Happy New Year!

Here's my early favorite from the trip to Galveston. I need to fix the whole tilted horizon thing, but I like this one.

It's warm there.

Dry Weeds

New cameras create new opportunities. I couldn't have taken this photograph with my old camera. Very exciting.

Adolescence

Today I took a day away from work to go out to the Konza and test-drive my new camera. I was thrilled to learn that my old film lenses work with my new camera body. Here is the first of many wildlife photographs that are now within reach. I'm a happy photographer.

Introducing Billy

My latest project has been to develop a cast of characters for an upcoming cartoon series. I'm planning to create a comic.

First up, Billy. He's a nice guy, and he likes to give things to people. This is a drawing on a notecard, currently available in my JaredART Etsy shop.

More characters to come.

Introducing JaredART

A couple weeks back I decided to open up a second, brand new shop on Etsy, devoted to all things not-photography. The shop has paintings, drawings, prints - good times.

New for today is the original drawing notecard. This is a drawing of my photograph "Homestead" - now you can send it as a birthday card, holiday card, "Happy Tuesday" card - whatever you like.

Go check it out! - JaredART.etsy.com

An Old Favorite

This photograph was taken six or seven years ago with my old film camera. It's always been a favorite of mine.

Sprague Lake

Sprague Lake was surprisingly not busy, despite the fact that the lake is just right there next to the parking lot - accessible by a flat trail. Everyone should go on this hike, no matter how hike-phobic they may be.

When I was there, it rained a little bit, and I got to see my third rainbow of the day. I wasn't able to get any photographs I loved out of that, but I dig the lake anyhow.

Bear Lake

I'm pretty sure this is Bear Lake, but I admit it might be Nymph Lake. I'm just not sure. There are several gorgeous lakes, well worth the hikes.

Moraine Park

This is near to where we camped. The elk congregated down in this glacier-carved valley. Loved it.

Aspen at Bear Lake

We were lucky enough to spend this past weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park. The aspen were just starting to turn, and I found a few of these gorgeous yellow trees at the shore of Bear Lake Saturday.

An absolutely wonderful experience. If you've never been to the park, I highly recommend it. I can't wait to go back.

Lower Falls of the Yellowstone

I am always amazed by the beauty and the power of waterfalls. This was one of the first waterfalls to amaze me as a child, and it was a treat to see it again this summer. Everyone should see Yellowstone at least once.

Blue

So I've fallen off the planet, blog-wise. I decided there were a couple more travel shots that I like. I'm digging the color on this one - from Yellowstone.

Natural Frame

I'm craving the peace, quiet and solitude of the Tetons this morning. This is another view of Jackson Lake. One day it might be nice to take a boat out on the water for a day.

Old Faithful Inn

If I could transport my loved ones and myself to any one place in the world at this very moment, it would be to the Old Faithful Inn. So tranquil, quiet and peaceful, despite the crowds. I loved the time we spent there, and I look forward to when we'll get a chance to return.

If you've never been, do yourself the favor of spending an evening, whether you opt to spend the night or not.

Grand Canyon

I can't wait to get back to explore the Grand Canyon more thoroughly. I want to do the rim to rim hike, raft the river, the whole deal. It was magnificent just from the rim - I can only imagine what it will be like to see it in depth.

Until then, here's a tough old tree living out its existence where few dare to walk, right on the rim.

Morning Glory Pool

So, I'm ready for another trip to Yellowstone.

Great Sand Dunes

I like this one for the perspective it gives. The park is called Great Sand Dunes for a reason - there's a lot of sand here.

Moonset at Bryce Canyon

The sun coming up, the moon going down. Just another view on Bryce Canyon.

Jackson Lake

Grand Teton National Park was extraordinarily beautiful. Of all the places we visited during our trip, this was the one I would first jump at the chance to spend a week or two. It was calm, quiet, relaxing, and gorgeous. I hope to make it back for a more extended visit before too much time passes.

This photograph is from Jackson Lake, in the northern part of the park.

Beehive Geyser

We saw a number of geysers go off, but this one was particularly fun, since it's less predictable than some of the other large geysers. The amount and the force of the water was incredible.

Badlands

We didn't get to spend a lot of time in the Badlands, but it's a very interesting place. I hope to make it back up for a more extensive visit another time.

Emulating Ansel Adams

When at the Grand Tetons, I simply had to go take my version of Ansel Adams' Snake River photograph. I prefer his, but I figured I'd share this one. It's interesting to compare. More Tetons to come.

Bryce Canyon Tunnel

More beauty from Bryce Canyon. This tunnel is part of the below-the-rim trail that we hiked. The tricky part about hiking into a canyon is that the end of the hike is all uphill. Gets a bit tiring, but well worth it.

Yellowstone Hot Spring

Just the first of the Yellowstone photographs. We spent about a third of our trip at Yellowstone, and it's my favorite park, no matter the crowds. It's one of a kind. Here's a shot I grabbed during one of my walks around the Upper Geyser Basin in the evenings with the boys.

Sunrise over Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon was a wonderful surprise, exceedingly beautiful, peaceful, and calm. The reddish color is stunning, and I found it very difficult to capture with my camera.

I like a handful of the photographs I brought home from Bryce Canyon, but I didn't fully capture that ethereal red. I have some ideas for the next time I'm there, but that may be years, if I ever do make it back.

If you're ever in the area, be sure to check out Bryce Canyon, and I recommend staying the night. The sunrise is chilly, but spectacular.

Landscape Arch

If you ever make it out to Arches National Park, I highly recommend the mile hike out to Landscape Arch. It's over 100 yards long, and tantalizingly thin. It looks like it may come down at any moment. Hurry up and see it before it's too late!

Animas River

Not a national park photograph, but this is part of the San Juan National Forest. This photograph was taken from the Durango-Silverton Narrow Guage train. It was a long but beautiful ride.

Available in my Etsy shop.

Canyonlands

Another beautiful park with few fellow visitors. Canyonlands is stunning, but it does take some of the "wow" out of the Grand Canyon - just a heads up.

Great Sand Dunes

Probably the most suprising national park, I just loved Great Sand Dunes. To get to the dunes, you cross a beautiful mountain stream by foot, and then it's a seemingly endless amount of sand to play with. You have free range of the stream and the dunes, so you can go off to a place by yourself, or you can play with others. It's very pleasant, and I'm sure I'll go back.

If you ever find yourself in southern Colorado, I highly recommend a visit to this park.

Grand Canyon Sunset

Here is the first of many photographs I have to share from my recently completed tour of 10 western national parks. This one is from the north rim of the Grand Canyon. We happened to be there on the 4th of July.

Available on Etsy.

Purple Coneflower

Another shot from the beautiful Konza Prairie here in Northeast Kansas.

This one is now available in my Etsy shop.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Back to the Konza

My absolute favorite place to hike, to take photographs, the Konza Prairie is a fantastically gorgeous place in all seasons. This is one of the best times to be out there, because there are so many varieties of wildflowers blooming right now, and the smells are phenomenal. If you're anywhere nearby, I encourage you to get out for a walk.

Any day on the Konza is a good day.

The Old Red Barn

Beautiful barn in rural Missouri.

Didja Know I Like Dandelions

Yes, really.

Clothesline

I have just a hair under ten thousand mosquito bites to show for this shot.

Lily

I'm thinking about getting some of these for the garden. Pretty.

More Barbed Wire

The last of the series. More new stuff after the trip to the in-laws gorgeous farm.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Windy Grass

I have a thing for grass. Yay grass.

Barb

I find barbed wire interesting.

Windmill

These used to be useful. Now they're just fun to look at.

Haystack Series: Newborns

Here's the latest in my lifelong series of haystack photographs. These don't look all that green in this particular light, but I believe they were cut today.

I was happy with a number of shots today, and I'm planning to share those over the course of the next few days. Thanks for visiting!

Saved by the Fence

These cows were not thrilled with me for intruding on their space. The one on the left chose to moo at me after a few minutes of waiting for me to leave on my own.

More Rays

Still trying to learn how to get along with the new camera.

Flowers

The new camera takes pictures of flowers too.

Sans Cat

Same stuff as yesterday - no cat.

The Rare Pet Photograph

I'm not big on posting pet photographs, but I really liked this one. I prefer to think of it as a wildflower photograph that happens to have a pet in it.

Grass

I haven't added this one to Etsy yet, but I like it, and I thought it ought to be on the blog. Hope you enjoy.

Late Winter Landscape

One from the archives. I like all of the contrasting colors in this one.

Homestead Weeds

I'm somewhat addicted to this barn, so here's the latest in my Homestead series, celebrating a bit of wildflowers I found out in front of the barn this afternoon.

Click on the photograph to go to the listing page on Etsy if you'd like to have this one for your wall.

Thanks for visiting!

Waterfall

Yet another spot of beauty in the Flint Hills of northeast Kansas, this was shot at place called Pillsbury Crossing. The story goes that the limestone shelf that the water is falling over was used by pioneers to get across the river on their way west. Why they wouldn't want to stay in Kansas, I can't imagine!

Click the picture to head on over to Etsy. I'm running a sale tonight, if you're into that sort of thing.