Seasons often change landscapes and plant life leaving the photographer many options year round. Today I made a trip to the Houston Arboretum to hike and photograph what I found to be beautiful. I hope you enjoy this collection of photos as much as I do. Thank you for viewing.
The Zilker Botanical Garden is what I envision if I were in Heaven with its herb garden, prehistoric garden, cactus and succulent garden, butterfly garden, rose garden, oriental garden, green garden, and pioneer village. I have been many places and for a $2 entrance fee I thought it to be of one of the best values ever. There are so many excellent photo opportunities in the garden areas. It is peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful. I walked it during a day that had 102 degree temperatures and felt totally comfortable. This garden will show you how important canopy cover is to maintaining cool temperatures on the ground even during extreme heat. For more information on Zilker Botanical Garden click this link: http://www.zilkergarden.org/
2018 Albert Moyer, Jr. Photography
Hamilton Pool Preserve is considered one of the top summer swimming destinations in Texas. Thankfully, you can only enter with reservations to protect the environment from over use and damage. To see it in person and swim in the clear emerald-green waters is a real treat, as is the hike along Hamilton Creek to the Pedernales River. Going there you get a sense of what life might have been like in the seventeen or eighteen hundreds before modern piping, showers, housing, etc. It is peaceful, tranquil, and really enjoyable. Here are some photos from Hamilton Pool and the hike along Hamilton Creek. For more information about reservations click here: https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/hamilton-pool
Bastrop State Park is a great place that has a lot to offer, but with a changed landscape. I visited in March of 2010 and took photos. Recently, I had a chance to visit again and see the damage caused by the great fire of 2011. I was amazed at the damage as well as all the regrowth. I imagine with no further damage Bastrop State Park will be back to itself by the time I retire. Fire is a dangerous thing especially during drought. Please use caution. The first four photos are from my 2010 visit and the last four from my recent June 2018 visit for comparison. For more information on this great fire visit here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastrop_County_Complex_Fire
The photography and outdoor activities at Pedernales Falls State Park are limitless. Take your camera and enjoy the many sites and sounds. When things get to hot take a dip in the Pedernales river. It feels so pleasant! There are many animals to see. I missed out on a fox and armadillo as they scooted into the bushes. This place is magical!
2018 Albert Moyer, Jr. Photography
Here are a few photos from the road that I took in various little towns. We have the Caldwell County courthouse in Lockhart, Texas. Lockhart is known for some of the best BBQ anywhere. The Georgetown, Texas Courthouse in Williamson County. The Southwestern University building in Georgetown, Texas. Finally the biggest attraction of all. Ole Three-Legged Willy! Talk to him he might get your ticket waved or bail reduced. Great examples of Texas architecture from the 1840’s.
2018 Albert Moyer, Jr. Photography
The Meadows Center is a preserve that protects some of the most pristine springs in Texas. The sight was once used for the movie Piranha and also an amusement park known as Aquarina Springs. The water is clear to 30 feet deep. It offers a great learning experience through the marsh and glass bottom boat tours. Here you see the glass bottom boat, the Piranha movie sight, underwater view, cattails, a Texas Rio-Grande Cichlid, a turtle party, a Red-Tailed Hawk nest, a Water Hyacinth, a large Tilapia, a Green Heron, and a large Cypress tree. For more information visit http://www.meadowscenter.txstate.edu/
2018 Albert Moyer, Jr. Photography
Recently I traversed the stairs to the top of Mount Bonnell located on the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. Mount Bonnell is 775 feet high and is Austin’s second highest point. It offers really great views especially of the skyline, surrounding homes, and boaters enjoying the various water activities available.
Around us we are surrounded by so many different things. For some, it is overwhelming, because for whatever reason they just cannot take it all in. For others they just never notice their environment. To them life is boring. For me life has more to offer than I’ll ever take in or even remember. That is where the camera takes over! To capture those moments that create a curiosity, or something I see that I would like to remember. Be it a moment, piece of art, a tree, a bug, a bird, food, signs, etc, etc. There is so much out in our world to keep the mind pleasantly and happily occupied. With that said, here are twenty random photos I have seen just walking around in different environments. This is a first in a series I call random photos and there will be more along the way. Thank you for stopping by and happy shooting to all the fellow photographers that see the world. And for those of you that do not see the world, open your eyes, it is all around you. Some may say, I wish I had a camera. A great camera helps, but you can use a cell phone. All photos here were captured on a cell phone. The camera is in your pocket.
