Traci Dickson Photography

Deeply honored to receive Best in Show and a Second Place in the wildlife category, at the recent Cu***ng Arts Center Photography exhibition opening reception.

A BIG thank-you to the Cu***ng Arts Center for the generous prizes and opportunity to share our photography with the community and to juror David Akoubian of Nature In Focus Photography Workshops for the opportunity to see how our captures stand up to the criteria of a professional nature photographer and educator.

It is through participating in juried exhibitions that one grows as a photographer and learns how to improve your capture, print and present your work in the best light.

Congratulations to all of the photographers juried into the show, it is a lovely display of mother natures gifts, reminding all of us to take time to just "be" in the beauty of our natural world.

“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Humans want to save things that they love.”
― Steve Irwin

Opening Reception Saturday May 4th 3-5. Awards announced at 4pm

The Wilderness Photography Foundation’s Touring Exhibition is making its way to the Goodyear Cottage Gallery on Jekyll Island, Georgia during the month of May 2024. This captivating exhibition is a must-see for all ages. Here are the details:

* Exhibition Dates: May 1st to May 31st, 2024

* Opening Reception: Sunday, May 5th, 2024, from 1 to 3 pm

* Location: Goodyear Cottage Gallery, 321 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527

* Hosted By: The Jekyll Island Arts Association - https://jekyllartists.com

The exhibition features a unique collection of award-winning images by exceptionally talented nature photographers from across the nation. These stunning works of art celebrate the beauty of our natural world and promote environmental conservation through fine art nature photography. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature captured through the lens of these gifted artists.

More information at www.WPFus.org/projects

iPhone panorama of golden hour at the North end of Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Unfurl

Flowers unfurl and reveal such beauty., the earth reminds us just how special this time of year is.

Ahhhh, the azaleas around our house are poppin in pink right now. Pink definitely brings out the playfulness in me. I think this capture, with my Lensbaby Velvet 56 evokes all that pink symbolizes.…
•Femininity
•Healing
•Innocence
•Peace
•Playfulness
•Romance
•Sweetness
•Tranquility
•Warmth

perfection

Now, that's what I call "bursting onto the scene!".

I attended an inspiring talk with renowned Canadian photographer, Freeman Patterson last week thanks to the invite from a dear friend. He said, "photograph what you feel" and "create from your heart" and you will produce impactful images. I felt JOY when I saw the blossoms of my new peony opening up. I have been following that energy for the past 3 days, as I work the buds and blossoms with my Lensbaby Velvet 85, my Tamron 180mm, and my Lensbaby Double Glass.

Hyacinth

This symbol of sorrow is also a celebration of life. As we mourn a loss, the fragrant and beautiful hyacinth reminds us to take in all the blessings our loved ones would surely want us to see.

March is now a long and heavy month for me. So many family members have passed away during this month and so, I turn to nature and flowers to help ease the burden of loss.

The garden has become a place of peace and celebration. With each new bloom or blossom, each precious little life unfolding from the earth, one sits with memories and smiles in celebration for a life well lived.

In honor and memory of lives well lived, who said their final good-byes during the month of March...my Dad Ray, Mother-in-law Bea, Father-in-law Dave and Uncle Ray.

The Eastern Redbud’s delicate blossoms and buds unfold into the shape of a heart!

Beauty and the Beast

I revisited a patch of Wisteria with my camera and lensbaby velvet 56 last week, as I adore the pendulous lavender flowers - their color, shape and form are just fun to work with!

Chinese and Japanese wisterias (Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda) are spectacular spring-blooming vines, growing wild along the roadways of our neighborhoods but, while beautiful to photograph, they are invasive and non-native and if left untamed will do quite a bit of harm.

These non-native vines introduced by well-meaning gardeners, quickly spread and if not managed, get out of control. They then block light and water from our native trees and plants, creating dense thickets, interfering with the growth of new saplings, and even pulling large trees down with their heavy, woody stems.

American Wisteria is the native choice. As an alternative, consider growing the less invasive American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Native to eastern North America, this beautiful vine is every bit as spectacular, with slightly smaller blooms that sometimes repeat in the fall. However, it’s less invasive than its Asian cousins and much less likely to get out of control.

Ooh, la la...Spring ephemerals. I spent the other day on my belly and elbows, exploring the delicate stems of our Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart. As I scooted about the ground, lifting stems, this little story revealed itself to me. This graceful ornamental with rose-pink, nodding, heart-shaped flowers hanging off of arching stems is a delight in the shade garden and a source of nectar for the migrating hummingbirds now passing through Georgia.

Fleeting Moment
“It is true, as they say, that the blossoms of spring are all the more precious because they bloom so briefly.” — Murasaki Shikibu

I was inspired by the exciting show of creamy white florals in our yard right now.

While camping and exploring in Tarpon Springs, Florida back in late February, I came upon a nesting Sandhill Crane and as I watch and waited on the boardwalk, sun setting, the adult stood up and I had all the feels! A quick adjustment to the nest, a slight nuzzle of the egg and back down it nestled for the night.

Love the little “look at me” whispers I get when out in the field. Sometimes, letting go of what you intended to photograph, you “see” what maybe you need to photograph.

A most thrilling and memorable opening reception for the Virginia Avery Memorial “Reflections” exhibit today, at the Bowen Center for the Arts!

Dear friends, Lisa Reid Corum and Vanni Corum surprised me BIG TIME and were on hand to celebrate!

And my talented friend and artist Mikki Dillon won 2 awards with her beautiful photography and pastel artwork!

Thank you to juror Madeline Kellum for the opportunity to be a part of this exhibit and for my art recognition. Thank you to the exhibit sponsor, The National League of American Pen Women, Atlanta Branch for celebrating the women artists of Georgia.

The exhibit dates are March 9 to April 12, 2024. Bring friends and family and view this beautiful show at this beautiful venue.

Come on out tomorrow, Saturday, March 9th, as we celebrate 50 women artists of Georgia at the opening reception of the Virginia Avery Memorial “Reflections” exhibit at the beautiful Bowen Center for the Arts in Dawsonville, GA.

I am honored and thrilled that my favorite moody capture “Contemplation” was juried into the show. My heart fluttered, when I picked this one up from my framer.

Over $4,200 will be awarded in prizes.

This exhibit is sponsored by The National League of American Pen Women, Atlanta Branch & The Bowen Center for the Arts.

The delightful chorus of spring is dotting our Southern neighborhood and I am grateful to those who let me hang out in their driveways, front yards and gardens to capture the beauty that signals renewal and rebirth. Thank you Donna Shumaker Charpentier for granting me permission to hang out in your yard this week, I've been watching and waiting for your Japanese Magnolia to wake up.

Fred Howard County park, off the Gulf of Mexico in Tarpon Springs, Florida is a great place for a relaxing walk on white sandy beaches.

The 2024 Flower Show: Primavera opens today! Proud and honored to learn that my image, "Spring Bouquet" received Honorable Mention today in the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Flower Show photography division.

For this weekend only, see dozens of botanical creations, from floral design, and botanical arts to horticulture and photography. The weather looks great for a stroll about the gardens.

The flower show runs this weekend only, Feb. 23-25th, 10am - 5pm. Tickets available for purchase ://www.atlantabg.org

The first blossoms of Spring were making the Grackles in our Sugar Maple tree sing. Common Grackles make a variety of squeaks, whistles, and croaks and it is quite the sound when you have 30 or so hanging out in the trees around your home. The squawk, sing and shriek is a whole body effort as seen here, captured yesterday during my Great Backyard Bird Count.

It's the final day of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Our resident Pine Warbler vocalizes and you just can't help but smile. I love the trill of their song from high atop the pine trees surrounding our home. Over the past few days he's been a little chunky monkey, perfectly plump on his perch facing the setting sun. He's rather fond of our suet cylinder and live mealworms.

It's day 2 of the global Great Backyard bird count! We've had 20 different birds visiting the yard in the past 2 days here in Suwanee, GA. Lots of Robins in the yard this morning as I did my 15 minute bird count. The bowl of fresh water was enticing enough for two to enjoy. While one was happily taking a sip, the other went for the plunge and all I could hear in my mind was, "no splashing, no splashing" on this cool and breezy day.

Bathing is really important for a birds survival. Their feathers need to be washed and cleaned and in pristine condition. Water cleanses them from dirt, parasites, bacteria and other unpleasantries. This is important because should their feathers stay unwashed, these pests can damage their feathers, cause infections, disease and perhaps even kill our poor flyer.

I use the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify the bird songs in our yard, it will record the sounds in your space and list the birds for you too. Join me in counting the birds this weekend. To learn more check out this links, https://www.birdcount.org/participate/

These apps are helpful too, https://www.birdcount.org/merlin-bird-id-app/ and https://www.birdcount.org/ebird-mobile-app/

Join me this weekend, and the world, in connecting to birds – it's the global Great Backyard Bird Count, February 16–19, 2024.

Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things.

Spend time in your favorite places watching birds–then report your observations to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.

In as little as 15 minutes, notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit your data. All you need to do is upload the free app eBird or Merlin, and read the steps to participate available at this link, https://www.birdcount.org/participate/

For a handy checklist, to help you tally your observations, here is one I googled for Gwinnett County, GA. https://ebird.org/printableList?regionCode=US-GA-135&yr=all&m=

For other regions around the world, just google ebird checklist for and state your city, province, state, country.

What birds will you observe in your yard, the park, the vacay in Mexico or ??? I'd love to see your pics!

The Gentle Rise Up and Over

While I was crane watching Sunday morning and scanning the landscape before me, I soon fell in love with the lyrical quality of their flight. I began to focus my attention on the cranes lifting off from their evenings roosting spot, the river bed. and I noticed small groups of cranes melodically rising up over the bald cypress trees and thought, that's the story I want to tell today. The one which shows the characteristic profile of the cranes, necks straight out, legs tucked in, feet trailing behind like rudders as they gently rise up and over those lovely bald cypress trees.

You can imagine how much patience and persistence is needed when waiting and watching for your subjects to cooperate with your pre-visualized shot. Observing your subjects behaviors, focusing your camera on just one spot in the scene, and then patiently waiting and waiting and waiting for the "wildlife" to fly where you want them to is all part of being a wildlife photographer.

A lot goes in to capturing "the" shot. The experience can be really quite emotional and your heart swells and your smile widens when you finally realize your vision.

Sundays Sandhill Fly In

With sooo many Sandhill Cranes descending from the sky, the available real estate in the farmers field was getting smaller and smaller as the morning passed by.

Here are my three LOVE themed pieces! It’s a beautiful day to stroll on in to the Suwanee Arts Center and check out the newest installation of artworks representing Love in the Modern World. From noon-5pm enjoy sweet treats and light refreshments while surrounded by various interpretations of love!

The Suwannee Arts Center is located at 3930 Charleston Market Street, just down the street from Tequila Mamas in Suwanee Town Cenyer park.

“Colors are the smiles of nature “– Leigh Hunt

When I spot the Cedar Waxwings hanging out in my trees, I can’t help but grab my camera and smile.

Affectionate Embrace

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” –William Shakespeare

Such was the case, back in October of 2020, when Scott Dickson and I experienced our first and most memorable elk rut in North Carolina. We had arrived in Cherokee, NC around 4pm on a Friday afternoon. Vehicles were pulling off and parking along the shoulder of the road so, we followed along thinking, "they" must know something we don't know. Photographers and onlookers alike gathered along the roadside. Some hunkered down in the beds of their trucks, some stood cameras poised and ready on tripods and others looked rather comfy in their lawn chairs, as the elk made their way across the river and into the fields where they would graze, nurse, spar, bugle and affectionately embrace, prior to bedding down for the night.

As a first timer, I stood in awe as antlers crashed before me, as bulls challenged one another in a battle for dominance, and as the young chased their mothers, eagerly nursing before days end.

At first it was difficult keeping up with all the activity and knowing where to poise my camera. The activity was all new to me and I wanted to capture every single precious moment. I had learned the year prior that you don't want just an animal portrait, you want a decisive moment action shot. As time ticked on, I started to observe and understand the behaviors before me. You have to be a quick study when photographing wildlife or else you miss the moment. I began to pay particular attention to the largest bull in the herd. He was bugling and chasing the younger bulls off and pursuing numerous females in the herd.

It wasn't before long that Scott and I realized, along with the crowd around us, that the bulls advances were not being rebuked by this one particular cow. After some nuzzling, some circling around of one another, some peeing on legs, we witnessed the affectionate embrace.

All of us along the roadside that evening, looked at one another and were speechless by what we had just witnessed. Whether you observed with your naked eye or through the lens of your camera, we witnessed nature and wildness at its best.

We were 7 months in to the Covid pandemic, and as Anne Frank once said, "I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."

The emotional connection I felt at that moment to mother nature has had me returning year after year, to witness and photograph the elk rut. I am particularly proud of this image and honored that I could mat and frame it beautifully to hang in the "Love in the Modern World" exhibit at the Suwanee Arts Center.