Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Weather Tales of an Alpine Lake

THE FACES OF LAKE TAHOE

A photography venture along the 72-mile rim of Lake Tahoe reveals a lake with many faces and varying moods, transitioning from a calm spring morning to the tumultuous fury of a sudden storm and then back to a serene stillness as dusk descends.

On a sunny, placid April morning, the photo shoot begins at the Vista Point on the West Summit of Mt Rose. Standing at 8,900 feet, the high panoramic view showcases Lake Tahoe with the Carson Range to the east and the Sierra Nevada Range on the west.

Vista Point View

To catch the early morning reflections, the next stop is Sand Harbor, on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, off Highway 28. An intimate cove gives a quiet retreat with subtle pastel colors, inviting one to stay a while and commune with nature. Along the beach, the fine sand is composed of feldspar and quartz particles which was created by wave and weathering action against the granodiorite boulders.

Sand Harbor

Looking to the north, quiescence lies over the Lake allowing reflections of the snow capped Sierras to mimic a mirror image in the crystalline waters.

Sand Harbor Reflections

At mid-morning the drive takes me south along Highway 28 to the glacier carved turquoise Emerald Bay. Granite peaks, accented with tall pines and spruce, tell of a by-gone era when the landscape was sculpted by ice reaching the shoreline. Within Emerald Bay, Fannett Island stands 150 feet above the water and is a remnant of the glacier action that created the bay.

Emerald Bay

Across the highway from Emerald Bay a trail ascends one third mile along snow covered banks to the cascading stream at Eagle Falls which flows sixty feet down, emptying into the lower falls.

Eagle Falls

During a break for lunch the winds increase from the south with storm clouds riding their cusp. The Lake’s gentle face has turned malevolent from the storm’s fury. Staying ahead of the storm, I travel to the North Shore where the wind driven waves crest toward the rocky shoreline at King’s Beach State Recreation Area.

Kings Beach

At a higher elevation past Tahoe City the temperature continues to drop turning rain into snow and creating a winter wonderland with the landscape at Sugar Pine State Park.

Sugar Pine

By late afternoon as I return to the Nevada side of the loop, the storm has traversed the Lake, draping the rain-laden sky on the North Shore with battle gray clouds just as a golden ray of sun breaks through, illuminating the lake below.

Lake Tahoe

As evening descends, calmness is restored, bringing me to my final destination, a return to Vista Point. The sun’s final curtain warms the horizon as the stillness of day’s finale settles over the Lake.

Vista Point Sunset

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Roaming Free

WILD BURROS OF NEVADA

A hike in the desert along one of the many natural streams may reveal a group of wild burros quenching their thirst. Burros are curious by nature and most of the time, if they feel unthreatened, will pose for the camera with their heads high and long ears forward. However, on a few rare occasions, I have been warned by the burros not to come any closer. During a hike at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, I came upon a large group of at least 20 wild burros foraging in an ash grove. As I was preparing my camera, I noticed the herd come to attention and stand their ground, while several began to make snorting sounds. I slowly turned around and retreated to a different trail. I believe in allowing wildlife their territory and taking photos only when the animal is unaware or gives consent. When I’m tracking wildlife, I will use a long focal length lens, either a Nikon 80-200mm F/2.8, or a Nikon 500mm f/4.0. Both lenses allow animals to be photographed up close and personal without invading their space.

Wild burros are not indigenous to the southwestern desert, but are descendents of the African Wild Ass, which was introduced to the Americas in the 1500’s by the Spaniards. The present day wild burro has inhabited the area and thrived since the 1800’s when they were either turned loose or escaped from miners who used them as pack animals for gold and silver prospecting. The hardy, sure-footed modern day wild burro adapts well to the desert’s arid conditions where sources of digestible food are limited and water is even scarcer.

The ability to locate food in a barren terrain allows the wild burro to sustain its diet on dry foliage in the winter months. During the hot summers, when temperatures average 110 degrees Fahrenheit, the burros find shade along streambeds where vegetation is plentiful. If available, their preferred food sources include native grass, Mormon tea shrubs and Palo Verde leaves. A wild burro can experience a 30 percent loss of water, and then become rehydrated in as little as five minutes.

A wild female burro can give birth to one foal a year, after an eleven-month gestation period. Although birthing can occur anytime during the year, it happens most often from June to July. On average, a wild burro will grow to approximately 400 pounds, reach about half the size of a horse and have a life span of around 25 years.

Because of the low number of natural enemies, populations of burros in the wild have grown to around 10,000. A mountain lion is the only natural predator to mature wild burros, but coyotes have been known to prey on the immature, sick or those too old to defend themselves. Due to their increasing numbers, some agencies consider wild burros to be a nuisance and destructive to the fragile desert environment. Many wildlife biologists blame the wild burros for the decline in a number of native plants and animals, including the Bighorn Sheep.

Wild burros, along with wild horses, are protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. This act mandates the protection, management and control of wild, free-roaming burros and horses on public lands at population levels that ensure a thriving ecological balance. To keep the population in check, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) places wild burros up for adoption each year through the National Wild Horse and Burro Program.

For additional information, please visit the following links:
www.wildburrorescue.org/
www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/
www.digital-desert.com/wildlife/wild-burro.html

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Life in the Desert

THE DESERT TORTOISE

The Mojave Desert comes alive in the month of March, as ground temperatures rise. With increased sunlight, plants begin their new growth and soon the barren desert will be adorned with an artist’s palette of color. The warm days and abundance of wildlife entice me to take the top off my CJ7 Jeep and go out exploring for photos.

When I’m driving on dirt roads in the desert, I always keep careful watch for any creature that might also be sharing the trail. Desert tortoises come out from hibernation in March and are very active during the day, replenishing their diet on the new foliage. Unlike the smaller, faster reptiles, the large land-dwelling gopher tortoise moves slowly, as it ambles along. I have only encountered two desert tortoises in the wild, and both times they were traveling across the same road that I was using. To avoid causing them any harm, I stopped my vehicle at a distance, and took photos until they were clear of the road. In most cases, it is illegal to touch a desert tortoise, however if one is trying to cross a busy road, it may be moved out of harm’s way. The Department of the Interior Park Service recommends that a desert tortoise should be gently picked up and carried level to the ground. It should then be moved to the opposite side of the road, and placed in the same direction that it was heading.

A desert tortoise will spend most of its life underground in burrows that are dug in loose soil. The burrows are shallow and may extend from the tortoise’s shell to several feet in length. The shallowness of the burrows, combined with the loose consistency of soil makes them vulnerable to surface pressure. Walking or driving off established trails can be harmful to the tortoise’s habitat and may also damage the fragile desert ecosystem.

A mature desert tortoise can grow to a length of 9 to 15 inches, and some have been known to live up to 100 years; however 14 to 20 years is the average life span. This desert tortoise photographed by a crescent milk vetch plant was around 12 inches long.

Desert tortoises are not aquatic, but are terrestrial creatures of the Testudinidae family. They do not swim, or have webbed feet, and only go near water for drinking or bathing. Because they live in burrows, their limbs are designed for digging with well-developed claws on elephantine legs. An interesting fact about the desert tortoise is that it will dig a depression in the soil for rainwater to collect, where it patiently waits, sensing that it is going to rain.

The habitat of the desert tortoise is determined largely by the soil consistency in which it can burrow. A number of native plants and wildflowers that subsidize the tortoise’s diet in the spring also prefer lose, gravelly areas of the desert, and can be found along canyon bottoms or in desert washes. These plants include Locoweed, Hairy Lotus, Desert Dandelion, Rock Gilia, Desert Lupine, Blazing Stars and Globe mallow. The areas where the plants grow tend to receive additional moisture from spring monsoons in the form of run-off water. By eating the new moist foliage, the desert tortoise will also supplement most of its water intake for the coming year.

Since April 2, 1990, the desert tortoise has been under the protection of the Endangered Species Act; therefore it is a violation of federal law to touch, harm, harass or collect one. The desert tortoise was categorized as a threatened species after the population reached a 90 percent decline in the 1980’s. The main cause of this decline was urban development; followed by livestock grazing, off-road vehicles, and increases in the raven populations.

As an avenue for promoting good will and responsibility among public land users, the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association developed the Mojave Max Education Program. It is coordinated through the Bureau of Land Management, with Mojave Max, an actual living desert tortoise, as the logo and mascot.

Mojave Max was photographed at the Desert Tortoise Habitat opening ceremonies, in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area Visitor’s Center.

For additional information, please visit the following links:

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/Desert%20Tortoise.pdf

http://www.geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/biology/tortoise1/

http://www.deserttortoise.gov/

www.tortoise-tracks.org/gopherus.html

www.deserttortoise.org/

www.tortoisegroup.org/

www.mojavemax.com/

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

Monday, April 13, 2009

NATURE’S LIGHT SHOW

Photographing Lightning

Here in the Southwest, on warm sunny afternoons when the humidity starts to rise, there is a possibility that thunder cells will develop over the mountains. As evening descends, if the lightning remains localized, I will be in for a special treat: to photograph one of my favorite scenes. I have always been fascinated by thunderstorms. Throughout my childhood in the southern U.S., I was mesmerized by the brilliant flashes of light and the loud cracking thunder, which was followed by a hard downpour of rain. These days, if conditions are right, I will pack up my camera gear and head outdoors in search of lightning photos.

Of all the scenes that I love to photograph, a lightning storm is potentially the most dangerous. To be as safe as possible, I will wait for lightning to form on the horizon, at least twenty miles away. Lightning can strike within a ten-mile range and a bolt can reach for five to ten miles.

I have been most successful with my lightning photos after nightfall, because with a dark sky, I can leave my shutter open and get several strikes on a frame without over exposing. As night approaches if there is lightning over the mountains, I drive out in the desert to get a closer view. After a level location away from trees is found, I set up my camera equipment close to the car. A car will provide shelter and protection during a thunderstorm; however contact must be avoided with the metal sides.

One disadvantage of night photography during stormy weather is that it’s hard to see the movement of the clouds. Because of this, I am always aware of the wind’s speed and direction. If the wind speed increases and I can feel it blowing on my face, it means the storm is headed in my direction, and I had better seek cover. I would rather not be caught outside, standing behind a large metal tripod and getting zapped by billions of volts of static electricity.

All of my lightning photos were taken with my Nikon film cameras before I made the transition to digital. Since these photos were taken at night, I used a cable release to hold the shutter open on the “bulb” setting. The camera was wrapped in a plastic bag to keep it dry, and then secured to a sturdy Bogan tripod. Most of the time, I used a Nikon 80-200mm 2.8 lens with the aperture set at f5.6 and focused on the distant mountains. I will position myself to frame the mountains in the foreground with the lightning striking over them. From trial and error, I can leave the shutter open and get numerous lightning strikes with out overexposing the frame.

The diameter of a typical lightning bolt isn’t much larger than an inch. The reason it appears so much wider is because the light is so bright. The heat produced by a bolt of lightning can get hotter than the surface of the sun, and can raise the air temperature to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

A lightning flash is usually not a single event. It can have up to 42 strokes, occurring at 0.02-second intervals between strokes, followed by a leader stroke. Lightning can and often does strike in the same place twice.

The length of a lightning bolt can be between 2 to 3 miles long, lasts 1/4th second, and carries a current of 1000 Amps at 100 million Volts.

In pursuit of my photography, I strive to be as responsible as possible and take all safety precautions. Since the weather plays a significant role in my landscape photography, I always study the weather forecasts before venturing out on a photo shoot. On several occasions, after I wandered a long distance from my vehicle, I began to notice the fair weather cumulus clouds changing into cumulonimbus or thunderclouds. A couple of times the thunder was very loud and seemed to be almost overhead, so I quickly turned around, picked up my pace and did a fast trot back to my car.

As a rule, thunder can only be heard from a distance of twelve miles. For an estimate on how close the lightning may be, count the seconds between when it flashes and when it thunders. When there is less than 30 seconds, the thunderstorm is within six miles, which puts you in the danger zone. If you are out in the open and cannot find shelter, protect yourself by moving to the lowest elevation. Make yourself as low to the ground as possible by getting in the lightning crouch: with feet held together, squat down; tuck your head to your chest or between your knees; hold your arms tight against your body and place your hands against your ears. This position can offer some protection by allowing the lightning a pathway to flow over your body instead of through your vital organs. Always, if possible, wait for at least 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder before leaving a shelter.

For additional information, please visit
NOAA’S National Weather Service Lightning Safety Web site.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Chasing Rainbows

RAINY DAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Spring offers many of the best choices for outdoor photography, whether it is landscape, wildlife or macro. The climate is warmer, days are longer, and nature’s alive with color and activity. The main factor that can spoil an adventure out with the camera is spring rain. We tend to receive more precipitation during the spring season because of the changing weather patterns. In the Northern Hemisphere the weather becomes unstable when warm air flows over landmasses where the air has been cooled from the Polar Regions. This may produce moisture in the form of rain or fog. The jet stream in spring also plays a significant role in the weather, giving us severe, unstable patterns. It is formed when air masses of different temperatures meet, and the greater difference in temperature, the faster the wind velocity inside the jet stream.

Where I live, in the Great Basin Desert of the United States, spring rain can create favorable conditions, which add drama and excitement to a photograph. Rich vibrant colors are muted and contrast is made softer, giving a calm or moody feeling to the landscape. Reflections in pools of water or raindrops create mirror images that add interest to the scene.

Clouds will always enhance a photograph by giving detail to a solid gray sky
or adding patterns to a plain blue sky.

I’m a fan of rainy weather, so when the clouds move in, I pack up my gear and head out. My major concern in rainy day photography is keeping myself and my equipment dry. I use a waterproof jacket that is large enough to wear it over my camera. If I get wet, I’ll eventually dry; however water is detrimental to cameras. A waterproof backpack cover keeps my camera bag dry from the falling rain and wet surfaces when I set it down to change equipment. A small water absorbent towel tucked in my jacket pocket is handy to wipe away excess moisture. To protect my camera and keep it dry, I use the plastic elastic kitchen lid covers that come in different sizes, and are usually found in the “food storage bag” section of the store. The cover fits snuggly over my camera and if needed, I can poke a hole for the lens to extend through. Shower caps will also work, but they aren’t available in different sizes or as flexible. A lens filter helps to keep out moisture and protects the glass.

The techniques for shooting on rainy days are similar to clear weather photography, with one exception, and that is shutter speed settings. To catch the raindrops in a scene, the shutter speed should be faster than 1/60 a second. At slower speeds, they will either blur or not show up at all.

Out here in the southwestern United States, one moment it is overcast diffused lighting, and then the sky opens with a brilliance of colors. If you happen to be standing with your back to the sun when there is falling rain, you might be rewarded with an elusive rainbow. Rainbows occur when the sun shines in the direction of the raindrops, thereby illuminating them. Since the rainbow will only form opposite the sun, a tip on where to look for one is in the direction of the shadow of your head. In order to see a rainbow, the sunlight must be at angle, less than 42 degrees. When the sun is overhead, the rainbow will form below the horizon and will not be visible to the human eye.

I don’t shoot rainbows any differently than other landscape scenes. With landscapes, I will have the aperture set between f/8 and f/11 for best depth of field. The shutter speed will depend on the available light, and I usually meter toward the sky and away from the dark foreground. In most cases, a wide-angle lens is needed to frame the dome of the rainbow. On all of my rainbow scenes, I have used a Nikon 24mm 2.8 lens. I have also found that polarizing lenses are not needed to bring out the colors. Most of my lenses have sky filters on them and I do not want to expose the lens to the precipitation by changing it.

A gentle rain can enhance the scene with nature’s special effects, but when thunder cells move in, beware. Photographing thunderstorms is very exciting and one of my favorite subjects. I will cover the details on this topic at a later post.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part III

THE WILD HORSE CONTROVERSY

As inspiring as it is to witness a herd of wild horses enjoying their freedom, it is just as disheartening to hear of the controversy surrounding these majestic creatures.

Many groups consider the present day wild horses as nothing more than feral offspring that were turned out to fend for themselves because they were no longer useful.

Others see the wild horses as nuisances who destroy the fragile desert eco-systems and unlike cattle, provide no benefit to humanity.

However, some researchers are starting to question the theories and documented history of the wild horse. For example, did the horse become entirely extinct in North America, or were there any survivors? Was it the Spanish who brought the horse back to the Americas, or were they returned earlier by the Norsemen or Chinese Explorers? Has the horse always been with some of the Native American tribes as mentioned in their oral histories?

On January 5, 2007, a statement was introduced to the 110th Congress, entitled Wild Horses as Native North American Wildlife, by Jay F. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. and Patricia M. Fazio, Ph.D., which supports evidence through DNA analysis that the modern horse is genetically equivalent to a horse, that according to fossil records, represented the most recent specimen prior to extinction in North America. In summary, Kirkpatrick and Fazio conclude that native status for wild horses would place these animals, under law, within a new category for management considerations. As a form of wildlife, embedded with wilderness, ancient behavioral patterns, and the morphology and biology of a sensitive prey species, they may finally be released from the “livestock-gone-loose” application.

The future of the wild horse is still uncertain. However, with new scientific methods and research, plus the efforts from a number of preservation and conservation groups, the survival of an American legend is starting to look more promising.

Nevada's Wild Horses
Part III

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part II

WILD HORSES AT COLD CREEK, NEVADA

The wild horses at Cold Creek enjoy an open area supplied with numerous natural streams, ponds, an abundance of desert grasses and other foliage. Joshua trees and creosote bushes are native to this area, along with an occasional cottonwood tree. Most of the time you can find a number of wild horses grazing close around the creek beds.

Cold Creek is located with in the Toiyabe National Forest, approximately 40 miles north of Las Vegas, and 14 miles west of US-95. Being at a higher elevation than Wilson Tank/Bird Spring, the area has cooler temperatures and gets more snow in the winter.

When I am out in the wild and locate a group of horses, I park my truck at a distance. I then walk quietly with camera on tripod, getting as close as possible, without being noticed, to hide behind a creosote bush. In my photo entitled “Wild Horses at Cold Creek”, the horses had all quenched their thirst and started walking toward me. When they became aware of my presence in the distance, they lined up to investigate what was in the bush ahead. I managed to take one good frame before they turned and started walking around me.

I am often asked if I ever feel afraid of the horses when I am out in the desert, and away from my vehicle. Since I normally use an 80-200mm Nikon lens and tripod, I can stay away from the horses, but still be able to frame them up close in the camera. So far, I have never been threatened by any of the horses because I believe that if they are aware of my presence, then I’m too close. However, a few times I have had curious horses come up close to check me out. One time, a foal walked right up and sniffed my hand.

A large number of wild horses in the Cold Creek area have been rounded up and relocated or placed for adoption by Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The reason stated for these round-ups is that the wild horses are so numerous and there is too much competition for food and water source. It is believed that the wild horses are in part responsible for the reduction of many native plant and animal populations, including the Bighorn Sheep.

BLM claims to manage around 42,000 wild horses that roam the Western United States on public lands under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. Under this law, wild horses are protected at population levels that ensure a thriving ecological balance.

Nevada's Wild Horses
Part II

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part I

Wild Horses
at
Wilson Tank, Nevada

Exploring in the Southwestern desert for photo opportunities has always been one of my favorite activities; most times I am rewarded with new sights and interests to frame in the camera. The scene that thrills me the most is to come upon a group of wild horses in one of the colorful red sandstone canyons of Southern Nevada.

What a picturesque sight to see the lead stallion standing out in front with his head held high and ears at attention. Because the lore and attraction of the wild horse is so intriguing, visitors to my state of Nevada often asked me where they could be found. Having spent 25 years in Las Vegas, with much of that time wandering the 4-wheel drive trails throughout the desert, I have become familiar with areas where the wild horses roamed.

Some of my best photographs of the wild horses were taken in Southern Nevada, from 1995 to 1998, when the climate was receiving more moisture from monsoons and El Nino. Conditions were good for the wild horses since the streams were full and vegetation was plentiful.

One of my favorite places for tracking the wild horses was within the 197,000-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Located 17 miles southwest of Las Vegas, the wild horses were free to roam the areas around Wilson Tank and Bird Spring. As the names suggest, both places had natural water sources, plus a wide variety desert grass and foliage that the horses could easily digest.

These areas offer natural habitats for horses to sustain themselves in the wild. The terrains are open with gentle hills, and have recesses with rock shelters that offer protection from the elements.

In addition to the natural springs, these locations tend to receive moisture from cloud formations.

Joshua trees and creosote bushes grow proficiently, providing camouflage for the horses and shade in the hot summer months.

To get my photographs, I just had to quietly wait, obscured by one of the tall plants, with camera on tripod and click away.

At Wilson Tank, on any given day, as many as 10-20 horses, including paints, buckskins and roans would gather for water. Another occasion at Wilson Tank, I was waiting in the shade of a Joshua tree when I heard some noise behind me. I turned around and saw at least seven horses walking slowly in my direction. All I had to do was pivot my camera on the tripod and click the shutter.

Many of the wild horses that roamed the Wilson Tank/Bird Spring area have been rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and relocated. Since the wild horses compete for limited water and food resources, evidence from studies by wildlife biologists suggest that the proliferation of wild horses in Nevada is responsible for the destruction of many native plants and animals. Each year, the BLM captures and places a large number of wild horses up for adoption through its National Wild Horse and Burro Program.

Nevada's Wild Horses
Part I

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Weather Tales of an Alpine Lake

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Roaming Free

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Life in the Desert

Monday, April 13, 2009

NATURE’S LIGHT SHOW

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Chasing Rainbows

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part III

Friday, March 13, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part II

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Nevada's Wild Horses Part I

Pinterest

Followers