Napping In The Sun

Barefooted with the bill of his cap to shade his face, this young man was not in the least bothered by my picture taking attempts!

Taken at the Arts Fest.

2014 Festival of the Arts

The annual Arts Fest was held last week in downtown OKC. The weather was perfect on opening day and I was there by 11:AM.

I wanted to get an early start before the aisles became so crowded. By noon these walkways were elbow to elbow with folks who were taking in the artists offerings.

The artists all seemed hopeful of a sale as the lookers passed their booths. Several of the vendors I recognized from past shows.

Photographers were well represented and their prints always captured attention from the festival goers, including myself.

More Arts Fest photos in my next few posts..........

Not sure which one I would pick to enter a contest at the zoo.  Which one would you preferred?  Thanks for your time!

Getting wet

Just a few more shots from the reefs around Maui.

It's a shore thing

I thought I would stay with Paul's shore bird theme, especially since it was the only photo I knew I had ready to post!

Shore Birds

A couple of recent pictures from different outings, different days. On both occasions I got a few pictures of this same kind of shore bird.

According to the book I have these two birds are either "Greater Yellow Legs" or "Spotted Sand Pipers".Perhaps someone with a better bird book can better identify these two.

The Blob

I have shown a couple of photos of this school of fish before but I was going through my photos today and found one that I had taken from the top of the hill looking down into the cove. 

That dark blob in the center of the photo is the school of fish. To give you an idea of how large the school was, this photo was taken from about 200 yards away.

These two were taken just a little closer!

Perseverance with Determination

Nowhere Series

Part 6

Red Rock Canyon

Walking over to a stand of cedars growing next to a canyon wall, my eyes focused on a lone cedar perched upon a large boulder.

There was no evidence of any soil that would support root growth.

Precariously Suspended

In fact it seemed to be slipping off it's island. Held on only by it's toes.

Gnarled Roots

This tree was alive and well with green growing from the upper branches. There was a mass of twisted roots that the large tree was sitting on. Many years had passed since this cedar began to grow. Erosion and time had erased most of the reasons for it being left alone to survive on this boulder.

A Lesson In Survival

If I was pressed for a theory, I would think that the tree had created it's own dilemma over the years. Probably had it's start when the boulder was a part of the cliff next to it. As the tree started growing it's roots, a small fissure provided a space that allowed them to reach soil. As the tree grew, along with the roots, a separation occurred along the fault, leaving the cedar to survive on it's own created island. Wind and water washed the thin soil from the top of the rock, leaving the exposed scene for us to admire today. Nice lesson on tuffness and the will to survive!

With this Post I will end the Nowhere Series. Sometimes going "Nowhere", will find oneself on a little unexpected photo shoot that was not planned!  

Standing on the edge

A view of Kaupo Gap on Maui.

This is part of the "scenic route" coming from Hana if you choose to drive all the way around the island when taking the drive to Hana. The road this is on can be impassable during and right after just about any kind of rain.

Going Tropical

I think it's Paul's fault this time!

Fun in the sun!

Found these young fellows having a great time boogie boarding at Waikiki!

Fun with the Fisheye

Mr. Muffler Moose

The Fish Bowl

I can't decide, I'm "on the fence".

Stoned

The Fun House

I think the lack of sleep has affected my brain!

"Blood Moon" Lunar Eclipse

This was taken just a little after 1:00 a.m. as the eclipse was starting into the moon.

(shot at 1200mm with a Nikon D800)

These last two were taken about 2:30 a.m. as the eclipse was going through total and giving the moon a reddish-orange tent from the shadow of the earth.

(shot at 850mm with a Nikon D3s)

OK, now I'm going to go take a nap!

Canyon Silver

Nowhere Series

Part 5

Red Rock Canyon

Last post was about the gold found in the canyon. Everyone knows gold and silver is often mentioned together as treasure, so this is my silver find to complete the vision.

Entering one of the side canyons I found the sun illuminating the silver bark on the leafless trees. The branches reminded me of veins of pure shiny silver. The red walls of the canyon helped support the thought.

History records that Red Rock Canyon was a favorite camping spot for early day travelers that were headed to the gold fields of California in 1849. The 49ers if you will. Located on the southernmost route, abundant water plus shelter from the elements, provided a more than adequate spot for wagon repairs and filling water barrels for the next leg of the journey westward. Ruts cut by the wagons can still be found on the west rim of the canyon. Even before these visitors, the Plains Indians could be found wintering in the protective confines of the canyon walls.

I was to young to remember my first visit to this canyon. Suspect it was probably when I was still safe and sound in my mothers womb. This canyon was her favorite picnic grounds while growing up in the area. In her adulthood we visited the place often. Fried chicken, potato salad with watermelon and cantaloupe was the usual summer fare. Gallon of sweet tea to wash it down, all while sitting on homemade quilts.

Mother's parents, my grandmother and grandfather, first brought her here. The canyon was owned by the Handley family at that time. Later it was sold to the State to become a State Park where my first memories of visits begin.  I counted. Beginning with grandma and grandpa and going thru the generations to my great grandchild, the count comes in at an amazing SIX generations of family that has been camping or sharing a meal in this canyon . That's a lot of fried chicken!

Canyon Gold and Silver? Yes! This old well used canyon with it's many visitors over the centuries holds a wealth of treasures for this visitor!

There's a storm brewing...

...and everybody knows that during high winds and lighting the first thing you do is climb to to top of the tallest metal object you can find!

I told Aaron I would set the D3s to nine frames a second so if he got blown off the windmill by a bolt of lighting I could capture it all in photos. LOL

About two minutes after Aaron retreated from the top of the windmill the sheets of rain started.

Today it is snowing. Man, I miss Hawaii!

Dallas Zoo In B&W.

These pictures it was shot last weekend in the rain. There's a photography contest at Dallas Zoo, and I'm trying to get a best shot to enter this contest.  I have look into last year winners, these shots are trash compared to them.  It looks like I have to make a few more trips to the zoo to get the shot I wanted.