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A Return to the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center: Rekindling My Love of Nature

I went to the Raptor Center in Lucas yesterday. It was the first time in a long while I made it for the bird display. The Texas heat still played a large factor in reminding me why I tend to isolate during this season.

I went minimalist this time, just my I Phone-not with the telephoto opportunities I had previously, but this trip was more about being present rather than photography.

I listened to the presentation and was excited to see so many people, young and old appreciating nature and the birds did not disappoint even in the heat.

Mississipi Kites In North Texas

A Mississipi Kite sunned itself during the presentation, he really enjoyed the heat. I learned something- a Mississippi Kite usually has bright red eyes and it’s because of the red insects they eat in South America, since this one does not, it’s eyes lack the red tint. This is much like the flamingos that pass through South America, they are extra pink from the shrimp they feed on.

There is always something to learn on these trips, no matter what you think you know, there is so much more to discover.

The Vulture is Petunia and what a wonderful character she is, I had met her before but it was fun to watch her antics.

The Center is named after the Blackland Prairie- a shrinking treasure that they are in the process of conserving. It is important to get young children involved, to learn about their environment, to grow their passion for the planet.

Despite the heat, I took an opportunity to walk along the path and take just a moment to enjoy nature and an unspoiled landscape.

Thistle, Partridge Pea and Euphorbia, all elements of the landscape made for striking images, even just using my phone.

I have been to the center on several other occassions, please check out the previous trips.

Visiting the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

Nature photography – Blackland Prairie Raptor Center birds of prey

Another exciting project I am embarking on is a series of raptor images from the all the trips to this wonderful place in Lucas, Texas. I will be creating a series of small notecards on the species and will donate the images for them to use however they see fit.

art, artbygordon, Articles on travel, marketing, nature, oil painting, oils, painting, social media

Artist Closeup- Feature

My Painting, Dante in Oakland is a Artist Closeup feature in the Contemporary Art Magazine page 103- Check it out.

Artist Closeup Magazine

 

Artist Closeup- Feature-Dantes' Window
Original Oil on canvas: Dantes’ Window

For more stories about California and my time in Oakland CA

A trip to Oakland with my Son

A Solo trip to Oakland California

A Walk through Oakland

2018 Photography and Art in Review, adobe, art, art, artbygordon, Articles on travel, Articles on travel, artwork, believe, birds, blogging, clarity, creative design, creativity, design, emotion, emotional, emotional, exploring, gardening, graphics, hope, illustration, illustration, illustrator, inspiration, marketing, Nature, nature, nature photos, oil painting, oils, painiting, photographer, photography, relaxation, review, skills, social media, travel, understanding

The Artist’s WIndow: Isolating Light

 

Honeybee on winter jasmine: Original Photography by Artbygordon 2019

Isolating Light – Light separated glistening white blooms of winter jasmine this morning. The image was beautiful as a whole but it was difficult to simplify and accentuate details that could explain what originally inspired me.

Finding light amidst darkness and chaos is a privilege I never take lightly.

Artbygordon 2019

This is a problem the artist often has with separating the ordinary from the extraordinary. We are bombarded with details and often a beautiful image of nature can be quite overwhelming to the viewer.

It is the artist’s job to separate light and shape from the background where the viewer is often left with a chaotic mass of line, form and color. The essence of beauty is often just simplification of the whole.

I have always been a landscape artist but often a flat afternoon light does not offer anything dramatic, this is why I have learned to not only see light but to isolate it and allow it to be the main focus in my photography and art.

As a painter, in the past, I was more impressed with the whole or the peripherals to evoke mood. Now I tend to see shapes and how light accentuates them creating drama.

Light becomes its own object in an artwork and much like you don’t paint water, you must paint that which interacts with the clarity of water, light is not easily defined, it is more it’s reaction with objects that is important.

Because of a growing passion for photography, I have learned more about seeing objects and painting objects. Much like writing teaches us how to think and explain our experience such is photography to the artist, it teaches us how to see and describe the intangible.

Yesterday I made a trip to Daingerfield Lake; it was a wonderful trip with my brother and nephew. Lately I miss the electric hour and either capture the sunset or afternoon light but we had two things, time and shared interest.

I haven’t enjoyed photographing quite like it, it’s amazing to share seeing with others, I love the solitude and introspection but having family to share that passion was an incredible experience for me.

The light as the sun dipped into the horizon created a spectacle on the landscape. The blues were cold and rich, the green reflections were charged with depth and intense green color.

Almost 400 photographs later, I was able to capture Lake Daingerfield in a way I’ve never seen it before. Usually we kayak and fish but this time it was solely a photography trip and a memorable one at that.

To complete the perfect trip, my son called from Oklahoma, although I wished he were with us, it was the next best thing. We will definitely get back for more photography and kayaking, it is truly a beautiful lake to visit.

Daingerfield State Park is 150 miles east of Dallas. Texas. It is a small intimate lake for kayaking and offer a wide variety of fishing opportunities including pickerel which is what we go for.

It is quiet and perfect for the get away from the city without feeling too far remote. For more information go to https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/daingerfield

 

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Social Training, SEO and building a following, part 4 of 5

Social Training – You have some pictures, paintings, words and thoughts, you’ve invited a crowd of people to see your stuff, unfortunately you have no stage, there are thousands doing the same thing and let’s just be honest, you’re not the tallest in the room.

It is a chaos of information, trying to start a conversation with clients when there are louder voices, bigger personalities and reserved stages for those that have known the venue for much longer than yourself.

It seems a bit daunting but I believe that’s why it takes time. First of all give them information that is fresh, content that is easy to digest and use words that no one else in the room is using.

Whisper while all the other marketing people are shouting. Do something that sets you apart from the rest of the room. Start collecting smaller groups of the large crowd and slowly but surely they will become a large portion of the room where your voice is not lost in the chaos.

Now you have a following, that following will share you with others that aren’t even in the room. That following will build a stage so you can now speak over the others who are marketing the same product or idea.

Here is where you can stand out, don’t only talk to them, talk with them, be there for them and suddenly you have customers and relationships that last. You have just turned an audience into a client-base, now make sure you know who they are.