2014 Challenge, Week 39 Nature & Wildlife - WATER MEETS LAND - The 2022 Trevor Carpenter Photo Challenge

Bodies of water are always contained by a border of solid ground. Our shorelines and river banks are often home to some of the greatest diversity of life on earth. It also offers us some of the most extraordinary scenery.

Seascapes in their own right offer some of nature’s most grandiose and breathtaking views. With ever changing topography and the variety of climate zones around the world, the possibilities are endless.

Rivers themselves offer their share of amazing sights. With Fall hitting the Northern Hemisphere, textures and colors are changing rapidly further enhancing our images.

Many Shorebirds rely on the solid footing of the ground below their feet as they feed along the shoreline and shallow bodies of water.

From small passerine birds to large hawks and eagles, shorelines, river banks and streams offer the ideal environment to keep up on their daily hygiene.

Amphibians rely on an habitat founded on the relationship between land and water. This habitat is crucial to their survival on a day to day basis.

The dragonfly relies on the relationship between land and water for procreation. The larvae lives in water but the dragonfly comes out of it’s exuviae on plants above the water.

(DOLOMEDE) Dark Fishing Spider and egg sac

The giant Dolomede, Dark Fishing Spider is an other great example. It’s entire life is spent along our rivers and streams using rocks, trees and vegetation for cover. It relies 100% on it’s water habitat for feeding on fish and insects. It may also be it’s downfall as trouts enjoy a good size spider as a meal.

The ingredients for a successful challenge image are simple this week. You need some naturally occurring water, some point of reference to land (dirt, sand, rocks, plants, etc…) and maybe a living creature if you can blend it all in together.

As this is Nature and wildlife, keep human objects such as houses, bridges and fences out of your images. There’s often a way to compose an image to give the illusion of complete nature without using Photoshop.

Remember to respect nature and not to disturb any animals or destroy their habitat in any way during your quest for the perfect image. Also take time to familiarize yourself with local wildlife and plants. Some animals can present a danger, especially if protecting their young. Spiders and Snakes, especially hard to see baby snakes can present a great danger due to their venom. It’s always better to keep a safe distance from any wild animal no matter how sweet and innocent it may seem. Animals should not be fed. Feeding animals often encourages them to approach humans, increasing the risk of injury from individuals who may appreciate them less than you might. Most animals in rescue centers get there due to an encounter with humans.

Get acquainted with plants like Poisson Oak and Poisson Ivy or any other dangerous plants in your area. Some plants not only represent a risk of skin irritation but can also kill you if touched or ingested. Learn to identify the dangerous plants in your area.

The sky’s the limit for this week’s challenge. Get out there and show us what Mother Nature has to offer you! Nature and Wildlife photography can be a great family activity

The rules are pretty simple:

Post one original (Your Image) shot each week per theme posted on this blog to Google+, Facebook, or Flickr (or all three). Tag the photo #photochallenge.org. or #photochallenge2014.
The shot should be a new shot you took for the current weekly theme, not something from your back catalog or someone else’s image.
Don’t leave home without your camera. Participating in the 2014 Photo Challenge is fun and easy.