Mrs. Shovler

She swam up to get her picture took. See how she cocked her head and smiles?

The Big Smile

What a nice smile you have...

The Turtles

I think these were lovers I happen along and broke up their affair.

Today in My Father's World

Today was an awesome day out at the refuge. The ducks were very friendly. They came around to get photographed. So I obliged them.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. -- Proverbs 31:30

Man what a day. Started with the most insulting e-mail I have ever received or seen. What a sick sick world we live in. Even people you think you halfway know can sometime surprise you and turn out to be the most disgusting. But God will have His vengents for those who curse Him and even more for those who curse His son.

But after a long prayer session it turned out to be one of the most rewarding days of shooting I have had in months. God's creatures came out to meet and greet me. And I enjoyed every minute of it knowing that God created it all. The earth, the trees, the birds and me. And from Him comes all things.

Praise God!!!

Shalom,

dns

Local Fall colors

I shot this at the refuge yesterday. The light was just right with the cloudy skies. Still looking for more scenes like this. Winter is so on and off that the trees are confused with when to change.

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

-- Psalm 37:23-24

O Father, thank you for your steadying influence in my life. Thank you for lifting me when I have been down, protecting me when I have been vulnerable, and comforting me when I have been broken. I praise you for your grace, your glory, and your nearness. Through Jesus, I offer you my praise and eternal appreciation. Amen.
Awesome how God will keep us on firm ground when we trust in Him.

God bless.

Shalom,

dns

Some Fall Color in West Texas

Shot this ;ast week on the Frio river down some little country road. The Cyprus trees are awesome. They seem to follow the rivers since just about everywhere in W. Texas where there is a river there are Cyprus.

God Bless,

Shalom.

dns

Black & White

Had to do one in B&W while on location. (Sound professional uh?) Actually I shot several B&Ws to see the effects. I will change some of the color to B&W later if I do anything with these. I hope to place a few in contest and post some others on my web site.

I really enjoyed having the time to pack up and take off for the weekend. God was with me the whole trip and it was very rewarding. In the following post I have made more reference to other parts of the trip. These post don't come up in the order I want them, so you see the last post first.

Being able to spend the time in meditation and relaxation with my Heavenly Father was the most rewarding part of the trip. I reflected on my petty problems and felt the Lord lifting my burdens from me so I could relax and enjoy myself. The weather was nasty on Friday and they called it to be the same on Saturday. I prayed for a break so I could go out and spend time in my Father's world. The break came about 9:30 in the morning and I took off. I drove around the lake then headed west. I ended up in Langtree to visit Judge Roy.

Then I headed back to Del Rio shooting all the way. I ended the day at the lake shooting an awesome sunset. God had been there and had shown me a great day. No worries or concerns.

Our God is truly a Great and Awesome God.

Serve Him and praise His Son to receive His blessings.

Shalom

dns

God bless America

On the little plaque there on the cross is an American flag and the words God bless America. It was so faded I couldn't get any better than this without messing it up completely. Alamo Village is a photographers dream world. It was built for filming (duh) so everything is colored and designed to show up prefect on film.

I had a great time shooting there. Was there 4 hours and took around 400 pictures. I hope I will get a dozen decent ones to share on the essay page of my web site in the next couple of days.

Hope you enjoy.

God bless,

Shalom,

dns

Old rugged cross

This was taken at Alamo Village. I liked the effect of the sun behind the cross. I feel it symbolizes the cross that represents our Lord as Christ the Light of the world.

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? TheLORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? -- Psalm 27:1

God bless

Shalom

dns

Back from West Texas

Driving home I saw this Hawk sitting atop this windmill. I turned around and went back. I had to shoot this awesome shot. Of course I have several close ups of the hawk, but this general scenic is really what tells the story.

I had an awesome trip to Del Rio. Enjoyed visiting with cuz Carrie & hubby, my friends Emily, and Dudley's brother Scooter.

God bless you guys and thanks for your hospitality.

Shalom

dns

Another Shell

These shells were taken last week at Quintana. I have had this picture on my desktop ever since I took this shot. It just seems peaceful.

dns

The sting

Saw this nest today hidden in the brush. These sentries were still on guard even with the cold wind. They should be gone soon with the weather as it is.

dns

Low tide

I shot this picture for a landscape workshop I am doing on-line. This one was to have emphasis on the sky. The past 3 also are to be in there which were leading subjects, light, and shooting wide angle. Good practice and experience with shooting assignments.

dns

A Hawk.

A morning hawk.

The Osprey

A lucky catch.

Old shrimper

This old boat has been an excellent subject. I have taken several hundred shots of it. Morning, noon, and night. :) This was today with the norther blowing up the waves.

dns

At the beach

Working on a little project I went to the beach early this morning. I got a lot of nice bird shots I want to share. It looks like the best way is to put them up on my web site. I'll try to do this week.

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Want to know something you can do that will please God? Rejoicein his grace. Pray for others. Give thanks for your blessings. It's simply something that he wants us to do. Every little thing comes from Him. So remember to let Him know you are grateful. Give Him the glory for everything in your life then your life will be more abundant. Makes since doesn't it?

Heavenly Father and Almighty God, I am thrilled at the very thought of being your child. Abba Father, please hear my prayer of concern for several people who are on my heart today ... Loving God, thank you so much for the blessings you pour into my life each day. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.

God Bless.

Shalom,

dns

Sea Shells

I like the natural beauty of this arrrangement. I shot a couple others I amy post on my web site. I do need to update it.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

-- 1 Thessalonians 3:12

God bless.

Shalom,

dns

Test shot

Testing an upload to see how it looks online.

Been having some problems with pics being clean. So I'm trying something new and different.

:) God bless,

Shalom,

me

Sunday Sundown

Sunday evenng I went out to spend time in my Father's world. I needed the time to relax my mind. Think about my little world and let Him confort me with His creations around me. It's like having God's arm around my shoulder. Unexplainable if you have not experienced His precents.

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.

-- Acts 16:30-32

Faith in Jesus is the absolutely crucial response to God's grace and is such a life-transforming blessing. For the jailer, faith meant hearing the gospel of Jesus as Lord and responding by believing that message, being baptized immediately, demonstrating a life change, and sharing in fellowship with other believers (cf.Acts 2:42-47). Imagine going from being the jailer over men to washing their wounds in your own home! Think about being responsible for the painful incarceration of men, then having these men baptize you and your family that same night! Imagine locking in chains men who would later sit at your table sharing a meal! Isn't God incredible! Isn't his grace indescribable! No wonder we rejoice when those who are lost truly believe! Life is forever different.

Father, thank you for the surprises you have brought to me by your grace. Please bless me as I try to share your grace by presenting the Gospel of Jesus this week to those I love. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray.

Amen.
God bless.

Shalom,

dns

Another Hawk

Saw this one today at the beach. Awesome bird.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

-- John 15:16

Give me a heart, O God, that is open to your work and a vision that is as expansive as your grace. May my prayers ask for things that bring you glory, expand the borders of your kingdom, and reach beyond the limited things that so often distract me.

In Jesus'name. Amen.

God belss.

Shalom,

dns

On the hunt

Yesterday I walked out in the back country. This fellow came by looking for dinner. I took several shots before getting one that was clear and sharp. Hawks are hard to photograph since they tend to stay far away from humans, which is a good idea with so many bubbas out there looking to end their lives.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. -- 1 Thessalonians 3:12
God is love. God is also the source of love. He pours love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). So how do we make our churches, our families, our small groups, and communities more loving? We pray for God to grow the love in those in groups, let them know that we are praying that prayer for them, then communicate and demonstrate our love to those very same groups.

Father, use me to help be an example of love to those around me. Please pour your love into my heart through your Spirit and then channel that love out of my life to others. Please help the loving spirit in our congregation grow more and more, not just to each other, but also to those around us who are not part of your Kingdom family. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God bless.

Shalom,

dns

Nap time.

I sat watching this guy for almost an hour. He dropped down to the ground and got a couple of bugs. One of my favorite, a praying mantis. :( Gulped them right down. This picture was taken with the bird only about 12 feet away. He got use to me being there and closed its eyes for a nap. Awesome is all I can say.

Shalom,

God bless

dns

Too funny. Play hide & seek?

Shot this guy Sunday. It was hiding from me in the weeds. At first I moved ahead real slow and it walked into the brush. Then it hide from me. :) Aint this awesome. Watching these critters is and their behavior and habits is some kind of awesome. I hope you take a little time, relax a minute and watch for these special moments. Praise God and give Him the glory for His little critters.

Shalom,

God bless.

dns

Sea Turtle

Today I went to the beach for my walk. While I was there I asked God for something special today to share. I rode to the end of the beach and turned around. I decided to go to Quintana to walk. As I was riding along I saw this turtle going into the water. It was moving fairly quickly so I shot what I could. It went into the water and a wave or two came and it was gone. So I followed its trail back up the beach. It had chosen the worst place to cross. It was the entrance where all the vehicles come onto the beach and it is soft and messed up with tracks. But it made a good trail. I followed it for about 50 yards as it wound its way to the dunes. There it just abruptly stopped. I don't know if it laid eggs there or not. The sand was not disturbed except for where a crab had dug. It had rained a little so the rest of the sand was packed hard.

I have never seen a turtle on the beach before. I heard they came in to laid eggs over on Galveston Island, but never here. So you see, when we have faith and are open to Him, He will show Himself to us..
Shalom.

God bless,

dns

Red Eyes

Normally these Tri-colored Herons will hide or fly off before you get close. But this just sat there. It did finally move out into the open. I took a lot of shots of it, but like this one because of the way it is hid out in the branches.

dns

Osprey

This is the closest I have been able to get to this bird. I have been seeing them around the area for a few weeks. Was lucky to get this one. It looks to have a fish and was eating when I came up. But stopped while I was there. I waited for it to continue, but after about 15 or 20 minutes it didn't so I left it alone.

dns

Dancing Gull

Coming in for a landing, this gull is just right in the light. You see the eye color in the enlargement as well as the back light on the feet. One of my better gull shots.

dns

Texas Longhorn

I believe this is a project being done by DOW. They have these guys all over the area in different pastures. Anyway I have been trying to get a good shot of a real Longhorn for a long time. Got close to this one yesterday.

dns

Playing at art.

Digital art from a picture I shot at the beach the other day. I just increasted the saturation to give it the color cast. It is a picture of some fort built by some kids on Quintana Beach. With the sun behind it I liked the effect.

dns

How Terrible!

Walking on the beach yesterday I stopped at the pier and walked to the jetties and back. What an awesome day. God placed there for me the most perfect day I have enjoyed in quite sometime. I saw the lady out there fishing and thought this to be a nice shot. I changed it to B&W since that is what I was seeing when I shot it. It is so much different seeing in B&W than seeing color. It's a photography thing. :)

"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed and decorate the graves of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. Then you say, `We never would have joined them in killing the prophets.' In saying that, you are accusing yourselves of being the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead. Finish what they started."

-- Matthew 23:29-32 (NLT)

The Pharisees were the leaders seeking to honor Israel's great prophets of old. They helped erect monuments and place decorations at the tombs of the prophets of old. By their outward actions, they wanted to signify that they held the prophetic tradition in high regard and sought to live by the prophets teachings. But Jesus challenges this assumption, once again on the basis of their outward actions that betrayed an inward reality. Jesus rebuked them and insisted that rather than honoring the teaching and spirit of the great prophets, they will complete the work their fathers did in persecuting and executing the prophets. Of course this will be most clearly demonstrated in their rejection of Jesus, who was not only God's servant and a prophet, but was also God's Son. The challenge for us who live so many years afterJesus' life is to ask ourselves are we the people who would really welcome Jesus into our presence and our churches, or would we reject him like much of the religious bureaucracy of his day?

When I read this this morning my mind filled with so many condemning thoughts. I watch so called Christian church goers on TV being interviewed over the up coming vote on Prop. 2. Their challenge of the the supreme Court nominee for a man who may stand up for right to life issues. Are these not the modern day pharisees? It is such a simple issue, God says these things are a abomination to Him. So what is the issue for a Christian? Listen to men or God?

Almighty and holy God, it makes my blood run cold to see those who were so rigorous in their pursuit of religion living in violation of what they pursued. O Father, I don't want to be like the Pharisees: all show and no substance, much talk and little truth. Please help me purge from my heart the duplicity and deceit that Satan would like to use to turn me away from you and blunt my influence for your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God bless

Shalom

dns

Today's Outing.

Went to the refuge today to walk. Saw the snake just as I turned in. It was in a hurry to get away from me. Not sure if it coral or not? Walked into the woods, but didn't see anything and the mosquitoes were real bad. Drove around the loop and saw the gator & owl. On the way out got the cow. I like the horns on that one.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

-- Proverbs 27:1

Humility about the future! We don't control tomorrow. At other times in our lives we may have taken tomorrow for granted; not so anymore. Tomorrow may not come. Tomorrow something horrible could happen. Tomorrow everything we possess could be gone. In the face of these discouraging possibilities, is there anything positive we can hold onto? Absolutely! We know that God holds tomorrow in his hands. So put your worries behind you and your trust in God because He will see you through. That is awesome isn't it. Knowing that God has it all taken care of. All we have to do is give our worries and concerns over to Him. Sit back and relax. Live our lives knowing He is in control...

Father, my tomorrows all rest in your hands. I ask that I can be useful to you today; courageous enough not to worry about tomorrow, and loyal enough to not waver in my love for you and my commitment to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Orange Eyes

This is the winner. Orange eyes, I believe is a skimmer. I found it in a tree at Sea Center so was able to get eye level with it. Those make the best shots.

Here's how it works. I ask God to show me some of the wonders in His creation. As I walk around I look closely at what is around me. Some days I will discover numerous things. Other days He lead me to find only 1 or 2 special shots. I know the difference, believe me. For if I go without asking for His guidance, I find nothing. It is only when I ask Him to lead me to something special that I find such awesome beauty. If you know God I know you believe me, if you have doubts that's too bad. You truly don't know what you are missing.

Blessed art though Lord God, King of the Universe. Giver of the torah.

Bless and watch over my friends today and be with us in all we do. Bless us with the Shalom that can only come from knowing you.... Amen.

God bless

Shalom,

dns