Category Archives: summer

Gate City to the West

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

Gary, South Dakota

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!

Lesson from a Bee

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!

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Image by Joyce Meyer

Warmth of the prairie…

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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.

Blue Moon on the prairie

Click on image for a larger viewing window.
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Reminds me of the old lullaby:

I see the moon and the moon sees me…

Summer on the prairie

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.

 

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Lens flare added in Photoshop CC 2015

You are my sunshine…

Image by Joyce Meyer
Image by Joyce Meyer

Blend of mother/child with clouds and prairie grasses.

Summer means baseball…

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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…

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Photo by Joyce Meyer

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Photo by Joyce Meyer

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Lovin’ Summer

Just plain lovin’ summer this year.  This includes a long holiday weekend with freedom to enjoy family, friends and my passion for photography.

Fourth of July weekend was spent exploring the world, including fireworks, creeks and kayaking in the GoPro world.

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Yep, this pretty much sums it up…

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