stories behind the photos
First Look
We were in the northern territory of South Africa hunting with Quagga Safaris, and we had spent the entire day searching for a lion. Earlier that morning we had been close enough to hear his deep roar echo across the hills, but we had not yet seen him. As we hiked up a rocky hillside, our guide—who was ahead of us—suddenly became excited and waved for us to hurry. When we reached him and looked to our right, there he was, casually sauntering up the hill as if we didn’t exist. He crested the ridge and disappeared, and we thought the moment was over. Then suddenly his head rose back above the crest and he looked straight at us, as if to let us know he had known we were there all along. I stood there in awe, snapping photos of this magnificent creature. Locking eyes with a lion is something hard to describe—they seem to look straight into your soul. It was one of the most impactful moments of my life, and one I will cherish forever. After a few quiet seconds, he simply turned and slipped away.
Thistle Secrets
A glimpse into the moment creation paused long enough to be captured.
While photographing wildflowers, the vibrant purple thistle immediately caught my eye with its striking color and intricate texture. As I moved in closer with my camera, I noticed something unexpected tucked among the petals—a small crab spider patiently waiting in the center of the bloom. Perfectly positioned among the spikes and pollen, it blended into the flower as if it were part of the design itself. These tiny hunters rely on patience rather than webs, waiting quietly for an unsuspecting insect to land. Moments like this remind me how much of creation exists in the details we often overlook. Even within a single flower, there is an entire world unfolding if we slow down long enough to see it.
Saved
A glimpse into the moment creation paused long enough to be captured.
My husband and I were driving across our ranch in Eden, Texas when we caught a glimpse of this rabbit running through the brush. As we pulled closer, he suddenly stopped and tried his best to “hide” behind a prickly pear cactus, convinced he had completely disappeared. I quickly lifted my camera and snapped a few photos of his wide eyes and oversized ears peeking past the cactus pads. When I finished and turned to set my camera back in the jeep, I happened to glance across the road and noticed a bobcat quietly watching the scene unfold. The moment I spotted him, he turned and slipped away into the brush. In that instant it became clear just how fortunate this little rabbit had been—completely unaware that danger had been watching from the other side of the road. It was a reminder of how wild and unpredictable life on the ranch can be, and how sometimes survival comes down to a moment no one else sees.
Quiet Standoff
A glimpse into the moment creation paused long enough to be captured.
While photographing thistles, I noticed a bright green praying mantis perched among the purple spikes. Every time I tried to move into position for a photograph, the mantis seemed to watch me carefully and would slowly crawl to the opposite side of the flower, using the thistle as a shield. It became a quiet standoff between patience and curiosity. Instead of chasing the shot, I decided to sit still and wait. After nearly 30–45 minutes, the mantis finally relaxed and moved back into view, settling perfectly among the thorns of the thistle. In that moment, patience paid off, and I was able to capture this small hunter exactly where it belonged—hidden within the beauty and defense of the flower.
Discovered Beauty
A glimpse into the moment creation paused long enough to be captured.
While bird watching in South Africa, I noticed the slightest movement along the muddy edge of the water among a maze of fallen branches. At first, nothing about the scene stood out—just muted earth tones blending together. Curious, I lifted my camera and zoomed in on the movement. Through the lens, a completely different world appeared. A small bird stepped into view, revealing brilliant colors that seemed to appear out of nowhere—an orange face, a striking violet patch, and a vivid red bill. What had looked plain and ordinary just moments before suddenly revealed an unexpected burst of beauty. It was a perfect reminder that sometimes the most extraordinary details in creation are only revealed when we take a closer look.