Amber Nichols/Free Choice Photoshoot & Essay

It was an early morning when I stopped to get donut holes. As I was waiting, something over at the Mexican restaurant next door caught my eye. Intrigued, I took quite a few photos, but most of them turned out blurry. However, this one photo stood out as the best shot. Isn't it beautiful? The way the morning light highlights the vibrant colors of the restaurant is simply captivating.


 I loved how these trees almost look painted. And how the photo the water you look Like You can walk across.
And I think it's positioned right

I still can't believe I captured this photo. It was the perfect time of day to be out there, with the sun casting a beautiful glow over everything. I saw some incredible animals and stunning scenery. Doesn't it look like he's just sitting there, contemplating the whole world? The way he gazes out, you can almost imagine him lost in deep thought, taking in the vast expanse before him. The moment felt magical, and I'm so glad I was able to capture it in this shot.



These photos capture a duck struggling with a large fish. In the first couple of shots, you can see the duck having a hard time getting the fish out of the water—it looks like a big fish, almost too large for the duck. You can clearly see the fish in its mouth. The subsequent photos show the duck maneuvering the fish step-by-step, trying to position it just right. It’s fascinating to watch the sequence as the duck lifts its head, stretches its neck, and points its beak straight up in the air to swallow the fish. The entire process is a remarkable display of determination and natural behavior.








I really enjoyed this trip out there. I guess I really enjoyed this class too, and I would recommend it to anyone. You're a great teacher, and I love how you encourage us to explore and take photos of things we wouldn't normally notice in our daily lives—those unique moments that catch our eye when we're actively looking for them.

I wanted to post all my photos, but I stuck with these ones. Here are a couple more photos from the trip that I particularly liked. The way the light played on the water and the vibrant colors of the landscape really made these moments special. Each shot tells a different story and captures the beauty of our surroundings in a way that I wouldn't have noticed without your guidance.


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