Big Bird

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself!

I've been getting a little loony with all of the work these past couple of weeks and I have taken on a special project that has been taking up most of any free time I have. That should be over in a couple of more months. Hopefully that will allow me some more time to spend on our blog and looking at others.

You know, goofing off!

I haven't been able to get much farther than my front yard with the camera but I was able to get a couple of shots this weekend while playing with some new stuff.

This photo is actually five close up shots that are stacked in photoshop as a "focus stack". Each of the five images was focused on a different part of the flower and then stacked in photoshop to make the entire flower in focus. 

This was shot with a new ND1000 filter I bought last month. This was a 10 second exposure in full sun. 

I can't wait to go someplace other than my yard to try some new things!

Yellow Bird

Found this bright yellow bird at the beach a few days ago and managed to get a few good pictures before it got camera shy. A quick look through the bird book tells that this is an American Goldfinch. Northern Vancouver Island where I am is at the extreme northern end of it's known range.

Nikon D7100 video

I've been playing around with the D7100's video features. Here's a short compilation I posted on YouTube of Buster, Sunny and Maggie up at Quatse Lake a few days ago. (Be sure your computer's sound is turned on)

Summer Breeze...: http://t.co/YOg6yZguVj via @YouTube
— Paul Getman (@paul_getman) April 29, 2014

The Artist with Model?

I got the impression the artist was proudly showing her model the finished canvas. Smiles of approval !

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!