front of me.

This particular day, my husband and I went hiking to waterfalls in North Georgia, so I could photograph them. But, there is always the journey to and from the waterfall too where I might encounter things I want to shoot.

The fungi on this tree, caught my eye, so I grabbed my micro lens and photographed it.

They're Coming Back!

They're Coming Back!

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I checked my favorite hummingbird migration map today and found the hummingbirds are coming back. Here is the link for the 2016 ruby-throated hummingbird migration map:  

http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

The hummingbirds are starting to arrive on the coast of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. I looked through all of her maps dating dating back to 1997. I found they typically reach northern Georgia between March16-26, with a one showing up March 11, and one as late as March 30. There are a lot of dates for their arrival for March 16 to March 26.

I definitely plan on having my feeders out by March 12. I wish I had a huge red banner saying "Welcome home…..please stay with us!" 

Location: Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

My Lensbaby

"My Lensbaby"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I recently bought a flower photograph course from CreativeLive and watched it last week. I learned so much from the instructor Kathleen Clemons. I am excited because one course and a new lens are going to dramatically change how I photograph flowers.

Kathleen photographs flowers in a magical way and uses a special lens called a Lensbaby to achieve the desired look she wants. Her photographs make it look so easy, but it is very difficult.

The lens has a bellow type structure which allows the lens to be tilted up, down, left and right. It has a selective spot of focus then everything around that focus is blurred.

I took my lens to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia yesterday to try it out. I knew there was a learning curve, but my greatest frustration came because it only has a 15-inch focusing distance. Last night I did buy a close-up filter and extension tubes, so I can get real close to the flowers. Can't wait to start this new journey….gotta long way to go! 

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Windblown Egret

"Windblown Egret"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

While I was enjoying sneaking up on this reddish egret, he was sneaking up on his breakfast. He posed for me with his natural windblown look. 

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia 

A Ray of Light

"A Ray of Light"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I love I was able to capture the soft and beautiful ray of light beaming down on this flower. Sometimes light changes so frequently, and if not acted upon quickly enough, it fades away. 

Location: Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

A Mountain of Dew

"A Mountain of Dew"

Happy Friday!

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

The Race is On

"The Race is On"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

While I in was in Haiti on my cruise, I explored the coastline to see what I could find. I found a colony of hermit crabs enjoying the sun and decided to photograph them during a two second exposure. I liked the milkiness of the waves the longer exposure created.

There is a small amount of movement from the top left hermit crab and the grey one because they were in a race. The top one on the right won:) 

Location: Labadee, Haiti