After a brief race through the seasons of life
We all fall and cross the finish line.
One by one, one after another,
We all will cross the finish line.
Copyright © 2015 R. Steven Norman, III
Photography
One of the beauties of driving through Florida is seeing the sprawling oak trees in pastures and fields.
Something that I observed while I was a teenager is that trees that spread their limbs wide, are seldom blown over by strong winds. On the other hand, trees like the poplar and Bradford pear that hold their limbs close and stretch them high, grow tall but are easily snapped by wind.
The same is true of people. Those who spread their arms to bless others are generally stronger than those who use all their efforts for selfish ambition and gain.
I saw the oak tree pictured above, along US 173 in the panhandle of Florida. I saw it and drove past it, but could not resist, so I found a place to make a U-turn and went back to make a photograph of it.
During the first hour of the night, the clouds repeatedly covered the moon. But the moon kept peeking through, kept climbing upward, until it broke loose from the realm of clouds, and lit up the sky shouting to those walking in the night, “No cloud can cover you forever.” — Steven Norman
I was trying to photograph this man who was so focused on his phone that he was missing the beauty of the morning, when birds decided to make my day by photobombing my image. Birds are almost always welcome in my photos.
Miramar Beach, FL
A sandpiper races to find a meal between the waves at sunrise on Miramar Beach, Florida.
Transient leaves change colors, fade, fall, and die.
Enduring tree trunks stand exposed, erect, and live again.
Steven Norman
The Old Grist Mill on a wet Fall afternoon at Stone Mountain Park.
Stone Mountain, GA
Two yellow leaves on a park bench.
Yellow River Park
Stone Mountain, GA
We have had lots or rain recently so the rivers are swollen. This really made Freeman’s Mill a nice place to photograph. The water had been much higher, but this afternoon it was down to where the falls are visible and I could climb down to the ground to shoot it.
Freeman’s Mill Park
Lawrenceville, GA
Portion of Scenic Drive
Bee Hive formation
Arch
Arch from the opposite side
Another Arch
Seven Sisters
An interesting formation
Cabins
A Bighorn Sheep
Elephant Rock
If you visit Las Vegas, you will want to visit the Valley of Fire. It is about an hour away in Valley of Fire State Park, 29450 Valley of Fire Road, Overton, NV 89040.
This set of images shows just a few of the many red sandstone formations in the park. There were others, but during our visit the temperature was around over 106 degrees, so we decided not to visit of the formations that required hiking.
Another place beautiful place to see red sandstone formations is Red Rock Canyon which is located at 3205 NV-159, Las Vegas, NV 89161
Steven's Travels and Thoughts 