Even with severe drought conditions, mother nature still finds a way to allow us desert dwellers the opportunity to witness the beautiful colors of spring.

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about when and how the photography bug bit me. I thought it really took hold after my first photography course at Texas Tech, but the more I thought about it I realized that I had been fascinated by cameras longer than that.  Then I remembered that one of my high school English teachers had been a photography buff and had given me a book about Ansel Adams. Yet, once again, I realized that wasn’t the catalyst.

My memory took me back to Ms. Green and Mr. McCoy teaching 4-H photography classes when I was in the 5th grade, but something told me that wasn’t the starting point. Then it finally dawned on me, or maybe I was gently reminded by a familiar voice in my head.  It was an unexpected gift that actually brought me to an appreciation of other unexpected gifts that I wrote about in my last blog.

When I was about seven, I had spent a couple of weeks with Grandma Gentry and as I got ready to go back home with my folks, Grandma sent me off with a very special gift ~ a Kodak Brownie Starflash Camera. Her words ~ “I think you should have this, I know you’ll really enjoy it.”

She was right! I used to wonder how others can recognize our gifts and talents sometimes even before we do, but not anymore, after all grandma’s know best!  Over the years photography has grown from a hobby, to a much needed distraction and now it is truly a passion. I still have that Brownie and I have decided to dust it off and preserve it along with some of my favorite shots, as a tribute to that wonderful and wise lady.  Turns out her gift was more than just a camera!

Thank you Grandma, I know you are smiling down on me with each and every click of the shutter.

Quite often I leave the house with a specific shot in mind only to find that the conditions aren’t exactly as I had hoped or I arrived at my destination a split second too late. Nevertheless, I try to make it a point to never go away empty handed.

Even though I may not capture a worthy addition to the print collection, I gain a lot of inspiration from those unexpected gifts that cross my path. No doubt, there is a rush from spotting a trophy buck through the lens and capturing that natural beauty before he winds up mounted on some hunter’s wall. However, for me, the rush is no less intense when one comes along that might not be a hunter’s ideal mark.

Take this fella for example, last Saturday he was spotted snorting, blowing and charging across the pasture in a bid to impress the ladies.  There was another buck present that definitely had one up on him in the looks department, but  in this guy’s mind he was the most handsome buck around and given his aggressive demeanor there were few in the pasture who dared to argue ~ just goes to show a little confidence goes a long way!!!

Copyright © Melanie A. Gentry.

We are currently accepting orders for the Scenes from Dell Valley 2012 Calendar which will begin shipping December 26, 2011. The price is $24.95 including postage. Please email melanie@242productions.com to place your order.  Accepting Checks or Money Orders payable to:

Melanie Gentry
PO Box 242
Dell City, TX 79837-0242