Description: Trees On the Grounds of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park Louisiana by Debra Martz Large Oak trees with Spanish moss seen across the grounds of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and the historic Chalmette Battlefield. This was a stop on our Creole Queen Historic Cruise out of New Orleans, LA on the Mississippi River. Rendered in Black and White and enhanced in Topaz Impression ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20220512-IMG_0183
Description: Mississippi River watching from the New Orleans, Louisiana Riverwalk. We walked all around New Orleans for 3 and 1/2 days in May with rain predicted the entire time. Thankfully, the rains came at night when we were already back at the hotel. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "New Orleans Louisiana" 20210512-DSC_4775
Description: Bellagio Butterfly of Flowers by Debra Martz The Bellagio Horticulture and Engineering teams transform the 14,000-square-foot Botanical Gardens into a showcase of inspiring sights, sounds, scents and colors. When the seasons change so do the displays. This was in a Spring display. The Bellagio Hotel is located on the Strip of Las Vegas, Nevada. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Flora" 202220170411-IMG_7874-Edit.tif
Description: Talavera Gecko by Debra Martz Colorful and decorative wall art from Mexico that I collect each time I visit. The pieces decorate on side of my fence. The gecko really is this colorful but I did some texture and color patterns on my white fence. The vine, well, it's actually the neighbors but I'm letting it grow for the time being. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Digital Art Photography 20220724-IMG_1308-Enhanced-Edit.tif
Description: Cruising the Mississippi on the Creole Queen Paddlewheeler by Debra Martz Creole Queen Historic Cruise; New Orleans' only Historic River Cruise! Focusing on 300 years of New Orleans history, this cruise is narrated by a local historian who took us on a journey through the story of the city as we cruised the Mississippi downriver to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and the historic Chalmette Battlefield. The one-hour shore excursion stop at the battlefield featured a guided tour and talk by National Park Rangers. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: New Orleans Louisiana Digital Art 20220512-IMG_0147-Edit.tif
Description: While walking the New Orleans Riverwalk, I noticed a garden bed with these Agapanthus flowers in the budding stage. They were far enough apart that I could isolate just one. I've blackened the green background and created a multi-depth purple vignette/frame to where it appears the flower is moving out of the frame. AKA African Lily, Lily of the Nile, Agapanthus praecox, Blue Lily, Common agapanthus ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210512-DSC_4771-Edit.tif
Description: Cafe Du Monde and Mural by Debra Martz A New Orleans landmark and tourist destination, known for its café au lait and beignets. Its coffee with chicory is widely available in the continental United States. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Orleans" "Digital Art Photography" "Signs" 202220210512-DSC_4728-Edit.tif
Description: Newly Opened Coneflower by Debra Martz The first of my white Coneflowers to bloom this spring. The deep green foliage seems to illuminate the white flower that much more. Digital enhancement applied to bring out the details. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections: "Flora" "Digital Art Photography" 2021-06-12ConeFlower-3582
Description: Profile of a Snowy Egret with sparkling bokeh coming from the light on the water. Captured at Great Salt Plains State Park in norhtern Oklahoma on the lower level of the spillway. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210429-DSC_3615
Description: New Orleans Lanterns French Quarter - Colorful by Debra Martz I enjoyed an early morning walk on Bourbon Street and other French Quarter Streets nearby when there were no crowds. While on this stroll, I took pictures of my favorite signs and though this is not a sign, this shows the iconic lanterns found throughout much of the French Quarter. In Topaz software, I used several filters to enhance the lanterns by adding textures and bright colors.. I have a brown monochrome version, too. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "New Orleans Louisiana" "Digital Art Photography" 202220210512-DSC_4664-Edit.tif
Description: South Texas Green Jay by Debra Martz Just one of the colorful and delightful birds to see when bird watching in the tip of southern Texas. The Green Jay is just one of many tropical birds that can be seen without leaving the USA for Central or South America. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 202220170125-DSC_2430.NEF
Description: Jackson Brewery, a New Orleans landmark, was once the brewing and bottling house of Jax Beer from 1890 until 1974. The building was purchased, renovated and turned into a place to shop and/or grab a bite to eat while taking in the views of the Mississippi River. There is, also, a museum devoted to the brewery which is free and open to the public. Composite work using two of my photographs, fireworks rendered black and white plus overlay of texture on the building. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210512-DSC_4745-Edit.tif
Description: Lafayette Square New Orleans Louisiana The park is across the street from Gallier Hall on St Charles Avenue. It has 3 bronze statues, the front one in this image for John McDonogh and back/left of Henry Clay. There is also one of Benjamin Franklin facing Camp Street but not shown here. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collection: "New Orleans, Louisiana" 20210513-DSC_4861 A TLWilson texture has been added to my original photograph.
Description: John Minor Wisdom United States Court of Appeal Building New Orleans Louisiana by Debra Martz New York architect James Gamble Rogers originally designed the 3 story granite building as a post office combination court building in 1909 with an opening in 1915. By the 1960s the post moved to a larger facility and in 1965, following Hurricane Betsy, the McDonough NO 35 high school found refuge there. After a number of renovations, and most currently the one after Hurricane Katrina, it now houses the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the headquarters for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that hears cases throughout Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The building is named for...
Description: We caught the street car downtown New Orleans for a ride to see some more sights. When I saw Loyola University coming up, I pulled the cable over my seat however, it was too close to that one for it to stop. But that was okay, as the next stop had us walking back along this beautiful tree-lined sidewalk on St. Charles Street. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210513-DSC_4790
Description: The Communications/Music Complex of Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana is located on the corner of St. Charles and Calhoun Streets. One of the interior features is the Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall located on the second floor. The 589-seat hall can handle a full spectrum of performances from the solo recitals to the full symphony orchestra concerts. Unfortunately, we did not get to see due to pandemic restrictions. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210513-DSC_4837-Edit.tif
Description: Gallier Hall New Orleans Louisiana by Debra Martz Located on St. Charles Ave in the Central Business District, Gallier Hall is just across the street from the Lafayette Square. The buildings name comes from the architect, James Gallier Sr, who designed it to be the New Orleans city hall and dedicated on May 10, 1853. In the 1950s, the city hall moved to a more modern complex, the Duncan Plaza but Gallier Hall continued its traditional place of honor during Mardi Gras. Viewing galleries in front of the hall are reserved for Mardi Gras royalty, and parades on the St. Charles route pause in front of them. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210513-DSC_4858
Description: Take a stroll on the Riverwalk of New Orleans for the beautiful scenery or for the unique sights you might see. This is a small portion of love locks on a gated pier along the Mississippi River. Love Wins! Love Lock Tradition ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210512-DSC_4749-Edit.tif
Description: Port Aransas. Texas is a wonderful birding area during spring and fall migration. This was the first time I had seen the Philadelphia Vireo on its Spring Journey heading north to its breeding grounds in Canada. ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Feather Friends2" 20190512-DSC_0482.NEF
Description: The San Miguel Mission in Socorro New Mexico had fallen into such bad shape that it was closed in 2010. In November 2013, the Conrad Hilton Foundation awarded a $1.1 million grant. It is now restored, beautiful and an active Catholic Church. Missions were important parts of the trade routes traveled by Spanish and Indian alike. During the Spanish colonial period in New Mexico, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (Royal Road of the Interior), was the major trade route between Mexico City and Santa Fe in New Mexico. The Royal Road passed the village of the Pilabó, home to the Piro Indians which is near today's Socorro, NM. The Piro met Spanish settlers when Oñate's expedition stopped there, and later a Franciscan mission was started in ...
Description: The San Miguel Mission in Socorro New Mexico had fallen into such bad shape that it was closed in 2010. In November 2013, the Conrad Hilton Foundation awarded a $1.1 million grant. It is now restored, beautiful and an active Catholic Church. Missions were important parts of the trade routes traveled by Spanish and Indian alike. During the Spanish colonial period in New Mexico, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (Royal Road of the Interior), was the major trade route between Mexico City and Santa Fe in New Mexico. The Royal Road passed the village of the Pilabó, home to the Piro Indians which is near today's Socorro, NM. The Piro met Spanish settlers when Oñate's expedition stopped there, and later a Franciscan mission was started in ...
Description: It is April and it is breeding season. Most birds change colors in plumage during this season or get additional features. The American White Pelicans grow a plate on the top of their massive bills and the colors of the bill become much more vibrant. They are a migratory bird that mainly breeds in the north and into Canada but some have become residents of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma so I get to see them in all their phases. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 2021-04-08-DSC_2793
Description: While on a short road trip, we stopped at the Meridian State Park in Texas and drove the scenic roads through the park. On the west side of the lake, there was an "arm" of water filled with the tall, emergent Water Lotus. Several digital filters and brushes have been used to create this work from my original photograph. ©Debra Martz
Description: Chawalauna Overlook at Wild Rivers Recreation New Mexico by Debra Martz If you take the first right after stopping at the pay station, the Chawalauna Overlook is the next place for amazing views. There is not a trailhead here into the gorge but there are views both upstream (this view) and downstream of the Rio Grande. You can see where the other trails reach the river and backcountry campsites at the bottom of the gorge, where ponderosa pines offer tall shade if you decide to trout fish. If you are not camping up on the rim, this overlook offers parking to the Rinconada 6 mile loop trail which is on a well kept gravel path. It passes by all of the rim campgrounds of both the Rio Grande and Red River. When we camp here, if not going ...
Description: Bear Crossing trail into the gorge to the Rio Grande River is one of two trails here that I've not hiked. It is rated Extremely Difficult and you don't have to venture out on the trail very far to find it is rated correctly. The average drop into the gorge from most of the trails is 800' and takes you through towering Ponderosa Pines. This is a nice stop even if you don't hike the trail as there is a picnic table and of course gorgeous views and on this day a stunning sky. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Mexico" 20210415-DSC_3208
Description: Water Buffalo Woolaroc Wildlife Preserve Oklahoma by Debra Martz Though near the Stone and Swan Lakes area, I did not see any of these buffalo in the water but it was a cold day; no need for trying to get cool in the water. The few I saw were all grazing deep in the trees. In 1925 oilman Frank Phillips built a ranch retreat, Woolaroc, on 3,700 acres in the Osage Hills in northern Oklahoma. Today it is a wildlife preserve, home to many species of native and exotic animals plus Woolaroc is also a museum with an outstanding collection of western art and artifacts, Native American material, one of the largest collections of Colt firearms in the world, and much much more. The name Woolaroc was derived from three words that described ...
Description: This group of Ruddy Ducks couldn't have turned and departed any faster. They were close to the bank when I stopped but took off before I could get out of the truck. So a lake scene it became instead of a Duck image! Great Salt Plains Lake is located in northern Oklahoma and I visit often for my hobby of bird watching. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210121-DSC_3154.NEF
