Tag Archives: storms

Museums/Events, Parks, Wildlife Preserve/Reserve

Museums, a storm, and Palo Duro take 2!

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Being in an rv during storms is all at once beautiful(I love the sound on the roof) and terrifying.  A big storm rolled through during our stay at the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. We drove into Amarillo on our second day in Texas to check out the Don Harrington Discovery Center.

It was another ATSC Passport museum so we got in for free again! It was a great museum but my pictures are a bit deceptive.

It was VERY crowded.

There were several school groups there and it was not a huge place so it was SUPER LOUD! I went in with our four oldest and Nick stayed out with the dog and our youngest who needed a nap. Anyone else feel like they need to go be in the middle of nowhere around no people after visiting a children’s museum? Afterwards I dropped Nick and the girls off at the camper and took the boys to the Palo Duro Canyon to hike and take pics.But because it had rained the night before, they closed the trails!

Our campsite was a good 30mins away so I felt obligated to still go even though I did still have to pay the entrance fee.

At this point it was getting laughably ridiculous.1st they are all booked up, now we cannot even go for a hike there!We still went into the museum and stopped at the lookouts at least.Our last trip to the canyon went a lot better though for sure.When we got back to the wildlife refuge we decided to check out some of the trails.It was a pretty walk.

I had to keep reminding myself that I really did love the Palo Duro Canyon and that this time it was just a flop.

Have you ever had a really bad time at a great place?

Personal, Photo Projects

Addicted to lighting?

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We had a big storm roll through NE Oklahoma last night.

I love storms, they make me smile. I am one of those people that loves getting caught in the rain.

We were actually at Walmart when the storm started and the Tornado Sirens started going off. We left anyway (after carefully checking the sky). It was pouring, the siren was going off and I was sad I could not just stand there in the rain.

We made it home safe and sound.

As I was watching the clouds swirling around (they were definitly swirling, probably not good) above me, I realized I am a photographer why not take pictures?

I got my camera and tripod (it was dark) and started snapping. Unfortunately the sky had gotten really dark by this time and I did not get the cloud shots I wanted.

I asked my husband, “how do you think people take lighting pictures” and he said something about slow shutter speeds. So as soon as the rain stopped traveling sideways I set up my tripod in the open doorway and started snapping.

It worked!

And now I will be looking to the sky’s hoping for storms (sorry to all the people that hate storms).

MayLightingStormThe first time the lighting raced across the sky right in front of my camera I squealed(yes squealed) and started saying, oh please, oh please.

Since I was taking pictures at very slow shutter speeds (13sec for the photography buffs) I did not know if it worked for what seemed like forever!

Nick came running out thinking something was wrongs, oops.

MayLightingStorm2This image makes me want to take up storm chasing

MayLightingStorm3It would be fun baby, the kids would enjoy it.

Nick gave me a look.

Oh well.

I was also thinking, “I really wish I was standing in an open field right now”. In the light of day, I am thinking this would probably not be the best idea. I still want to do it though.