Last Viewed Photography Blogs (166)

The moon followed me home last night. Very bright and lots of spots where it peeked through the clouds. I stopped to shoot a few pictures but my cellphone camera is very limited especially for distant night images. Obviously the focus and contrast are lacking, but you get the idea of proportion. By 11pm the moon was overhead and lit up the entire sky.

....approved of the bride'.

or have fun adding your own photo caption(s).

One of the many things I enjoy doing is exploring and photographing nature.

So far, I've taken over 3,500 nature photos here in Florida, since I arrived here in mid-December.

Two weeks ago I posted several sunset photos and asked which theme you wanted to see next time. The one theme that got the most votes was Otters.
.
So, I selected 13 recent otter photos to post on here now for your viewing enjoyment.

Let me know which one(s) you like the best.

Also, lets take a vote on which theme the next set of photos you would prefer to see
in 2 weeks.
Whichever of the following gets the most votes, will be the next one I post.
Would you prefer to see photos of;

Alligators ?
Purple Gallinule ?
Manatee ?
Osprey ?
Great Egret ?
Little Blue Heron ?
Great Blue Heron ?
Green Heron ?
Tricolored Heron ?
Roseate Spoonbill ?
Flowers ?
Red Shoulder Hawk ?
Limpkin ?
Lizards ?
Turtles ?
Pelicans ?
Quaker Parrots ?
Belted Kingfisher ?
Caracara ?

With no further ado, here's the 13 otter photos;



























If you would like to see more of my otter photos, simply go to this link;

Yesterday I was vending at the White Rock Farmer's Market - a highly popular beach community and where I lived while my daughter was growing up. As I live further east in the lush agricultural valley, it takes me about an hour and a half to drive there, necessitating me to leave here very early, despite the market not opening until 10:00am.

The weekend was overcast and much cooler, thank goodness, which I figured would result in a busy market. Alas, it was not to be and sales were very slow. However, it did afford me the opportunity to practice street photography, and I had a lot of fun doing so. Something else to add to my photo obsession.

To start off the day, Corky the clown was setting up to make balloon animals, etc, for the kids.



Setting up the fruit for the day.


This lady doesn't want to commit to anything quite yet, so eyeballing but keeping her distance.


Concentrating on not dropping any...


Balloon lady's open! Waiting...


A cool dinosaur!


Sunflowers make everything cheerful, along with maybe some shortbread.


And what's better to start the day than a breakfast croissant?


Marching to her own tune....


Slaying dragons...


Okay, what is it?


Great view up here, Mom.


What would the market be without our four legged friends?


And sinking your teeth into some freshly baked goods.


But then, maybe not...


Indulgent Grandma's wait patiently...


Fashionable attire runs the gamut of whatever's comfortable.


Along with facial expressions....






And of course, what would street photography be without red tights of some sort?!


A totally fun day spent practicing, although I was restricted by not being able to move around the market due to working my own table. Regardless, I'm happy with what I captured, although I could use a different lens (haha, what else is new?).

According to NASA, the Lyrids are one of the oldest meteor showers. They typically peak during late April. Best seen in the Northern Hemisphere after the moon sets and before dawn.
The shower was most active Sunday night through Monday morning and I was out a 2am checking, but I'm in the city and the streetlights made it impossible to view the night sky.

April's full moon, known as the "pink moon," will crest at its full phase Tuesday at 4:49 p.m. Pacific.

I was able to zoom in on the moon from the parking lot. Not a clear shot, but something I couldn't photograph at all with my previous phone/camera.




Lyrid meteor showers...

After a really wet and cold June, summer's finally arrived with a vengeance. The temperatures earlier this week were perfect for me, around 24C with a lovely cooling breeze.

As the week's progressed, so has the heat intensified daily. Today we're supposed to hit 35C and Sunday 36C. Ugh! I am working a market on Sunday and I'm a bit concerned about it being so hot, as I get sun/heat stroke very easily. I've emailed the market manager to request a spot in the shade, and hopefully she'll be able to comply. If not, I may have to forego the market.

I've been arising earlier to go out for a bike ride, while the morning air is still cool. Heck, this morning, the sun hadn't risen above the mountains (I still missed the sunrise though, dammit), and although cool enough to ride, I noted the air was still very warm.

The other day when I rode through the foliage tunnel and was taking photos of the wildflowers as the sun wove it's way through the trees to backlight the flowers, I noted a dying flower with a bee on it. I'm not sure I've mentioned it before, but I have a mad penchant for bees. I love them and constantly attempt to get that perfect photo of them in flight, or on a flower.

Walking over to the flower, and getting my macro lens super close, I took numerous photos of the bee and was surprised it didn't fly away. After closer inspection, I realized the bee was dead, possibly caught in the strands of the wildflower. But what a great opportunity to get some good close-ups. It didn't look dead, just as if it was sitting on the flower.

I thought of cutting off the flower and taking the thing home to take photos, but thought, no I'll come back tomorrow and take more. Silly me. No idea what happened to it and the flower, but it wasn't there the next day.

This morning when I went out, the sun highlighted a branch shaped as a question mark in the slough, and slanted across the algae covered water, leaving everything else in deep shadow. It's fascinating to me how a dead branch sticking up out of the water and marsh grass can look beautiful when the light shines on it just so.

A new dairy calf has arrived at one of the farms, and I believe it's only about a week old, as I saw 'Mom' laying on her side last week in the grass paddock, looking very uncomfortable. The little thing is so cute, bounding around the paddock while Mom eats grass. I've managed to get a few photos of it, one of it sticking it's tongue out.

As I'd left much earlier this morning, I think I was too early even for animals, as the birds and wildlife seemed subdued. I didn't take many photos today, unlike most other days, but I'm okay with that. It was a lovely bike ride and great way to start the day.

Arriving back home and going out back to pluck the first ripe tomato of the season and water the plants, I was shocked at how my garden has literally exploded in growth. Holy crap! The tomato plant that was struggling due to our rainy June and almost died from being too wet has grown at least 12 inches this week. The other tomato in the ground has almost outgrown it's cage.

My potted tomato is doing well, with another tomato ripening on it. The three zucchini plants that were so puny even a week ago are HUGE! One little zucchini is growing on it and I'll have to keep an eye on it, or it'll be massive in no time.

Between biking, keeping the plants watered, and working, life has been darn busy! I'm antsy to go someplace new though, and hope it cools off enough next week for me to hit one of the rail trails in the US.

The best caption for this photo is...............

Enter as many times as you like.

My first entry is......"Wow ! That chiropractor truly screwed you up, dude !"

Here is the photo;

The last one of thee was a lot of fun with several good captions.
So, here's another nature photo. This one of a polar bear.
Again, if you like add your own suggestion(s) for the caption.
Or simply enjoy the creative offerings by others.

My first caption is; "Hey you. Give me a kiss and you get a special.....bear hug."

Here's the photo (not mine);

One of my clients stopped by my house to pick up some product yesterday and advised me that it was smokier where I lived than in Harrison, at the lake. Of course I was all over that and decided to head up to the lake, camera in hand, of course.

I first drove up to Greenpointe, a section of the lake that's a bit quieter. Very quiet yesterday. On the way there, I spied some driftwood in a cove that was inviting, even with the smoke.


I noted a heron sitting on a branch and zoomed in as he took flight and landed on another one, squawking at me in it's prehistoric voice.


Looking down into a private section of the bay from above.


Noting a woman sitting with her feet in the water, reading, she was a great subject.


And so she wouldn't notice me (she didn't anyway), I hadn't realized there was a windsurfer out on the lake.




Back into town to the resort area with the main road lined with shops and restaurants along the beachfront, it was a perfect place to people watch!

This lady looked like she was from my generation of hippies, and I loved her colourful dress.


This guy was waving at someone in the restaurant as he passed.


It's hazardous driving down the main road, as cyclists tend to ride the wrong way down the one way street.


This guy worked at the local market and came out for a smoke break.


A 'biker-chick' and her hubby, each with their own Harley.




Loved the trio of umbrellas on the outdoor patio of a restaurant.


A server at the restaurant.


A Sikh walking on the street instead of the sidewalk. Avoiding my camera, perhaps?


Loved the contrast of this hat with the shadows.


You see all manner of dress and hats here.


Checking out the menu outside of the patio.


In his own world.


I hadn't realized what was going on when I took this photo, but look at the woman's face, she looks decidedly peeved!


Another hat, looks well used.


Heading down to the beach, a city worker was on garbage detail.


This elderly lady was totally lost in her own world until her hubby called her to go the other way.


Although I'd zoom in on her hand in future, I cropped the photo to her hand as I loved the character in it holding her cane. A little grainy due to the cropping, but I like the composition.


This guy looks like a bouncer sitting outside an ice cream shop - lol!


And this is what was going on inside it!


Smokey on the golf course as I left.


You can see how smokey it is in this photo, it's almost like mist swirling around the trees.

As wildfires rampage throughout my province and it being declared a state of emergency with over 600 burning, the one 10 km from me has created a thick smoke for about two weeks now.

Sick of the smoke and lack of photo opportunities, bored with cycling my same 15km in the thick haze, I headed south of the border on Thursday to ride a rail trail I'd seen but never travelled before. I'm so glad I went! If I'd stuck with the reviews, I wouldn't have even attempted it.

A 45 mile return trip from Sedro-Woolley to Concrete, the beginning of the trailhead was a bit difficult to find as directions to where it started were rather obscure. Now that I know exactly where it is, I'll write a review with explicit directions.

Starting off, the trail is like a shady tunnel, cool and inviting.


About a mile and half through the trees, a bench by the river beckons me to take a peek through the trees. The aqua river mesmerized me, so beautiful in such a quiet and peaceful setting.


Not quick enough and no zoom lens on, the mergansers moved swiftly away from the bank and into the middle of the river at my intrusion.


Continuing on my journey across the first of many bridges.


Still captivated by the sight of the river.


Across another bridge, and I loved the leaf, seemingly suspended in air.


A little closer look.


The last mile marker was at mile 16, at which point you have to cross one of many back roads. Crossing to continue the trail, this is what's at the end of it (about a block from the entry). No indication to detour, just heavy bush and a pond. Good thing I'm adventurous and found my way via road around, and found a narrow path where others had circumnavigated the dead end.


Further along the trail, a very busy highway dissects it, and one has to be quick and careful to cross. A parks employee was working and we chatted for a bit, him advising me to be careful crossing the road. When I told him I was riding the entire 45 miles (there and back) his eyebrows shot up and he said 'impressive'. My camera in my bag, I didn't think to take his photo (if he'd even allow it).

On the other side of the trail, it turns into flat, open valley with little shade. A herd of buffalo roamed the pasture, which I was delighted to see up close. Still can't roller skate in a buffalo herd, though. (Remember that song?)


As it was noon, I didn't take too many photos as the light was very bright, but took several on my way back.

The trail started to climb out of the valley and back into the trees. I didn't take any valley photos as the smokey haze did nothing for it. As the trail climbed upwards at a 2% grade, it's easy to pedal although you know you're definitely on the climb. Fall made it's coming presence known in the higher elevations.


I had no idea how much further I needed to go to get to Concrete and stopped at one of the many benches for a quick lunch and bottle of water. Thankfully I'd taken 5 bottles of water (3 frozen), which were all gone by the end of the day. Getting back on my bike, a little discouraged and tired, I was more than relieved to see the huge Concrete towers stating 'Welcome to Concrete' - and just slightly smokey skies.


Riding towards the end of the trail, this cool old passenger train captivates me.




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