OK folks, it is toot once more that toot I let you toot toot know of recognition toot in toot Black & White toot Magazine…this in the toot February 2026 Single Image toot Contest Winners. Sorry, as I toot looked back at toot what I’d typed, I saw way toot many toots of my horn. No more then.
“The category that my People’s Choice Award photo was featured is the “TRAVEL/PEOPLE/PLACES” category”
This February issue #176 includes 6 of my photos, which is a record for me in this premier magazine. As I look at the other winners, I see one person with 4 photos, and a few with 3 photos published. Toot!
Here is the cover of this month’s issue.
Once again, a female giving us a dark, dramatic look.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER
Here is the photo that captured the public voters’ attention. The title is “Mom & Sis at White Sands National Park”. This is my mother (aka Tutu & Maurine) and sister (aka Luanna) at White Sands National Park, New Mexico. I took this photo in 2012. This photo was the People’s Choice Award Winner in the TRAVEL/PEOPLE/PLACES category. As we sat under the shelter, we had lunch. It was very much of a tradition when traveling with my mother that we have a food box in the car for lunch stops at roadside parks…or pretty much any place that we could find shape just off the highway.
Mom and Sis at White Sands National Park, New Mexico, 2012
SINGLE IMAGE AWARD WINNERS
As always, to see the photos in a full-screen way, click on the first photo and then click on the little > at the right of the photos to work your way through the 5 photos.
HOW THESE PHOTOS WERE MADE
In the first photo of the snowy egret carrying a branch to his mate to construct a nest, no Photoshop techniques were used. That is captured exactly as he was flying back to the nest-to-be.
In the Full Moon Through Desert Thorns photo, yes I did use Photoshop there to layer the full moon and stars behind the thorns of a barrel cactus. [by the way, for the caption in the publication, they used the caption from someone else’s submittal].
The Ocotillo photo was a Photoshop composite of ocotillo limbs shot at various times in the Sonoran desert of Arizona.
The Street Jazz Musicians photo? No Photoshop at all.
What do you think about the Drawing Desert Energy photo? Photoshop or no? The correct answer is yes to Photoshop, of course.
DO YOU PREFER COLOR OR BLACK & WHITE?
I would love to have your input in the comments section below regarding your preference for black & white as shown above, versus color, as shown below.
Here is What He Was Doing with the Stick
It was so fascinating to watch these beautiful snowy egrets building their nests in St Augustine, Florida.
The male would fly out and gather a stick and bring it back for his female mate to build a home…time and again.
Here they are below as he arrives at the nest-in-progress to deliver his stick. She accepts and places the stick in just the right place. And, they often display unexpected affection, as seen here.
FINALE
TOOT! TOOT!-TOOT!-TOOT!-TOOT!, TOOT! TOOT!
[To the rythm of shave and a haricut, two bits]
My lips are very tired from tooting, so no more, and sorry to have tooted to you so much this issue.
Each of the photos above causes me to pause a bit to think on God’s gift to us through his creation of plants, animals, and us humans. It is always such a joy for me to be out in the open spaces or city spaces to admire His creative handywork. And, I consider each of you to be a part of His precious handywork.
Although this article is not Italy-related, I will still say…
Ciao, for now!
From you friend, Steve
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