"Inspirational"

I added scripture to this sunset image that I took at Table Rock, near our home. You can see the whole valley from up on this hill.It's just gorgeous!

Click on the image to see more inspirational images with scripture.

"MK Nature Center"- Part 1

Allow me to introduce you to The Morrison Knudsen Nature Center. It is a 4.6 acre site by the greenbelt near downtown Boise.

The pond is a lovely place to view many species of birds and wildlife. There are viewing blinds throughout the park to give visitors a spot to quietly observe without disturbing the wildlife that abounds.

It offers a unique fish and wildlife experience to visitors. Below are the beaver dams, found along the stream walk within the center.

In the viewing exhibit below the water level of this waterfall, you are treated to window views of many fish and even a nursery.

Many birds and small animals reside in the snags located around the center.

The Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden provides a variety of plants and flowers to learn about as you stroll along the pathway.

The center is truly a special place to experience many of Idaho's wildlife and landscapes. From Alpine lakes to High Desert and don't forget the vistor's center at the entrance of the Nature Center. For more information Click Here.

Be sure to come back for Pt. 2 of this amazing place as my camera's focus will be on the wildlife and animals themselves that reside in this beautiful habitat. In the meantime, you can see more photos HERE.

"Kathryn Albertson Park-Part 1"

Saturday morning I got up early and headed for Boise to take some spring photos of some of the beautiful parks in downtown Boise, Idaho.  Kathryn Albertson Park is one such park.

The park is full of natural habitats for a number of migrating birds and other small animals.  There were many Canadian Geese with their young, and even some deer when we first entered the park.

  

Below is one of several peaceful ponds in the park, adorned with the spring trees reflecting in the glassy waters.

Stay tuned for more from this beautiful park.............

"Intro. to the Snake River Canyon"

One of the places near my home that I frequent is the Snake River Canyon and the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.  It's my pleasure to introduce this area to you.  The Snake River actually travels the length of the state of Idaho from East to West, and I've shot from several locations along it's route.  This post will focus on the SW section.

Here, my husband and daughter enjoy some time together as they sit on the wall at the edge of the canyon at Dedication Point, a lookout just off the road.  It's a nice little walk out to the cliffs.   Be sure to read the signs and watch for birds of prey that nest in these cliffs and townsend ground squirrels that are plentiful in the area, and serve as prey for the raptors.

On one occasion, while waiting for the sunset to be ready for me to shoot it and in the absence of birds at the time, I laid on my stomach and got this unusual shot of a stink bug on a desert plant.  It kept putting it's right hind leg out and in as if it were exercising.  I love the way patterns are repeated in nature with this bugs legs almost seeming as an extension of the plant.

The shadows and lighting on the canyon walls are spectacular as the sun gets low in the sky.  I shot this image from edge of the canyon about 20 minutes north of Swan Falls Dam after following a dirt road to the edge of the cliffs.  

In the summer, it gets as hot in this desert as it did cold in the winter months.  Evidence of survival of the fittest and the food chain is scattered around up on the plateau, and turkey vultures soar overhead to serve as a grim reminder of the existence of animals and their demise in the area.

There are some vast views from this lookout that's south of Dedication Point, just before the turn off to drop down to Swan Falls Dam.  The mountains in the distance are the Owyhee range. If you go before sunrise in February, be sure to take proper clothing as the freezing weather along with the wind is quite biting.

I hope you can see from these images, the vastness and beauty of this desert land.  To see more images, click on any one of the images in this post or CLICK HERE.

"A Fresh New Beginning"

I just took this image the other day, as I was admiring the changes that spring is bringing to our yard. Trees budding and getting new foliage, birds singing and flowers beginning to bloom again. Such a welcome sight!

In uploading this picture it has lost much of it's color and effectiveness of the warm afternoon light that was hitting it. I am showing it anyway because I like it and what it represents as the flower petals are just beginning to burst out of the little pods. A fresh new beginning...

Below is the same flower, only in full bloom. This is called a Pink Mist Pincushion Flower (scabiosa columbaria)

"New Feature on Website"

Check out the new photo timeline feature on the Shekinah Photography homepage! This new feature allows you more options when choosing which photos to view.

You can choose:
*All
*By Year
*Your own range of time

If you're a frequent visitor to my website, you no longer have to go into each gallery to see what's new. You can find the most recent by choosing a certain day or date range.

Please check it out and then let me know how it worked for you by returning to this post and commenting.

"Bird Feeder"

It's been a long, cold winter here in Idaho. In fact, it snowed just last Sunday. The weekend before that, we finally had a couple of warm days (near 80) and we started getting our yard ready for spring.

We bought a new bird feeder and filled it with seed that is suited to birds in our local area. We hung it up and after a couple of days the birds found it. We've only had it about two weeks or so and the food is half gone. I think we will be filling it year-round.

The birds add color to our yard. This is a male "House Finch." (according to my National Audubon Society Field Guide to Birds-Western Region) The males are much more colorful than the females.

I just love to watch them, sometimes all four perches are filled with birds. They put a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

"Serenity"

This is the 2nd Youtube video of my images. Thanks again to my daughter for making my photographs come to life with music and her smooth transitions!

See more of her work at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AKBProductions

"Close Encounters #2"

Here are a couple more shots of that ostrich that was flirting (according to the caravan guides) with the truck we were on...



How cute are these?



Love those long lashes!

"Close Encounters #1"

I shot this ostrich close up when we went on the Photo Caravan Safari last month when I went to California. It's something I had always dreamed of doing when I lived in San Diego County, but had never gotten to do. It was so awesome being right down amongst the animals. This ostrich was a challenge because he just kept moving, poking his head up and down next to out truck. We were told that they wouldn't bother our jackets on the seats, but one time I turned around to find my jacket in its mouth and half way off the truck. I'll try to add a shot of his face peeking over the side of the truck. It was so cute!