Images By Jim Browning.com

Birthday Fireworks

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 07:16 -0500

It is an honor for me to have been born on the anniversary of the day my country declared it's independence. So many men and women have sacrificed everything so that we, as Americans, can enjoy the freedoms we have.

If I could be granted one wish, it is that we as a nation could return to the mindset that was held so dearly by our predecessors; "The United States of America is the greatest nation in the history of the world."

Happy Fourth of July everyone, and may God Bless America always.

Running On Empty

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:00 -0500

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, take everything you've ever heard about California and throw it away. Then go see it for yourself. It is easily the most diverse state and one of the most beautiful as well. Get of the main road and go trekking through the back roads. Visit one of her many National Parks. The commercials are true.

This image was taken after Amanda and I left Merced and headed out to Yosemite. We had a great day that day. We stopped at a local farm and brought fruit and nuts, went high into the mountains and saw one of the few remaining Condors in the world.

California is simply magical. Go enjoy it.

Reflections Of...The Way Life Used To Be

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:38 -0500

Another lost treasure that I somehow forgot to post. Back in the swamp again. The majority of this image and the main subject as well are the reflections of the tree in the black water. It was almost like a mirror. Spooky being out there all by myself, I'll tell you.

The View From The Shore

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:10 -0500

This image was taken from the shore of Yellowstone Lake, the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet in North America. I took this image a while back but decided to post it after hearing some unusual news a few days ago.

Turns out there is a growing bulge on the floor of the lake that is believed to have been caused by a large chamber of magma that is located under the entire Yellowstone area. Just last week, scientists reported that the area has been increasingly active as far as the caldera is concerned, especially in the seismic area. The number of earthquakes in the region is starting to rise and the elevation of the lake is climbing.

I feel as though I was fortunate to have seen the lake before all of these changes. Who knows, the lake may not even be there in a few years. That would be a shame. As you can see, it is a very beautiful location.

Since this is a vacation photo, I tried to balance the color to match old slide film. I know there are a ton of programs that will do this automatically, but I did it by hand in Photoshop CS4. What do you think?

Old Bridge Over Little Wills Creek, Alabama

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:00 -0500

I love bridges, creeks, and long shadows. So everything I love is in this image. I took it late in the evening just after the sun fell behind the iron of the bridge. And then I left because I hate snakes. I have this huuuuggggeee (huge) fear of snakes and they always hang around this kind of place.

So there you have it. More personal info about me and I hardly know anything at all about you.

Oh, before I forget. My 300th post is coming up soon and I am looking to make it a really great image. It may take me some time to find the one I like the best and it may not be your favorite but I'm reserving the right to make this milestone personal. Keep looking for it, okay?

Fly Like An Osprey

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:41 -0500

I used to work at a place and the password for a lot of our equipment was "osprey." I didn't know what an Osprey was. I just thought it was a weird word. (I didn't get out much back then.)

Well, this is an Osprey. It is a really beautiful bird. I don't know much about them except they fly very fast and and are predators. They are spread throughout the US and even though they are, I had never seen one until I went to Wyoming. Weird huh?

I shot a series of images and even got a cool one directly under its belly with the sun shining through the wings. I may post it one day. (I'm sure I'll probably run across it sometime and wonder why I didn't ever post it.

Point Of No Return

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:33 -0500

If you come here often, you probably ask yourself, "Will Jim ever run out of images from Yellowstone?" Secondly, "Why am I not headed for Yellowstone myself?"

Seriously, I took so many images that I forgot most of them and get a pleasant surprise when I go back and look through them.Such was the case with this image.

It was taken at Mammoth Hot Springs at the very end of a trail that stopped just before the spring water ran right off of the mountain. If memory serves, it was rainy that morning when Amanda and I walked the loop trail around the springs. They weren't so mammoth that day. Like all things Yellowstone, the volcano underneath had rerouted the water and now it doesn't flow like it used to.

Even though that is the case, it is still very beautiful and well worth a visit.

Time For A Cool Change

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:34 -0500

I ran across this image as I was going deeper into the archives. I captured this image just after sunrise on a beautiful Apalachicola Florida morning. The guy waved and then semi posed for the photo.

I don't think I have ever mentioned this little factoid about myself but I am a huge fan of fishing. I fish all year long, cold or hot, sunny or rainy, from a boat or from the shore. I love it all.

I am so jealous of this guy getting to head out on the water. There is no place I'd rather be. Seriously.

But I digress. This is not about me.

I think this is one of my favorite pictures now that I look back on it. I got to capture some beautiful reflections in that water and the lighting was certainly worth getting up for. Even though this image breaks tradition from my usual image, I hope you enjoy it.

And to my friend in the boat, thanks and happy casting.

Oh, and let me know if you would like to see more fishing photos. I'll be glad to oblige.

Marin Headlands

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:27 -0500

For the past several years, I have been fortunate enough to travel across the USA in my job as Corporate Trainer. I've gone to the places I had previously only read about or saw on television or in movies. I have gained a new perspective on my county, her people, and myself. I have been very lucky indeed.

I feel in my heart that it's time for a change. I don't have the drive or desire to continue on this journey. I'm tired and my health has declined to the point that I just want to rest up and take it easy. It has been a tough choice for me. I love traveling around documenting in pictures what I have seen. I always try to find the interesting places and items as I travel. Hopefully, I have succeeded in my efforts.

On my many travels, I discovered a true love for California. I never understood why so many people live there. It is just another place, right?

No way. It is a place that can not be described. It must be experienced. This past fall alone, I traveled to California twice. Both times I drove almost the entire state. It is amazing.

In the northern areas you find rolling hills, in the center you have Yosemite, King's Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. Towards the south is the Mojave and Death Valley desserts. You can't believe the view from the Pacific Coast Highway. The Pacific Ocean is so beautiful.

And then you have San Francisco. Of all of the places I have visited, it is my favorite. It is unlike any other place I have ever been. It is beautiful. The sights and sounds are wonderful. The Golden Gate. Alcatraz. The curviest road in the world. Chinatown. Heck, even the Mythbusters are there, and I went to their office.

And then there is the area just across the golden Gate Bridge. The Marin Headlands.

This photo was taken there, right next to where the bay meets the Pacific. You begin on top of the hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and wind your way down and around the ocean. Amanda and I sat on a park bench and just watched the waves and boats going by, smelling the eucalyptus. It's a sight and smell I'll never forget. I forgot all of my troubles and the world melted away. I wish I could have sat there forever. It was that good. Special.

For me, times they are a changin'. But I lived so many dreams in so short a period of time. And I wouldn't change a thing.

They Tell Me I Was Born There, But I Really Don't Remember

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:40 -0500

July 4th, 1965 was the day I was born. It happened in Atlanta Georgia.

Flash forward almost 42 years to the day. I am walking the streets of Atlanta once again, looking for interesting things to photograph. I shot pictures of buildings, homeless people, trains, and city streets. That's when I came upon this scene.

Out in front of this photography studio was an industrial bubble making machine. It was blowing so many bubbles the people on the street were getting very annoyed. I watched as they swatted and ducked and tried to avoid the wet and sticky mess flying at them at about fifty miles an hour. It was pretty funny. (I did get a series of people and bubbles but none were very interesting to me).

After awhile, the streets got quiet and I went over to the machine and fired off a few shots with the camera. This is one of those shots.