Fan Dancer
This was an American Goldfinch that I found by the marina in Algoma, Wisconsin. He was feasting on the thistles growing near the water’s edge; pulling out the white tufts and munching on the seeds. As you can see, thistle seeds are light and airy and tend to float with the breeze.
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Morning Star
The sun was fighting to peek through the clouds as it rose over Lake Michigan and the lighthouse and harbor of Algoma, Wisconsin.
The sharp lines extending from the bright sunlight was achieved by using a Star Filter on the camera lens. Because of the cloud cover, this scene was rather dark when I captured. That’s also why there is a lot of camera noise (that grainy look) after brightening it with photo software.
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Glamour Red
Beach Grass
A gentle breeze nudged the beach grass awake to witness the impending sunrise. This photo was taken at dawn on the shore of Lake Michigan at Kewaunee, Wisconsin.
I find this image very calming. It evokes daydreams about relaxing on some exotic distant shore with my sweetie, waiting for the sun to rise.
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Angling in a Fog
A lone fisherman waits in a fog for the first bite. He’s fishing for salmon or trout in the waters of Lake Michigan from the pier in Algoma, Wisconsin.
This was the scene I found last Saturday. I stopped and took a number of photos of this guy…and the lighthouse and flowers and bees and birds…”whatever caught my eye.”
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Watchful Eye
Here’s a little touch of nature for you. I stopped to take some photos around the harbor at Algoma, Wisconsin. It wasn’t a foggy day elsewhere, but conditions were right to create a foggy area around the piers and lighthouse. I took a few photos (some I’ll be posting later) of the pier and a fisherman in the fog, and the lighthouse and boats.
As I finished and headed back to my vehicle, I noticed a few wildflowers growing near the water. I stopped to take a few random shots. Then I noticed a few bees – always a favorite photographic subject of mine – so I stopped to take a few photos of them. Then, as I started to leave again, I noticed a flash of yellow. An American Goldfinch landed in a nearby patch of thistles to enjoy a meal. It didn’t seem bothered by my presence, so I started taking photos. (Some I’ll post later.)
While concentrating on the Goldfinch, I happened to notice a bee in the foreground and refocused on the bee for awhile…as the bird continued to feast in the background.
The one thing I don’t like about this image (and others in the batch) is the background. I think it looks unnatural and fake. The background is simply the water of the harbor. I would have preferred something that had a little more color variation, instead of the flat blue, but I wasn’t able to change my position to create a different look. The thistles were only a foot or two from the water and I was shooting from a position higher than the bird.
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Big Red
This fireworks burst turned the water red. This was part of the 26th annual Shanty Days celebration in Algoma, Wisconsin – on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
The fireworks are launched from the pier and people line the shore to watch the fun. As you can see, I was positioned on the beach, at the waters edge. If you’re familiar with the area, you might recognize the Algoma lighthouse – it’s that little red dot on the far right of the photo, just above the water.
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Covering the Cosmos
We planted a patch of wildflowers next to our vegetable garden. Unfortunately, the weeds are out performing the flowers. Out of the several varieties that made up the wildflower mix we planted, the cosmos did best. This is one that attracted some of the local wildlife.
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Blooming in Black & White
I love fireworks. The climbing rockets, bursting into bright, streaming displays of color and light are an irresistible enticement for my photographic efforts.
I decided to try something unusual with this one. The shape of the bursts reminded me of flowers blooming. Rather than emphasize the color, I removed all color to accentuate the shape.
I wasn’t sure I’d like it without the color, but the more I look at it, the more it appeals to me. I really like the firework’s reflection in the water.
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