Custer State Park, not far from the Badlands of South Dakota, is or was, as it has been a long time since I have been there, one of America’s best locations for photographing Bighorn Sheep. Below we have some rams both alone and with friends.

I have shown many times on these pages, a facial close-up of this Northern Water Snake in the wild. It was made here in Wisconsin. I also made some macro images of its skin and scales. Images like this can be important within the natural history aspects of a subject like that snake. Of course to me, it also becomes an opportunity for another abstract.

Eye level. When possible, there is nothing quite so intimate as creating images, made at the same level in which your subject resides. These are Killdeer. Long lenses help to flatten out the visual perspective, but getting down on the ground is the sure fire way to accomplish it. We are in “their world”, instead of them being in ours.

Doing super close work with critters like this Caterpillar, pretty much guarantees that our depth of field will not cover everything in the image. Focus on the eyes or if they cannot be seen, the face, and let the rest fade into softness. The face is essential in most wildlife photography and yes, a caterpillar photo is a wildlife photo. The photo you see was created with a 105mm Nikon Micro lens. The aperture was f/20, and the shutter speed was 1/15th sec. A sturdy tripod that would split down to almost ground level was used.

Flight shots are fun.

I panned my camera and zoom lens which was set at 270mm with this soaring Bald Eagle, and was pleased with the results. Vertical pans are not easy and if you are sure you have room to crop when in the editing process, you can make your pan with the camera in the horizontal position. I cannot say for sure, but I believe I panned this while in the vertical position. It does take practice.

I love creating images of water birds, especially when they are actually in the water.

Below we have a female Hooded Merganser and a Green Heron. One in action and one nicely posed. The great things about wild animals, especially birds, is they will strike different poses almost like they are models being paid for their work.

Let us finish with some images of sunrise, When it comes to sunrise/sunset photography, I am the only photographer I know of who has far more imagery of the sun rising than setting. Both of course can be great.

The first image (s) is a composite poster I built some years ago, for one reason or another. The photo (s) were made in Yellowstone N.P. Yes, I did make wildlife pictures when I was in Yellowstone. Yellowstone is also a beautiful visual treat in and of herself. Of course, the sun also rises and sets there too, which was enough for me to get up early and go to work.

Finally, let us finish with a beginning. Yes another sunrise. This was made in a nature sanctuary/state park and any day that begins like this, is a gift from God, and it has to be good.

There is more to talk (or write) about than just photography. Here we go.

Being “ born again” may be the most misunderstood concept from the Bible. Many of the attachments to being born again that “religion” adds, are not actually a part of it. They are what man thinks is necessary, not what God has told us. The only road to Heaven is a sincere faith in what Christ did for us on the Cross. That acceptance is our road to Heaven and an eternity in the presence of God.

Jesus took our beating for us. Only the blood of Christ will deliver us to Heaven.

Many people, including some Christians, mistakenly believe that good people go to Heaven, and bad people go to hell. The truth is, saved people go to Heaven, and the unsaved go to Hell.

“All have fallen short of the Glory of God!”.

Remember also, Bible verses need to be understood via proper translations from their original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages, and in context with other verses which are found in other books of the Bible, or even the other testament. The old testament is just as important as the new. It actually foretells (prophesizes) most of the New Testament and beyond.

Bible prophesy is being fulfilled almost daily in these times. If you find the the right people (better at it than I am) to help, you will see that. There are always kooks in the world, but if you doubt what’s in front of you, maybe it is time to find someone you trust to help.

From the New Testament.
John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Notice what He does not say. He does not say unless you have done the proper number of works. He does not say you will be judged more than once. He does not say that somebody or some institution can override this.

That does not mean that good works are not a part of Christianity. Still, as the Bible says “let no man boast”.

Next I will gripe a bit.

There are no big cities immediately adjacent to where I live. Two medium cities are close. The house I live in is well over 100 years old. My family in fact has owned it for a bit over 100 years. It is a middle class area.

This past Saturday night as I watched TV, I heard some pops and cracks in the distance outside. This is not unusual here anymore, especially on weekends. I went to bed and was awakened late that night, and again very early the next morning with more pops and bangs. I also heard some sirens.

In all three instances, I was listening to exchanges of gunfire. The police were kept busy and I believe at least some people were shot. This has become normal here. No, it is not the fault of guns. I have a gun and my right to defend myself and my home, if it were to become necessary, is God given. I would not ever willingly hurt anyone with it, if they were not endangering others or myself, or my home.

With the aid of many so-called schools (not all), generations of youth have been told that this nation is terrible and life here is barely worth it. They have not been taught to respect others, and are led to believe that they have some inalienable right to hate, take, and kill. They are of all colors and creeds.

To all of the American youth of all ages, colors, ethnicities, and backgrounds, who reject the cynical and hateful diatribe they were educated with, and who move forward without bias and hatred, may God Bless you. I believe He will.

One final subject.

Anti-Semitism is on the rise everywhere. This has been foretold to happen. Among people of faiths other than Christian, among atheists, and among people who view themselves as Christian.

Does that final group even know that Moses was a Jew. When he said let my people go to Pharaoh, those people were the Jews. The Ten Commandments at that time, were written for the Jews. They were God’s chosen people.

David was a Jew and Mary, the biological mother of Jesus was a Jew. Most of the Apostles were Jews. When Jesus preached, he often preached to Jews in temples and did so as a Rabbi. Jesus “religiously” followed Jewish food laws and the other laws.

In 1948 when the United Nations returned the Jews to Israel, their homeland, that was Biblical prophesy being fulfilled. It was God’s command being put on display for the world to see. The entire Christian and the Jewish world, should have all celebrated.

Christ’s 1,000 year earthly reign will take place in Israel, in a city known as Jerusalem. Who’s homeland is that? That of the Jews.

Many if not most Jews will accept Jesus as their Messiah when He returns. They will have essentially become Christian. Jews who do not come to Christ, will go to hell with the rest of the unbelievers. Those who accept, will be with God just like all believers will be.

In days gone by, there was a man named Adolf Hitler. He had somewhat of a “Christian” church background, where he unfortunately, was taught distorted truths and lies about the Jews. He was taught to hate Jews. They (including blacks, and some others) were inferior to normal humans in the eyes of Hitler.

Yes it was a Jewish tribunal which sentenced Christ to death, and it was the Romans who carried out the sentence. Does that mean that there is no avenue of repentance and salvation for Italians (Romans)? Should we hate them? Of course not.

The act of prayer is the road to much good. I try to pray not only for friends, family, myself and those who I agree with, but for my enemies who hate me, and those who do evil. That last part is difficult but necessary. Honest prayers, can harvest a rich crop.

Time is short for the most powerful so-called end time Bible prophesies. Be it five months or fifty years from now, time is short. It is possible if not likely, that the antichrist, which I assume all true Christians are knowledgeable of, is alive and in this world now. If you do not know about the antichrist, there are still many good churches in the world where someone better than I can explain it much better than I have. I thank God for that!

It is not kooky to believe the end times (as they are called), writings from the Bible. Those who do not believe them, or think they are just nice little symbolic stories, are very confused.

It is an amazing thing to watch Bible prophesy unfold in front of us. Even a few years ago, when I certainly labeled myself a believer, I admit I would have never suspected that the view of prophesy would be this clear and obvious. From a cashless world where the “the powers that be” would be able to track every penny you spend and just where it goes, which is in its beginnings right now, to a one world government which is being implemented in Europe currently, to a day by day, step by step unfolding of the position Israel has in these times, to the falling away of so many churches, who were often thought of as containing believers.We now march into Bible prophecy. I think if I always have truly known that this will actually happen, but I may have taken a different road a long time ago. It is however, better late than never.

The light of God shines right in front of all of us. We just need to step forward into that light.

Wayne