Today we have a slice of nature photography. Variety has always been to me, truly the spice of life.

Below we have nine simple images, each made at different times and at different locations. Nothing spectacular or earth shattering.

There is nothing more simple as a photographer, than a beautiful scene on a beautiful day. Camera, tripod, click, click, click.

Of course exposure, focus, and composition all help.

Macro photography is more of a challenge when it comes to focus and fighting things like a breeze or busy backgrounds.

Unless there is something unique about the background, and that uniqueness will not detract from your subject and theme, I simply do the best I can to render it unobtrusive via focus and depth of field.

When you get to animate subjects with a mind of their own, and the ability to crawl, hop or fly, you focus, meter and shoot rather fast.

With the photo below the background was busy but I thought the shot was still worth it. I shot as close as I could, then I cropped a little bit at home as well. That at least, left no doubt in the minds of future viewers as to what my true subject was amidst all of that background clutter,

I loved it when I was making images of one thing, and then another subject enters an adds a new interest.

I was making abstracts of these reeds and reflections when I noticed a bit to my right, a shorebird was wading.I switched my point of focus. Half wildlife photo, half abstract. Notice how the tone and color of the bird and the plants are almost identical. I would imagine that the bird believed that I could not see it because of its camoflauge.

This Greater Yellow-legs was standing still when I was focusing. I began to prepare for a flight burst and went into my focus and my panning mode at just the right moment.

The light hit this Short-eared Owl just right for a stare into my camera lens to become dramatic. Our eye to eye contact, brings this subject to life.
This is when I love wildlife photography.

Finally, backyards are good for more than just having to cut the grass. This fledgling bird was found near my garage as it framed itself flawlessly within these leaves.

Some days are well worth the trip out of bed.

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Enough about photography.

I have found over time, when I look back at the tough times in my life or the failures, my attempts to blame everyone from my ex-wife, to old friends, bosses and business associates usually fell flat.

In the end, the mirror often holds the picture of the biggest culprit. There is nothing like self examination to help figure out what went wrong.

Ultimately, while it is beneficial to do a self-examination, spending the rest of our lives in a state of shame or self hatred does nothing to change the past. It is regressive not progressive. We are leaving our past, not running back to it.

My desires for all who are like me, is to realize one reason we so often go in the wrong direction, is a lack of accepting that direction from God.

There is no substitute for a close relationship with Almighty God. He sits waiting for your words, thoughts and yes your worship, as He is God.

He is the only true fixer of a broken soul. He can set you on the right path. It will ultimately be your decision, but He already knows what’s wrong, and how to fix it.

He can fix you because He walked this earth as a man, and died a painful death, and resurrected in order to pay for what you’ve done, and haven’t done as well. He paid your fine, which was that of death, so you could live.

On my last post I mentioned I might broach the subject of Salvation, and ask the question of when it is once achieved through the Grace of God, can it ever be lost or will it be taken away?

I would first say, there are many, many who are so much better than I at answering or attempting to answer that question. It may be the most important question in the universe. I do enjoy thinking through difficult questions.

We might also ask the question, if we cannot lose salvation, can we walk away from Salvation, or give it away? Would anyone turn their back on Salvation once they have it?

Fair questions! Difficult to answer.

There are those who believe that being Born Again, means we have a license to sin. A get out of Hell free card if you will. I would not choose to live that way.

One of my wisest decisions.

The important part to begin with, is becoming born again and beginning a life as a new Christian. No matter your background be it church or not, be it criminal or not, be it liar or not. On and on.

I do know this, if we do not sin less, be it action, language or other, and pray and worship more, we need to reestablish ourselves with God. Re-commit. I know because that is a monthly exercise for me in order to improve. I do not pray for salvation as though it is gone, I pray as though I am failing at my part of the agreement if you will. I ask for God’s help. He has never failed me.

I believe we all need absolute and sincere repentance. Sometimes we need to recommit to our position of being Born Again. Not because God has forsaken us, but because we have failed Him.

As is usual, if you are seeing some super sized and bold text anywhere in this post, it is not my doing.

God Bless,
Wayne