Favorite
The Scarlet of Spring

We went for a walk along a trail through woods and farm fields. The very first signs of spring were bursting forth. This is the twig of a budding tree.
The unique qualities of this image were created by the camera and nature, itself. Behind the sprouting twig was a river with sunlight sparkling off the ripples, through the leafless trees on the bank. I was using a 300mm lens, so everything beyond the twig was blurred.
If you look closely, you can see a small bug resting on the left side of the top leaf.
To view a larger version, simply click on the image.
Tiny Dancers

This spray of Forget Me Nots remind me of giddy, forest sprites dancing among the greenery.
With the dreary, winter weather we’ve been experiencing lately, I thought a spring-like image would be welcome. (No need to thank me.)
Forget Me Nots are some of my favorite flowers. However, they are so small, I have rarely captured an image of them that I really like. I really like this one.
I put my index finger into the photo on the right to give you a reference for how tiny these little beauties are.
According to Wikipedia:
Myosotis (maɪ.əˈsoʊtɪs; from the Greek: “mouse’s ear”, after the leaf) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae that are commonly called Forget-me-nots. Its common name was calqued from the French, ne m’oubliez pas and first used in English in c. 1532.
To see a larger version of the main photo, just click on it.
Wisps of Light

I have another, similar shot where the lighthouse isn’t all shadow. I’ll post it in a couple of days.
To get a better view of the lens on that light, click the photo. Feel free to share with friends.
Sunrise of Hope
Gold Standard

Here’s a little history and other details found on Wikepedia…
The lighthouse was first established in 1893 as a set of range lights. It was rebuilt in 1908 at which time it was a conical tower built of 5/16 inch steel plate, 8 feet (2.4 m) in diameter at the base and 7 feet (2.1 m) in diameter at the parapet. It stood 26 feet (7.9 m) high. In 1932 it was modified again and the entire structure was raised to a height of 42 feet (13 m) by placing the older tower on a new steel base 12 feet (3.7 m) in diameter. The original lens has been replaced by a plastic lens.
To see a larger version of this photo, just click on it.
Dreamscape

I’m always on the hunt for another alluring sunrise. It means getting up very early, packing up the gear and heading out in time to be at the scene well before the sun will rise. Often times, the best shots happen before the actual sunrise.
A view like this makes it all worth while. This is the lighthouse at Algoma, Wisconsin…just before sunrise.
To get a better view, click the photo to see a larger version.
Dawn’s Brighter Light

Another image of the lighthouse at Algoma, WI.
If you have a large monitor, you may be able to get a better view by clicking on the photo.
Algoma Sunrise Panorama

The narrow format of this blog doesn’t offer the best view of wide images. This is one you’ll want to see larger. To do so, click on the image.
To see a variety of Pops Digital panoramas, look over our Panorama Gallery.
Bright Eyes
On a trip to Green Bay’s Botanical Gardens, hidden among the foliage, I happened upon this precious, delicate flower. I believe, among all the beauty of the gardens, this was the best image I captured that day.
It’s taken me some time to post this photo because it took a lot of work to present what you see now. What you don’t see, from the original, is a triangle-shaped shadow that ran from her eye, across her nose, to her lip – created by the leaf near her eye. You also don’t see the tripod and jacket on the ground that was protruding from behind her head. Obviously, this wasn’t a planned, posed shot, but an on-the-fly capture.
This is my friend, Lindsey. She has the personality to go along with those dimples and smile.
To get a better view of those bright eyes, just click on the photo.
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.