The blog of Missouri Photographer Chad Davis

In a prior post titled “A rant with a twist“, I had talked about a park in Independence. I have visit George Owens Nature Park several times before mostly for the birds that are attracted to the feeding stations that are placed around the building.   Now, before I go on.  I think it would be good to fill you in on a little history here.

George Owens Nature Park is located at 1601 S. Speck Rd., Independence Mo. 64057 The park consist of 86 acres of beautiful forest with lakes, hiking trails and wildlife.  It includes Six hiking trails, two fishing lakes.  Organized group campground, Family Picnic area, Nature Center, Rain Gardens and a Pavilion.

For those of you have visited and say this is a boring park, you are sadly mistaken or you truly do not really understand what enjoying nature is all about.  Perhaps a theme park is better suited to your desires.

Some of the upcoming events this park has to offer are Winter Hikes, Groundhog Day Celebration, Bluebird House Class etc. For more information please visit the website at http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/parksandrec/Owens.aspx.

continue reading…

With things slowing down a bit I have been able to get some work done.  I finally have finished editing the photographs taken in Wyoming.  Pictures from Devils Tower area as well Yellowstone and the Grand Teton’s.  I didn’t have many from the teton’s because I cut the trip short.  I even have a few shots from Missouri in there. continue reading…

In the great world of the internet you would think one would write more, but this is not the case for me.  To many other things have been going on. To much on the list of things to do. To many things distracting my attention from my true love, which of course is photography.  So let’s start by saying this is my first post since August. Yes, I know!  I’m not keeping up.  It’s my first post for October for this year and hopefully not my last for this month.   Let’s get started shall we. continue reading…

In that last post I talked about the photographic opportunities in the local parks of Florida.  My next visit would be the pursuit of the Bald Eagles in Washington State.

First let me say, it’s really not difficult to find Bald Eagles to photograph.   You can even find them in Florida.  You just have to know where to look.  You ask why Bald Eagles.  Well, I have always loved this graceful and majestic bird.  They just seem to fly with ease.  There feathers on the end of their wings curl as they pump their wings for lift. You know when your in their presence when they speak.  It’s a distinctive sound.  Their fiscal appearance demands your attention.  On top of all that it’s the national bird of the United States, so why not.

continue reading…

Well, I said there would be second post on the Florida Opportunities subject. I’m keeping my promise. So let me start.

In the prior post I stated that I searched for a couple hours for the wildlife in the parks. There are more then a few in Florida. Some you have to pay and others you do not. You can guess that ones you have to pay to get in would have plenty of wildlife to photograph. That’s not always the case. I have payed plenty to photograph the animals in Sea World and have come out with very little quality shots. That’s not to say that you can’t get some good shots, but you don’t get the type of shots that say wildlife. You get the shots that say wildlife in captivity. continue reading…

Hey Everyone,

Well, I’m back from the west coast. Actually I have been back for sometime, I just haven’t been able to get around to writing anything in the blog. I truly apologize for that. Even know I have been back for sometime I have been working pretty hard catching up with business, editing and analyzing all the pictures that I took from Florida and Washington. I have plenty of new photos up on the website. More on that a little later.

continue reading…

Well, for weeks I have been trying to get up to Squaw Creek with little success. Finally I made up there this last Monday. I planned on arriving before sunrises. I looked on the internet to find out what time the sun would be showing itself in the morning and I set my alarm clock. I managed to wake up in plenty of time. I actually woke up before the alarm even went off.  I’m not much for morning person, but when it comes to photographing.  It doesn’t take much and I’m out the door.  I looked at the weather the night before and I new a storm was going to be rolling in. I just hoped that it would arrive later rather then sooner. So with that in mind I was set to go. I drove the 100 miles to arrive just before sunrise.  continue reading…

Hey, I’m back!  The trip was fun, but at times it sure did try me.  I guess sometimes your lucky an other’s your not.  I had high expectations of capturing some photographs of wolves and Moose.  Too no avail, I didn’t succeed in that department.  Of course there were other if not most impressive scenery and nature to photograph.  

I spent a lot time searching and waiting where I thought for sure I would find them critters. Many stories were told of seeing them, sometimes continue reading…

On a recent visit to my first Civil War battle reenactment that took place near Martin City, Missouri, I had a chance to reflect a little while photographing.  The reenactment was sponsored by the North/South Alliance, a western theater reenactment organization of the First Federal Division(Union) and the (Confederate) Army of Tennessee.  The battle reenacted was the battle of Westport, often referred to as the “Gettysburg of the West”.  Now, I didn’t want to write just about the history here.  More to the point, I wanted to write about what thoughts that soldier may have been having before they went into battle. Of course none of these individuals were actually ever in a battle during the Civil War, perhaps another War that has been fought by United States maybe.  This I didn’t know and gave little thought of.

When it was almost continue reading…