Itty-bitty teeny-tiny toad
Author: Colton Babladelis
Sea turtle staring contest
The expression that this turtle displays in his venerable eyes is part of the reason that I love turtles so much!
Limnian Sunset
This breathtaking view was about 100 meters high on a cliff overlooking the sea. From up here, when the sun was JUST right, you could actually see Mt. Athos on the mainland. Limnos is a Greek island just off the Turkish coast, and has been discussed as far back as Homer.
Purple daisy
Sunset through a tree
Puffy fish
Got into a staring contest with this little puffer fish while I was at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Obviously, he won.
Years of poetry, part 2
Thanks to my very talented cousin, Amy Stoll (https://www.facebook.com/AmyStollPhotography/?fref=nf) for putting this together!
Badwater Basin, Death Valley
I visited Death Valley in February of 2014 and was lucky enough to see rain and even a small amount of water accumulation on the ground. The result were flowers erupting in small patches all over the barren looking landscape. My father and I spent more than a day driving though, hiking over, taking photos of and staring in marvel at the engulfing desert all around us.
Joy becomes us
God looked down at me
With tears in his eyes
The ocean in each drop,
That salt burned
The freshly opened wounds
A hole torn through
My chest ripped open
But his tears did cleanse
And in time passed the pain
After 40 days of death
And 40 nights of birth
Broke the sun
From humble clouds
In the shape of your face
The heavens opened
For but a moment
And I saw all of eternity
A vast plain of peace
As clearly as a reflection
I looked at the future
As vision of grace
And joy became us
Ashes and diamonds
Salvaged from damnation
Ashes turned to diamonds
Your heart shone
A stone, stolen
From the depths of the earth
To the palm of my hand
A maddening brilliance
That lit kingdoms afire
And set hearts into frenzy
A Poetic Voyage 