Debra Martz Hoodies

Kayaking to the Spillway by Debra Martz If you read my descriptions on my bird photography, you might recall my mention of the spillway as the location. It is one of my favorite places to bird watch in this state park. But after the birds do their morning feedings and preening in the water, they all but disappear until evening. I only see one lone seagull in this image myself. Just like the birds possibly, I was back to my comfortable place taking a break just after high noon. I had a quick lunch then went back outside and saw this couple kayaking so went back in the RV for the camera. The people give the image a sense of scale and the textures on the flowing water and those reflections were shining bright and very picturesque to...

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

When I stepped into the second room of the old train Depot museum at Uptop, Colorado, this vintage pitcher and basin in the window caught my attention. I especially like that I could angle the composition to get the Chapel of the Wayside as background. ©Debra Martz 2021-09-18 All Rights Reserved

Old Faithful Yellowstone by Debra Martz This famous geyser in Yellowstone was named for its frequent and rather predictable eruptions. As of the summer of 2021 those eruptions numbered more than a million since Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "U.S. National Parks" 202220140908-DSC_4916.NEF

The Dog Bar Cachara Colorado by Debra Martz The Dog Bar is known as the "Heart and Soul of Cuchara" for good reason. They've been serving up burgers, pizzas and drinks since it was established in 1980 and this place continues to be a staple in the Cuchara Valley. Located on scenic byway 12, aka the Highway of Legends, it is just a short drive south of La Veta, CO. I've enjoyed some good food and good live music there. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210915-DSC_4793

Dropped A Bite by Debra Martz While hiking along the Big Tree Trail I first spotted this squirrel on the ground digging, looking for a nut or some type of food. It found what it was after and ran up the side of this leaning tree. But, oops, it dropped a good portion of its food find. Captured at Aranasas National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Wildlife" 202220160304-DSC_2830-En

Frog in the Sunlight by Debra Martz As I walked the trail along the stream frogs were jumping into the water. I came to a bridge and looked down when I spotted this one with the sun shining brightly upon it. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Wildlife" 202220160304-DSC_3072

Young Alligator by Debra Martz While crossing the bridge, I stopped to view the frogs I had been hearing from the trail. Not only were there frogs, there were a number of young alligators. That got me to wondering, "Where are the parents; the big and fast ones!" Captured at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Wildlife" 20160304-DSC_3107

Whitetail Dragonfly by Debra Martz The Common Whitetail dragonfly is seen across much of North America, with a striking and unusual appearance. The male's chunky white body (about 2 inches long), combined with the brownish-black bands on its translucent wings, give it a checkered look. The white on the abdomen, found only in mature males, is displayed to other males as a territorial threat. I saw several varites of dragonflies this day while actually out bird watching along the Eagle Roost Trail in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Reserve in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210622-DSC_4036

Mine Mine Mine by Debra Martz When I saw this action by the seagulls, the movie Nemo came to mind! I'll never forget the Pelican and Seagull scene where the seagulls were calling out MINE in an animated attempt to get Dory and Marlin at the dock! I thought, "that sounds just like the seagulls at the beach when the tourist throw up food for them!" Mine! Mine! Mine! And that poor, single Cormorant that has just surfaced under the wing of one seagull must be wondering, "what's happening!!??!!" Captured this group of Ring-billed Gulls at the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Feathered Friends3" "Digital Art " 202220211202-DSC_9773-Edit.tif

More Pelicans Cormorants and Gulls Arriving at the Spillway by Debra Martz It is a continual thing of the migrating birds coming and going all day for several weeks in the fall. The spillway is multi-tiered and the middle seems to be the most popular with the birds. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6612.NEF

What can I say? There are times that you arrive when the bird departs. I made it to the bottom of the spillway where the Great Salt Plains Lake flows into the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in N. Oklahoma; a place that many birds like to fish. And though this Snowy Egret flew away, I was happy seeing it and others that had returned from their winter migration to the south. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210429-DSC_3623

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 ...

It has been a very cold winter in northern Oklahoma and much of the USA this year. This Dark-eyed Junco is a nice addition of colors to the white snow covered branches. With the roads so bad, I've been bird watching in my backyard. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210210-DSC_3668.NEF

Morning Flight of the Sandhill Cranes by Debra Martz Just to the left of this landscape is the Sand Creek Bay where 1000s of Sandhill Cranes were wading in the water in the very early morning. Many of them flew before there was ample light for photographs. The light and colors are from the sun rising in the east highlighting the western sky and landscape. Taken during fall migration in early November at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge where just a short hike will lead you to the bay and a very nice bird blind for photographers and bird watchers. The refuge is located in northern Oklahoma near the towns of Jet and Cherokee. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211101-...

I enjoy visiting northern New Mexico and any time those visits include the Taos, New Mexico area, it is a must that I go to Rancho de Taos to admire this beautiful church. It was build between 1772 and 1816 and is a well-preserved adobe building in the heart of the community at the center plaza of the Ranchos de Taos Historic District. It remains an important center of community life and the citizens ensure it stays in good condition. They along with other visitors/volunteers gather for two weeks each June to re-mud the exterior of the adobe church with a mixture of mud and straw. The church is a favorite subject for artists. Ansel Adams photographed the church for his Taos Pueblo art book and Georgia O'Keeffe painted a series of pe...

American Goldfinches have been plentiful in our backyard this winter and I've enjoyed taking their pictures during the snow storms. Created in Topaz using abstraction, impressions, smudge tools and color matching vignette. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections "Feathered Friends2" "Digital Art" 20210210-DSC_3662-Edit.tif

Cormorant Silhouette on a Foggy Morning by Debra Martz A Cormorant perches on a snag in the lake. In the distance beyond, Farmland and a silo can barely be seen reflecting on the water through the misty fog. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20210121-DSC_3137.dng

I saw my very first Red-headed Woodpecker after moving to northern Oklahoma in late 2019. Since then, it has been my dream to capture an image of one. That dream happened in just a split second when this one landed along the Eagle Roost trail and just as quickly disappeared deep into the trees. I slowly made my way closer to where it landed in hopes it might return but after some time of waiting, I continued on my hike. Someday I will get that close-up shot of my dreams. But this image shows just how striking this woodpecker is. "The Red-headed Woodpecker has many nicknames, including half-a-shirt, shirt-tail bird, jellycoat, flag bird, and the flying checker-board." Quoted from AllAboutBirds.org ©Debra Martz, All Rights R...

Surprise Pool Yellowstone National Park Wyoming by Debra Martz In Yellowstone National Park there are many thermal pools to see! Some are small while some are much larger. Surprise Pool is a small hot spring pool in the Lower Geyser Basin and easily accessible when driving the Firehole Lake Drive. There is an easy place to park along the drive and just a short boardwalk to see this thremal pool with a small stream of water that runs from it (upper left). ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "U.S. National Parks" 202220140908-DSC_4926

Red Eyed Vireo in the Holly by Debra Martz Excitement for us in these trying Covid times is when a new bird comes to the backyard. This beautiful Red-eyed Vireo worked its way around our back yard snacking on insects in each of the holly shrubs. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20200811-DSC_8745.NEF

It has been a very cold winter in northern Oklahoma and much of the USA this year. This American Goldfinch is a bright and cheerful addition to the white snow covered branches. With the roads so bad, I've been bird watching in my backyard. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210210-DSC_3652.NEF

It has been a very cold winter in northern Oklahoma and much of the USA this year. This American Goldfinch is a bright and cheerful addition to the white snow covered branches. With the roads so bad, I've been bird watching in my backyard. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210210-DSC_3652.NEF

Leisurely Day at Bear Lake - Colorado by Debra Martz This was the second beautiful mountain lake we discovered on FSR 422. As we hiked around the lake it appeared to be a wonderful place to come and relax in each person's own way. There were several fishing, one reading and later a few kayakers launched their boats. FSR 422 is about 12 miles south of La Veta, Colorado on Hwy 12. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collection: "Colorado" 20210915-DSC_4946.NEF

Eastern Bluebird on the Wooded Trail by Debra Martz This Bluebird may be small in these large wooded areas but this beauty shines brightly in its colorful feathers! Seen along the Eagle Roost Trail in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20210113-DSC_3019

American White Pelican on Blue Water by Debra Martz A beautiful, large Pelican floating on patterned blue water with wings slightly lifted, partially showing its black wing tips. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6634.NEF Image captured at the south spillway of Great Salt Plains State Park near Jet, Oklahoma.

With a little diversion off the Red River the Carson National Forest Service created Eagle Rock Lake between Red River and Questa, NM on Hwy 38. It has become a popular little lake for fishing and there is also a series of trails around and beyond. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20200629-DSC_0768

Roadrunner Running the Road by Debra Martz At first this Greater Roadrunner was headed up the road toward me when it stopped, turned 90 degrees and took off running away from me. Roadrunners aka Chapparals can fly, but they usually do not. Instead, they run at speeds up to 15mph. Scientific name: Geococcyx californianus ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20200830-DSC_8815

Gull Going for the Fish by Debra Martz The Gulls were being fairly good at catching fish on this day though most they caught were small. This image doesn't show the fish but I liked that the yellow portion of this Ring-billed Gull's beak was visible just under water plus the bubble created from the dive. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211202-DSC_9759

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

Foggy Sunrise At The Old Green House by Debra Martz Taking the gravel road to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge on a foggy December morning which in turn gave me one more opportunity to photograph this old abandoned home. I discovered this green abandoned home in 2019 on a new bird watching adventure and look forward to making this stop every time I head into the refuge. Some painterly effects have been applied. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Oklahoma" "Digital Art" 20201210-IMG_1411 green house-Edit-2-dng

Bald Eagle In Flight by Debra Martz Just as we decided to call the day of bird watching done and pulled out onto the highway to head home, I spotted a Bald Eagle in a tree. We were crossing a bridge and as soon as we made it to the end we pulled off of the road. I jumped out and headed across the bridge by foot in hopes that it would still be there but it wasn't. However, I turned to look out over and across the river and saw it making circles in the sky! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211202-DSC_9874

Following Goose Creek Red River New Mexico by Debra Martz At times the hiking trail disappears. But as long as you can see or hear the rushing water of Goose Creek, you will not get lost. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20200629-DSC_0753

Male Northern Cardinal High in the Treetop by Debra Martz I looked out my back window and this handsome guy was sitting in the top of my maple tree. I doubted there was time to grab my camera, dart out the front door, around to the side gate and then slowly approach the backyard. Glad I gave it a try because, as you can see, he waited for his photograph to be taken! Backyard bird watching can be quite good at times! "May you come to find comfort in and remember: Cardinals appear when angels are near. So go now, sit outside and drink your tea. It is there, your loved one will be." ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211211-DSC_0003

Splash of a Landing by Debra Martz It is fun to watch Cormorants land and take off from water. They always make several splashes when landing and even more on take-off as they sort of get a running start. This was on take-off which I thought was cool with the circular splash made by this Double-crested Cormorant. Captured at the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. For enhancement, I added a vignette and some digital film grain. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Feathered Friends 3" "Digital Art Photography" 20211202-DSC_9804

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.