December Calendar

The Black Friday / Cyber Monday rush is behind us and now it’s the mad dash to Christmas. STOP! I realize it’s cliché to say we need to take time and enjoy the holidays but please... put aside the idiot drivers, the screaming kids, the crowded malls, the overpriced crap no one will use, and the abrasive customers /shoppers / relatives. Pledge to yourself that this Christmas you’ll look deep in your own soul and see what you need inside of you. Ask yourself what makes you crave to be alive. Find what makes the air sweeter and the water fresher and embrace it during this season of peace. For me, it’s the look of gentle kindness on my daughter’s face, and the warmth in my wife’s hand when we touch, and many other indescribable joys. Find what thrills you in the depths of your soul and embrace it at this wonderful time of year.

Nikon D5100 Nikkor 18-55mm @ 18mm f/3.5 ISO 250 .8 sec

Early Morning Willow

I think the willow tree is one of the most beautiful trees in all of creation. Its weeping branches fall gently to the ground, shading sunlight from the inner canopy. Shadows dance in the leaves when the wind blows softly but the willow appears firm and strong in a gale. The look of this regal tree can seem ancient. They are mentioned in the Bible and Shakespeare wrote of them. Often they appear in mystical tales. They are mentioned by J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Lloyd Alexander in The Castle of Llyr, and Old Man Willow appears in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. In Disney’s Pocahontas the willow appears as the symbol of wisdom. I remember as a child darting beneath the branches playing hide and seek. Next time you see one, take a step back and imagine this sturdy mass of flowing grace looking out over creation for decades to come.

Early Morning Willow

Nikon D800 Nikkor 28-30mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 38mm f/6.3 ISO 100 5 image HDR

The Shortening of Days

As winter encroaches around us, the sunlit hours dwindle. During this time of year I often find myself out working at night. Driving from one house to the next, trying to earn a living, I keep my eyes open for interesting photo opportunities. One thing that has peaked my curiosity is night photography. The picture for today was taken by leaving the camera shutter open for thirty seconds. The minimal light that was in the scene poured into the lens and slowly constructed the picture you see below. It’s amazing the detail that the camera saw but I could not. Getting pictures like this makes me feel better about the coming Winter.

Nikon D800 Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 36mm f/10 ISO 100 30 sec. 

#TravelTuesday Kerry Ireland

Earlier this year my wife and I visited Ireland One of the places we wanted to see was the Ring of Kerry. This much talked about attraction goes around the Iveragh Peninsula, along the Southwest coastline. Beautiful vistas looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean are scattered along the treacherous drive. The tour buses navigate narrow roads by each driving counter clockwise to prevent head on traffic stoppage. Our bus driver was deft at his skills of narrating the tour, driving the enormous tour bus, and imbibing Irish Coffee. We stayed in the town of Kerry at a spacious bed and breakfast called Cahernane House Hotel. Its history dates back to the 17th century and it is beautifully maintained today. The picture today is the view from our room. Acute shades of green are everywhere in Ireland. The rolling countryside and lush vibrant hills extend on for what seems like ever. Ireland is a great place to get your feet wet in European travel. Highly recommended.

View from Cahernane House Hotel

Nikon D5100 Sigma 50-500mm @ 50mm f/13 ISO 100 HDR

With a little luck...

Sometimes serendipity surprises me. For example, I’ve been waiting to purchase something and the day I decide to buy it the item is on sale. Or when I pull into a crowded parking lot and the car next to the entrance puts its reverse lights on. Or like in this picture, when I was walking towards a small jetty in Marsh Creek State Park and out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed a blue heron fishing for his breakfast. Stealthily I opened up the tripod, as quietly as possible.Then I set up the camera, using a red headlamp because the pre dawn light was insufficient to see by. I then focused on the silhouette of the great bird, and shot for a good ten minutes as soft sunlight came into the scene. It was almost like I called his agent and scheduled a photoshoot for the cover of Heron’s Weekly.

Morning Heron at Sunrise

Nikon D800 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 116mm f/5.6 ISO1600 1/3 sec