Cacti and Succulents of the Southwest Desert in January are a reminder that life can still flourish. If we could live like a cactus, the world would be a better place.
We would be more resourceful. Cacti are resourceful at finding water in a barren environment.
We would be patient. Cacti grow slowly. A saguaro takes 50 years to grow their first arm.
We would be better prepared for the challenges that life throws our way.Cacti survive in conditions with extreme heat and drought.
We would appreciate our differences. Cacti come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors adding beauty to the landscape.
We would share what we have. Cacti provide food and shelter for the birds, rodents, reptiles and insects.
Cacti are a testament to the power of adaptation and the beauty of nature.

Reflection - The throwing back by a body or surface of light
Shadow - A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface

The ying and yang of light – fitting together like puzzle pieces – or creating an image unto itself- reflection – an image as seen in a mirror or of light creating movement – shadow-creating a silhouette – or a pall – or a sense of gloom – or is it security – a constant intimate joining of light and darkness

Purpose: To show that when conver2ng normal animals and other things to symmetrical images, they often result in humorous, strange or even menacing photos that are always unique.

"My Cup of Tea" award- winning poem inspired me in this year's photo essay.

To tea or not to tea?
What will it be?
Darjeeling, Earl Grey, or English Breakfast?
So many possibiliteas.
My day brightens with all these tealightful scents.
All is calm.

I hope this photo essay inspires you to grab your own cup and enjoy your own tea time.

In the past year I became interested in photographing desert botanical plants, after a particular visit to the Buffalo Botanic Garden desert room. Desert plants did not normally appeal to my sense of flower or garden photography, but that changed when I began to explore these tactile plants in depth.

Their relationship to architectural forms seemed to echo graphic lines and muted colors found in cityscapes. As I continued to look deeper at these visual elements, I began to see these plants in a new and unexpected way. I chose to keep an open mind and experiment with several techniques which included "in-camera" triple exposures, selective soft focus and shooting through foreground elements, while using a variety of vintage and Lensbaby lenses. These experimentations allowed me to embrace these plants with joy as I continued to be astounded at what I saw revealed in colors and soft abstract representations.

My opportunities to experience wild animals in their natural environment have occurred because of my travels as a nature photographer. The examples I am sharing have come from many trips, including: Tanzania, Costa Rica, China, Belize, and the coral reefs of the Red Sea, the Caymans, and the Turks and Caicos. It is special to see wild animals in their natural habitat.

The main objective of my photo essay is to project the impact, the positive and psychological effects of colors in our lives through my own sample photos.

Our world is framed in a spectrum of colors. Warm colors like RED. ORANGE and YELLOW evoke feelings of happiness, optimism, energy and at the same time attention grabbing, signal danger and motivate one into action. Cool colors like BLUE, PURPLE and GREEN have calming, soothing, sad and melancholic effects. BLACK and WHITE are in color chart too. WHITE represents purity, cleanliness, simplicity and innocence while BLACK prominently stands for death, despair and sophistication. Mixing, for example, warm colors like RED and cool color like BLUE to make PURPLE can spark creativity. Blending BLACK and WHITE will produce NEUTRAL GRAY.

Some wavelengths get absorbed by the object while others are reflected off of it which is what we see as colors. In the end, without light we would have no color and make the world a very dark place indeed. Reactions to colors are often subjective, deeply personal and rooted in our own experiences. Ultimately, colors help us navigate the world around us and add richness to our lives.