This is the last of my nature challenge series and tomorrow brings another new day with a new theme in photography. This keeps me shooting and processing and learning.
I'm having a week where I am missing snow and snow sport. That's not to say that I don't appreciate having temperatures in the 70s in February, I just miss a little play in the snow. This photo was taken at my Mom's farm in Eastern Canada two years ago at Christmas. There is a great old crab apple tree with the apples still on it and the snow had just fallen. In fact, it snowed every day we were there....heavenly! We toboganned every day down the slopes by the barns. We went inside only when there was snow up the pant legs, in the mittens, and down the neck. What a blast!
inspiration corner
Quote of the week
- I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir
My photographs
swaps and other goodies
- The Crafty Crow
nature challenge
February 25, 2008
February 24, 2008
East Bay Brook: nature challenge #29
Today I woke up missing the snow and cold. Am I nuts? Most likely. However, as people write about the length of winter and frozen toes, I think about snowmen, toboganning, skating, cross country skiing, throwing snowballs, icicles on the roof and hanging off the front of the car, frozen nostril hairs, being wrapped up in a cozy blanket by the fire, hot toddies, and a good winter's read.
I took this photo at my sister's in Cape Breton when I went on a walk along a brook two years ago. I did a little painting in photoshop CS3 and voila....reminiscent of the Group of Seven...well...sort of. I'm thinking of making this into a mid-winter greeting card to send off to friends and family. Winter greetings to all!
February 23, 2008
preening: nature challenge #28
Soon I'll be wrapping up my 30 day nature challenge and have a plan for the next 30 days....
This one I worked on this morning from my archives because my mother who is a birdnut more than me, wanted some of my hummingbird photos. I must work on improving my technique photographing these little fellows. I should have used a different focusing program and bumped up the shutter speed more than I did. It's all trial and error sometimes to see what works the best. I believe this is a juvenile ruby throated hummingbird. The red isn't quite as developed on the neck. Anyhow, if anyone knows for sure....feel free to correct me!
February 22, 2008
more drops: nature challenge #27
Another day of rain, but it is nice and warm and spiders are still at work creating wonderful webs to catch drops. The red glow in the lower portion of the photo is from a brick wall which is also reflected in the drops. You never know what you are really going to see when you put the macro lens on the camera!
February 21, 2008
stoic: nature challenge #26
A trip to the Gulf of Mexico to walk along a beach....we never did find one that didn't have highrises next to it, but may be we didn't look hard enough. Every recommendation we received took us to a white sand beach, but there was always development. This photo was taken at Henderson State beach park which was blocked in on both sides by highrises. I managed to get a few more pics and always tried to shoot seawards to not have the ugly view of development. I'm not sure about how beautiful everyone says the Gulf of Mexico is--it's all in the eye of the beholder. If you like development and rows and rows of beach chairs, then I guess it's beautiful. If you like rocky headlands, sand dunes, tidal flats, lagoons, tidal pools, then it's not picturesque at all.
oh.....I think this is a type of gull...I must go look up which kind. They were closing their eyes in the headwind and some were trying to nap with their heads in their feathers.
February 20, 2008
Star flower: nature challenge # 25
These little guys are blooming in the garden right now as the last of the daffodils wither away. As with most things in the south, they have a religious name. I believe they're called the Stars of Jerusalem. I call them star flowers because they remind me of the star flowers I would see blooming on the forest floor in late May in the northeast. So light and delicate, yet full of the freshness of spring. warning...camera tip: using an aperture 5.6 and below blurs the background in this case, and gives the nice shallow depth of field. Just a note for the few of you who happen by and want to know how this is done...practice for getting off Auto mode!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments on my 30 day nature challenge, I appreciate it.
February 19, 2008
cedar waxwing: nature challenge #24
My Mom spots the birds and I take the photos. Here she had her point and shoot camera along and we were able to get close enough to get a half decent shot. This is taken with the Canon powershot A630 (we're all Canon users in this family...just how it's evolved). This guy didn't mind having the portrait taken. I do wish I'd had my camera along, I would have been able to photograph the daring look in his eye.
Well....the robins are starting to leave. I would say a few hundred remain. I'm waiting until they all leave before I clean up all the mess they've left us. Spit out seeds are everywhere!
Like everyone else, the flu has also hit our house. I put my husband in quarantine. I'm very big on quarantine. He's not allowed to come out for a few days yet. Hopefully Leah will pass through this time unscathed by the plague. I'm hopeful.
February 18, 2008
a part of robin fest: nature challenge #23
When we woke up this morning, the cars were covered in spit-out seeds from the thousands of robins that fell out of the sky ahead of the storm. They feasted on the trees all over our yard. This robin posed for a photo and let me tell you, if I tried to get a little closer, they would have no part of it. Have you ever tried to photograph a robin? This one stayed as far away as he could and was photographed at 400mm on the telephoto lens. I tried to sneak up on a few robins and cedar waxwings, but they weren't game for portraits either. Here are a few more pics. Lots of movement and getting the depth of field was tricky in low morning light. This was a great nature lesson for Leah seeing all these birds everywhere.
February 17, 2008
a strand of berries: nature challenge #22
Today was the day of a robin clan gathering. Everywhere in my neighbourhood trees were covered thick with robins. The puddles were covered, the lawns were covered, on and on...it looked like the photos I've seen of monarch butterfly migration only with robins. I would guess several thousand robins. I've never seen robins congregated like this before...awesome...a pic to follow. Also a few pics of a nice family nature walk around the 'hood.
February 16, 2008
butterfly conservatory: nature challenge #21
We made a trip to Calloway Gardens in Georgia and stopped by their butterfly conservatory. We had butterflies fluttering over our head and landing on our hands and shoulders. Leah's first experience with seeing that many butterflies..oh....so colourful and magnificent patterns. The thing is about butterflies though, is that they never stay still, so a real challenge with composition and camera settings. May post a few more later...
