Hodges Garden - Old Flower

I wish this butterlfy, or moth, I'm not sure which it is would have found a fresher looking flower so that it looked better in this image, but I guess it knows what it needs.

All images copyright Daniel Ray Photography.

Hodges Garden - Cypress Stump

I ran across this cypress stump surrounded by pine needles and covered with a light green moss. I thought the shadows around the stump and the deep, dark cracks in the wood would result in a nice High Dynamic Range  image.  I'm pleased with the results and how the gree moss on the bark pops out a little more than what I recall.

 
All images copyright Daniel Ray Photography.

Hodges Garden - Willow Point

This was a beautiful early fall day in central Louisiana. This young family utilized the fishing peir at Willow Point in Hodges Gardens to try their luck or possibly skill at cathing a string of fish.

All images copyright Daniel Ray Photography.

Hodges Garden - Lake Panorama

During a recent week end get-away to lake Toledo-Bend we decided to take our children to Hodges Gardens state park near Many, Louisiana. Both my wife and I visited Hodges Gardens when we were children but that was many many, years ago. Unfortunately due to the extreme drought that impacted much of Texas and Louisiana in the spring, summer and fall of 2011 many of the water features of the park were turned off to conserve water for the botanical gardens. This image is of the main part of the lake adjacent to the botanical gardens.

Hodges Garden - Many, Louisiana
All images copyright Daniel Ray Photography.

Drift Wood and Sea Shells

I found the textures of these objects interesting and thought the use of HDR (High Dynamic Range) would help bring out the textures of the wood which I think it did.

Surfside Beach, texas
All images copyright Daniel Ray Photography.

Sea Shells and Dry Reeds

A large pile of shells and reeds littered the area where my children were playing on the beach. My wife, who is an avid collector of treasures was sifting through the pile searching for something to add to her shell collection.

Surfside Beach, Texas

All images copyright Daniel Ray Photography.

Great Day for a Walk

I was setting this image up so the focal point was the wooden railing and the shadows it casted on the concrete walkway. As I was about to capture the image I saw this couple heading my way so I hurriedly changed the focus to automatic put the camera on a ten second timer and stood back like I wasn't going to take a picture. The couple passed me by and wandered right into into the scene of my image. Little did they know they just became the subject of my image. I love it when unforeseen things happen like this that add interest to the image.

Surfside Beach, Texas

All images copyright Daniel Ray Photography.