"Soft Landing"...

 

A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) lands effortlessly at a pond.  Notice how the feet were softly breaking the water, slowing the bird as it lands.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # K02_1934cm1.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Smooth Sailing"...

 

In early January, I spent an afternoon photographing Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) at Holla Bend NWR. This scene really caught my eye as the colors of the snow-filled, overcast skies matched the color of the gulls wings. Gulls are relatively active when in flight so to capture this posture of the gull relaxed in a turn seems to blend with the smooth texture of the sky.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas. 

(c) Kelly Shipp.

"Spirited"...

The more you look at these trees, the more they seem to come alive.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # K02_7966-75cfbws2.
(c) Kelly Shipp