Category Archives: summer

Gate City to the West

June 19, 2019 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

People in small towns, much more than in cities, share a destiny. ~Richard Russo

Gary, SD is a small community (population 224) nicknamed “Gate City to the West” located along the SD/MN border.

Background image photography and edit by Joyce Meyer. Canon 5D Mark 3 with a 70-200, 2.8 Canon IS L lens, cropped and sized in Photoshop to fit the 11 x 17 inch poster format with Impressionistic painting effect added using Topaz Studio.

Kudos to graphic designer, Diane Swenson, Canby Print Shop, Canby, MN, for her stellar design work on the 2019 Gary Rodeo poster (which features my image as the background). Canby, MN is a small, southwestern Minnesota town of just 1700 people located 14 miles east of Gary, South Dakota. Our communities may be lacking in size, but we know how to get things done.

You’ll find the Gary Rodeo grounds located on the northwest edge of Gary, SD, in a natural setting with the quaint prairie community of Gary, SD, as its backdrop.

Maybe it’s time for you to take a little trip and experience the life in Gary, South Dakota!

bees, digital art photography, digital photography, Joyce Meyer, joyce meyer photography, Lac Qui Parle County, photography, photography by joyce meyer, prairie, prairie photography, prairie plants, rjmeyerarts, RJMeyerArts, rjmeyerarts.com, summer, summer on the prairie

Lesson from a Bee

July 22, 2016 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

Just a thought as I found this bee hunkered down working diligently on this thistle in full bloom. Man, I’m good at growing these kind of flowering weeds!

bee-0644pl50dmvclbeeweb — Image by Joyce Meyer

art, art photography, blended layers digital photography, blended photography, digital art photography, digital photography, Joyce Meyer, joyce meyer photography, maternity portraits, photo editing, photography, photography by joyce meyer, Photoshop CC 2015, photoshop manipulation, prairie photography, prairie portraits, pregnancy, rjmeyerarts, RJMeyerArts, rjmeyerarts.com, Southwest Minnesota, summer, summer on the prairie, Uncategorized

Warmth of the prairie…

February 14, 2016 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

Yoga-5538_Mat4lf_blenddandeweb — Blended images by Joyce Meyer ~ Manfred Township in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota

A cold wind blows throughout the night, while snow fills the winter air. It’s warm inside my cozy home and I find myself drawn to images of dandelions basking in the warmth of the early summer sun.

Blend of three images: Grove of trees near my house, dandelions from my lawn last summer and maternity image captured in the studio with strong backlight. Watercolor filter, lens flare and lighting effects added with Photoshop CC.

art, art photography, prairie, prairie photography, rjmeyerarts, RJMeyerArts, rjmeyerarts.com, Southwest Minnesota, summer, travel, travel photography, Uncategorized

I miss summer…

January 20, 2016 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

2014Camino-1070515webcr — Image by Joyce Meyer

Yes, I miss summer! Just saying.

art photography, beauty, blue moon, digital photography, Joyce Meyer, joyce meyer photography, night photography, photography, photography by joyce meyer, prairie, prairie photography, Southwest Minnesota, summer, summer on the prairie, Uncategorized

Blue Moon on the prairie

August 4, 2015 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

Click on image for a larger viewing window.

Reminds me of the old lullaby:

I see the moon and the moon sees me…

art, children, digital art photography, digital photography, Joyce Meyer, joyce meyer photography, memories, prairie, prairie photography, prairie portraits, summer, summer on the prairie, Uncategorized

Summer on the prairie

July 7, 2015 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

This time of year finds the prairie grasses blooming with the splendor of the season. Children of the prairie, I believe, lead somewhat of a “charmed” life filled with textures beneath their toes, fireflies lighting up the night and the soothing sounds of frogs croaking in the night.

Ahhhh… summer.

Lens flare added in Photoshop CC 2015

art, art photography, baby, baby photos, baby portraits, blended layers digital photography, blended photography, child rearing, children, digital art photography, digital photography, Joyce Meyer, joyce meyer photography, love, parenting, prairie, prairie photography, prairie portraits, raising children, summer

You are my sunshine…

June 14, 2015 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

Blend of mother/child with clouds and prairie grasses.

art, baseball, photography, senior portraits, summer, Uncategorized, youth, youth baseball, youth sports

Summer means baseball…

August 5, 2014 Randy & Joyce Meyer Leave a comment

Weber-0176richshad — Photo by Joyce Meyer

There’s just something about summer nights that brings back memories of youth and local baseball/softball programs. From chilly nights early in the season to warm and humid nights filled with the aroma of bug spray and sweat along with youthful chatter from the dugout.

These programs help develop more than just physical skills. You can’t win by yourself, you need your teammates and you must learn to work with others. These experiences also develop relationships which enrich the summer experience beyond the field.

It is also important to enjoy the now. It is highly unlikely that any college recruiter or professional scouts are watching these games so why not keep it all about the kids who are learning the sport together. Yes, some will be better players than others, but that’s the way it is in life. Some will always need to work harder and that is a life skill that will reap tremendous benefits in the long run.

Please take advantage of any opportunity to support local youth programs. It will be money and time well spent.

You gotta love summer…