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
Sony SLT-A55V
Spring’s Baby Blues
I don’t know the name of these flowers, but they are the first sign of spring color in our yard each year. They are very tiny, standing only 1.5 to 2 inches tall, and grow in a clump smaller than the size of my outstretched hand. My wife is disappointed that, though they are faithful to pop up every year, they don’t seem to be spreading.
To create that soft look, I applied an effect known as the “Orton Effect.” This is an image I’ve had on my computer for more than a week. I’ve been preoccupied with so many other things, I’ve not been able to post it sooner.
If you like it, please feel free to share it.
To see a larger version, simply click on the photo.
Bluebird Dawn
Just before sunrise I noticed a bluebird checking out the bluebird houses in our yard. I grabbed the camera and headed out the back door. I got a picture but not the one I was after. Here’s the story…
My goal was to snap a picture of the bluebird posed on the bluebird house, framed by a big, bright sun behind him. While I was trying to line up the shot, the bluebird flew off the house, into a nearby tree. I was able to click off a quick photo of the bird in the tree before he flew off for good. Then I turned my camera to the sunrise and snapped a couple of frames.
The image above is a combination of two different photos (shown on the right). I started with a shot of the sunrise and overlaid the silhouette of the tree branches with the bluebird. As you can see, the original photo of the bird and branches had a background of just light gray sky. Not very interesting or appealing. The sunrise was pretty on it’s own, but the branches and bird adds interest .
Both photos were taken within a minute of each other. Not quite the image I was shooting for, but I think the final result turned out well.
To see a larger version of the above image, simply click the photo.
Night Vision
A week ago the moon was full, temperatures were freezing and I was standing in the dark along Lake Michigan’s shore in Kewaunee, WI. I’ve never attempted to shoot the Kewaunee pier and lighthouse from this angle before. I’ll have to try it in the daylight, possibly for a sunrise, sometime.
I worked a bit to try and correct the color of this image. Unfortunately, the mercury vapor lights of the city give everything a reddish tint that I wasn’t able to tone down much without making the rest of the colors look strange.
To see a larger version of this image, simply click on it.
At Rest
This is one of those photos that seems like it could support some inspirational quote or Bible verse added. I like the image, as is, and have been able to resist the temptation so far, but I’m feeling a little weak. If someone were to suggest the right quote or verse, my resolve might crumble.
If you’d like to see a larger version of this image, click on it.
Beacons of the Night
The rising, full moon and the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse were competing for equal billing last night.
I did a little experimenting with HDR techniques. I like the different colors created in the reflections by the orange-ish moon and the yellowish light.
To get a better view, click the image and a new window will open with a larger version.
Pre-Sunrise Pastels
The unpredictably of the sky is what makes sunrise and sunset photography so enjoyable and challenging for me. You never know what you’re going to see…or miss if you’re not there. Another consideration is how rapidly the conditions can change. Sometimes, an usual color or effect will fill the sky and only last a moment before fading. This is a good example. For just a moment the sky, behind the clouds, turned pink. I wanted to get more shots of this effect, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
Keep in mind, this was before sunrise and the low light conditions created a lot of digital “noise” on this image. Sorry about that. I didn’t have time to fiddle with camera settings.
Click on the photo above to see a larger version.
Skylights
The lighthouse at Kewaunee, WI is one of my favorite subjects. This was taken early in the morning, shortly after sunrise. If you look closely, you’ll notice a little bump at the end of the pier. That’s a lone fisherman. I took this photo kneeling at the very edge of the beach while Lake Michigan gently lapped the shore.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Here a Goose, There a Goose, Everywhere a…
It was an extraordinarily windy day along the Lake Michigan shore. I was out taking photos of the rolling, crashing waves on the lake. On the way home, while driving home something unusual caught my eye.
There were hundreds of Canada geese floating in the harbor at Kewaunee, WI. They had retreated to the calm waters, waiting out the strong winds. Nearly all of them were facing in the same direction… facing into the wind. It just struck me as interesting and worthy of a photo.
To see a larger version of either of these images, simply click on them.
Path to Splendor
My favorite quote about photography…
“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” George Eastman
This was a photo where the star of the show is light. It’s a winter sunrise taken at the sparkling, snow-covered beach in Kewaunee, WI.
To see a larger version, click on the image.
In His Element
One of my greatest joys (and challenges) is catching a hummingbird in focus. This male Ruby-Throated hummingbird seems to be in his element.
There are no hummers hanging around this time of year. I’m looking forward to their return. I caught this one zipping by my window with the early morning sunlight on his back last July.
It’s worth seeing this one enlarged. Just click on the image.