Geese on the Levee

[Click on the photos to enlarge them for better viewing!]

I ventured over to the levee on the Louisiana side Sunday afternoon and I am so glad I did! I don't usually shoot in the bright afternoon sun, but I may have to change that way of thinking. Driving down the levee, I didn't see anything spectacular until one time I turned around and it was unbelievable how blue the water in the borrow pits was! The sun was hitting it just right and with the wind blowing it seemed like there were scores of different shades of blue dancing across the water. Throw in some geese and you have one happy photographer! I can't say the same for the geese, for they were surely not happy to see me interrupt their afternoon paddle. The closer I got to them, the louder they honked. Then it only took one to start flying to send the whole flock into the air. 

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P.S. The sunrise this morning was spectacular. Saw some of the pre-show on the way into work around 6 (with the crescent moon in the sky among the wispy clouds) and I envy those who got to see it bloom across the sky full of God's Glory! I hope those clouds hang around in the morning, so I can devote my entire Saturday morning shoot to it!

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Friday Bonus: I am meeting so many new people through this blog! From Florida to New York and all areas in between, I have had correspondence with some of the nicest people. One of my biggest supporters is Sheila at http://thequintessentialmagpie.blogspot.com.

Go visit her; it will warm your heart!

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I have been reminded many times this week what a great God we have. Forget diamonds and sapphires. God's jewelry is sown across the lakes and ponds that dot this great region of ours. We're rich!

Mississippi River levee in Louisiana

With all the trees and hills in Vicksburg, it is hard to get a good sunrise picture. That's why the Mississippi River levee in Louisiana south of I-20 is such a special place to me. The borrow pits along the levee are such great photographic sites. I like to go early, at least 30 minutes before sunrise, because the Lord always puts on such a show when he makes the sun start the day. The colors change so quickly that many times I can only stand there and try to breathe in the beauty as fast as I can. These photos were taken in late December on two separate occasions. The top photo is of one of the borrow pits. The middle photo shows a borrow pit in the front and the Mississippi River in the back. It is taken from the point where the levee is closest to the river. The heron was photographed in one of the borrow pits as I was leaving the levee.

I would be remiss if I did not tell you why I like to take so many sunrises. Usually I tell people that I just can't sleep late any longer. The real reason, however, is that viewing a sunrise brings me closer to God than anything else I can imagine. It's hard to describe the feeling I get being still and watching the sun's brightness build and build and build below the horizon until it seems like it can get no brighter. Then in an instant it bursts over the horizon, spilling golden rays everywhere. 

Is your heart burdened? Do you no longer feel close to God? Give me a call. We'll go watch a sunrise. And you will realize that everything is going to be OK — for the God of all Creation has a show ready to present to you each morning to let you know that He is in control. It's exhilarating!