Troy Thomas Photography

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Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary details. 🌸✨There is something deeply captivating about getting up close with s...
06/04/2026

Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary details. 🌸✨

There is something deeply captivating about getting up close with summer blooms. This macro view of a Rose of Sharon reveals a miniature world that we easily walk right past.

Look closely at the center, and you can see the intricate texture of the pollen clinging to the stamen, framed by that rich, bleeding crimson center and delicate white petals. Capturing these tiny botanical details reminds me of why macro photography is so rewarding—it forces us to slow down and truly look at the design hidden in our own backyards.

Take a moment to appreciate the small details this evening! 🌿

Worth waking up early for. 🌅🌊Catching the sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico at South Padre Island is always a grounding ex...
06/01/2026

Worth waking up early for. 🌅🌊

Catching the sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico at South Padre Island is always a grounding experience, but some mornings the sky turns it into a true performance.

The way the first rays of the sun hit the underside of these massive, towering clouds—igniting them in brilliant shades of amber, coral, and deep violet—creates such an incredible contrast against the cool, rushing tide below. Standing on the shoreline watching the light shift by the second is the perfect reminder of how dynamic the Texas coast can be before the rest of the world wakes up.

There is nothing quite like the rhythm of the waves paired with the expansive drama of a Gulf Coast sunrise.

Scaling the high country on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. 🏔️🚂There is something incredibly striking about seeing this brig...
05/29/2026

Scaling the high country on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. 🏔️🚂

There is something incredibly striking about seeing this bright red train carve its way through the barren, rocky terrain above the timberline. At this altitude, the trees give way to fields of granite boulders, subalpine scree, and sweeping views that stretch out toward the Continental Divide.

Ever since the railway first started carrying passengers up America’s Mountain in 1891, it has been one of the most unique ways to experience the sheer scale of the Rockies. Even with the modern, Swiss-built trains running the line today, the jaw-dropping perspective of the rugged slopes and the massive valleys below hasn’t changed a bit.

Watching the train crawl up the steep mountain grade against such an immense backdrop really puts the vastness of the landscape into perspective.

A quiet practice in patience below the dam. 🎣🌲There is a distinct kind of stillness that settles over the water at Carpe...
05/27/2026

A quiet practice in patience below the dam. 🎣🌲

There is a distinct kind of stillness that settles over the water at Carpenter Dam Park. Located just below Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, this spot is famous for its swift currents, cold tailwaters, and the trout that thrive just beneath the surface.

I don’t normally feature people in my frames, but watching this lone fisherman quietly waiting on the wooden dock was too compelling to pass up.

Stripped of distractions, the scene becomes less about the catch and more about the rhythm of the water and the deliberate choice to slow down. Sometimes, adding a human element is the perfect reminder of how we interact with the quiet corners of the natural world.

A graceful stride in shallow waters. 🌊🪶This American Avocet was captured wading through the mudflats, perfectly displayi...
05/25/2026

A graceful stride in shallow waters. 🌊🪶

This American Avocet was captured wading through the mudflats, perfectly displaying its striking black-and-white plumage and distinctive upward-curved bill. These elegant shorebirds are precision feeders, using that unique bill to sweep through the water to catch aquatic invertebrates with incredible speed.

The way the soft, warm light catches its form against the muted, textured water makes this a peaceful moment to share.

This evening photo captures a fantastic architectural contrast in downtown Bartlesville. 🌇✨On the left, the classic, ill...
05/22/2026

This evening photo captures a fantastic architectural contrast in downtown Bartlesville. 🌇✨

On the left, the classic, illuminated arches of the Frank Phillips Tower shine against the deep purple twilight. Built from 1927 to 1930, its traditional, ornate details stand out beautifully right next to the massive, geometric grid of the modern Plaza Office Building (POB).

But what makes this view truly spectacular is a hidden piece of local history built right into those walls.

When the original corporate complex expansion on the campus was eventually outgrown and torn down, the materials weren't just discarded. Instead, the very bricks (approximately 43,000) from that historic original site were salvaged, cleaned, and integrated directly into the construction of the new Plaza Office Building. 🧱✨

I love the poetry in that. The physical history of Bartlesville's boom wasn't erased; it was entirely remade to form the backdrop of the modern city we see today. Seeing these two eras of design side-by-side—knowing that the modern POB literally carries the bricks of what came before—makes for an incredibly compelling view, especially when the Oklahoma sky cooperates with a backdrop like this.

Caught a quiet moment with this cottontail completely content to just sit and soak up the sunshine. ☀️🐇There’s a reason ...
05/20/2026

Caught a quiet moment with this cottontail completely content to just sit and soak up the sunshine. ☀️🐇

There’s a reason you often spot rabbits out like this during the early mornings or late afternoons. They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours when the light is low. But when the weather is just right, they love to find a patch of warm light to bask in, using the sun to help regulate their body temperature after a cool night.

The way the light catches the edge of its fur and highlights those tiny purple flowers in the grass made this such a peaceful scene to capture.

Watching a jellyfish drift through the water is almost hypnotic. The way the white spots catch the light against the dee...
05/19/2026

Watching a jellyfish drift through the water is almost hypnotic. The way the white spots catch the light against the deep black makes it look like it’s floating through deep space. 🌌🌊

What’s really fascinating about these Spotted Lagoon Jellies is that they are actually sun-chasers. They hold tiny, microscopic algae inside their tissues, and they migrate across the water daily to follow the sunlight so the algae can photosynthesize. It’s a pretty incredible partnership—the jellyfish travels to find the sun, and the algae helps provide energy for them both.

Capturing that translucent texture against a completely dark background was a fun challenge, and I love how the delicate details of the tentacles turned out.

There is something incredibly satisfying about the way San Francisco's row houses sit shoulder-to-shoulder. 🏘️✨What make...
05/17/2026

There is something incredibly satisfying about the way San Francisco's row houses sit shoulder-to-shoulder. 🏘️✨

What makes them so compelling? It really comes down to the rhythm. Because land was at a premium after the mid-1800s Gold Rush, lots were divided into incredibly narrow, deep strips—usually just 25 feet wide. Architects had to get creative with vertical space, adding those signature bay windows not just for style, but to maximize interior square footage and scoop up every bit of coastal daylight.

When you line them up like this, all those individual details—the decorative brackets, the trim work, and the shifting rooflines—blend into a giant, textured pattern.

I love the contrast here between the crisp architectural angles and the perfectly rounded green tree in the foreground.

There is something so delicate about the way cosmos petals catch the afternoon light. 🌸An interesting thing about these ...
05/15/2026

There is something so delicate about the way cosmos petals catch the afternoon light. 🌸

An interesting thing about these flowers is that their name actually comes from the Greek word kosmos, which refers to order and harmony in the universe. It’s easy to see why when you look at the perfect symmetry of those petals and that bright yellow center. They were a favorite in Spanish mission gardens centuries ago because they were so reliable and simple to grow, and they still bring that same effortless cheer to a garden today.

I really enjoyed getting close enough to see the fine lines and textures on this one. It’s a nice reminder to slow down and notice the smaller patterns right in front of us.

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