Bird Photo: Great Blue Heron

Here is a quick shot of a Great Blue Heron near a community pond close to the Chattahoochee River and the Cochran Shoals Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a majestic wading bird commonly found across North America, from Alaska and southern Canada to Central America, with some populations migrating to the Caribbean and northern South America for winter. Standing up to 4.5 feet tall with a wingspan exceeding 6 feet, this heron is often seen stalking shallow waters in marshes, estuaries, lakes, and rivers, patiently hunting for fish, crustaceans, and small vertebrates with its sharp, dagger-like bill. Its slate-blue plumage, elegant neck, and slow, deliberate movements make it a striking subject for photographers. While some herons are year-round residents in milder climates, others migrate seasonally, often forming loose colonies during breeding season in wetlands or forested areas near water.

[For more information on birds found in Georgia, check out the Birds of Georgia Field Guide on Amazon.]

Thrift Store Camera: Canon EOS 20D - Professional Quality at 8.2 Megapixels

 I came across a "vintage" digital camera and I've decided it's time to revive this blog. What's my latest greatest new camera?  A Canon EOS 20D DSLR from around the year 2004 or so. Am I crazy? Probably.  I've been looking at modern DSLRs and Mirror-less cameras for a long time.  So why get an old one?  The answer is simple.  I figure I should probably learn what all the various program and manual settings on a DSLR do before spending $500 to $1000 on a new camera.

Canon EOS 20D Camera Photo

For a more modern mirrorless Canon camera, check out the Canon EOS R100. The shape is timeless, but the technology is new. The Canon R100 is a budget-minded camera with a fixed screen and some technology held over from the Canon M-series. It uses the DIGIC-8 processor instead of the DIGIC-10 and has slower burst shooting. However, you can save several hundred dollars over the price of a Canon R50 or R10.

Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera (Amazon photo)

To check out the Canon R100 on Amazon, just click it here!

Street Photography: After Work Stroll

Have you ever tried street photography?  Here's a shot I took in an Atlanta, Georgia, area live-work-play community.  It's just a quick snap shot with my cellphone camera and stripped of metadata.  I just tried to capture a moment of neighborhood life.

Woman walks dog in Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia

If you are looking for tips on street photography, check out this book-- Street Photography: Pocket Guide by Bryan Lloyd Duckett on Amazon.

Urban Photo: Sunset over Cobb County, Georgia

Sunday, May 3rd, was a wonderful spring day in Cobb County, Georgia. On an 80-degree plus day, people weren't going to stay cooped up by the Covid virus. They made their way out to see the Blue Angels flyover and start returning to restaurants.  

The Sun  is setting over Cobb County Georgia

Due to medical risks, I'm not ready to mingle with the crowds, but I was ready to get out of the house. We drove around a bit and got food from various drive thru window restaurants.  The day was capped by a beautiful sunset.

How to Photograph A Sunset - By Chris Gatcum (Amazon Photo)

If you've been wondering how to photograph a sunset, click the Amazon link to this book - "How Do I Photograph a Sunset" by Chris Gatcum.

Castaway Island Preserve Park Photos in Jacksonville, Florida

Here are a few photos from Castaway Island Preserve, a park in Jacksonville, Florida.  I visited this park with my Dad over the Thanksgiving 2019 holiday It's a park in the city's San Pablo neighborhood along the intracoastal waterway.  It's often used as a launching point for kayakers.

Castaway Island Preserve Pier

Here's a shot peeking out at the marsh looking between the trees towards land.

Castaway Island Preserve Marsh Land

In this photo, you'll look into the marsh and see palm trees that have likely been killed by salt water intrusion deep into the marsh.

Salt Marsh at Castaway Island Preserve

To learn more about this park, visit the Timucuan Parks Foundation website.

OM System Olympus TG-7 (Amazon Photo)

If you are planning an outdoor adventure that includes kayaks, canoes, or similar watercraft, you might consider a waterproof camera like the Olympus TG-7 (above). You can get take a closer look at it here on Amazon!

Christmas Light Display in Smyrna, Georgia

The Christmas light display in Smyrna Village in Smyrna, Georgia, is always spectacular.  This year it seems like all the lights and some decent weather came together for a wonderful scene.

Christmas Lights in Smyrna Village

As of 2025, Smyrna Village has evolved with a new traffic layout and new features. But, they continue to have wonderful lighting for the holidays. In a world where everything fun costs at least $8, the city of Smyrna provides some nice Christmas ambiance and there are restaurants and businesses nearby. 

When Will Smyrna, Georgia, Turn On The Christmas Lights 

Update:  The lights of the Smyrna Village Green Park and Market Square will be turned on once again on November 26, 2025. They'll remain on through the holiday season.

If you are looking for a fun way to capture memories of your Christmas season, check out these Fujifilm Quicksnap 400 Flash One-Time Use Cameras.

Fujifilm Quicksnap 400 Flash Cameras (Amazon Photo)

You can get them in a 2-pack here on Amazon. They are perfect for the grandkids or for a fun angle on wedding photography.

Photos from Mayport, Florida

Mayport, Florida, is one of the few remaining fishing villages in Florida.  Located at the mouth of the St. John's River, it is a place where shrimp boats dock and charter fishing boats are based.

A rustic home in Mayport, Florida

The village is also the location of my favorite seafood shack:  Singleton's Sea Food Shack.

Singleton's Sea Food Shack in Mayport, Florida

The little village attracts all kinds of cats thanks to all the fishing activity.  They are an interesting topic for photography.  But, never try to touch a feral cat.  It can cause all kinds of problems for you and the cat.

A well fed, semi-feral, cat in Mayport, Florida

These guys are content to hank out and wait for their boat to come in.  It's hot outside, but they've got it made in the shade.

All the cool cats hang out in Mayport, Florida

It's been over 40 years since I took Marine Science Summer School classes in Mayport.  Even then, there were plenty of cats making their homes in the area. While they were mostly healthy and well-fed, our teachers advised us not to touch them or handle them since they were all quite capable of kicking our asses.