I’ve reached another plateau in my photographic journey–I’m beginning to print my photos and hang them in my home. I’ve got three metal prints on the walls now: a 6 x 9 and two 8 x 12 inches. I’m also preparing five black and whites to be printed as 8 x 10 inches. Next I’ll work on my close up and macro flowers. It’s time to do this.

I’m thinking the more I see my printed pictures, the more confidence I’ll get to enter a contest. This whole journey is a process–at least for me. I was chatting with another photographer via Facebook regarding entering a contest. She is entering an image in the California State Fair contest. It’s a great image that tells a great story. She said that I should enter. I said I wasn’t ready. She suggested some of the various county fair competitions. I may do that this summer.

In the meantime, our Tuesday group visited Effie Yeaw Nature Center. I’ve shown you pictures from there before, but you never see the same thing twice. There’s always new discoveries. And, now that Marlene and I bought a membership, you’ll see a lot more of Effie Yeaw.

From Effie Yeaw to wherever my camera takes me, I’ll take you along on this amazing photographic journey.

The trees at Effie Yeaw are so expressive.

They bend with the wind.

Turkeys are happy residents.

This one is showing off.

This young buck knows this is a safe place.

At least they are safe from man.

They are used to us.

Effie Yeaw sits on the American River.

From Caterpillar.

To butterfly.

Or maybe even two.

I love the texture and color in fallen tree limbs.

I haven’t seen a coyote at Effie Yeaw before.

It’s poppy time.

This is a resident owl who lives behind glass in the Nature Center’s office area. They have a lot of programs for schools.