Sabino Canyon in Morning Light

Most of the desert scenery was bathed in full sunshine, but as I hiked into to the shadows of the canyon wall, I noticed this striking scene with rim lighting on the Saguaro Cacti. As I set up my tripod, I noticed the way the backlit layers of yellow and green desert shrubs framed the foreground in the lower left. “This will be my best photo of the day,” I said to myself.

This is a photo of the early morning light on the canyon: backlighting in the shadows cast rim light on the saguaro cacti.

This image also succeeds with its limited color palette. The interplay of yellow and shades of green unify the image, don’t you think?

Tucson Tones

During my week in Tucson, Arizona I practiced some Macro photography, using a special lens that will focus on objects very close to the lens. My eye was attracted to the shapes, patterns and subtle color hues of the agave plant.

Macro photograph of an agave plant in Tucson, Arizona, May 2023.

I can visualize a large print of this image (40″ x 60″) hanging in a home or office with contemporary decor.

Anhinga in Black and White

Next month I look forward to a portfolio review with Ron Rosenstock, a very gifted landscape photographer, at the NANPA Summit (North American Nature Photographer’s Association). Doing my prep work, I have been studying his work, admiring many of his black and white images.

With just that ounce of inspiration, I found a recent photograph that I captured in Florida and decided to process it in black and white. My eye was attracted to this Anhinga bird because of its texture and feather pattern. (I also have taken dozens of photos of Anhingas, so they aren’t new to me. I will only take more photos if I think I can create a new look.)

Male Anhinga preening his feathers. These large birds swim under water to feed on fish, and then dry their feathers by the water’s edge. They are not shy and don’t flee from a pedestrian.

Great Blue Heron Mating

A young child near me asked, “What are they doing?” Without taking my eye away from the camera, or my finger off the shutter button, I replied, “Making new Great Blue Herons.” I cannot not tell you how lucky I felt in that moment, to photograph this very special scene.

Great Blue Heron pair mating in Venice, Florida, 2023.

This photographer was ready at the right place, the right time feeling very grateful to make my favorite photograph of the season in Southwest Florida. If you are interested in owning a print, please contact Cathy Kelly at cathykellyphotography@gmail.com.

Great Blue Heron, Ready to Mate

Observing a Great Blue Heron pair in Venice, Florida, I witnessed some special body language. It was an hour before sunset in March when this scene unfolded.

Great Blue Heron pair on the nest preparing to mate in Venice, Florida, 2023.

Intimate moment between Great Blue Heron pair in Venice, Florida, 2023.

In the next blog post, I will share some rare photographs of the pair mating. I was super excited to be ready to capture this moment with my camera mounted on the tripod with all the right exposure and focus settings, ready to click.

Great Egrets, Hatched and Hungry

“I’m hungry, Mama!” seems to be the universal cry of the baby. Just look at those big yellow beaks on the young American Egrets in the nest. I just love their scruffy appearance as the new feathers develop. They are neither elegant or silent yet — characteristic of the adults.

Young American Egrets call out from their nest in Venice, Florida, 2023.

Family of three American Egrets (Great Egrets). Baby egret spreads its developing wings, while the parent guards the nest. Venice Florida, 2023.

These baby egrets have not fledged yet and depend on the parents to deliver food. They seem to be getting restless as they wait for their feathers to develop. It is exciting to witness the dynamics of nesting season in Southwest Florida.

The Easter Egret

Along with Easter and the arrival of Spring comes the bird nesting season. The Great Egret, also known as the American Egret, grows the most beautiful breeding plumage this time of year, and those long white feathers make a dramatic display.

Great Egret in breeding plumage seen in a rookery in Venice, Florida.

Great Egret standing tall to display its beautiful feathers in Venice, Florida, 2023.

Follow this blog to see new images of the baby egrets in the nest, coming soon. For information on purchasing prints, please email cathykellyphotography@mail.com.

Ice Water for a Hot Day

It’s going to be a scorcher in Southwest Florida today — record breaking 92 degrees in the first week of April. What a perfect time to enjoy the frozen waterfall Skogafoss in Iceland — where I shot these photographs in January.

Be sure to scroll down to enjoy all four photographs. The last one may be your favorite.

Icebergs at the foot of Skogafoss in the fading light of sunset, in Iceland in January 2023.

Icicles cling to the cliff alongside Skogafoss in South Iceland, January 2023.

Ice patterns alongside Skogafoss in Iceland just before sunset, January 2023.

Photographer who trespassed beyond safety boundaries provides scale at the foot of Skogafoss in January 2023. All images are copyrighted, but also for sale as prints.
Contact Cathy Kelly at cathykellyphotography@gmail.com for prices and options.

The Miraculous Aurora

Have you ever witnessed the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) or the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights)? World travelers, put them on your bucket list.

I traveled to Iceland in winter and hoped for a cloudless night and the right solar conditions. My group of photographers was rewarded with two such nights during our 10-day sojourn. The green and purple lights swirled from the horizon to soar above our heads and at times surrounded us in every direction. They seemed to erupt like lava over distant cliffs or nearby mountains. I shot dozens of long exposures during the awe inspiring action.

In my first experience with Northern Lights, the famous Icelandic mountain Kirkjufell made an iconic foreground. These moving bands of light are called curtains.

Northern Lights seem to erupt like lava behind this mountain, just to the left (north) of Kirkjufell, shown in preceding image.

Glacial Melt on Lava Fields

The Hraunfossar Falls in Iceland stretch for a kilometer — where glacier melt penetrates through layers of lava and flows into the Hvita River. I was captivated by the clarity of the flowing water against the black lava and the vibrant blue color of the glacial water when it pooled in the river.

Icelandic nature: glacial ice melting on the edge of a lava field, Hraunfossar.

Hraunfossar falls in Iceland, contrasting waterfalls.

Hvita River rushes beneath Hraunfossar falls. A study in black, white and blue.