A day full of living!

My friend, Robert Walker, and I went into the Mississippi Delta Saturday morning to see what we could find. Let's see now, there was the wonderful sunrise, the round barn at Lake Washington I had heard about, St. John's Ruins, the first ladybug of the season, an abandoned home on Lake Washington, an abandoned church, more alligators than I could count at Lake Chotard and along the levee, a farmer methodically spraying a field, and tons of great fellowship, plus breakfast at Chuck's in Rolling Fork. What a trip! What sights! All right around here! Wow!

A layer of glass...

One of the hidden jewels of Yazoo County is Dump Lake, just past the Warren County line on Hwy. 3. Turn on Dixie Farm Road and you'll soon arrive at the lake. The lake should be called Stump Lake for the number of stumps spread across the body of water. These photos were taken a couple of weekends ago before sunrise. It's hard to get perfectly still water around here, but this day the lake was like glass — casting perfect reflections into the water. I took these photos before I went and shot the photos of the geese that appeared last week. I am so thankful for the experience. The stillness of the morning, the crispness of the air, the honks of geese being heard in the distance, the ever-changing colors of the skyline made it very special. God's Glory in its finest. Photos like this is what I live for....

Long may she wave...

I photograph the flag atop the Hwy. 80 bridge across the Mississippi River quite a lot. Like other subjects I shoot multiple times, however, I have never taken the same one twice. I like what our flag stands for and I am always proud when I see it flapping in the breeze.

The four photos here have been taken recently. 

• The top photo was taken during a fiery sunset. 

• The second photo is a different photo — it was taken of the flag at sunrise; the early morning sun gave it a whole new look. Usually I shoot the bridge at sunset when the flag is backlit. 

• The third photo is different for me, because the whole photo is pretty gray, except for the colors of the flag. It really stood out on this day.

• I love when cloud formations obscure part of the sunset. I can't resist taking a photo then. Throw in a fully unfurled flag and the picture is perfect!

Alligator Lake

The prettiest lake around Vicksburg to capture a sunrise is Alligator Lake on Long Lake Road. Most people doesn't know this lake exists, even being as close to downtown Vicksburg as it is. I stop by here quite often. I like the symmetry of the lake, how it forms a long V with the sun popping up right at the bottom of the V. The early morning sun seemingly sets the foliage around the lake and cypress trees on fire. But you better capture it quick, for it is gone in a moment. Plenty of herons call this place home, but I have yet to see one alligator in all the times I have visited. 

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!

Louisiana Monument

The Louisiana Monument is the highest point in the Vicksburg National Military Park. It offers a panoramic view that I greatly enjoy. I have shot photos of the monument in morning light as seen in the top photo, but my biggest success has been at sunset. It's pushing closing time in the park to get the sunsets, but they haven't locked me in yet! Many people just gaze upon the monument from afar, but the artwork on the monument itself is beautiful as well. Take a stroll up to it one day and enjoy the view. If you are lucky, you'll see a hawk riding the wind currents coming off the hill.