Photography Blogs (166)

An absolutely magnificent morning, and I was awake at 5:15am and on my bike by 5:30am. A strong breeze from the north east had me pedalling a little harder than normal towards the dike. Once on the dike, the breeze at my back, it was easy riding in the coolness of the hour.

On my way to the dike.

The sun hadn't risen above the mountain yet, producing a yellow glow in a dip between two peaks. Usually I ride the country roads towards the river, but decided today to take a little bit longer route, which turned out to be fortuitous. A man walking the dike asked me if I was taking photos of the bear, and I asked if there was one. He said he hadn't seen any on the dike so far, this year. He said wait until the corn is up in the summer, and the the bears are in the corn fields.

On the dike.

He told me that red foxes, bobcats, coyotes and other wildlife lives in the copse of trees and bushes that was just off to our left, surrounded by farmer's hay fields. He pointed to something way out in the field and said he thought it was a red fox or coyote. I didn't have my zoom lens on the camera, but when it started to bound through the field, it's colouring and bushy tail had me thinking it was a red fox. How cool! I can hardly wait until I go again and maybe get a photos of it!

He pointed out a path where he said bobcats come out of frequently so it sounds like he walks the dike all the time, early, and has been graced with glimpses of wildlife. Lucky guy!

Other than the fox from a distance, I didn't see any wildlife this morning, it either being too early, or too late. Back on the country roads, a nursing calf in a small field stopped long enough to turn his head and look at me, his mother watching my every move. The calf's name is Joey, judging by his ear tag, an apt name for the cute little guy.


Down to the river, and it's steadily rising, more than half way up the former road to the ferry. Passing my favourite bench, I noted the river is even higher, and had no desire to be that close to the edge of the river.



Former ramp to the ferry, more than half covered in water.

Riding through the foliage, the rushing river could easily be heard through the bushes. Coming out near the farmer's blueberry fields, I stopped dead. Directly in front of me the two track dirt road was flooded. Not wanting to find out how deep it was, I was able to walk up a small berm and around to the other side. It wasn't exactly comfortable, as the river was racing by on one side, and the slough had flooded the road on the other. One never knows how stable the ground is underneath.

Looking back towards the path - no idea how deep it is, and didn't want to find out.

I won't be doing that 'tour' again until the river has abated, unfortunately. I really love that circuitous route, but safety is the priority. Cycling by the heritage home, her Iris are out, along with some other pretty yellow wildflowers. She came out the door just as I was taking photos of the iris and gave me permission to go on her property and photograph a gorgeous gold iris that was just glowing in the early light.

Iris


Love the iris 'tongue'!


Cheery flowers - no idea what they are.

Photography has made me 'see' so much more of life. What could be better?

Have fun posting your own caption(s) for this photo, if you like.

My first caption (I may add others later) is;


'Living with my ex, was truly hell !'



Here's the photo;

Just for fun (you do remember having fun don't you ?),
add your own appropriate caption(s) for the following photo;



My first entry is; 'Shake, shake, shake. Shake your plastron.'

What better way to start the day than with a bike ride in the early morning hours? I love being out and about while people are still sleeping. It's so quiet and peaceful, the only sounds those of nature. Travelling east, my first stop is the tulip lady's house, her beautiful Japanese plum tree in full pink bloom.


Continuing on my journey, the scent of freshly mown hay wafts on the soft breeze, long lines of cuttings damp with dew, left to dry in the sun, Mt. Cheam towering over the valley.


Cycling south, the pavement comes to an abrupt end up over an incline, a gravel road taking it's place. Blueberry fields stretch to the west, a robin perching on a numbered post indicating the row. Two old rubber boots are upside down over a couple of posts, an indication of something to the owner.


An occasional house and riotous vegetation hide the slough to the east. An abandoned house, broken windows with plywood coverings and sagging doors in a state of disrepair, blackberry bushes almost to the height of the second floor, is the last house.

Just past a barrier of tall alders and poplars, an large field is home to hydro towers. At this early hour, as the sun starts to peek above the mountains, even the towers take on a certain beauty, metal girders glowing as they reflect the first fingers of light.


Continuing on my journey, the gravel road continues towards the bridge and the old ferry landing. Wild cherry trees intermingle with other deciduous trees, their white blossoms contrasting with the new growth of spring leaves.


Of course, my penchant for macro photos had me paused there for quite some time taking the 'perfect' shot of shadow and light on the milky, fragrant blossoms. A challenge, as this close to the river, the wind is always a little stronger. Of course, gusts of wind play games with one's attempt at macro photography. I believe I did manage to 'win' this contest, though. lol.


Stopping at the bridge and the former road to the ferry landing, solar rays danced light across the river, breaking through the clouds behind the indomitable Mt. Cheam. Too many clouds for a colourful sunrise, the shadowed scene filled me with a sense of wonder and peace.


Riding under the bridge, the riverside bench greeted me. I can just visualize people sitting there, watching the former ferry traverse the river and dock on either side. Perhaps watching the pleasure boats in the summer, large plumes of water arcing behind sharp turns, waves slapping the shore from their wake.


Through a narrow path and vegetation that threatens to take over along the riverfront, the path opens up to a gravel lane, blueberry fields bordering both sides. Dodging potholes and mud, asphalt greets me at the first massive domicile, following the path of the slough. A heritage home sits at one corner, it's multi coloured orange tulips with sculpted petals beckoning me to photograph it's allure.


The owner of the home was out walking, a rosary in her right hand, greeting me with cheery hello. We discussed the height of the slough, already high with spring runoff, and the resident beaver she hadn't seen in awhile. I mentioned that I'd seen one there the evening before but it was too fast and too dark for me to take a photo.

...continued....

Went hiking on the Appalachian Trail to the second highest peak in Virginia. This is on Whitetop Mountain.
Buzzard Rock

Summit of Whitetop

Forest





Ran into this little guy on trail. Nonvenomous.

Add your own caption(s) for the following photo, if you like.

My first one is; 'She's got a LOT to smile about.'

Here's the photo;

As part of a photography group, we have monthly assignments that challenge us to photograph different subjects and step out of our comfort zone. This month, Fractals in Nature is the theme, and our photos have to be in by Wednesday at midnight.

Of course, I've been out on numerous occasions, looking for the perfect fractal to photograph and submit. Fractals in Nature, are, essentially, repeating patterns. Ferns are a prime example and my favourite subject for fractals.



Choosing the wetlands to hunt for fractals, on the particular day that I chose to take photos, as I stood at the top of the hill and looked across the lake, I squinted my eyes at the distant gorge down the mountain, wondering if that was water I saw cascading off the cliff.


(In the above photo, this is where I stood to take the photo below. The 'seam' you see running down the mountain is where the mudslide occurred).

Putting my zoom lens on and aiming it at the area, sure enough, it was water and chunks of snow tumbling over the edge.



Thinking it was just spring run-off, I headed down the hill to lake level, crossing the marshes and back into the woods. Walking through the poplar and alder trees, an odd roaring had me looking up into the trees, wondering what it was. As the wind had picked up, I assumed it was just the wind in the trees.



The gravel path loops around the beaver pond, which I have yet to see a beaver in. Ferns grow in abundance in the area, the fiddlehead greens unfurling in the deep shade under the evergreens. The wetlands are made of up of open areas that are largely populated by alder, birch and poplar trees and abruptly end in dense forested areas of Douglas Fir and Cedar trees, where the ferns reside.

Walking through the poplars, a snail on one of the saplings caught my attention. A perfect fractal with the spiral on it's shell! Although I hate bugs and slimy things, behind a lens, everything takes on a different perspective. I spent a long time photographing that snail from numerous angles, and was rewarded with it crawling out if it's shell to move down the slim limb.



Next, the ferns. As dusk's fingers crept in amongst the evergreens, it was time to head home before the park warden closed the gates. Logging on to my computer to download my images, someone had posted on fb that a mudslide had occurred and did anyone see it?



I realized then, that the roaring sound I'd heard had to have been the mudslide, about 10 minutes after I'd taken the photos of the water running off the cliff. Too bad I'd had no idea, or I would have waited a few more minutes and captured the actual slide. The next day, I went out to the bottom of the gorge and took photos of the after effects of the slide.



All in all, a pretty exciting and worthwhile outing. Speaking to another photo club member, noting that the pussywillows had interesting patterns when they went to seed, I told him that in going to the wetlands, I'd been in fractal heaven!

Rocky Knob, VA

The Channels, VA

Burke's Garden, VA

Molly's Knob, VA

Buffalo Mountain, VA

McAfee Knob, VA

Stone Mountain, NC

Grandfather Mountain, NC

If you look at ALL the signs, you may get a chuckle.

Either way, lets have fun suggesting captions for this photo;




My first caption suggestion is;

Maria didn't actually win the VA state contest,
but some judges demonstrated a large interest in what she offered.

I may add others later.

Feel free to add your own suggestion(s) for caption(s).

Here's a photo I saw recently,
that it might be fun to come up with captions for.

Why not have some fun.

My first entry is;

Susie invents the new game - kickballs.

I may add some others later.

Feel free to add your own entries.

Here's the photo;



Have a super Sunday !