Clingman’s Dome

Everyone needs a place they can go to clear their head, speak to God and listen to His advice. This is one of those places. High above the mountain peaks, with plenty of room to find a lone hiking trail, Clingman’s Dome is in the Great Smoky Mountains, TN. The views are breathtaking and the wildlife abundant. Bring your camera, some good walking shoes, and a healthy respect for black bears. You won’t be disappointed!

Teri-kai Photography
www.carcampingnow.com
www.gardenseedlings.com

Other Posts to check out: Duck, Duck, Goose and Not in the Fire

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As the Fog Rises

If you are a night owl like myself, you may have missed many beautiful things that take place just as the sun begins to rise. From time to time, I take trips to the mountains where I force myself out of bed before the light of day so that I can capture these magical moments, like the fog lifting into the trees and the sun beginning to light the mountains.

Teri-kai Photography
www.carcampingnow.com
www.gardenseedlings.com

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Brine Flies

By Aaron Kirton

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Mountain Goat

This picture was taken on the trail from Sundance up Mount Timpanogos. There are herds of mountain goats that wander the area and I was able to capture this picture.
By Joshua Kirton
More By Joshua: Family Focus and Iguana

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Brown Anoles and the Meaning of Life

The Brown Anole is a native to Cuba and considered an invasive species in the US. This picture was taken outside my apartment in Florida. He is a cute and quick little guy. I doubt that he is aware that he is not wanted. To him the world is just bug and branches; sticks and stones. Oh to be oblivious to the implications of our existence, oh wait sadly most of us are.

Thought this ignorance is bliss for an animal of limited cognitive capacities, I find comfort in knowing: Who I am, Where I came from, and Where I am going. There is a child's song called, "I am a Child of God"(free mp3) sung by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. It succinctly states, "I am a Child of God and he has sent me here... teach me all that I must do, to live with him some day." Those few short phrases respond to questions posed by men searching for meaning for centuries all contained in a child's Sunday school song.

By Joshua Kirton

More on life: Family Focus

Mushrooms

There is a fungus among us. Mushrooms grow just about everywhere. Here are a few that I found out in the lawn. These grow up to the size of a small saucer. I am not sure what kind they are or whether they are edible. I just wish that they were portobellos of porcini mushrooms. I love some good mushrooms in my food, but I doubt these will be finding their way into my diet.

By Joshua Kirton

Flax Flower

This amazing little blue flower can make anything from linen to linoleum. Flax seed is also know as linseed. I took this picture in Rock Canyon in Provo, Utah. There these little beauties grow along side many other wild flowers.

By Joshua Kirton

More from Rock Canyon: Wolf Spider, Rusty Car, Purple Wild Flowers.

What Are You Looking At?

Have you ever had some one look at you as if they were trying to send you the message: what are you looking at? It happens to most of us occasionally. Usually it is when your gaze happens to meet that of a stranger. Don't be intimidated by this. Just smile and say hello and that look of perplexity of why are you looking at me will turn to a look of either joy or a look of more perplexity for why is this person greeting me. Either way it usually results in a smile and may even brighten somebody's day. So next time you get the the look of why are you looking at me, just let then know it was so I could make your day a little better. 

By Joshua Kirton

Another good post: Don't Stare! It's Not Polite.

The Salt Lake Temple

This is the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. It is a magnificent sight. It sits in the middle of down town Salt Lake on a peaceful square, where people come from all over the world to visit both Mormons and nonMormons alike.
I took this picture with my phone. I am often surprised what the cameras on cell phones can do. Yesterday this photo was published on Technorati.com along with an article I wrote "Are Mormons Christians?" Give it a read. They did however stretch the photo out. It now looks like the temple has an additional five stories on top of it. Oh well.

By Joshua Kirton

Other posts By Joshua: Family Focus and In the Beginning

Pretty Little Pink Flower

Pretty little pink flower sitting prim and proper.
Pretty little pink flower I hope I don't drop her.
Show the world your colors bright and true.
Be your self, sweet, delicate, and bright.
Turn yourself to the light to grow.
Pretty little pink flower what a sight.
I love how you found your place and grew.
Pretty little pink flower sitting prim and proper.
Pretty little pink flower I hope I don't drop her.

Poem and photo By Joshua Kirton
Other posts by Josh: Family Focus and Parable of the Sower

Spanish Fork Marshland

Nothing is more attractive than a swamp or a marshland. Ok maybe that is an exageration, but this marsh is quite beautiful. This picture was taken of a marshy area near Utah Lake in Spanish Fork Utah. This place is not only a good place to go for a nice vista, but there are a number of marsh and mountain bird species to be found in the marshes around Utah Lake. If you have never been to Utah you have missed out on some of God's greatest creation. The sky is as blue as you will ever see, and you can see anything from mountains to valleys, from marshes to desert to forest.

By Joshua Kirton
Other Pictures from Utah: Diamond Fork Canyon and Bear Lake Utah

Another good photography Blog.

How to Add a Signature to a Photo.

Putting a signature bloc on your photography is a must if you are going to put it on the internet. If you want any kind of credit for your work you to keep honest those who do not want to pay or acknowledge others. You will find your work all over the internet, without and credit if you leave this step out. You can use this as a good way to advertise as well, as your photos proliferate. Just remember to put it in a place that will ruin the photo if it is edited or cropped out. The are many programs that will facilitate putting a watermark, or signature of some kind on a photograph. Here are a few ways to insert a signature without purchasing an expensive program.

The first and easiest method is using paint. You can simply open the photograph in paint which is available with most PCs and use the text box tool to insert text. Depending on the resolution of the photograph you will want to change the size of the font. Using this method you can also choose the color and style of the font used. Here is an example using paint.

This photo is a modernized still life of college nutritional habits.

The next method will require you to have an account with Picasaweb. If you have a Google account just sign into Picasa with your info, and you will automatically have access to this tool, if not sign up for a free account. Picasa is both a downloadable and online software for editing photos produced by Google. You can set an option to automatically place a signature when uploading to your online album.

Another option is Picknik the online photo editing software by Google. This tool has many more options than the downloadable version, and can work in-sync with picasa. You do not need an account to use this tool. You upload your picture, double click on it to enlarge it. Click the action button, In Picnik you can add text in many more fonts than in paint. Just choose the font you like, the size, and color. If you use a white text you can simulate a water mark available in some of the more expensive software programs.

Have fun exploring what you can do to your photos with these free tools.

By Joshua Kirton

Other Great Posts: Focus and I Saw the Sign

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Tasty Turkey

There are some animals that just look better on a plate surrounded by gravy. High on this list is the turkey. It can be a beautiful animal, depending on the breed, but man it is tasty. Turkeys will dance and display for each other, but their most impressive display is along side mash potatoes and asparagus.

By Joshua Kirton
Other bird posts by Joshua: Eastern Great Egret and Who are you calling chicken?

A River Runs Through It

"So it is...that we can seldom help anybody. Either we don't know what part to give or maybe we don't like to give any part of ourselves. Then, more often than not, the part that is needed is not wanted. And even more often, we do not have the part that is needed."
Excerpt from: "A River Runs Through It" by Norman Maclean
Taken by: Kelsey Davis
Bitterroot River - Stevensville, MT

More Posts By Kelsy: Monarch Butterfly, Freezer in a Field, and In Awe

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Don't stare! It's not polite.

I dislike it when people stare. Here is what I imagine the animals at the zoo would be thinking if they cared.

Meerkat: What are You Looking at? Don't stare it's not polite.
Man: I was just curious to see what you were doing. What are you and what are you doing?
Meerkat: Stop looking at me. Take a picture it lasts longer.
Man: Aren't you going to answer my question.
Meerkat: Are you kidding. I'm not going to speak with you. You're crazy. Your talking to a meerkat.
Man: Touché

By Joshua Kirton
A picture from the past.
More On Meerkats
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In The Begining

In the beginning, when the earth was new,
birds had no feet but only flew.
When they crashed upon their nose,
Mother Nature gave them toes.
Then they dined standing on the beach,
catching all the fish within their reach.
And when they fought for fish to eat,
Mother Nature stretched their feet.
"Nobody here can fall asleep!
So, you long-legged birds, fish in the deep.
Short-legged birds, fish near the shore,
And stop that fighting! You hear? No more!"
by Frank Asch
(More Bird Poems)

This Picture of a snowy egret was taken at Daytona Beach Florida By Joshua Kirton.
Another bird picture from the past.

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On The Lake

“On the lake,
the deep forbidden lake,
The old boats go gliding by,
And the leaves
are falling from the trees
And landing on the logs and I
See the turtles
heading for the bog
And falling off the log.
They make the water splash,
And feeling no backlash,
They climb the happy banks”

-Neil Young

Sometimes the lyrics of a song just speaks about a photograph and help tells the story better than regular words.   I felt this song by Neil Young did just that.  Of course, every picture tells a different story to those who view it.  What does it say to you? 


By Teri-Kai  www.terikai.com

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Still Waters

"1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalms 23)"

This beautiful shot is at Lake Louis in Alberta Canada. 

By Joshua Kirton
Other Spiritual thoughts: Family,  Good and Evil, and The Straight and Narrow

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Gator Facts

Admire me from a distance. 

1. The average number of eggs in a Florida alligator nest is 35-50, but only about 15 of these will hatch...and only about 6 of those will live to be 1-year old.

2. Baby alligators are eaten by raccoons, large bass, birds...and of course, bigger alligators.

3. Female gators rarely reach 9' in length, while males average a bit over 11'. The largest Florida alligator (a male) is listed at 14'-5/8"...the heaviest one (also a male) weighed in at 1,043 lbs and was 13'10-1/2"in length.

4. Alligators in the wild, like the Everglades (or your nearest Florida park) can live to be 50 years old.

5. Florida alligators are also unbelievably fast for 10-15 yards. They have reached speeds of 20 mph chasing down prey. (That would be like playing tag with Usain Bolt.)

6. It has been recorded that a gator can outrun a horse for 30 feet. Unless you can move like Secretariat, keep your distance.

7. Although alligators are classified as reptiles, their closest relatives are actually...BIRDS, which are direct descendants of dinosaurs. (See if your science teacher knows that one!)

Photo by Joshua Kirton

Info obtained from florida-beach-lifestyle.com.
Another Gator Post

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End of the Season

Sometimes you drive by an area and it speaks to you in such a way that you have to stop and capture it. This photo did that to me today. It spoke to me of loneliness and end of season. The summer is gone, cooler weather is in the air and fall is nearly here. And I cannot wait!

By Teri Kai


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