Beautiful Wyoming In Photographs by Carol Reynolds

Grand Tetons Wyoming

The above photographs I took in Wyoming over a decade ago.   The image directly above is one I would like to paint, with maybe the addition of some bison.

These last 2 photographs were also taken the same time as the previous ones.  Wyoming is so breathtakingly beautiful and quite inspiring for an artist.    Maybe someday I can visit there again but, if not, I have experienced the grandeur there and I have reference photographs I have taken to remind me of how special that State is.  

The above photograph is of Wind River in Dubois, Wyoming.   Below is the recently completed painting of mine of this scene.

"Brokenness Amid Beauty"

8" x 10" oil on museum quality panel

Available

Both the reference photograph of mine and the painting depict the Wind River at twilight time.

Hope you enjoyed the scenery !    Check back soon .

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Excellent Video of Exotic Birds of the World

Below is a video with photos of exotic birds that includes bird chirping sounds as well as soft music.  Usually when I watch bird videos on You Tube I do not want music playing in the background, but this video is an exception; the music does not interfere with the enjoyment of the birds singing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5aAp__XQOQ

Enjoy !

In the future, I will be making more posts more frequently to this blog.   I have been busy painting lately and have neglected this site for too long.   Below is a recently completed landscape of a scene in Dubois, Wyoming.

"Twilight at Wind River" - John 7:37-39

12" x 16" Oil

Available

I have been working on other Wyoming oil landscapes as well as seascapes.    Click here to view oil works in progress and also some photographs I took of Wyoming scenery.    I  may include some of those photos in a post on this blog in the near future.    

Thank you for visiting !

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

My Website

Hand Feeding Hummingbirds and Videos Of Hummingbirds

Hummingbird With Bluebonnets

9" x 12" oil on canvas

Black-Chinned Hummingbird with Indian Paintbrush

9" x 12" oil on canvas

Both oil paintings above of  hummingbirds and Texas wildflowers were painted when I lived in Texas several years ago and are no longer available for purchase.   Living in Hawaii, I miss the little hummingbirds as there are none to be found here.   They are found in South America and North America as they migrate.   I used to have hummingbird feeders in Texas and enjoyed watching these little feisty birds .   I never tried to hand feed them as in one of the videos below.    Check it out :

None of these 3 videos are of my own making, as you will notice if you view them.

Below is an interesting video showing 2 baby Allen's hummingbirds from birth to leaving the nest .

Below is a video of an Anna's hummingbird building a nest.   It might get boring for some people, but I found it fascinating to watch.

Hope you enjoyed these interesting videos.   A wonderful website for bird lovers is allaboutbirds.org

Be sure to check out the links there.   

I will be posting more about Hawaiian birds in the future, as well as other subjects.   The fascination of birds for me began when I was a child, and has intensified as I age.   

Feel free to comment as to what subjects you would be interested in my posting as time goes by. 

  

Thank you for visiting !

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Alien or Introduced Birds of Hawaii (Finches and Common Waxbill)

"God loved the birds and invented trees.   Man loved the birds and invented cages."  - Jacques Deval

Yellow-Fronted Canary

The yellow-fronted canary is very common in Hawaii. I have seen most of the ones I have photographed on Oahu at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki.  They are native to Africa and were introduced to Hawaii in the 1960's.

Below is a painting of mine which includes one of these canaries.  

"Contemplating Life"

9" x 12" oil on canvas

Available

In this painting is a little story:  the beautiful and sweet canary can wreck havoc on the butterfly and the lady bug in the painting.   Life is sometimes cruel and also fragile.  I based the title of this painting on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8...... "To everything there is a season....." 

Saffron Finch

I photographed this beautiful Saffron Finch in the artsy town of Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu.  They are suppose to be more common on the Big Island of Hawaii than on Oahu; I have only seen them in 2 or 3 other areas of Oahu. They are 7 inches and mostly yellow with orange on the forecrown.   They were introduced in the 1960's from South America.    I get a big thrill whenever I see them.   

Common Waxbill

Not the best photograph, but I have my mind set on a future painting with this reference photo and I can make improvements then.

Common Waxbill

The Common Waxbill is a tiny little 4" bird that  is found in small flocks and they are fast and furious when they fly.  They are very shy and very common on Oahu.   They are native to Africa.  They are not an especially pretty bird, but I find them cute and charming and enjoy watching them.

Java Sparrows

Java Sparrow

The Java Finch or Java Sparrow is quite a handsome bird as far as I am concerned, and remind me of Puffins.    They are literally everywhere on Oahu, and on the Big Island of Hawaii as well as Maui .  These birds also travel in large flocks.  They are native to Indonesia.   

The House Finch as well as the House Sparrow have also "invaded" Hawaii.   I love all of these birds and they remind me of the mainland USA, but so many of the native birds of Hawaii have suffered because of these and other introductions (like the mongoose - that is a subject for another post) and several native birds have become extinct.

We can learn a lot from nature and birds.   For instance,  you have never seen a bird sitting on a wire or a tree branch having a nervous breakdown wondering about the next meal !  Reminds me of Matthew 6:25, 26 where it says that the heavenly Father takes care of the birds of the air; and also in Matthew 10:29-31 where it says we are worth more than many sparrows to Our Father.   He will take care of us and provide for us; just trust and have faith. 

My Website  

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Bandelier National Monument

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."  - Henry David Thoreau

Canyon Wall - Main Trail 

Bandelier National Monument

Some time ago I visited Bandelier which is about 30 minutes from from Los Alamos in New Mexico.   The park has over 33,000 acres of canyons and is home to more than 55 species of mammals such as mule deer, elk, coyotes, and mountain lions.  Thank goodness I did not see any mountain lions or black bears up close when I was there!   Seriously, the main loop trail in the park (which I ventured down) had fairly steady tourist traffic, so the wildlife stayed pretty much out of sight.   

Another beautiful canyon view at Bandelier National Monument

This photography blog was conceived to depict mostly pure nature scenes and wildlife, however I find the photos and information on the ancient Pueblo people that once lived in this area around 1150 to 1550 to be extremely fascinating.   More information about all that may be found on the internet.   What I wanted to share here is some photos of the settlements the Pueblo people constructed here; see below:

The cavates, or holes dug into the walls were not only to live in, but some were for storing food as well.

This flowering plant was quite high up in the rock wall  and my camera at the time was not the best to zoom in on it, but I wanted to share this photo just the same to comment on how this plant not only survived in rough territory, but seemed to thrive on this rocky environment and let its beauty shine no matter what the obstacles.   People can take lessons from nature.   Keep smiling, keep going, persevere with faith no matter how bad things seem, and something wonderful and lovely can happen .   It will also make you stronger.  Philippians 4:13 reminds us that it is the Lord Who strengthens us; we cannot "go it" alone.

Ruins of Tyuonyl Village

See the tiny people near the ruins; gives you an idea how high above them I was .... me who is afraid of heights conquered that fear from being so enthusiastic about new discoveries in this park.  The ruins were once 2 stories with over 400 rooms.

Frijoles Creek

I took many photos of this creek and definitely hope to make a painting from this shot.    Below are a couple of my paintings of another area of this creek.

 "Footbridge at Frijoles Creek"

12" x 16" oil 

Available 

Recently, when I began this painting, I talked with a ranger at Bandelier to find out more information for reference, and he said that a strong flash flood had destroyed this footbridge.   This creek flows all year, and I could not resist adding a coyote in my painting.

"To Everything A Season"

12" x 16" oil 

Available

Another area of Frijoles Creek; I turned it into a fall scene on purpose even though I was there around the end of April one year when I took my reference photos.    The mule deer just seemed to belong there.

There are many more images I could share with you, but I will save it for another time.   

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Plumeria, Cassia, And Other Flowering Trees at Foster Botanical Gardens - Oahu, Hawaii

"Yellow" African Tulip Tree Blossoms

Yellow African Tulip Tree 

The above photo gives you an idea of how tall this Yellow African Tulip Tree can grow.   The close-up shot of the blossoms themselves are not a true yellow, but they are more yellow than the orange-red ones that I have photographed and painted in the past.   

Pink Cassia Tree Blossoms

These pink blossoms on the Cassia tree are my favorite; the yellow Cassia blooms are nice, but not as dramatic as the pink.  Below is a close-up of the yellow Cassia tree flowers.   

Yellow Cassia Tree Blossoms

Orange Flowered Cassia Tree

The shot directly above is of the Orange blossomed Cassia Tree.    They are rather nice, aren't they!

I am not getting too technical about each tree on purpose.   Hope you are enjoying these photographs.

Guess what kind of tree the blossoms below are found on ?

Nutmeg Tree Flowers

On previous visits to Foster Botanical Gardens I had seen the "fruit" of the Nutmeg Tree;  this visit last week found me in awe of the unusual flowers on this "spice" tree.  Below is a shot of the nutmeg tree in bloom.

Nutmeg Tree

Information about flowering trees would not be complete unless I included the Plumeria tree. 

Rainbow Plumeria Tree

Some rainbow plumeria flowers have more pronounced and vivid and distinct color variations on each bloom, so I am hoping I am correct in that this is a "rainbow" plumeria.   Regardless, it is beautiful !  Plumerias are found everywhere in the Hawaiian islands in white, pink, red, and yellow.    It is time I do another oil painting with plumeria blossoms !

Just for fun I am including the photo below of some cattle egrets that are always to be found at Foster Botanical Gardens.   I don't know what kind of tree they are sitting in; I must go back and find out.  But the tree in the background with pink blooms is probably a Cassia tree.

I could make many more posts here with the treasures found at Foster Gardens.   Check back again soon.

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com 

Titan Arum or Corpse Flower (Right Place; Right Time) Videos

Titan Arum or Corpse Flower

Talk about being in the right place at the right time!  Yesterday I desperately wanted to get out of the studio and go on a photo shoot somewhere; I toyed with the idea of the Honolulu Zoo, but settled instead on visiting the nearby Foster Botanical Gardens in Honolulu, which is always a pleasant experience each time I go there.   The lady at the admissions booth happily informed me that the Titan Arum had finally bloomed.  I didn't have a clue what she meant, but smiled and went on my way to the conservatory where there is always a wide variety of orchids and tropical plants.  Immediately my attention (and everyone else's there) was fixed on the unusual and very large Titan Arum, which I later found out is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world.  I was viewing a "once in a lifetime experience."  There are only about 150 recorded bloomings since records began.     Below is another photo for scale of this oddity.

There was a hole cut in the lower side so you could view it further, and this woman was taking a close up shot of the flower's insides.    Wish I had done that.   I may go back again today; I will call Foster Botanical Gardens for more information after they open their doors in about 3 hours from now.  I want to make sure the flower is still there.   This flower only blooms once every 3 years or so, and once it blooms it only lasts for about 48 hours.   The plant itself can live to be 40 years old with maybe only 4-6 blooms during that time.

Below are 2 videos (not mine) that give more information.   One is a time lapse of the bloom opening at Cleveland Metro Parks Zoo in 2007.

Commentary by David Attenborough

Time Lapse of Titan Arum Bloom

I may do an update soon on this blog about this plant if I visit the gardens in Honolulu again today.  By the way, this plant is also called "Corpse Flower" because of its smell to attract bugs for pollination; it is said to smell like rotting flesh.  

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com