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.
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.
These birds are able to fly long distances by taking advantage of air thermals.
but then there’s the clouds…. beautiful clouds produced by the winds.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Live Laugh RV 
74 responses to “Explore the Four Elements”
Wow, gorgeous shots! The Dead Horse State Park picture is absolutely stunning ❤
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If you ever get a chance to visit Utah, do! The landscape is so diverse and stunning…. jaw dropping 🙂
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You definitely made me add it to the list 🙂 Thank you!
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So many great scenes. Beautiful images. Sunsets, wild birds, canyons, the mission. Spectacular. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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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.
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Thank you. I’ve developed a fondness for those large birds 🙂
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[…] over at her beautiful WP blog Explore the Four Elements | Live Laugh RV has invited me to do a post around the theme- the four elements, earth air, fire and water. Some of […]
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Lovely images Inggrid! I love especially the air submission – they are so beautiful and well represented! Best wishes for the challenge 🙂
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Thank you Indah. I appreciate the comment 🙂
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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! 😀
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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 🙂
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I just cannot decide which I like better, the Sandhill Cranes from Arizona or the Ball of Fire from Galveston Island. Great photos
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Thank you Jerry and I’m having fun following your photographic journey 🙂
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Lovely shots. Those clouds in Tuscon are really picture perfect! )
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Thank you. The Arizona desert provides some of the most beautiful skies 🙂
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Air usually speaks strongest to me, but I have to say the Fire bird-tree is inspiring! All of them are stunning and certainly winners 🙂
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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.
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Beautiful Ingrid, really beautiful!
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Thanks Peter. I appreciate the comment from a professional photographer 🙂
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Absolutely beautiful, Ingrid. Another great job!
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Thanks Marsha and it was a delight to finally meet you. Hope you’re feeling better 🙂
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Great set of images!
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Thank you Carol. It was fun putting the photos together in a post.
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Outstanding photography! It must have been challenging culling through many images and picking up the right photo for the elements.
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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.
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You have mastered that camera Ingrid. Your photos are stunning! 🙂
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Very kind of you LuAnn. You’ve done a pretty fine job with that camera yourself 🙂
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Stunning!!
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Thank you JoAnne 🙂
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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.
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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.
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Ingrid, I know you have thousands of images from which to choose. Love the ones thou selected for the challenge.
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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 🙂
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Love your photos so much, especially the birds! Lovely post!
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Thank you so much D. All winter in Texas I had plenty of birds to practice on 🙂
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Lovely shots Ingrid. I particularly like the sunset & sunrise! Looks like you timed them perfectly:)
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Thanks Lynn. Yep, it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
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You win! These elements via fabulous photography and experience bring me right there with you!
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Oh, I wish! Thank you for the nice comment 🙂
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Beautiful photos Ingrid.
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Thank you Nancy. It always helps being able to travel to some amazing places 🙂
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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!
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Thank you. I really appreciate the nice compliment. It’ll be interesting to see what I come up with in WI this August 🙂
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Nice photos but you always get me with your photos of the Roseate Spoonbill. Gorgeous.
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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!
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I have so got to get to Utah! Beautiful images here 🙂
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Thank you Teri. You would be mesmerized in Utah!
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I’d be running through media cards 🙂
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Aren’t you glad it’s not film and developing ?
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I can still remember an entire roll of film that was accidentally double exposed…shudder!
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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..
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You have quite the collection of stunning photos yourself. Thus, I have no doubt you’ll put together a beautiful collection 🙂
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what brilliant entries for the challenge… I love each and every one of them
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Thank you Bulldog and always nice to hear from you 🙂
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What great entries for the challenge… love every single photo….
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Nicely done !
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Thank you 🙂
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Super representation of the four elements:) Love that Roseate Spoonbill and those gorgeous clouds!!
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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.
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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.
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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
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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. 🙂
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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.
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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. 🙂
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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 🙂
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Ingrid I am just heading out the door but will check for the email when I get home. Thank you!
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Those clouds… I remember them from a past post… They pull me in. Great job on the challenge!! 🙂
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Thanks Nancy. I was going to nominate you but someone beat me to it LOL.
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I am flattered! It was a fun challenge!
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Love all of those!! And I never ever get tired of seeing fire in the sky.
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And Arizona sure does provide some amazing skies. Hope to see you Friday or Saturday in Carefree 🙂
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Beautiful!
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Thank you Pam 🙂
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