Flower Garden – Well I planted lots of flowers two months ago and they are in full bloom. So many wonderful colors and I am happy to say the hummingbirds are still here. They appear to be having a blast going to all the flowers and chasing each other.
I have two flower gardens that way the hummingbirds have plenty of room to check out all the flowers.
Flower Garden Finally Blooming
Marigolds – marigolds symbolize purity, auspiciousness, and the divine. Their strong fragrance is believed to ward off negativity and evil spirits. Plus they are said to ward off mosquitos.
The vibrant colors of marigolds also represent the sun’s energy, signifying warmth, passion, and creativity.
I planted a lot of marigolds this year to test out the theory of keeping mosquitos away. But by the time they bloomed the mosquitos were already gone. So I can not testify that this theory is correct until next year. 🙂
This one is not a marigold, I just added it because of the color scheme and background.
Marigolds
Knowledge is Power – Autumn is upon us and it is always the time of year that brings me to reflect on the past summer as our travel plans get closer. But this weekend I was thinking about time, I was actually given a senior discount for something I purchased, it is my first senior discount and just the word senior made me think about time and all those who have gone before me.
I was thinking about my grandfather who has passed away now over 30 years ago. How is time for him. I thought about my mother who passed away only 3 years ago and I thought of all the time she spent cooking meals, cleaning house, taking care of family and friends. All that which is just gone now, but for a memory.
As I am approaching my 62 birthday, I thought about the lifetime I have had so far and how I am in a place of peace and happiness that I believe just comes with age. Maybe because I have a better sense of time now, knowing that my time here is very short. When we are young it seems like time will last forever.
As I was contemplating all these things about life, an article appeared before me that I found very relatable. I would like to share a part of it here.
In the year 2123, exactly 100 years from now, we shall all be laid to rest beside our loved ones.
Our homes, which we have fought so hard to create, will be occupied by total strangers, and they will possess all we have right now. Everything we own, even the expensive car we didn’t even buy yet, will eventually be scrapped and sold to a collector nobody has ever heard of.
Our offspring won’t recognise us or remember us for very long. How many of us can name the father of our grandfather?
A few years after our deaths, our history, photographs, and acts will fade into history’s oblivion, at which point we will be remembered only as a portrait on someone’s bookshelf. There won’t be any trace of us left.
Maybe if we took a day to reflect on these issues, we’d see how foolish and feeble the desire to have it all really is.
We would be different people with new perspectives and ways of thinking if only we could give this some serious thought.
The pursuit of more has left us with little time for the things that truly matter. Would people give it all up if it meant getting to experience the walks they never took, the hugs they never gave, the kisses they never got to offer to loved ones, and the jokes we never got to tell. Those would be the best times to reflect on, because they would bring us so much more wealth and happiness.
Knowledge is Power
All Creatures Great and Small – I found this colorful bug in my marigold plants. It isn’t any bigger then the end of a pencil, the lead end of a pencil. But the bold red stripes caught my eye right away when I was about to water them. How unusual is this.
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures..
living things both large and small.
Along with this one below, it resembles a fly but again it is very very small and shined like gold on this leaf. Amazing what we might see when we look really close.
All Creatures Great and Small
Percentage of Bad Photos – What is the percentage on average of photos that don’t make the cut and end up on the editing floor so to speak.
Well on average 2 out of 20 photos will be good when you are photographing a series or trying to follow a subject like wildlife.
Here are some perfect examples. I am trying to photograph this red squirrel, who by the way can move very fast.
Leaf in the way, no good
Not a fast enough shutter speed at all
Not fast enough yet
Below is a short video showing this squirrel moving so quickly, you can see why they are hard to photograph. I put the music from mission impossible movie with this clip. It fits pretty well 🙂 or click here; Mission Impossible Red Squirrel
Oh the expression, he seems a bit perturbed with me and would rather eat in peace. Bird seed doesn’t come free for these guys, the deal is they have to get their photos taken. I am pretty sure they signed a contract somewhere along the line. Maybe just in my mind. 🙂
Come back here
Who knows what happened here
The odds are right on, I had two good photos out of 18. I did not put all the bad ones on here. Just keep that in mind when you are out taking photos. They will never all be perfect, but photography is like playing golf to me. When you get that one awesome shot, it just makes me want to keep going and do more. Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
Percentage of Bad Photos
Wings Touching Water – Awhile back I had mentioned how I wanted to take more photo of birds in flight with their wings just grazing the water. Well, pelicans are a good one for doing this because they ride the updrafts along the water, so they can glide for long periods of time and then flap their wings and stay close to the water.
So when we went back north this past spring, we had to stop at the Mississippi river, where you will always find some white pelicans and I was able to add a couple more photos to the list.
Wings Touching Water
Art of the Feline – Cat Art
At the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, a bold painting by Austrian artist Carl Kahler made a splash among critics. Entitled My Wife’s Lovers, the work drew tremendous attention for its lavish depictions of a wealthy socialite’s paramours.
It wasn’t infidelity, though: The “lovers” were her cats. Now, My Life’s Lovers—perhaps the greatest cat tribute ever created by human hands—just sold at Sotheby’s auction for a whopping $826,000.
Art of the Feline
Stop to Smell the Flowers
Wait Mom, I’m coming
Stop to Smell the Flowers
A Drop of Water shinning on the morning leaves, reminds me of a friendly tear drop or a tiny little globe of light reflecting on what could be.
As if you could step into this perfect little drop and enter into a new world of endless beauty.
A Drop of Water
But Wait There Is More
But Wait There Is More
Have a wonderful weekend.
They Grow Up So Fast
Slow Motion Video of Mother and Fawn below. Or click here; Mother and Fawn
They Grow Up So Fast
Mother and Fawn – Well mom is finally bringing her baby out into the open with her. This female deer below is the oldest of the adults, she has seniority over all the others ones and lets them know it if they get to close to the feeders when she is around. I know her now because of her size and a dark spot on the side of her neck.
This fawn is a little older now and still has a few of its white spots across its body.
I snapped this photo just right, looks like she got a taste of some sour corn off of the ground.
Mother and Fawn
Bumblebees are one of the most important pollinators in the world. They are hard at work right now in my gardens. They are covered in pollen and busy little bees. They are so round and plump looking. They don’t mind my camera being near them at all.
There wings beat 130 or more times a minute.
Bumblebees
The Colors of Summer, I believe I mentioned awhile ago that the hummingbirds seems to have already left my area. Well, they are back, or they were just waiting for all my flowers to bloom so they could enjoy them.
I planted lots of zinnia’s and cosmos and a few other things to bring bright colors to my yard for the hummingbirds and butterfly’s.
They are buzzing all around the gardens, enjoying the warm weather and bountiful nectar found all around my yard. This has been the best year for flowers for me. I planted them all over 2 months ago and thought they were never going to make it for the birds, bees and butterflies, but they did.
So much fun out in the gardens this month.
Oh, and the little goldfinches are enjoying my bird bath as well.
The Colors of Summer
Photographing Star Trail Circles – another goal of mine is to photograph a circle of star trails, a full circle with no obstructions in the foreground. Finding the spot and the right conditions is the challenge more so then actually taking the photo.
I live in dark sky country, so that makes it much easier to accomplish this task. Well, a couple of days ago I went to a lake that I knew had a clear view to the north and I though that would have plenty of space to photograph the circle of stars.
But what I did not think of, is that even after the sun went down behind the horizon, the glow of the sun would still linger way past sunset with no obstructions to hide the last bit of light. Which made it more difficult to find the north star.
I used a compass to find due north, but as you can see in this first photo I was off center and the north star is to the left. Plus the mist coming off the lake kept blurring the lens. But it sure was fun trying to get the shot.
Not this photo is from my yard, I know where the north star is and as you can see I have a lot of trees blocking the full circle effect. But I will find a location yet to accomplish this task.
On our way home at midnight, we stopped at a lake that I knew at a clear view to the south and photographed the milky way over the water.
I did a little photo light painting as I shined my flashlight on the water to light it up for this first photo. The second photo is without the extra light.
Adventures await everyday, sometimes right outside out own backdoors.
Have a great weekend.
Photographing Star Trail Circles
Snow in August – no, 🙂 these photos are from 2 years ago. I have not seen snow in 2 years and that is ok with me. But I do enjoy looking at the photos I have taken of snow and deer in the snow.
We are preparing to head south already, time to go visit family and put the lawn mowers away. I love the autumn season and traveling when it isn’t so hot out as well.
Snow in August
Last Falls Deer – Autumn is approaching fast, I have a few leaves starting to turn color all ready. I do believe fall is my favorite season.
Here are just a few photos of last years deer as I wait to see this years new babies enter my yard for their portrait to be taken.
Last Falls Deer
White Tailed Deer – Wildlife has been very scarce this year. Normally there are over a dozen deer around here and this year I have seen 2 adult female deer. This one has a fawn running around, I have seen it a couple of times, still has its spots on it.
But it is just starting to come out of the woods with mom, so hopefully I will get a few photos of the fawn soon to share here.
Below is a short video of mama deer looking for some food out of my feeder, or click here; White Tailed Deer Standing
White Tailed Deer
Dream On Dream On – This month is a show above all shows in the heavens called the Perseid Meteor Shower. Over the weekend was suppose to be the highlight and I just had to go out and see what I could photograph. I have not photographed the milky way in awhile.
This is a photo of my yard at midnight, I can see the milky way every night without a camera. It is an amazing sight and worth staying up for. Does it not show us how small we really are here on this planet. Creation above all else.
The meteor shower was more noticeable right at dusk into the dark, around 10pm. Facing north one could see much more against the darker sky away from the Milky Way.
Shutter speed 20 sec, ISO 6400, f2.8, 17mm lens
Below is a short time lapse of Saturday nights Perseid Meteor shower and Milky way or click this link, Perseid Shower
To make a video takes all night, because I am shooting with a 15 to 20 sec shutter speed, I used a go pro camera for this short video.
“Dream On” is a power ballad by Aerosmith from their 1973 eponymous debut album. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this song was their first major hit and became a classic rock radio staple.
I then took my older go pro and set it to time lapse photo, facing the north. If you want to create a circle of the stars. Point your camera directly at the north star and then take anywhere from 200 to 600 photos and stacked them on top of each other.
Again at 15 to 20 sec shutter speed and ISO 3200 or 6400. The colors you see in the shot are not photoshopped. There actually different colored stars that one can only see with night photography.
I will be doing more this month as the weather permits.
Dream On Dream On
Portrait of the Black Bear
Have a wonderful weekend.
Portrait of the Black Bear
Black Bear Trail Cam Video – here are a few more photos of last years younger black bear that came to visit with his mom and this years young bear.
I added a short clip from my trail camera of the bear that visited this year below. This clip is not on You Tube so there isn’t a link to it. You would probably have to click visit page in reader to see this clip. It shows the young bear and how it stands up to check out the empty feeder.
Below is what happened when the bear finally saw me. I did not know they could run that fast.
American Black Bear
Mom Bear – now this is a good size bear. These two visited our place two years ago. I saw the little bear first and again stood outside my back door with a 600mm lens and was photographing away when all of a sudden, mom came out of the woods.
I have to admit, my heart rate went up a bit when I saw her. She was so big and quite beautiful. These two trashed the feeder and again I had already put everything away when I first figured out they were here.
I don’t want them staying around, one has to respect these giant animals and give them space. They stuck around for about 4 days and then were gone. Bears are always on the search for food, if there isn’t any available they will move on as these two did.
This years bear below.
Mom Bear
Standing Bear – They sure look strange when standing up. This black bear is actually a smaller one. Standing he is shorter then 6ft. Compared to the pole I measured behind him.
This bear is about 80 yards from my house. I was standing next to the backdoor of our cabin as I photographed him. Being very quiet to not get its attention. Plus being right by the door incase I have to go back in.
I also use a 600 mm lens so I can get a closer photo.
Standing Bear
New Visitor the Black Bear – every couple of years I might get to see a black bear as it wanders through my yard. Last month this small black bear stopped for a visit.
I woke up to my bird feeding pole bent over to the ground which tells me a bear is in the yard. So I take down my bird feeders and put them away as I know he will keep coming back looking for food. Once I put the feeders away, he came back a couple days checking things out and now I have not seen him for a few weeks.
I put a trail camera out so I can monitor it as to what activity is going on at night while I am sleeping. He hasn’t been on the trail cam for a while now.
He sat down near my bird bath and just looked around for awhile. It was hot on this day and he wasn’t moving very fast. By the way, I am just guessing a he, I don’t really know for sure.
New Visitor the Black Bear
The Hummingbird – they travel over 2,000 miles twice a year. They winter in Central America or Mexico and migrate north to their breeding grounds in the U.S. during late winter and early spring.
When you see what amazing things this tiny little bird can do. It makes me realize there isn’t anything that I can not accomplish. Natures Little Wonders
Have a great weekend.
Have a Great Weekend
The Hummingbird
My Favorite Hummingbird Photos – normally I always have 4 hummingbirds visiting my place. This year I have only see 2. I did not get a chance to photograph them this year and they are gone already. So, here are a few of last years photos.
My Favorite Hummingbird Photos
Cross the Bridge into August, July has come and gone. How time fly’s. These bridges here are all crossing the Mighty Mississippi River taken from the Iowa side of the river.
This first bridge is actually gone now, they tore it down this past year. Well, last time I went by there they still had a small section of the bridge left to take down. It is replaced by a bigger more modern bridge now.
It sure made for pretty photos at night.
Cross the Bridge into August
Same Day Stormy Weather – the same day we had the shelf cloud, the sky’s had cleared and then all of a sudden another storm was coming our way in the evening. This storm brought a couple more inches of rain and lot of thunder and lightning.
Rain was coming down in sheets as it blew sideways across the land.
As I heard the thunder off in the distance I set up my go pro camera on time lapse photos, .5 sec intervals. Trying to catch a couple of lightning strikes. The faster the interval the better chance you have of photographing one with this camera.
The camera took 900 photos, each one unique shapes and light. But, to look at 900 photos looking for a lightning strike takes a long time.
So instead I stacked them all into one photo and this is the result below. It gives movement to the clouds as it stacks each one on top of the other and it shows the lightning strikes as well. Makes it easier to go back and find the one photo with the strikes on it.
Same Day Stormy Weather
July Went out With a Bang as a shelf cloud came across the land a few days ago.
Shelf clouds are harmless themselves but typically indicate strong storms. Shelf clouds form at the leading edge of a thunderstorm. If you see a shelf cloud coming your way, it probably means you are about to get hit by a strong thunderstorm.
I have seen two in my lifetime and they are quite interesting cloud formations and make great photos if you are quick enough. Usually they are moving pretty fast.
This one below I took a couple of years ago, it was a much worse storm behind it then the one above. Even though the one last week did dump over 2 inches of rain and very high winds.
July Went out With a Bang
Bridges, I have photographed over 200 bridges, so I am picking some of my favorites going way back to bridges I photographed in Iowa when I lived there as well.
Michigan
Iowa
Texas
Mississippi River
Have a great weekend.
Bridges
