The guy behind the lens

Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Favorite Images of 2017

As we all prepare to say goodbye to 2017, I want take time to share my favorite images of 2017. Looking back, this year has been one of much excitement as I have had chances to expand my work in what I am calling "Sciencetelling" to new audiences thanks to presenting at several science education conferences as well as joining up with the great folks at National Geographic Education where I am contributing to their blog on a regular basis.  You can find my updated author page HERE

These exciting additions to my life resulted in fewer opportunities to get out and shoot images this year, but I still had a great time on vacation this summer in Utah and Colorado where I fell in love with the Red Rock Country of the intermountain west! In addition to shooting nature as I have done for years, I have begun to explore shooting local theatre productions in North Texas where I live. In particular, Allen's Community Theatre, where my wonderful wife, Robyn both acts and directs. You can expect to see tidbits of both of these in my year end retrospective as well as some images I took on a final walkthrough of the science building I worked in for the past 27 years - it's was demolished in June as we replace it with a new, state of the art science center. 

Thanks for visiting and I am looking forward to utilising this space for a wider range of sciencetelling and photography in the coming year!  HAPPY NEW YEAR! 


Western Landscapes (click to view high res versions

Black Canyon National Park
View from top of Grand Mesa


Lone Pine at Colorado National Monument
Balanced Rock at Colorado National Monument
"Weathering Sentinel" at Colorado National Monument 
The Coke Ovens - Colorado National Monument



"Verticality" at Colorado National Monument
The Long & Winding Road
The Long & Winding Road"  - Canyonlands NP
Animals (click to view high res versions


Utahraptor stalks a small child - Moab Giants -, Utah
T. Rex at Moab Giants - Utah

 
Yellow Bellied Marmot
Yellow Bellied Marmot - Colorado
Sharptooth!
"Sharptooth" at Colorado Gators Reptile Park

Surreptitious Swimmer
Camouflaged Gator at Colorado Gators Reptile Park
"Cruisin'" at Colorado Gators Reptile Park



            The Old Science Building (click to view high res versions)
Warning sign in the Science Lecture Hall
"Break it Early...."

Faucet & Nozzle
"Impossible is Nothing"


Theatre (click to view high res versions)

Victor Von Frankenstein - from Young Frankenstei  
Reanimating the Monster - Young Frankenstein

"Ride in Ze Hay" - Young Frankenstein
The Monster - Young Frankenstein

King Henry and Alais - Lion in Winter

Queen Eleanor & King Henry - Lion in Winter

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Springtime along the Raasch Trail




I consider myself lucky to live within an hour of the wonderful Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge that sits on the shores of Lake Texoma near Sherman, Texas. 


Click above to go to Google Maps of the area!




I started to visit Hagerman last year after years of hearing about it. However I had just not gotten up the gumption to get there. Aside from year round abundant bird life ,  and more than a dozen miles of nice hiking trails, I was immediately impressed by the warmth and friendliness of the volunteers I met there who staff the visitor center and share their impressive knowledge of the flora, fauna, and history of the area. I now happily count myself as a monthly volunteer at the visitor center in hopes of being able to give back to those of you who will visit Hagerman in the future. Before a visit, make sure to check out these two websites:

The OFFICIAL  Hagerman NWR Website - The official US Fish & Wildlife website for Hagerman. 

FRIENDS OF THE HAGERMAN NWR  website  - detailed information about the volunteer group I belong to that helps run visitor services for Hagerman NWR



Two weeks ago, I went up to Hagerman to spend the day photographing bluebirds - the Friends of the Hagerman group  has built and monitors several dozen bluebird houses which have greatly bolstered the local bluebird population over the past few years. 



I had a wonderful day taking advantage of a warm spring day capturing bluebirds busily working to capture morsels for their fledglings to feast upon. In addition, the lighting along the Raasch Trail was superb to capture the beauty of early spring growth here in North Texas. 




Please feel free to share this gem of a place with your online friends! It's well worth the visit if you're in the neighborhood! 

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2013 Blue Lion Year in Review- Part 3 of 6

In this post, we will wander from photo # 15 down to the edge of my top 10 images of 2013. This collection features images from my South African Safari as well as local shots and even my favorite Civil War reenactment shot of 2013. Enjoy and make sure to visit back tomorrow for images # 6 through 10! If you missed previous posts in this countdown, you can click on them here: PART 1, PART 2.
Hyena Yawn
# 15 ~ Spotted Hyena Snarl ~ Ngala Game Reserve, South Africa

Snowy Egret Hunting
# 14 ~ Snowy Egret Hunting ~ Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX
FIRE!
#13 ~ "FIRE!" ~ Battle of Fort Richardson, Jacksboro,TX
#12 ~ (Not So) Graceful Giraffe ~ Fossil Rim , Glen Rose, TX 
#11 ~ Reflective Heron ~ Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX

Once I post the next installment in the countdown, you can click HERE  to see it! As always I am interested to hear which of my images speak most loudly to you individually! Feel free to tell me in the comments below! 

Monday, December 30, 2013

2013 Blue Lion Year in Review- Part 2 of 6

Here is Part Two of my yearly review of the images I have produced during 2013. If you missed the first installment, you can view them here: 2013 Blue Lion Year in Review- Part 1 of 6

These 6 images are start of my "Top Twenty" images of the year. Please feel encouraged to let me know which of these is your personal favorite in the comments section below. I greatly value knowing what Blue Lion viewers enjoy the most! I really enjoy getting to see my photographs through YOUR perspective!  

Your can see higher resolution versions of each of these images on my website by clicking in the images here. All of these images are available for purchase as well from my website (www.bluelionphotos.com).  
#20: Bald Eagle Scouting for Lunch ~ Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX
#19: Burrowing Owl (Captive) ~ Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX
Longing for Home
#18: "Longing for Home" ~ Civil War Reenactment, Allen, TX 
#17 (tie): "Moonrise Over Allen" ~ Allen, TX
Addra Gazelles
#17 (tie): Addra Gazelles ~ Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, TX 
#16: "Sassy Cardinal" ~ Allen, TX
One lesson any aspiring nature photographer can take away from this collection of photos is that you can get very good subject matter close to home. While I have been very lucky to travel to some great places to shoot nature, all of these images were shot within a two hour drive of my home and several were shot within minutes of my house! If you are willing to look closely at the daily world around you, you can find intriguing subject matter! 

CLICK on PART 3 to see the next installment in the series! 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Civil War Days in Allen, Texas

Recently, I was asked by friends to shoot the activity at the Allen (Texas) Heritage Guild’s Civil War Days. I did not expect much from this small event which consisted of a small encampment of reenactors, a realistic medical test and surgeon (including a lower leg amputation!),  a skirmish on both Saturday and Sunday and some dramatic readings related to Civil War letters, the Gettysburg Address, and  a period debate regarding the secession of Texas from the Union.

  True Love in a Time of War

   



As you can see in the images in this post, the event was a success! It was small enough that I was able to get images of many of the activities. In addition, I am very pleased with how they came out. As is now my style, I processed them to reflect images that would have actually been taken during Civil War times. 

The Artilleryman    



Please feel free to let me know what you think of these images and especially their level of realism in your eyes - I am striving to develop techniques that lend these digital images a genuine feel of being Daguerreotypes, wet plates, and tintypes from the earliest days of photography. As such, all constructive criticism is welcomed!  Keep your eyes on this space as I'll be sharing my visit to the "Battle of Fort Richardson" in Jacksboro, Texas later this week! 



Thanks again for your support!