Highlighs of 2013

 Awards, Events and Photos

The highlights of my photography adventures for 2013 began with a late start in May.  Most of my time through January to May was spent in physical therapy twice a week to regain the use of my left arm from an accident that shattered the shoulder joint.  Fortunately with excellent medical treatment and hours of exercise, I am back in full stride carrying my camera, lens and tripod.

One of my high points during the spring was a presentation in April to students from West Tech High School, Las Vegas, Nevada about Walker Lake.  What an impressive group and did they ever have some interesting questions about the biology and geology of Nevada's unique natural desert lake.

A big surprise in May was having my photography featured by Francesco Russo in Chair Mazagine, "La natura incantata di Bonnie Rannald".  http://chairmag.it/2013/05/la-natura-incantata-di-bonnie-rannald/ 

June turned out to be a busy month, starting on the 2nd with 95th. Annual Photo Fair in Bièvres, France, where I was again honored to have a selection of photographs on exhibit and for purchase.

On the 19th, I enjoyed the closing reception following our preview exhibit for Reno Open Studios at the Truckee Meadows Community College Main Art Gallery.  Furthermore, during the last week of the month on the 23rd, I was out chasing the Supermoon as it appeared over Walker Lake.

 July in Reno is an exciting time for celebrating the arts with the event, Artown. This year, I was thrilled to participate on the 20th. through the Arts in Bloom Art and Wine Festival held at Victorian Square.

 July brought some of the hottest, longest record breaking temperatures to Nevada and with the heat were also noticeable changes to the ecosystems at Walker Lake.  A walk along the shore finds the sandy areas covered in damselfly bodies that after emerging from the water were caught in numerous orb weaver spider webs.   

The month concluded with one of my photos, "Quiet Retreat" taking third place in the international competition project “Together IN Harmony”, developed by Ambassador Lyza Sahertian for the European Capitol of Culture--Umeå2014,. The winners, including my photograph in the mediums of Photography, Painting, Illustration and Sculpture exhibited from July 22nd through August 3rd at the Galerie du Columbier, Paris, France.

August turned out to be a strange and trying month with the Rim Fire at Yosemite National Park which brought poor air and smoke to most of Reno, including Walker Lake.

 Any hope for a return visit via Tioga Pass was extinguished due in part to our government shut down, so I spent a day enjoying the scenery at Sand Mountain.

September began with Art Touring from the 6th. through 8th. at Reno Open Studios  where I shared studio space with sculptor Mike Smith.

Toward the month's end, I explored a volcanic rim at Fallon's Soda Lake.

In the early part of December with temperatures unseasonably mild, I took a journey back in to Nevada's geological past exploring ancient lava flows and strange rock outcroppings at Garfield Flats, near Hawthorne, Nevada.   More blog posts will follow from these interesting outings!

As I wish you a very happy and safe New Year, I also want to thank everyone for their support and patronage over the Holiday Season.  For a 2014 New Year's promotion, I will be offering a discount coupon of 10% off toward purchases on my website, excluding shipping and taxes.  A printable PDF coupon with the promo code is available as a download at http://www.bonnierannald.com/coupon.htm  

The coupon is yours to keep or give as a gift. 

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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Visit our website at: http://www.bonnierannald.com/

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Wildlife Photography to Benefit Safe Haven Rescue Zoo

 Natural Frames for Nature Photography

A special project that I have been working on with my wildlife photography is now going to help benefit the Safe Haven Rescue Zoo in Imlay, Nevada. 

Several years ago, I noticed three tree knots that were almost thrown in to the fireplace and burned.  I set them aside until I figured out what I would do with them. 

 Then one day as I walked by, one of the knots cried out for me to make it into a frame for one of my bird photos. 

After much sawing, chiseling and sanding, the knot was ready for the Barn Owl Giclee print to be framed.

Each tree knot has its own theme as with the "Say's Phoebes" waiting on their nest of grass and string.

The rough and weathered look of this knot became home to a "Squirrel Gathering Nuts" where almonds from my tree were used in the frame.

I am honored to announce that my "Tree Trilogy" hang at the Art Source Gallery in Reno, Nevada, 9748 South Virginia Street, "Unit E".  http://www.artsourcereno.com/

So if you are looking for an original gift that will bring one closer to nature, please visit my unique collection at the Art Source.

A percentage of the purchase will be donated to Safe Haven.  Safe Haven provides rehabilitative services and permanent placement for wildlife in need, by responding to assistance requests from state and federal agencies, law enforcement, veterinarians, and concerned citizens.  Their solar-powered facility is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment and to serve as a model of renewable energy practices.

 http://www.safehavenwildlife.com/

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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Desert Bighorn Sheep Observations at Walker Lake

Ram Visiting the Ewes

On observing the Desert Bighorn Sheep at Walker Lake, Nevada during the fall of 2013, I noticed a large ram hanging close to the ewes.

Desert Bighorn sheep are gregarious animals with a unique social structure of related ewes banding together most of the time.

 Mature males establish separate bachelor groups in the close general area, except during breeding season when they travel between groups of females. 

The breeding season or "Rut" occurs during the late summer or fall, from July through November.  Dominance in mating is determined by horn and body size.  The mating competition of two rams running together and clashing their horns most often occurs during the pre-rut and along the upper, flat area of the cliffs. 

Both rams and ewes develop horns soon after birth, which continue to grow through-out their 10-20 year life span.

Annual growth rings on the horns indicate the sheep's age. Ram's horns develop much larger than ewes, curling to over three feet and weighing more than 30 pounds, after 8 years of growth.

Both rams and ewes use their horns to break open cactus which is consumed as part of their diet along with native grass and other plants. 
 

As the sun drops at day's end, the dominate male begins his trek almost straight up the steep cliff.   What a thrill it is to watch these sure-footed, agile athletes ascend the rugged terrain with their especially adapted shock absorbing feet.

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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Spooky Rock Outcropping

 Adventures in Nevada's Back Country at Garfield Flats

Being one who loves adventure, exploring new places with my camera is part of the thrill of professional photography.  When the adventure has a sense of the macabre, I get even more excited.  Thus was the case when I learned of the Spooky Rock Outcropping that is located off Garfield Flats Road near Hawthorne, Nevada.

The Spooky Rock Outcroppings are deposits from lava flows within the Garfield Flat thrust that possibly go back from 8  to 15  million years in our past.

Resembling a scene from The Danse Macabre, the curved and elongated rocks appear as hooded characters with grimacing looks that definitely send chills up my spine on such a warm autumn day.

I can just imagine the scene at night with a full moon lighting the ensemble.

And yes, you guessed it right.  This will have to be a return visit when it warms back up on the night of a full moon.

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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Southern Butterfly Migrations in the Great Basin

Autumn Flight of Painted Ladies and Pygmy Blues

Autumn 2013 in the western portion of the Great Basin Desert has been very mild, following the record breaking heat of summer.  The warm days and cool nights have extended the growing season well into November, which is very unusual for this part of the U. S.

With so many flowers in bloom and the milder temperatures, I was beginning to fear that the Painted Lady butterflies were not going to show this year. 

Suddenly, as if on cue and when the days were starting to cool, Painted Ladies, along with the tiny Western Pygmy Blue butterflies were both here in large numbers.

The numerous sightings of painted lady, Vanessa cardui butterflies must be due to the prolific blooms of Rabbitbush and other plants that provide nourishment en route for their southward migration to the wintering habitats. 

The Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis) is the smallest butterfly in North America, with a wingspan of only one half inch (1.2 cm), it can easily go unnoticed.

 Preferring the Saltbush as its host plant and the alkali soil, it's no wonder the Western Pygmy Blue thrives in such great numbers around Walker Lake. 

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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Sugarloaf Mountain

Exploring Nevada's Violent Past

Lying within two deserts, the Mojave and Great Basin, Nevada is certainly a land of interesting contrast.   The gentle streams that flow through rugged canyons create such a peaceful scene, but look closer and there are reminders of the violence that sculpted this amazing landscape.

On the drive to Carson City, my state's capitol is a departure back in time through Six Mile Canyon. 

 The mountainous two-lane road winds through cottonwood lined pull-outs with views of vivid lichen covered rocks. 

 Located directly east of historic Virginia City and rising 775 feet (236.22 m) above the landscape is Sugarloaf, a distinctive egg-shaped rock formation.  

 

Sugarloaf has a very unique history due to it being a volcanic plug. 

 A volcanic plug or neck is formed when magma becomes trapped in a vent and hardens.   This can lead to a violent explosion. Over time, erosion wears away the surrounding rock and the distinctive shape of the plug is revealed.  The Devil's Tower in Wyoming and Little Devil's Postpile in Yosemite are examples of famous volcanic plugs in the U.S.    

When the weather warms in the spring and the wildflowers bloom, I hope for a return visit to explore more of Sugarloaf Mountain and maybe get a view from the top.  

For additional information:

http://www.vcnevada.com/history.htm

http://backyardtraveler.blogspot.com/2009/03/nevadas-roots-found-in-six-mile-canyon.html

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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Wilson Canyon, forged by the water of Walker River

A gorge cut through volcanic cliffs

During the month of autumn, what can be more intriguing than photo-exploring along a canyon that was formed over time by lake waters flowing through sheer volcanic cliffs? 

Wilson Canyon lies in west central Nevada, along Nevada State Route 208, 13 miles west of the small town of Yerington and runs through the Singatse Mountain Range.

 

This grandiose two mile long (3.2 km) gorge was carved over the years by the water from the Walker River which flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

A serene point as the river idles through the canyon where on its departure; it drops approximately 120 feet (37 m) on a 1% grade. 

A famous rock formation, "The Watcher" looks out  from the canyon wall in full headdress.  

After enjoying a beautiful Indian Summer day at Wilson Canyon, I am anxious to begin my next photo-adventure. Subscribe to and follow my blog as I share what I have found along the journey.

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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Mantis Displays His Colors

The Artistry of Camouflage

 
My slogan, "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" transpired from those awesome moments when I stumbled on nature's most creative side.  One of those rare moments was when I tried to move a male praying mantis from the street to a more secure location and he fanned out his wings in a manner of protest.

Most of the time the praying mantis will spend it's time going unnoticed by camouflage and concealment to blend in with the surroundings with It's front legs are folded as if in prayer. 

 When the legs are unfolded, they reveal sharp, long spikes for grasping prey.  During the few times that I have held a mantis, I have never been bit, however the spikes are very sharp and once in their grasp there is no getting away.

When threatened, the mantis will try and make itself appear larger by standing tall, spreading its wings and raising the forelegs in a combative stance.

As beautiful as the vivid colors and eyespot appear on the wings, they are there for a practical application, to startle a predator. 

  

For additional reading:
http://insected.arizona.edu/mantidinfo.htm

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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. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

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.

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