Sony SLT-A55V
On Golden Rod
Red Sky at Morning

I don’t recall the weather turning bad on the day this photo was taken, but then I wasn’t sailing either. We did have overcast skies with a little drizzle.
I did a little research on the common saying and found this interesting comment on Wikipedia…
The rhyme is a rule of thumb for weather forecasting, dating back over 2,000 years, based on the reddish glow of the morning or evening sky, caused by haze or clouds related to storms in the region. Due to the rotation of the Earth, from west to east, storm systems tend to travel eastward across a local region of the globe. A reddish sunrise, caused by particles suspended in the air, often foreshadows an approaching storm, which will be arriving from the west, within the day. Conversely, a reddish sunset often indicates that a storm system is on the east side (opposite the sunset), travelling away from the viewer. A similar movement is noted all around the world, in both the northern and southern hemisphere. There are occasions where a storm system might rain itself out before reaching the observer (who had seen the morning red sky). However, for ships at sea, the wind and rough seas, from an approaching storm system, could still be a problem, even without rainfall.
To get a better view, click on the photo and a larger version will pop up.
Found on the Web

Here are some interesting facts about Argiope Aurantias from the University of Arkansas Anthropod Museum…
Females build large webs, up to two feet in diameter. The female usually eats her web each day and constructs a new one, often in the same place. The web consists of dry spokes supporting a spiral thread of adhesive silk. The hub is separated from the spirals by a free zone. The spiders rest head down day and night at the hub of the web over a conspicuous zigzag band of bright white noncapture silk known as a stabilimentum. The stabilimentum apparently affords protection, perhaps by camouflaging the spiders, startling predators, or acting as an aposematic warning of the presence of webs. It seems to be especially effective in preventing birds from flying through webs.
For another view of the same type of spider, see my earlier post : By A Thread.
If you have a large monitor, clicking on the photo may provide a larger version.
Wide Awakening

Sometime I create the wide, panorama images by joining together several individual shots. This one, however, was created in the camera. My Sony SLT-A55V has a “sweep shooting” mode. When in sweep shooting mode, you hold the shutter button and slowly pan across the scene you want to capture. The camera takes multiple images and then joins them together in the camera.
As you can see, sometimes the results are pretty good. Sometimes, it’s better to put together individual images on the computer.
For a better, wider view of this scene, click on the photo.
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.
Fall’s Last Stand

Summer has long past. Fall is finishing. Down by the river, these wild grasses are making their final stand. Soon biting winter winds will assault them and Wisconsin snow will smother them.
This photo was taken early Saturday morning about half a mile from my home. I posted a black and white photo from this same morning a couple of days ago, entitled: Highlights by the River.
A larger view is available by clicking on the photo.
Wide Eyed Sunrise

There are several normal sized images I’ll post from this shoot, but there’s something special about being able to see the panoramic, wide-view – the big picture. This is a combination of three separate images “stitched” together.
To see a wider version (wider is definitely better) click on the photo.
Sun & Surf Rising

The structure near the horizon is the lighthouse at Kewaunee, WI.
A larger version of this image can by seen by clicking on the photo.
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.
Colorful Queen Ann’s Lace

This is common Queen Ann’s Lace. Normally the delicate flowers are snow white and create a full bouquet – with little space between the blooms. The color and sparse display for this bunch must be due to the onset of colder weather. Normally the stems are a simple green, not the purplish-red color seen here. (This photo was take this fall.)
You can view a larger version by clicking on the photo.