My favorite is number 4. They are all very nice though ... great job. I think it will come down to what fits your personality and photography style the best.

Well spoken! :-D

Thank you for sharing your beautiful images... and the lovely tribute to your mom. <3

I loved seeing these. They reminded me of the drive into Bonaventure Cemetery during a visit a few years ago. John Muir actually spent a good part of a week sleeping in there while waiting for some funding to catch up with him (one of his early treks). After reading his account, I thought of him and wondered which group of low shrubs had been his cover during that week (close to the water's edge). He would walk back and forth to town to check in at the post office ... was getting pretty weak by the end.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/john_muir_writings/a_thousand_mile_walk_to_the_gulf/chapter_4.html

Thank you, Longshadow!

Your photos never disappoint. :-) Thank you for sharing!

I don't qualify as a "photographer" but do love taking pictures. My take on this is anytime you have a group of people involved with a hobby, there seems to emerge a vocal minority who appear invested in letting others know about their superior knowledge. I don't know why this is, but I've noticed that in groups devoted to raising animals, showing horses, etc. I think it's just the nature of humans. Those people probably have their own backstories which might explain why they feel that need or have a chip on their shoulder.

That being said, I think there are loads of people/photographers who love sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge with others. They are wonderful at taking newbies under their wing and offering helpful advice or solutions to problems. I think they are in the majority. There are a lot of generous folks on this forum that I've observed. <3

:-D

It is a bit confusing. ;-) What it brought up for the park was much further north from where we were and looked to be in town. I'm guessing that's not quite where you were. :-P Anyway... the view was really similar and gorgeous!

I was trying to find the park on the map ... will check again. It wasn't coming up. Might be one of those "zoom" issues where i have to be just-so to get the name to come up. :-P

I think we were actually at the Crescent Moon Picnic area... Oak Creek flowed right next to it and you walked on a trail next to the creek ... up to smooth red rock areas like that shown in your wife's pretty photo ... with the view of Cathedral Rock looming behind. I guess the smooth red rocks are under water when the creek is its' highest. We'd visited during the first week of May.

Is that third one from Crescent Moon Ranch? We got to spend a brief visit there before heading back to the airport and I LOVED that place!

That's very true! :-)

Wow! Great catch! <3 Did you have your camera all ready to go or have fingers crossed he would stay there until you powered up? Always nerve-wracking. :-P

Beautiful shots! The bird looks great but the color of the branches around him really coordinate so nicely also. We have a lot of towhees here... enjoyable birds to watch.

I love, love that second one. <3 <3