Description: American White Pelican In the Morning Sunshine by Debra Martz Watching birds at the South Spillway during the early morning is wonderful, as the sunlight casts a soft, warm glow on the waterfowl. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20240929-DSC_1525.NEF
Description: My What A Big Yawn by Debra Martz Well, probably not a yawn, but emptying its pouch, which can hold 3 gallons, of water after an unsuccessful attempt to catch a fish. Unlike Brown Pelicans, these Pelicans do not plunge from the sky. Instead, they search for fish by persistently dipping their beaks to scoop them up or by tipping over like dabbling ducks and then righting themselves. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20240929-DSC_1516.NEF
Description: American White Pelican In the Morning Light by Debra Martz Observing birds at the South Spillway during the early hours is delightful, as the sunlight casts a soft, warm glow on the waterfowl. Unlike Brown Pelicans, these Pelicans do not plunge from the sky. Instead, they search for fish by persistently dipping their beaks to scoop them up or by tipping over like dabbling ducks and then righting themselves, just as this one has done. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20240929-DSC_1499.NEF
Description: American White Pelicans Searching For Fish by Debra Martz After spending twilight to sunrise on a northern shoreline of the lake, I moved to the south Spillway where the early morning light shines brightly on the birds. These two are swimming on the surface and foraging for fish by repeatedly dipping their bills. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20240929-DSC_1491.NEF
Description: Morning Flight oF Snowy Egrets by Debra Martz After spending twilight to sunrise on a northern shoreline of the lake, I moved to the south Spillway where birds fly in over the river below. But all of these Snowy Egrets flew from the lake beyond the dam. Probably some that I had seen landing near the north shore where I started my morning. Interesting how a few have dark shadows on their white wings. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" "Oklahoma" 20240929-DSC_1463
Description: Morning Flight of A Cormorant by Debra Martz After spending twilight to sunrise on a northern shoreline of the lake, I moved to the south Spillway where birds fly in from over the river below. Not too many Cormorants had arrived at the end of September but the numbers seem to climb later in October during Fall Migration. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20240929-DSC_1463-Edit.tif
Description: High Low and In Between by Debra Martz As the morning continued to awaken, so did the birds. They were arriving from all levels; high in the sky, barely above the water, and just over the dam. These are mostly a variety of Egrets coming to the lake to find their morning feeding area. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" "Oklahoma" 20240929-DSC_1373.NEF
Description: The Sun Spills Over the Dam by Debra Martz As the sun rose over the earthen dam a few Egrets had arrived for early morning feedings. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Oklahoma" 20240929-DSC_1422.NEF
Description: Early Morning Egrets Out For Feeding by Debra Martz I began my bird-watching on the north shore of the lake instead of my usual south side at the upper level of the spillway. And it was a good choice when group after group of Egrets (Great, Snowy, and Cattle) began flying by and some, like these Snowys, landed by the edge of the lake. The early morning colors of dawn were glowing vibrantly on the lake. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" "Oklahoma" 20240929-DSC_1410
Description: Northern Oklahoma Sunrise by Debra Martz The morning began with a black sky and just a sliver of a crescent moon as I waited for the light of dawn and incoming birds. Today, September 29th, I began my bird watching on the north shore of the lake instead of my usual south side at the upper level of the spillway. And it was a good choice with the wide open view of the sky as the morning awoke in blazing color. Such a beautiful start to my day while waiting on the birds! Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20240929-DSC_1390.NEF
Description: Egrets in Silhouette At Dawn by Debra Martz The morning began with a black sky and just a sliver of a crescent moon as I waited for the light of dawn and incoming birds. Today, September 29th, I began my bird watching on the north shore of the lake instead of my usual south side at the upper level of the spillway. It was a good choice when group after group of Egrets (Great, Snowy, and Cattle) began flying by and some landing by the tall grassy edges of the lake. And it was worth the wait in the dark when the sky turned a blazing orange just before sunrise! Image captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Salty Critter Shapes by Debra Martz Moisture either underground or from rain plays a role in creating shapes made from the ground salt. Where sticks or twigs blow onto the surface also plays a role in these creations. Pareidolia, seeing things in clouds, I see faces and in this case a critter in the salt of the earth. This one sort of appears to be crawling across the ground. I see a face looking up, a twisted oval body, and outstretched arms. Do you see that or maybe something else? The 12,000 acres of salt flats within the Salt Plains National Refuge in northern Oklahoma are fascinating. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Oklahoma" "Miscellaneous" 20240928_5090
Description: Crossing Paths With A Tarantula On The Salt Flats #2 by Debra Martz Due to minimal rain this year, the ground is covered in a thicker layer of salt. That contrast with the Brown Tarantula made this arachnid really stand out. The shadows of its legs also fascinated me. Without a zoom on this day, I dared to get a little closer... ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Butterflies Bees Insects" 20240928-5082
Description: Crossing Paths With A Tarantula On The Salt Flats by Debra Martz Due to minimal rain this year, the ground is covered in a thicker layer of salt. That contrast with the Brown Tarantula made this arachnid really stand out. The shadows of its legs also amazed me. September is mating season for them here in Oklahoma, but I didn't see another one anywhere near. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Butterflies Bees Insects" 20240928-5081
Description: Salt of the Earth by Debra Martz We arrived to volunteer at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge a little early so I took the opportunity to take a few photos. I spotted this lone rock on the salt-covered ground which had me wondering where it came from. The terrain is so level that this part of the refuge is referred to as the salt flats. Scanning the vast landscape it was hard to see why there was a need to help the staff pick up trash. But once we drove out to the dig area where public is allowed, we had plenty of trash to gather. Mainly plastic water bottles, caps, snack food wrappers and cardboard that some use to sit on while they dig. It's unfortunate the some leave their trash behind. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Northern Oklahoma Country Sunrise Near Jet by Debra Martz We were on the road to do volunteer work at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Being ahead of schedule gave us time to stop a few times to take some shots of the beautiful sunrise that morning. The fence in the foreground protects against entry into the Kegelman Field, an auxiliary air base of Vance Air Force in northern Oklahoma, where pilots train with smaller aircraft. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20240928_5068
Description: Northern Oklahoma Country Sunrise by Debra Martz We were on the road to do some volunteer work at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Being ahead of schedule gave us time to stop for me to take some shots of the beautiful sunrise that morning. The sandy road entrance to someone's farm added a touch of light to the dark foreground. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20240928_5058
Description: American White Pelicans Gathering Spot by Debra Martz As the Pelicans begin to arrive at the lake each fall, this point always seems to be one of their favorite gathering places. Great Blue Herons like this point year-round but there's no room this time as two fly on past. One Cormorant can be seen at the center left edge; their numbers will increase soon if migration returns as it has in the past many years. This point is at the end of the dam of the Great Salt Plains Lake/State Park in northern Oklahoma ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" "Oklahoma" 20240916-DSC_1135.NEF
Description: It was September, and Maximilian Sunflowers could still be seen growing alongside the lake's shoreline. Some maintained their lively yellow color, while others were wilting, and a few were merely stalks, signaling the close of the growing season. I imported the picture into Topaz Studio, where I converted it into black and white and then reintroduced a hint of color. Following this, I used an array of digital brushes in Impressions to lend the image a painting-like aesthetic. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Digital Art Photography" 20240908-DSC_1107-Edit.tif
Description: The Days Are Limited For The Old Green House by Debra Martz I've been taking photos of this abandoned house since discovering it in 2019. I take photographs in different seasons and times of day. And I'm always checking to see how much more of the roof, walls, windows, etc are failing. Most of the photos I take are from the east side or front. However, the west side is failing more than the other sides. The side wall is buckling inward, and the roof is dropping but look at that chimney; it is still as straight as ever. This photo was taken in the last part of summer 2024 in northern Oklahoma near Nescatunga. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Architecture Buildings Windows Doors" 20240908_4708
Description: Snowy Egret Tree Toppers by Debra Martz The Egrets were on the shore, then took off in a low flight over the lake finally circling back and rising upward to the treetop. I captured this image near the end of summer in an area I call the peninsula at the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20240908-DSC_1090.NEF
Description: Snowy Egrets Low Flight Over the Lake by Debra Martz A flock of Snowies take flight from a nearby shoreline on a summer morning. The early morning light provides those lovely white reflections on the water and the glow of the vegetation. Tall trees, not seen in this image, shade the right side of the water. Image taken at the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20240908-DSC_1080.NEF AI Alt Text: A flock of white birds is gracefully flying over a calm body of water, surrounded by lush green reeds and trees. The serene landscape reflects a peaceful and natural environment.
Description: Early Arriving Herons Photo Art by Debra Martz Being out at the lake at dawn is so quiet and peaceful. Not a sound was heard until the first birds began arriving for morning feedings. These two Great Blue Herons were the first I noticed landing on the lower river area beyond the lake's spillway which is colored by the morning light. Still too dark to see their colors but their silhouettes were unmistakable. The spillway hadn't been flowing due to lack of rain so the river is low with sand bars and rocks appearing. Image captured at Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma. Digital art created from my original photograph.
Description: Early Arriving Herons by Debra Martz Being out at the lake at dawn is so quiet and peaceful. Not a sound is heard until the first birds begin to arrive for morning feedings. These two Great Blue Herons were the first I noticed landing on the lower river area beyond the lake's spillway which is colored by the morning light. Still too dark to see their colors but their silhouettes are unmistakable. The spillway hasn't been flowing due to lack of rain so the river is low with sand bars and rocks appearing. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20240908-DSC_0944.NEF
Description: Sky Full of Clouds Behind Me by Debra Martz We had spent the day at Wild Rivers Recreation Area and as we were leaving I noticed the beautiful cloud-filled sky in my sideview mirror. I included some of the landscape around the mirror to show the vegetation of the high desert and mountains in the distance. While Obama was president he renamed this Bureau of Land Management property "Rio Grande del Norte National Monument" though many, like me, still refer to it as Wild Rivers. It comprises approximately 242,555 acres of public land in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Mexico and Colorado" 20240815_4367
Description: Indian Blanket Dancing In The Wind by Debra Martz Though Indian Blanket is the state wildflower of Oklahoma, it grows wildly in many other states. Its stems can be anywhere from 8 to 24 inches. These were on the tall side and were gently bending with the breeze on this day at Wild Rivers Recreation in northern New Mexico. Wild Rivers is a BLM, Bureau of Land Management, property offering many scenic views and hiking trails. Or, just enjoy the wildness of the area and all that grows here. AKA Gaillardia, Firewheel, Sundance, and a few more names. I used digital brushes and layers to finish my photography in a painterly fashion. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Digital Art Photography"
Description: La Junta Point Wild Rivers New Mexico by Debra Martz From the trailhead, the elevation drop is 1,000 feet and then the trail leads to the rivers - the Rio Grande on the right and the Red River on the left, which converge farther south. Unfortunately, this trail is now closed but the lower section can be reached by taking one of two other trails a bit farther north - Big Arsenic or Little Arsenic. Those two have an approximate 800-foot elevation drop, which I have hiked in previous years with the bonus of finding some petroglyphs. Wild Rivers Recreation Area is in northern New Mexico near Questa and Cerro. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Mexico" "National Parks and Lands" 20240815_4301.DNG
Description: Immature Eagle On A Dead Tree Limb by Debra Martz During Fall and Winter we always check this dead tree as we discovered several years ago there was likely to be a Bald Eagle. And today, October 6th was no exception. This immature was perched on an outer limb and looking regal at its young age! Sadly, I noticed a big orange X on the trunk of this tree which usually means the park service will soon cut it down. I can only hope not... ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20241006-DSC_2048.NEF
Description: Lone Bighorn Female Sheep Wild Rivers New Mexico By Debra Martz Well, she was not the big male with large curled horns we would have loved to have seen but at least we saw one while driving to the next trailhead. She even appeared to smile when she looked toward our stopped vehicle. Wild Rivers Recreation Area is located in northern New Mexico near Cerro and Questa. Digital brushes have been used on the vegetation and a vignette was added to emphasize the lone Big Horn Sheep. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20240815_4293-Edit.tif
Description: Animal Trails Wild Rivers New Mexico by Debra Martz I was standing at an overlook on the opposite side of the Rio Grande Gorge and wondering what animals make their way down to the water in this area. Possibly Big Horn Sheep as I see them in the area quite often when visiting. The patterns of the trails appear to look like a profile of something with a large nose and looking toward the right. Yes, I see things in landscapes, not just in clouds :-). ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Mexico" 20240815_4247.DNG AI Alt Text: A steep, rocky hillside overlooks a river flowing through a canyon, surrounded by sparse vegetation. The clear blue sky enhances the rugged, natural l
Description: Mountains North Of Taos New Mexico by Debra Martz Wide open spaces and a beautiful mountain range under a summer sky with scattered clouds. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Mexico and Colorado" 20240814_4207.DNG AI Alt Text: A vast green field stretches towards a range of mountains under a partly cloudy sky. Lush greenery and distant trees add depth to the serene landscape.
Description: Taos Dahlia in the Plaza by Debra Martz Summers in Taos, New Mexico are wonderful with great temperatures and always plenty of blooming flowers in the Historic Plaza District. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Flora" 20240814-IMG_4193.DNG AI Alt Text: A vibrant orange dahlia flower blooms in a sunlit garden, with green foliage and a blurred background featuring rocks and other plants. The petals are sharply defined, showing intricate details and a gradient of color.
Description: Leaving the Sunny Side by Debra Martz I thought we might curve around through Eagle Nest, New Mexico, and miss the storm off to the right. But, no, we drove right into heavy rain which stayed with us even though we made another sharp turn in town and headed north. There is nowhere safe to pull off the road, so I shot this through the windshield as we slowly curved toward town. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Mexico" 20240813_4180.DNG
Description: Hosta Buds and Blooms by Debra Martz They spring forth so brilliantly green in April, and bud in May but it is all downhill after the high heat of the Oklahoma summer knocks on the door! They never make it to be large plants filled with many stems of flowers. But I enjoy watching them grow under the canopy of my Cypress, cut them to the ground when they wilt away from the heat, and wait for the next Spring. I used multiple digital tools to add texture and a painterly finish to my photograph. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Flora" "Digital Art Photography" 20240526-DSC_0543-Edit
Description: Overlapping Coneflowers Macro by Debra Martz Coneflowers attract many types of butterflies, bees, and other insects and sometimes you can get a photo without one...but not often. Backyard flowers give me opportunities to do some photography with my 105mm macro lens. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Flora" 20240526-DSC_0533
Description: Pinkish Purple Coneflower Macro by Debra Martz Coneflowers attract many types of butterflies, bees, and other insects and sometimes you can get a photo without one...but not often. Backyard flowers give me many opportunities to take photos with my 105mm macro lens. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Flora" 20240526-DSC_0529
