2025 Through My Lens Photography

                         

Twin White-tailed Fawns, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

Every year I try to look through all of my photos to find what I feel is my best work and my favorite work.

Each year I've done this, I have found my photography has changed a bit. 

Since the beginning of 2025, my photography is a bit different compared to December 2025. I have started to change my photography techniques, how I see the scene, and how I feel about it. I owe this to my influences and influencers I've been around.

All of my photographs here were taken with my Nikon D3400 camera with my 70-300mm lens, my AF-S Micro 40mm lens, or my 18-55mm lens. Each photo was taken hand-held. When I'm out looking for a shot to take, I have no time or interest in carrying around extra equipment. I find it hinders my ability to capture a quick shot. At times, I will use a tree or a building to help steady my shot, but nothing else. (Using extra camera equipment will create a very clear shot, but it doesn't always give me the motion and emotions I'm looking for.)

Each photo has been gingerly edited, with a light hand. I do not use AI. Each photo is how it was when I took it. (No composit photos  and no added graphite arts other then my name and date.)

I welcome comments. If it is a criticism, please keep it constructive. But remember, each photographer is a unique individual who will create their art in the way they enjoy.

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2025 Through My Lens photography favorite photos:

Canadian Geese, Kew Gardens, Richmond, England 2025.

I really enjoyed the old-fashioned look of this photo.  Like an old post card, these geese and I produced a photo that brings me the feeling of nostalgia. I love how the softly shot geese are giving this photo a 3-dimensional, nostalgic look. 

                          

Snow Geese Migration, Watertown, South Dakota, USA, 2025.

It is amazing to watch as the Snow Geese migrate back up north from their winter homes.

 I love how chaotic the photo is, but at the same time so organized!  The past-years, rigid corn stalks are spaced in evenly organized rows meeting up with a frozen, rigid lake.  While a steady current of geese haphazardly fly through a freely flowing blue sky. 

Ring-necked Pheasant and White-tailed Rabbit meet. Eastern, South Dakota, USA 2025

This was an amazing photo for me to have shot. I love how the photo looks like a childhood fantasy. An unreal scene you'd see in a child's book. Mr. Pheasant meets up with Mrs. Rabiit discussing the latest events in the neighborhood. This was a spring shot with the Forsynthia flowers in full bloom. The photo contains a 3-dimensional feel to it. This photo brought me a lot of joy.

Mandarin duck, Kew Gardens, Richmond, England, 2025.

I was so excited to shoot this photo of my first Mandarin duck. I love how the aggressive patchwork of colors of the duck meet up with the aggressive, circular light on the water. I like how the duck acts like the pinnacle of the angles of light. All angles ending up with the duck as the center.

Striped Hyena, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert, California, USA 2025.

     

 I enjoy sharing animals photos that seem like the animal is looking right at you. It's like the animal is walking right out of the photo and into the room with you. The warm colors of this photo are in direct contrast with the Striped Hyena's nature. The Striped Hyena can seem timid and shy, but can be quite aggressive as well.

Dragon Fly (Autumn Meadowhawk?), eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

One of my favorite photos to take is of a cool-looking insect with a flower. I like how the the red dragon flies's color seems to clash with the Purple Clover. They clash, but they seem to also belong maybe due to the rest of the colors in the photo.  The clashing colors, warmth and coolness are brought together in harmony by the background. I really enjoy taking photos of dragon flies.

                          

Purple Prairie Clover flower with a White bee (Susanna's Cellophane bee?), eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

The Purple Prairie Clover flowers in the South Dakota prairies are some of the most stunning flowers I've seen. I love the vibrant colors of these clover flowers. I really enjoyed seeing this white bee on the prairie flower. What a colorful contrast! I placed the bee and the prairie clover in full focus while placing other flowers in the background unfocused. I did leave a small tip of a second prairie clover in focus on the edge of the photo. I feel it helps to give the photo more of a 3-d effect.

                

Yellow-Shouldered Drone Fly with Leadplant, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025

I love the colors and angles of this photo. And of course, the Drone fly adds that extra bit of spice to the photo. All vibrant, warm, and harmonious colors, adds a cheerful feeling to the photo.

              

Purple Prairie clover flower with a Yellow-Shouldered Drone fly, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

The Drone fly adds a velvety feel to this photo. I love the vibrant colors matched with the Drone fly. The Drone fly along with the unfocused flowers adds a 3-d look to this photo. It feels like the Drone fly will fly off of the flower and into my room!

                     

Thatching Ants, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025

I love the clutter of the tangled, moving bodies upon moving bodies, working hard in this photo. It seems like utter chaos, but is it? I'm sharing the close community here of ants working together to create a safe and healthy environment for their family. "Love thy neighbor." 

               

A White bee (Susanna's Cellaphane bee?) and a Purple Prairie Clover flower, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

The Purple Prairie Clover flower is a show stopper when seen in the South Dakota prairies. But to see this white bee on top of the flower makes my heart leap for joy. I enjoy this photo for the floral aspects and of course the cool looking bee in it. The flower in the unfocused background adds color, depth, and a bit of feminity to this photo. After taking this photo, I also noticed I had a little insect on top of the prairie clover flower. This little insect adds a bit more interest to my photo.

             

Red Fox, Kew Gardens, Richmond, England 2025.

When I heard England has a large population of Red fox, I became really excited thinking I'd easily see one and take a neat shot. We traveled England for 2 weeks, with no fox sightings. While hiking Kew Gardens, some other hikers eagerly told us there was a fox in the long grass just up ahead. I quickly did some speed walking up to the area only to find no fox around. I felt disappointed. 

We kept hiking and I kept finding some really neat photos to take. Up near the small lake in Kew Gardens, I came upon a lady feeding a fox and attempting to take the fox's picture. It is strictly against the rules of Kew Gardens and all parks in England to feed the wild life. This is to stop Bird flu and other contagious virus from spreading and making the birds and animals ill. 

 I moved in as close as I felt comfortable doing so near a wild Red fox. The lady noticed me and kept feeding the fox. I was so excited to take photos of this Red fox that some of my photos came out blurry due to taking my photos too quick. 

My goal with this fox picture was to share the beauty of an animal that most see as a burden. The photo shares the fox on the edge of a great, dark forest. In actuality, the fox is on the edge of a small lake with some trees growing near it. Photos can be very  misleading and they can change what is actually going on. I love the fantasy look of this photo. An incredible moment to share.

                           

Red Fox and the Lady, Kew Gardens, Richmond, England 2025

The lady who fed the Red Fox to obtain a  photo of the fox photo is purely a human moment. I like this photo due to it actually is a everyday life moment. I left in the garbage bin and the garden sign on the right side to give it more 3-d feel. As I was looking close at this photo, I noticed another on-looker behind the trees off in the distance. I wanted to show the joy and happiness of this one moment in time between the photographer (me), the lady, and the fox.

            

Park Life, Bath, England, 2025.

A moment in time at the park. Everyday life in this park included a two dogs, a Miniture Long Haired Dachshund chasing a larger doodle dog with large orange and brown spots painted on it's back, while the owners sat and watched. Another couple enters the dog's running space with their own dog on a leash. While in the background a wedding photographer takes informal pictures of a couple ready to be wed. The focus is not only on the dogs, but also on what is happening around the dogs.  I enjoy this photo because it shares a lot of life in one small photo.

            

Giraffe and Lady, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert, California 2025.

I feel I captured the timid,  giggly, joyful inner child that resides in this lady while coming face to face with a giraffe. Her expression along with the giraffe gives this photo a fun and child-like feel to it. I wanted to share the joy this lady felt while being right next to this magnificant giraffe.

                 

Humming Bird and Red Penstemon Flowers, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert, California 2025.

 In this photo, I was trying to convey the classic beauty of the bird with the flowers. I like how the jeweled tones of the soft back feathers of the bird combined with the Red vibrant colors of the Penstemon harmoniously complement each other. I feel the added structured design of the wing adds movement and interest.

             

Big Horn Sheep, Palm Springs, California, USA 2025

I have a joy of nostalgic photos scenes. I feel this photo conveys a wonderful feeling of old, warmth, and beauty of a natural mountain scene seen in days bygone. I love the warmth of the old tree root next to the Big Horn sheep nibbling on it. The little bit of green adds that little bit of extra dimension as does the varying mountain ranges.
 

             

Red-winged Black Bird Migration, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

I love how this photo comes out to be full of action and excitment. The little bit of red on the bird's wings adds a little more interest to this photo. When these birds migrate, they migrate in thousands similar to the Snow Goose migration. What a wonderous sight to see this happen. I wanted to convey the action, chaos, and excitement of seeing this happen. 

              

Mexican Wolves, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert, California 2025.

This is my favorite photo of 2025. The zoo had three Mexican wolves. Two of them male and one (in the middle) a three-legged female. These three wolves had a lot of affection for each other.  My intention was to share the beauty of the loving relationship I witnessed between them.  I feel pretty blessed to have shot this photo of these three wolves. Other then sharing the love and beauty of these three and their relationship, I shot probably one of the last shots with both males and the female.

 A few weeks after I shot this photo,  one of the male wolves (Drew, a 7 year old wolf) passed away from complications from anethesia. This loving relathionship of the three of them is now only in their hearts and memories. Rest in peace Drew. You will be remembered.

                 

Ducks, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

When I took this photo, I was looking to take a photo with a pretty scene of two ducks flying off. But instead I had a scene that  looks a bit like fantasy to me. I love how it turned out. The focus is all on the duck couple flying off to the next pond. I love how the focus on the ducks flying off created this joyful photo.

                                       

Vulture, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

I love how bird wings look when they are open. I love the pattern they share and the soft but sturdy look to them. This Vulture photo shares the beauty of a Vulture in full flight, gliding. 

Because I enjoy the pattern of the open wings so much, I decided to make a black and white of this photo as well. Thus, the pattern of the wing feathers is seen more keenly.

Vulture, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025. 

Vulture 2, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

This second Vulture photo shares the ease of movement and flow while flying and gliding. I wanted to share the artistic and skilled motion of this bird in air. To me a beautiful sight to watch.

              

               

Wild Violet flower, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

I wanted to share the simplicity of a single wild Violet in it's naural state. Leaving the unfocused grass blades in the background helps with more of a 3-d effect. The flower shares her light to the surrounding area.  I left the back part of the photo dark to emphasize the natural light from the flower. 

                                

                 

Painted Turtle and Orb, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

As I was kayaking one day, I came upon this turtle sunning her/himself. In order to catch a photo of a turtle, one must slowly walk or boat up to it. Otherwise, she/he jumps into the water never to be seen for hours. I took several photos of this turtle. 

I had wanted to convey the easy-going, suntanning life- style of this turtle. I feel I captured just that.

I created a 3-d look to this photo by unfocusing the background and semi-focusing on the tree. 

After I started looking through my photos of this turtle, I noticed she had what looked like an orb right above her head/nose. Was hshe being visited by fairy people? Or maybe a long-lost relative visiting from the spiritworld. 

Some may feel the orb is a reflection of light. But after looking through many of my photos of this turtle and this pose, I've come to the conclusion it is an orb! What excitement to capture something cool like this!

                 

Black Bird Drinking, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

I kept this photo in my favorites due to the simplicity of a Black bird with light refracting feathers/iridescent sheens of green and blue, drinking peacefully at the edge of a clear lake. The lake is reflecting the green hues of tree leaves that I feel enhances the photo. The water spilling out of his/her mouth has been frozen in this moment of time. When I took this photo I was looking for peacefulness within a scene.

                 

Mother and male calf Yak, Bramble Park Zoo, Watertown, South Dakota, 2025.

Here I wanted to share the love a mother has for her son. I like how the Yak's reflection is in the Duck-weed covered water giving the photo a little extra 3-d.   This calf had been just weeks old when I took their photo. 

                    

Canvas Back duck, Bramble Park Zoo, Watertown, South Dakota, USA 2025.

I wanted to do a close-up study of this duck's head. I wanted to look close-up at a duck's head just to see what I could see. After all, who gets to look at a duck's head close-up without the duck flying away?

I enjoy this photo because it is again simple, but also complex. A duck deep in thought. A study of ovals and texture. 

                

Bumble Bee and Purple Prairie Clover flower, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

My intention with this photo was to take a picture of a Bumble bee in flight. I feel it came out looking much like a fantasy bee scene. I love how the bee was caught in midflight. A moment in time, frozen forever. The feeling of this photo shares joy, independence, life, and beauty. The life of a Bumble bee.

                                    

White-tailed Deer, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

I wanted to share the ocean of Soybean plants surrounding this lone female deer. One can see the ocean of Soybeans as being surrounded by emotions. (Analogy)  And the lone deer is staying a float in this ocean of emotions. The ocean of emotions can suck you under if the emotions become too overwhelming. But this lone deer is feeling quite confident and is able to stay afloat in this ocean of emotions (Soybeans.) 

Feeling the joy of abundance that is never-ending! The Soybean ocean seems like it is never-ending in the photo,  but this is your perception  due to the photo.  A fun photo.  

               

Nicobar Pigeons, Bramble Park Zoo, Watertown, South Dakota, USA 2025.

I find this photo to be quite attractive with the bird feathers fluffed out in warm hues of blues and greens.

I feel the fluffed feathers creates a 3-d effect in the photo, creating space and motion. I love the warm hues.

                 

White-tailed Deer and Tansy Flowers, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

I wanted to share the whimsy and cuteness of this moment in time. These two twin fawns were curious about this Tansy flower plant growing. So they spent a lot of time sniffing and smelling these flowers.

I'm sharing the moment when innocense explores their world. Feeling joy, wonder, and warmth.

                          

Lilypads and Flowers, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois, USA 2025.

This photo reminds me of a Monet painting! I love how the reflection of the checkerboard windows are on the water creating a lot more interest. I wanted to share the beauty of this photo.

The Royal Guards, Buckingham Palace, London, England 2025.

I think of the Royal Guards as being perfectly aligned in their street walking, impersonal, military soldiers, and harmonious as a group. I think of the British Royals as being formal, striving for perfection in their projections of who they are and what they do, and impersonal. These impressions were formed in me from watching from afar.

Looking closer at the guards in this photo, they project their individuality and human sides through expressions, stances, emotions and body language. They are not perfect, just like the rest of us. This photo brings back the very human side of the Royal Guards.

My first time seeing the Royal Guards in-person,  I wanted to share a photo of them. (At least the persona I had come to believe in.)  But in actuality, I took a photo that shared the Royal's human side to me and the world. The postal service truck, the concrete block, the heavy metal tie, and the fake facade curtain draped in front of Buckingham palace all shares the human side of the Royals and the Royal Guards. The fake facade curtain draped in front of the palace maybe there to cover up areas the Royals wanted to keep private? (Private entrances, work being done on the palace, sites the Royals felt needed to stay private.)

So this photo shares a very real moment in time of real human life, regardless of who they are. The Royal Guards, Royal Band, Royal Police and the Royal buildings were all really spectacular to see. 

                  

                             

Flags, Buckingham Palace, London, England  September 17, 2025.

It was like any normal day in London, England as my husband and I walked the Buckingham Palace grounds. The prior day, we walked the Buckingham Palace grounds hoping for a glimpse of the Royal Guards changing. But this day, September 17, 2025, the Buckingham Palace road was not only covered in British flags, but also United States of America flags as well. I learned later that President Trump and his wife, the First Lady Melania Trump had just arrived in England, welcomed by the Royal family at Windsor castle. This is a moment in time and history that this event was recorded by noticing the flags flowing on Buckingham Palace road.

                     

Flags, Buckingham Palace, London, England  September 17, 2025.
In Black and White.

                     

                   

                         

A Cloud, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

Being in South Dakota, whether visiting or living, one is hit in the face with the weather off and on.

Evenings share billions of stars in the sky, while the mornings share beautiful sunrises. But here and there, a huge, violent weather system comes through. 

I really like how I was able to capture the curve of this cloud making it more 3-dimesional, holding space.

I also really liked how I captured this cloud/storm starting to engulf that house. The house helps to share exactly how big this cloud and storm system was.

I felt worry while watching this system come in and engulf that house.

                  

The Storm, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

As I said above, South Dakota can have some violent storms flow through. This storm cloud was massive. It was like watching a massive dark giant moving and engulfing all that was in it's way. As seen in the photo, this house was the one to be engulfed/eaten!

While shooting this photo, I felt fear and amazement. My intention was to also share these emotions. I like how the cloud  feels alive in the photo.

             

            

The Cold Moon, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

My intention was to shoot a photo of the Cold Moon (Dec. 4, 2025) that had a fun and fantasy type feel to it. Here I had hoped my moon would look like it was being held up by a branch of this tree. Using a bit of creativity and imagination, I feel I did just that. I projected joy and fun into this photo.

               

Study, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025.

I absolutely loved all the tree branch and trunk lines. It was mesmerizing to me to view it. In order to bring out all these curved vertical and hortizontal lines, I felt it was best to place the photo in black and white. I love how all the tree lines and the cloud lines work together. This is my study of curved lines meeting up with the curved lines of the clouds.

                

Kensington Park, London, England, 2025.

While taking this shot, I had wanted to share the peacefulness and innocense of this scene. It had rained prior to this shot, which made the photo more 3-dimensional and reflective. I love how the crow sits relaxing on the arm of the old bench, while the Magpie bird looks up at him as if to say, "What can you teach me today?" or "Are we ready?" The left-behind orange bag on the old bench helps to create more dimension and personality to this photo. It adds that little bit of human in this photo. I very much loved seeing this photo in my camera.

              

Royality, Buckingham Palace Grounds and Gardens, London, England 2025.

Watching these Pelicans brought much enjoyment to me. Watching them walk in a formal line, just like the Royal Guards! "Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot.... halt! It was like they were taught to be walking in a formal way or were at least imitating the Royal Guards. These Pelicans are known as the Royal Pelicans. They live on the palace grounds and gardens. Their antics brings a lot of joy to many. Sharing this photo I had hoped to convey the joy and amusement of the Royal Pelicans.

          

             

Sun Dogs, eastern South Dakota, USA 2025

             

The weather in South Dakota can be quite violent, but it can also be quite beautiful. During the fridgid, cold winters (15 degrees f and lower) off and on we are entertained with the light of Sun Dogs.

Taking this photo, I was in awe of this spectatcular site. A reminder of God being in our presense at all times. I love how the golden lights remind me of Divine light. I also love how the lights create a circular effect in the photo. In the forground we have a snow-covered, frozen-hard ground. But in the sky we have warmth, flow, and harmony.

                  

Houses, Isle of Portland, Dorset, England 2025.

While hiking down the steep hills of Isle of Portland, England, I had a great view of the tops of these houses. I loved how it looked! I left in the lamp post and cars to give the photo extra personality and space. I love how the houses all line-up. The photo conveys a cold morning by the English Channel. But in actuality, the temperature was quite pleasant at around 65 degrees f. I love how this photo makes it look like we are looking back in time at old time English houses. To a certain degree, this is true as far as the houses and their ages. 

                  

The Ring-necked Parakeet, Bath,  England 2025.

This photo reminds me of those book games called "Find Waldo!" While walking the parks in Bath I was entertained by sounds I had never heard before. I followed the sounds to a group of trees. Looking up in the tree, I only saw a lot of green leaves. But by looking closer at the movement in the trees, I spotted many. many Green parakeets.  Google has told me these Ring-necked Parakeets are invasive to England. Fun to watch these birds find nuts and fruit and eat them.

This moment in time brought a lot of joy to watch these little creatures.

             

Horse Guards Building, London, England 2025.

This photo is of the Horse Guards Buidling, which in itself was pretty spectacular looking. But I found pleasure in seeing this building with the London Eye behind it. To add more interest, I have captured a local biker driving by. The whole photo reminds me of an old fair grounds or an exhibition done in paint. This photo has a nostalgic look to it for me.

                    

Flowers, London, England 2025.

I liked the coloring of the photo. As I took the photo, I  was feeling a lot of joy, peace, and a easy-go feeling. 

               

The Roman Baths, Bath, England 2025.

I enjoy this photo for the angles in it and the reflection of the ancient building in the water. I like the easy-going tone the  caretakers and people were conveying in this photo. I also like the warm earth tones here.

The Roman Baths was way better and way more then I expected! 

                 

 Bath Abbey, Bath, England 2025.

The visit to this spectacular church was a good one. I took many photos from within the church. But this one photo won out due to the old Union Jack flag. I like how the approximate 220 year old flag is hung  next to the exquisitely ribbed ceiling and the richly hued stained-glass window. 

High Middle age meets the 19th century (old world meets old). Opulent meets common in this photo.

I like the extremes seen in this picture of history. 

               

Circus, Bath, England 2025.

The Georgian semi-circular townhomes were amazing to see, as was the Royal Crescent. 

I love the semi-circular shape to this building. I added a bit of the side of the building and the lower level to help with more of a 3-d look and to bring in something opposite of the building in shape. 

I was also looking to make this photo look nostalgic as well. I also love the coloring of the building nest to the greenery. 

                          

Monarch, Palm Desert, California, USA 2025.

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April 11, 2020

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