Through the Krystal Lens

2026 Downtown Artists Cooperative Juried Photography Exhibit.  Last night, I attended the opening reception at the Downtown Artists Cooperative! For the first time ever, I entered three of my photography pieces into a juried exhibit. Since I’d never done this before, I truly didn't know what to expect. We arrived at 5:00 PM just as the hustle and bustle began. They served delicious hors d'oeuvres, wine, and the best hot apple cider I’ve had since autumn. As we explored the exhibit, I fell in love with a photograph of a Louisiana Blue Crab. Before the event, I’d set firm expectations for myself and my family: this was my first show, and I wasn't looking for a placement. I just wanted to enjoy the process and appreciate the beautiful art. At 6:30 PM sharp, they began announcing the winners. I had submitted all three of my pieces to the Flora/Fauna category. As they called out the names, I was prepared to remain in the audience—especially after they passed the Honorable Mentio...

A Tennessee Winter This past weekend, we experienced a major winter storm in my neck of the woods. Stewart County, Tennessee, turned into a winter wonderland full of snow and ice. To me, winter storms are a birdwatcher’s dream! I throw out some food and, suddenly, I’m the most popular spot for all our feathered friends. I bundled up in multiple layers and set my camera outside in the early morning hours to let it acclimate to the weather. As I settled in, the Dark-eyed Juncos were the first to show up. With their round, plump bodies of dark grey and white, they began feasting on the bountiful birdseed. I had kept my patio door open, and one curious bird ended up finding its way inside—which meant a quick selfie with my new friend before I released him back to his flock. They were not the only feathered friends to join the party. I was lucky enough to spot Brewer’s blackbirds, a lone red-winged blackbird, crows, blue jays, cardinals, and sparrows! Every once in a while, we would open ou...

Cedars of Lebanon is a unique, beautiful state park.  The Cedars of Lebanon is known for their unique cedars glades. A cedar glade is a unique "natural rock garden" where limestone bedrock sits just beneath the surface, creating soil too thin for most trees to survive. These rocky openings are nicknamed for the hardy Eastern Red Cedars that ring their edges, but the real magic happens in the center. Because the environment is so harsh—baking like a desert in the summer and flooding in the winter—it is home to a collection of rare, "endemic" wildflowers that grow nowhere else on Earth. The first trail I took was the Cedar Glade Trail. This half-mile loop takes you past three cedar glades and gives you educational information on the importance, history, and animals you can find in and around the cedar glade. As a mycophile myself, going in the winter just highlighted the abundance of moss, mushrooms, and lichen growing throughout the trail.  . This trail was directl...

 2026 is here! 🎇 HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THROUGH THE KRYSTAL LENS!  How exciting! I wanted to spend this first blog of the year visioning what this year is going to bring with Through the Krystal Lens. My goal is for this to be a "vision board" for my small business and at the end of the year we will see what came to fruition!  So here they are... my business goals for 2026.  Join the local Chamber of Commerce and begin networking more within the community.  I live with an anxiety disorder so sometimes networking can be difficult on my mental health, especially if I pick up on vibes that I'm not actually welcome. In 2026 my goal is to change this by networking through the Chamber of Commerce.  Attend at least one vendor market per month.  I'm currently looking for January & February - but I'm booked March - May (yay!) so we'll get there!  Hike more.  Some of my best shots are taken in the middle of nowhere on a random trail. I get nervous hi...

This week I had my first video go viral on Instagram....  While the majority of people were kind-hearted - there were those few who focused on my weight rather than the beautiful moment.  People have always treated me less than because of my size and for years I'd let it tear me down. It messed with my mental health so much that as a teen I had multiple suicide attempts, hospitalizations, and in my early 20s battled addiction. At my thinnest, I was strung out daily, committing crimes, and hurting those around me. While I was in rehab I watched "The Secret", a movie about the law of attraction, and something clicked. I no longer cared that people thought I was fat because I was still achieving things in my life. I got clean and started moving forward.  Over the course of the next twelve years (while fat) I've:  Became a mom  Graduated top of my class with my bachelors degree  Ran an innovative 988 follow up program as a Director  Been to dozens of conce...

 Through the Lens of 2025 Krystal after completing the 1000 yard shoot. Now that the year is coming to a wrap, there is no better time than to go through each month with some of my favorite images taken! This year was filled with wonder and self-discovery but also so many trials to strengthen myself and my family.  January  Oh, January. For me this month is always about the birds. In 2025 we worked to make our property a certified wildlife habitat and come January - it shows!  February  Late winter in Tennessee is a fascinating time! The first signs of life begin later in the month and the moss and fungus are in full color.  March  Oh March. It's one of my favorite times of year. The days are longer, the sun is warmer, but the trees are still bare enough to see into the forest.  April April is a special month in our family and spring goes into full swing! Some of our migratory friends come back to visit.  May May was a lot of fun. Our Magnoli...