Revisit, Re-edit. Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park. I spent the day with my mom and niece out on a boat in the fjords. Watching for whales, sea lions & birds, the later made up the majority. However the landscape took the prize, it never let you down with its beauty and immensity.

I was revisiting images from that trip, this image particularly I like. But I do want to see it both in color and black and white. I think it will work in both versions.

This version shows the surreal aqua blue, lush greens and grey black stone that divides the scene. The bright coolness of the colors give a bright freshness to the air. While the clouds in the distance give a hint of mystery, making you wonder what is still to come.

During this trip into the fjords I was constantly reminded of a quote by Muir, “One learns that the world, though made, is yet being made; that this is still the morning of creation…”

The B&W version gives a bit of hardness that was not there in the color version. Relying solely on the textures of the foliage and the patterns in the water to convey the story of the scene. However this version, because of the lack of color, is mainly divided vertically between light and dark. Where the color version is divided both vertically and horizontally via the transition from various greens to grey and black to aqua blue.

With all of this being said I still like both versions. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The tags, what's up with the tags #dothework #goanddo #liveyourpassion

“Waking Forest” A view of the forest just below Glacier Point, along Four Mile Trail the day after the road to Glacier Point opened in Yosemite. The clouds in the trees moving in and out as if the forest was breathing, the disheveled look of the forest as if it had just lifted its head from a pillow after a long sleep.

You may have noticed some hashtags that I use on a regular basis. #dothework #goanddo #liveyourpassion These tags are not merely random and meaningless words, to me they actually really mean a lot. Over time, they have developed into a kind of mantra that expresses the how and why of my photography.

#dothework : To do the work to continually grow and improve my craft and skill as a photographer and storyteller. Doing the work to educate myself not only on the technical aspects but to refine the aesthetic of my work, to grow as an artist.

#goanddo : To go and do the work of creating and sharing the images and stories that represent the issues that are most important to me, and to try to inspire others to care a bit more about them, and maybe to even take action towards improving their little piece of the world.

#liveyourpassion : To always move forward, to continually push towards a better life to share and show this beautiful world through my images. And to hopefully inspire someone to action, to help protect this beautiful, fragile yet resilient world that we live in. To ultimately live a life of purpose and passion.

These are the things I try to live through my photography. Do I succeed all the time, no. Will I make mistakes and fail, yes. But I will learn from those mistakes. I will the next day try again, and again, and again until one day I do succeed.

Urgh, that got a little heavy, I also don’t like to take myself too seriously. Don’t forget to sprinkle a little snark in there for fun. Because, why else are we doing all of this.

Swan Taking Flight, Oxley Nature Center, Tulsa, OK. #goanddo #dothework #liveyourpassion

The Store is now OPEN!

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The store on Billy Sauerland Photography is now OPEN! Yay!

I’ve opened the store with a few items and I’m adding new items regularly. Such as a new line of gift card sets that feature my photography of course as well as custom printing for home decor items such as posters, wall hangings and more.

So make sure to sign up for the newsletter to receive updates about not only the store but about all things BillySPhoto.

Being mindful of the details...

Bees are awesome, so be kind to the pollinators.

Spent some time outside today, I've been needing that for a while. Here in Tulsa, OK we are privileged to have such a great park, Oxley Nature Center. Its a wonderful place to spend time in the woods.

Usually when I come out here, I have a tendency to try and capture the bigger image, to give context although I try to pay attention to the details. This time I actually did focus on the details, I slowed down and took my time.

Pollinator population declines and conservation.

Pollinators provide a key ecosystem service vital to the maintenance of both wild and agricultural plant communities. In 1999 the Convention on Biological Diversity issued the São Paulo Declaration on Pollinators, recognizing the critical role that these species play in supporting and maintaining terrestrial productivity as well as the survival challenges they face due to anthropogenic change. Today pollinators are considered to be in a state of decline, some species, such as Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini) have been red-listed and are in danger of extinction. Although managed bee hives are increasing worldwide, these can not compensate for the loss of wild pollinators in many locations.

Declines in the health and population of pollinators pose what could be a significant threat to the integrity of biodiversity, to global food webs, and to human health. At least 80% of our world's crop species require pollination to set seed. An estimated one out of every three bites of food comes to us through the work of animal pollinators. The quality of pollinator service has declined over time and this had led to concerns that pollination will be less resistant to extinction in the future. (section from  Pollinator-Decline)

We can help and heres how, Million Pollinator Garden Network 

Beatles, pollinate too, like these Soldier Beetles. Its so important to try and protect all of our indigenous wildlife. All life flora and fauna fill a niche, even mosquitoes.

Spiders are our friends too. Spiders like this Orb-Weaver Spider do a great job at helping to maintain and regulate other insect populations. Just like a variety of Bat and Bird species.

Out at Oxley Nature Center, there is a lot of water. Either Sherry Lake, Eagle Creek, marsh areas and canals. While hiking along a canal leading from Sherry Lake to the High Line Trail, I found this Shortnose Gar chilling in the water and slowly heading the same direction as I was.

Whenever I visit Oxley Nature Center I usually see deer. Not always in the most advantageous to get a photo, but will usually see one or eight. This time I came across the Whitetail fawn, just hanging out feeding on some low lying greens and leaves.

Its not just about the animals and insects, there are moments when you just need to stop and breathe. And when you do, you slow down, and you really begin to notice the details, the little things that usually go unseen and unappreciated. The thistle pods were leftovers from the lunch of forest inhabitant. I almost missed them on the side of the trail the way they blended in with the rest of the litter on the forest floor. The reflections in the water bedding up on the lily pad hides amongst the hundreds of other pads in various stages of decline as we head into early fall.

New Site, new vigor!

This trail leads to the viewing area and the toe of Exit Glacier. The marker in the image denotes the location of the glacier in 1951, illustrating how far Exit Glacier has receded since then.

Growing, and excited for things to come. I look forward to creating and sharing future images, stories and adventures with you on my new site. I am maintaining my previous blog for the time being. The link to it is just above in the sidebar, it will remain there until further notice.

Happy trails, and here we go, weeeeeee.....