Photography

Explore the Four Elements

by Ingrid

Due to our travels, it’s not always easy for me to take part in photo challenges but when Teri over at Images By T. Dashfield invited me to join in this photo contest and challenge, my interest was piqued.

It didn’t take me long to have an idea of which photos to pick.  Let’s explore my vision for the four elements; Earth, Air, Fire, Water…..

EARTH – I’m very fortunate to travel as I do and I see some amazing scenery.  I’m still awed by the fantastic vistas and mesmerized by the plants that thrive in incredibly harsh environments.

Superstition Wilderness
Superstition Mountains, Arizona
Dead Horse
Dead Horse State Park, Utah

AIR – The endangered Whooping Crane migrates from the far northern edge of Alberta, Canada to the southern waters of the Texas Gulf Coast.  With fewer than 500 left in the world, it’s a treat to see these magnificent birds.  It’s exciting to see families and know that their population is increasing.

Whooping crane
Whooping Cranes; a family of three. The juvenile is distinguished by it’s rust coloring

These birds are able to fly long distances by taking advantage of air thermals.

whooping cranes
Whooping Crane

but then there’s the clouds…. beautiful clouds produced by the winds.

Mission San Xavier
Mission San Xavier, Tucson, Arizona

FIRE – I don’t know about you, but I never get tired of watching sunrises or sunsets.  That fire-ball we call the sun provides me with a lovely show every day.

Lake Pleasant
Sunset over Lake Pleasant, Phoenix Arizona
Texas Gulf Coast
Sunrise over the Texas Gulf Coast
Galveston Texas
Galveston Island State Park, Texas

WATER – water is a necessity for all life forms, and this is even more evident when it comes to the Sandhill Crane.  For the Sandhill Crane, the water is more than sustenance, it’s a source of protection from predators as they bed down each night in shallow waters.

Whitewater Draw
Sandhill Cranes, Whitewater Draw Conservation Area, Arizona

For the Roseate Spoonbill, crustaceans are a major source of food.  These pink beauties can be seen sweeping their bill back and forth in the water as they feed.

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill, Texas Gulf Coast

Now it’s time for me to invite 5 bloggers to participate.  The choice to take part is totally up to you.

Travel Tales of Life
@vanilla
Another Day in Paradise
Which Way 101
Retirement and Beyond

For more information on the photo competition you can click here.

74 thoughts on “Explore the Four Elements”

  3. Some really spectacular photos! Your ones of different birds are amazing – love the sunset with the birds roosting and of course the narrative you added to the whooping Crane photos can’t help but make it a sentimental favourite.

    Like

  4. Pingback: Explore the four elements | @vannilla

  6. Holy cow Ingrid! These photos are outstanding! You sure have been to some awesome places in this world, and your photography skills are truly a treat. I like, too, that you used the fiery sun for your fire element. Great post! 😀

    Like

    1. Thank you Jet, I really appreciate your kind comment. It’s been a fun year of travels allowing me lots of opportunity to practice with the camera 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. I sure got lucky with my timing on that ‘bird’ tree photo. I tried for 2 weeks to capture more photos but the lighting was never recreated.

      Like

    1. Thank you ML. I actually had it in my head which photos I wanted to use and was surprised my memory is still serving me well….. at least in this department LOL. Although considering all these photos were taken in the past six months, I would hope I remembered them.

      Like

  16. Your photos for the challenge are really top class, Ingrid. It would be very hard to choose a favourite, but the whooping crane in flight, stands out for me. Thanks for the nomination. Jude also invited me to take part, but I haven’t found the time to look for photos yet, and I see the competition closes today. I might do it some time just for fun though. 🙂 Good luck.

    Like

    1. Thank you Sylvia. It was fun for me to go through my archives in search of the perfect photos. You have quite the collection yourself. Thus, I hope you post your own vision for the fun of it.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Judy and you’re right about the thousands. I took over 3,000 at Whitewater Draw alone. I need to take the time to start deleting more than half but then that would take time away from shooting 🙂

      Like

  22. You have a unique ability to see things beyond what most people would walk right by and not appreciate. Your Sunrise Over the Gulf Coast picture is awesome!

    Like

    1. Thank you. I just love the pink on those spoonbills. I may have to focus more on them next winter in lieu of the cranes. There’s something fascinating about them!

      Like

  25. When you have so many stunning photographs in your catalogue it’s hard to choose just a few- wow! Those flamingos remain one of my all time favourites. Thank you for ‘shout’ , Ingrid. I will do my best..

    Like

    1. Thanks Pam. I think next January I’ll need to focus on photographing spoonbills more than whooping cranes. I have more crane photos than I know what to do with LOL.

      Like

  30. Your photos are spectacular, Ingrid. Love your choices to represent the four elements. What camera and lenses are you shooting with? I know how challenging it is to capture birds in flight, and you’ve done a fabulous job.

    Like

    1. Thank you Laurel. I actually use a ‘bridge’ camera… not a DSLR, but more than the typical point n shoot. I have a separate tab just below the header of my blog labeled “cameras” that let’s folks know what I’m shooting with. The sensor on the bridge camera obviously isn’t as large as a DSLR, but I don’t print any photos larger than 11×14 so it’s not crucial for my needs

      Like

  31. Ingrid with this amazing collection surely the judges will pick you. Astounding! Thank you for your kind nomination. So generous of you to think my photos would be good enough for consideration. We were just looking today at upgrading from our point and shoot. 🙂

    Like

    1. Awe, thank you Sue. You are always so kind with your comments and you yourself take some amazing photos with that point and shoot. When I get a chance, I’ll shoot you an email with an idea to look at for an upgrade.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Ingrid just yesterday we were looking at the Sony a6000 mirrorless. I have heard some great things from other travel bloggers about it. For us it has to be small enough to fit in a cycling jersey and that narrows the field in a hurry. 🙂

        Like

        1. Last July I bought the Sony a6000 and it takes fabulous photos, but after 30 days I returned it and bought the Panasonic FZ200. I’ll send you an email shortly. Let me know if you don’t get it 🙂

          Like

Comments are closed.