Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Favorite
I Am Seven, Hear Me Roar
Emma is seven years old and full of energy. On this evening, she had bouncing-off-the-walls energy.
This is an awesome image! Now, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not bragging on myself because it happened quite by accident – as awesome shots sometimes do. It would never enter my mind to try an set up a shot like this. Any serious photographer will tell you, there are those moments that you couldn’t have planned, couldn’t have set up, when all the planets are aligned and the angels are smiling upon you. That was this moment. Here’s how it came about.
I was outdoors, trying to capture a photo of some wrens entering/exiting their birdhouse. I was using a 300mm, zoom lens, to get a close-up, from a distance. I had just finished photographing the birds, because the day was ending and there no longer was enough light in the shaded area to get a good image.
About this time, folks showed up for a family gathering. Emma saw me with the camera and started hopping around me saying, “Take a picture of me!” I couldn’t take a photo of her because I had the long zoom lens and she was too close – I couldn’t even get the lens to focus at that distance. I told her she was too close, and if she would go a little farther away I could take a photo. Well, I meant she should move ten to fifteen feet away. Emma just heard, “farther away,” and took off running. My attempts to call her back never reached her ears and she finally stopped and turned around about 20 yards away.
The amazing thing was where she stopped. Quite by accident, she stopped in a spot where the setting sun was able to stream through an opening in the trees. Ten feet farther or closer and she would have been in the shadows. I remember being in awe at the way the light was hitting her. Thankfully I had the presence of mind to focus and shoot. Even then, I didn’t really think this shot would turn out so well…so sharp in the low light conditions. I have no idea of what she was saying to me.
For fellow photographers that would like the specifics: 1/90 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 300mm, handheld, no artificial light, manual mode.
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Like a Dream – Inspirational
This is one of my favorite photos with a bit of scripture added. This is a male ruby-throated hummingbird photographed in my back yard.
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Simple Spring
While walking through a swampy area of woods, I stumbled upon this simple, single flower. The bright area behind the flower is daylight reflecting off a wet area. I don’t know what kind of flower it was, but it was small. This bloom was only about the size of a thumbnail.
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Family Outing
It’s great to be able to get the kids outdoors for a little exercise. This family of Canada geese are making their way to the other side of the pond.
The “cute factor” makes this scene a winner. Beyond that, I was very pleased with the vivid green reflection on the water, created by the trees lining the shore. I’ll have to add this to my “favorites” category.
I captured this image on a recent visit to the Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, located along the west shore of the Bay of Green Bay.
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Mama’s Pride and Joy
Welcome baby Blake! He is an Easter baby, born March 31, 2013. He is one day old here. I was able to capture this sweet shot of him, with his proud mama looking on.
I had taken a bunch of typical photos during out short visit and had packed up my camera to leave. The nurse had come and did her nurse stuff – checking whatever they check – and placed him in the neonatal bed. As I walked by, headed for the door, this view caught my eye and I thought it would make a great image. So, I quickly unpacked my camera and snapped a couple – this being the last one. It is my favorite of all I took.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for these parents. You can’t duplicate this a week later. It’s a good example of why you should call a professional photographer when the moment really matters. The cost of a professional is minuscule when you consider the priceless memories you will have captured forever.
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Larger Light Looming
As powerful as the Kewaunee, Wisconsin lighthouse lamp may be, it is no match for the power and majesty of the full moon of March 27, 2013.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well this image turned out; at how clearly the Fresnel lens of the lighthouse can be seen. The surprising part…this photo was taken from the shore. Anyone familiar with the Kewaunee lighthouse knows the lighthouse sits at the end of a very long pier that extends 750 feet from shore.
To get this image I used a 300mm lens with a 2X teleconverter (effectively doubling the reach of the lens). It is simply luck that the focus was as sharp as it is since I had to focus manually. (A number of other shots that night were not so sharp.) Under low light conditions, particularly with the teleconverter, the camera’s auto-focus doesn’t work.
Normally, without the brightness of the full moon behind it, the lighthouse lamp would show up as a big, bright white blob.
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With Dad
The eyes of this child are hypnotic. It’s hard for me to look away…all the while, wondering what she might be thinking.
This is a father and daughter – part of a family of five I was working with for a family portrait. He was carrying her as we walked to another setting in the outdoors.
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White Crowned Sparrow
This is my White Crowned Sparrow friend. I call him my friend because he seemed to like hanging around with me.
I was at the Algoma marina photographing the lighthouse and sunrise when I noticed something moving along the ground. It turned out to be this sparrow. I made note of him and went about my business, moving along the marina wall to get various shots. It seemed, no matter where I moved, this white crowned sparrow was never more than a few feet away; always skittering along the ground.
Needless to say, I turned my camera in his direction a few times that morning. I’ve been back to the marina many times since, but haven’t seen my friend or his like again. (You can view another photo of this bird posted previously HERE)
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Dawn Highlights
I know, I know…there’s no shortage of sunrise/sunset photos…or lighthouse photos…or both together (particularly in my collection). And I know there are those who think, after you’ve seen the first dozen or so, they get a bit boring. Not to me! That’s why the sunrise/lighthouse combination is one of my favorite and most sought after photos.
To me, every sunrise is different, every cloud formation is unique. Every one of them has their own mark of beauty and my personal challenge is to capture that beauty to share with others…or just remind myself of the wonder of that particular morning.
On this particular morning, the lower edges of the clouds were highlighted in amazing color as the sun prepared to rise over Lake Michigan and the Kewaunee, Wisconsin lighthouse. The beauty, as you see it here, lasted only a few minutes. I was happy to grab it and offer it to you.
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Short Stuff
This cute rascal is a Ruby-throated hummingbird. A tiny, zippy bird that is one of my favorites…and most challenging to photograph. This particular one seems to be a short, stocky gal – but she wears it well, don’t you think?
I believe the hummingbirds that have entertained us this year have flown south for the winter. We haven’t seen one for a week or so.
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