Algoma Lighthouse Rainbow
These images are some of my earliest, serious photographic attempts to capture of one of my favorite subjects – the Algoma, WI harbor and lighthouse.
This photo dates back to September 28, 1996. It was taken with my Kodak Easyshare DX7590 – a moderate step above a point-and-shoot camera that had a whopping, 5 mega-pixel sensor and a 10x optical zoom.
After a day of working at the church, I started for home. As I drove by the harbor, I noticed the rainbow. I grabbed my camera and a new toy I had just received as a birthday gift a couple of weeks before – a circular polarizing filter. It’s the filter that really brings out the colors of the rainbow.
A couple of things I remember from that shoot… The rainbow was strong and lasted a long time. I was able to take several photos from different locations around the harbor. Usually, about the time I get the camera out and the filter on, the beauty has faded.
I also remember being concerned about my camera, since there was a light drizzle falling. I remember crouching under a very small tree to try to keep it dry.
Keeper of the Lighthouse
This view of the Algoma, WI lighthouse was taken early in the morning. I believe the bird is a cormorant.
This was taken a good distance from the subject. To make the cormorant the focus of the shot required a pretty aggressive crop. There’s quite a bit of digital noise in the image. I decided I liked it and did nothing to diminish it.
Pretty Profile
It has been at least a couple of weeks since we’ve seen a hummingbird at our feeders. They’ve headed south for the winter…already.
This is one of the regulars that we will miss – a female ruby-throated hummingbird.
I like this photo because of the clear view of her pretty face and the blurred effect of her right wing. Also note the tiny strand of spider web dangling off the back of her head. Find out why there might be a spider web attached to a hummingbird. I detail it in a previous post – Click Here.
To see a larger version of this image, click the photo above.
Morning Walk
The Beeline
Beeline (noun) 1. direct, straight course. 2. To move swiftly in a direct, straight course.
One of my “quests” this summer was to capture a bee in flight. They’re small, quick and errattic. Hard to catch in focus. So far, none of my efforts have come close to what I would deem, “successful.”
The image above is the best I’ve managed…so far…and it was by accident. (That happens more than I might like to admit.)
I was taking photos around a flower bed beside our house. While I was changing camera settings, I accidentally pressed the shutter button. A that exact moment, a bee happened to be zipping into the frame…and voilá.
If I were trying for it, I wouldn’t try in black and white, but looking at this, I really like the intensity it creates. The bee – with his straight antennae, trailing legs and blurred wings – looks like he is on a do-or-die mission and will not be denied.
To see a larger version of this image, just click on it.
To see more bee photos, check out the Bugs & Spiders gallery.
Where Fairies Live
These sprites were gracious to greet us and pose for pictures at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens. Though they seem pretty relaxed, they are obviously very conscientious about their public image and work hard at keeping up their home and garden landscaping.
You can enjoy a larger view of either image by simply clicking on it.
Panoramic Perspective
The clouds and the early morning light created a magical panoramic view. I snapped this yesterday morning from the beach in Kewaunee, WI.
I’m sorry the format of this blog is not conducive to getting a good view of panorama images. You can get a better view by clicking on the image.
I really wanted a huge sailboat to glide into this photo. How cool would that look. I also managed to snagged a few black-and-white images from this morning that I’ll post in the future.
Kewaunee Lighthouse Fly By
Botanicals
Sunrise Brushstrokes
This was an image I snapped on my way to church Sunday morning, September 11, 2011. The clouds reminded me of the strokes from an artist’s paintbrush.
These are is the piers and lighthouse of the Algoma, WI harbor. The sun, rising above a calm Lake Michigan.
Early morning fishermen are starting to populate the piers as salmon begin their annual to come in to spawn up river. I took this photo around 6:30 am.
If this image appeals to you – by all means – share it with your friends. (Thanks.)
Click the image to view a larger version.