I am sure you will enjoy the eight exceptional image makers who’s work I am sharing with you today.

Let’s start today with a photographer who’s imagery has been celebrated on these pages before. He has a specific style to his pictures.  Guy Tal is a premier photographer who has a great mix of moody landscapes and thoughtful abstracts in his portfolio.

Deborah Sandidge also has a great photographic style and when she travels the world, we all benefit. She made this image recently in France.

Valerie Interligi only came to my attention recently. I love this intimate shot of a beautiful red flower. I especially like the way the flower sweeps out towards the viewer. It has rhythm.

I enjoyed this beautiful shot created by Howard Cheek of a Queen Butterfly. The Queen is another one of several Monarch imposters that exist. If you want to survive in nature, and you’re just not tough enough, just convince everybody that you’re really toughest (or worst tasting) kid on the block.

Let’s start today’s wildlife imagery with an artful photo of an equally artful bird. Terrakota made this picture of a Japanese Paradise Flycatcher feeding its young. Unfortunately I cannot find Terrakota anywhere on the web. The image was a share on my Facebook homepage.

There’s no wildlife subject that inspires the viewer more than a male African Lion. This “coming your way” picture was made by Brendon Cramer.

What happens when you get two legends together? This Art Wolfe image of the American symbol, the Bald Eagle shows us.

Let’s finish today’s guest photographers with an image from landscape star Kevin McNeal. This is a rare cityscape from Kevin and it is beautiful. The city is Vancouver, British Columbia. Enjoy.

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It seems so many today are afflicted with the “Robin Hood” syndrome. It’s okay to steal, as long as you are taking from the rich and giving to the poor. The problem with people who subscribe to this philosophy, is that eventually those who steal, will rationalize theft of the “less than rich”, and find those that are less than poor, like themselves, to give the money to. In the end stealing is stealing.

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For those of you here in the U.S., please do remember that our Fourth of July holiday is really called Independence Day. Keep those courageous and thought-provoking founders of our country in mind while you are out picnicking. I only wish they were with us today.  We have never needed them more.

People have been fighting and dying to be free……forever. History has proved to us, that most people would rather live lives that are free and short, than long and captive. Somewhere in the world, somebody is fighting to be free right now.  It is a fight that can never end.  Freedom is liberty. This is a good day to celebrate freedom, wherever you are.

“Give me liberty, or give me death” Patrick Henry

“Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.” — John Adams, 1765

God Bless,                                                                                                                                      Wayne