Sticks and stones in one form or another, are a major part of nature photography.

Sticks: Branches, twigs, limbs, trunks, trees, etc.

Sticks with leaves,  help us to illustrate the seasons.

Spring, fall and winter.

Birds and sticks just go together.

A stick & a canyon

The shape of sticks.
A stick turned to stone. Petrified Forest N. P., Arizona

Stones: Rocks, rock forms, stone(s), gravel, etc.

Big rocks or little stones, they are the jewels of photography.

Stones or rocks, are often the lead and/or anchor of your photograph. They can be the beginning or the end.

The edge of light and the shadows it produces, is the perfect visual mate for rocks. Those carefully placed (via composition) dark spots make rocks snap, crackle and pop.

Sometimes stones have sticks.

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Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me is the old proverb that today’s title came from. The idea has never been more relevant.

Whether it’s the kids that go to your child’s school or national politics, the act of substituting name calling for critical thought is on the rise. Like most “involved” people I have been called my share of names over the years. There is really only one way to quiet the name callers. Render them powerless by ignoring them. That is something this generation of children needs to be taught by their elders.

Names will never hurt me.

God Bless,                                                                                                                                          Wayne