Sunrise | Personal Photography

Ever try geting up early or staying up late to watch the sunrise? I highly recommend it.

©2012 Kristin Serna This post and these photos should not be republished without my permission. Merci beaucoup. 

Fun Fact: Austin Peacock | Travel Photography

There are places in Texas where you can walk down a residential street and cross paths with a peacock. This is strange when you've previously had to go to the zoo to see one. But don't worry, you get used to it really fast.

©2012 Kristin Serna This post and these photos should not be republished without my permission. Merci beaucoup.

Why, Hello 2012

:)

Yes, I know. You've been around a few months. I've been a bit busy. You know that though. Oh and 2012? Don't forget, 2011 was quite a year.

In it I photographed some beautiful weddings,

attended my first Indian wedding,

documented partnerships new and time-tested,

was honored to work with some charities,

witnessed children growing up,

and the beginnings of a hobby that could turn into a great business,

explored new places,

further worked on my cooking skills,

watched the sun rise,

and went to my first pow wow. 

And I'm ready for all the wonderful experiences you, 2012, have in store. 

©2012 Kristin Serna This post and these photos should not be republished without my permission. Merci beaucoup.

Red Rock | Travel Photos | Nature

I think it's fair to say a majority of people don't think nature when they think Las Vegas. But there's some really cool stuff out there if you can manage to get yourself away from all the Elvi (that's plural of Elvis) and the bright lights.

Everything in Vegas tends to be pretty big, but then you meet Red Rock Canyon.

Those are people in the upper right quadrant. There's more of the rock wall that didn't fit in the photo. So yeah, it's pretty huge. The word "majesty" becomes stunningly appropriate. 

Nature makes the prettiest colors. The red in this rock comes from iron.

The animals and plants who live here are pretty impressive themselves.

If you look closely above you can see in the lower right the curvy road and the tiny cars on it.

And in the right-hand photo below you can see in the lower left 5 handprints - which were left by Native Americans to let others know there were adequate resources in the area to survive. 

The desserts in the last post were pretty impressive but these rocks really take the cake.

That's right. You've been punned. 

©2011 Kristin Serna This post and this photo should not be republished without my permission. Merci beaucoup.

The Elusive Hummingbird | Nature Photography

It's not even really the elusive hummingbird itself. It's the elusive hummingbird photo.

It's the moment where you have an opportunity, but you weren't prepared. You aren't even sure you have the right tools but you go for it anyway.

A couple of months ago I was visiting someone when I spotted a hummingbird in their backyard. I had my camera (yay!) but didn't have the lens on that I would have liked. Plus I knew my opportune moment's seconds were already ticking away. I was stuck behind glass indoors. No time to try to run outside. But darn it, I snapped away.

I got it, but it wasn't up to my standards. With the lighting the colors were off. There was a glare from the window. And with a fixed lens, I had to do major cropping to get anything halfway decent.

After this photoshoot with the Cusick family, opportunity popped in again. They had just left and I was taking some flower photos, when I spotted it. I still didn't have an ideal lens on, but again didn't have time to change it. It didn't matter though. I was determined to get one decent photo of a hummingbird. I walked up as close as I dared and snap.

Sometimes you try and fail. And sometimes... you get the hummingbird photo.

A small shout-out is owed to Jasmine Star - who recently blogged a post that reminded me it's ok to have a one-photo post - and I should probably do it more often. 

©Kristin Serna This post and these photos cannot be republished without my permission.