17-JAN-2019
Light Brings Out the Color of leaves
Lately, I have noticed the way that light, particularly backlight, can make the color of leaves stand out. This is an example.
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16-JAN-2019
Spin Me a Web!
Spider webs are awesome examples of the ability to construct unbelievably strong structures! I love to photograph them and am in awe of this marvel of nature.
Thought not as strong as steel, the webs are very strong. Consider this information from Wikipedia - "Spider silk is a protein fibre spun by spiders. Spiders use their silk to make webs or other structures, which function as sticky nets to catch other animals, or as nests or cocoons to protect their offspring, or to wrap up prey. They can also use their silk to suspend themselves, to float through the air, or to glide away from predators. Most spiders vary the thickness and stickiness of their silk for different uses."
How did the spider get the wisdom and ability to do this? Food for thought! Intelligence cannot just happen.
15-JAN-2019
Frosted Leaves
Back-lighting on these shrubbery leaves can be attention getting, at least for me! That is why I was attracted to them while walking for exercise in our yard. The frost makes them look delicious, like frosting does for a cake. :) Those oval shapes in the background are more leaves outlined with frost, too much to be cloned out. After all, this is a hedge!
14-JAN-2019
Into The Morning Sun
As I looked out my front door this morning toward the neighbor's property behind us, I was greeted by nice back-lighting on the trees and bushes along the property line. I thought the warm sunshine on a cold frosty morning make for nice contrasts.
13-JAN-2019
The Red-shouldered Hawks Are Back!
I have been seeing Red-shouldered Hawks in our area again. They seem to show up in late fall/early winter and stay through the spring. Then they must move on till fall again. I have seen one hawk in the very same spot as last year. Whether it is the same hawk or not, I am not sure. But it seems so because it is the exact spot one frequented often last year. Then I saw this larger hawk in another spot while on the way home from the store.
12-JAN-2019
Great Egret at Kirk Pond
I got to see some bird activity on my visit to Kirk Pond and was glad to see this Great Egret on the bank of the pond. They do stand out from their surroundings! :)
11-JAN-2019
Candy-striped Barn
This interesting barn is located on Territorial Road and sits along Fern Ridge Lake. The mountain in the background is either the North or Middle Sister in the Oregon Cascades, probably the Middle Sister.
10-JAN-2019
Layered Hills
I don't know the name of this range of hills to the south of Fern Ridge Lake, so I guess I can call them 'layered hills.' Anyway, with the colorful sky and clouds above, I thought it made for a pretty scene. I was using my Reflex-Nikkor C mirror lens with adapter on a Nikon Z6.
08-JAN-2019
Bird on a Wire
Had to run an errand today and took the camera along. I didn't have much hope for any photos as the weather conditions will be dark and cloudy for the next week. But on one road I go on to get to the store I always watch for a Red-shouldered Hawk to be sitting on a wire. It was there last winter, so I wondered if it would be back this year. Sure enough, either it or one like it was in the same place this morning. I saw it as I passed going the other way. I turned around and pulled up as close as I dared, getting several good shots of it. Then I went on not wanting to be responsible for it flying away. It was a good moment.
03-Jan-2019
One Last Shot of The Young Buck.
Here is one last shot of the young Blacktail forked-horn that hung around our yard for a while. We haven't seen him since. In this photo he is standing on the other side of our porch, so only six feet or so from the door. I think he is a beauty!
01-Jan-2019
How to Start the Day!
January 1st, 2019 began with a cold start, frost on the ground and a chill in the air. But our weather is mild compared with much of what is happening across the country. Since can be a bit slippery out there, it is a good morning to stay in and enjoy a cup of coffee. This cup has a good message for how we should greet every morning.