THEME - Our National Parks and Wildlife Refuges

[Cheryl Slechta]

I am so thankful that we have places that preserve the natural beauty of this country and allow safe places of refuge for birds and wildlife. This was taken this year at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. It was early morning and I used a 5 sec. exposure and moved the camera slightly to get an other-worldly effect. That's the way I feel when I'm out there before dawn and you can see the shapes and forms and their slow movement as they get ready to take off at first light. The sounds of the sandhill cranes and geese really make you feel like you're in their world - it's very primeval and special
ISO 100, 5 sec., f/7.1.

[Nancy Bell]

Cheryl, this really captures that pre-dawn feeling with the soft blues and soft shapes and just the early beginnings of light on the water. Beautifully seen and captured! I really enjoy your images from Bosque as they present a unique point of view that others don't take the time to feel or explore.

[Dennis Bishop]

I'm not sure which says it better, your image or your words. Together, they say a lot.

[gary ellwein]

With my memory from last year, I can visualize where you were standing. The amount of blur is just right. I like the subtle tonal quality; except, for the little hot spot on the left. You eloquently summed up how we all feel about our parks and refuges, particularly Bosque.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Nancy and Dennis. Gary - I know why people go back to the Bosque - it's amazing how much it changes from year to year. I agree about the hot spot on the left - I'll fix it

[Diane Miller]

Great mood captured here!!

[Jackie Schuknecht]

The colours are fab, Cheryl. I wonder about a gradient to even out the tones more in the image. You really excel at blurs.