Wrap-around Foreground/Background (with a bonus)

My path today intersected with this adult bald eagle in soybean stubble. I will admit, my first goal was to shoot a decent photo of the bird. It wasn’t until I studied the image on my computer that I realized the wrap-around foreground and background really added to the composition.

I am glad I was not perpendicular to the bird and the tilled row in the stubble. The recorded angle…

Classic Camera Effect

Today’s image was made this morning when I saw a lone tree against a pink sunrise and fog…many elements, yet nothing that really stood out.

Instead of giving up on file I opted to apply a “Classic Camera” effect. In essence I wanted the final view to depict something old, moody, and subdued. With the color remaining in the image I still did not like what I was seeing. The picture had to reflect what I was feeling - OK, but a bit pensive.

It was time to…

The “Bigger” Picture

Oh my…what a beautiful January day in Northeast Iowa! Temps in the mid-50’s with a slight breeze and a sky full of sunshine. What more could we ask for (…well, we do need rain)!

After work I enjoyed a pleasant hike at Alcock Park. Since this park is dissected by the Wapsipinicon River, my preferred route (when the park is closed to vehicles for the season) is to hike in from the west, cross on the swinging bridge, then hike upstream to the dam. The entire distance out and back is less than…

For Safety

For the safety of this red fox I have edited this photo to make it challenging to identify the location. Hopefully it survives this season.

Interesting Views

Twice today I was afforded interesting imaging opportunities I took advantage of. The first was quick and easy. The second was also quick, but took more preparation.

Image 1 - My day began early for an EMS run under moody conditions. After returning home and while eating breakfast, I noticed the sun was slowly burning through the fog to usher in a beautiful day in late January. As I watched the sunrise, I thought it might be interesting to frame with our Norway spruce trees as it broke through the fog. With selective framing and cropping I was able to create an image that conveys a simple message… “Morning Has Broken.”

Image 2 - These images took only a few minutes of actual time to record, but more time in the preparatory phase. Knowing I would be at the State House today to meet with lawmakers…

Provisions

February 1 will mark the beginning of my 22nd year of shooting “A Picture A Day” and sharing them for all to view. This self-assignment has probably been the best investment I have made to improve my photography skills.

Shooting so many pictures over so much time has occasionally proven challenging - either a lack of time or a lack of subjects has made me wonder if I was going to be ending my continuous string of images. Today was such a day. Kristy and I were both watching for possible compositions and seeing nothing I wanted to work on. We took a break without any photos with a plan of me going out later to look again.

An hour or so after our pause I headed out. For a reason unknown to me I had an over-powering urge to…

Woodies, Frogs, and Skeeters in the Puddle Patterns

There is an area where I frequently paddle my canoe or kayak during the warm weather months that is almost always hosting something interesting in the wildlife category. To date I have not ventured far from the shoreline due to thick vegetation and muck.

Since there are no leaves on the trees, I thought today might be a good day to look at what makes this small space on…

A Plea for Respect and Tales on Ice

I have debated whether or not I want to put these thoughts in words, but for the sake of others I am going to.

This morning I went for a mild, winter hike at Babcock Woods in Waverly. I was only a short distance up the trail when I heard noise behind me. A quick look back identified the sounds as a dog approaching me. When I stopped, the dog stopped in an alert posture. The dog’s person (not handler) called the dog back where I thought she was going to put it on a leash as the park rules/sign state. Apparently that did not happen or if the dog was leashed, it did not last long.

I continued my hike and was about 2/3 of the distance back to the forest/prairie trail. Suddenly the same dog ran past me then stopped, turned around, and ran right at me. I yelled at the dog and swung my monopod at it to prevent whatever was going to happen. The person who brought the dog (30-50 yards behind) was pushing on the dog’s remote collar and making it beep, but the dog was not reacting. Eventually, after I yelled “Git!” and swung my monopod at the dog, the dog ran back in the woman’s direction at she was saying something like “Don’t be a naughty dog.” It took some time before she got the dog under control.

Folks think about this. What if I had been an older person out for a walk with nothing to protect with? What if I had been a kid? What if I hadn’t had my monopod to swing at the dog? I will tell you, had I not had my monopod with me, things would have likely gotten very uncomfortable in that timber for that dog.

Dog owners who cannot follow the rules must understand there are those of us who have been traumatized by dogs in our pasts. If you want a dog, then be respectful of others. Leave it home or keep it on a leash. Follow the directives on the signs. Do not make me feel like I have to take strong action to avoid an attack. Do not force my hand to end a threat. And do not begin to tell me the dog was friendly. If it was friendly, you would not have been beeping the collar that did not help or telling it not to be naughty.

When I reported the incident I mentioned that a person should not have...

Abstract Images and Balanced Thoughts

Around mid-afternoon today I hit a psychological wall. Mentally I was done, there would be no more “work” energy spent at the close of my work day. I decided at the appointed hour the computer would be turned off and I was going to go out and enjoy an hour or so of drizzle, fog, and pretty much dark conditions.

Most would not be too excited with my plans… I understand. For me though, I needed to get out. It was time to fill my lungs with cool, moist air as I listened to the sound of dripping rain and melting snow. That we did not have a blue sky day was irrelevant. I had part of a day to soak in nature - literally and figuratively. I needed it and was going to enjoy it.

As I looked for possible images to photograph under the moody conditions, the thoughts of…

OK - I am REALLY Impressed!

Tonight was a big test for new camera equipment for me. I challenged the drone with a mix of lighting, and no light, while shooting a longer exposure, while hovering. Could this piece of technological wizardry do it? Would I have an acceptable image (white balance, sharpness, properly exposed)? I think this picture speaks for itself. (I know, the composition isn’t anything special. This was a technical test.)

Like I Used To See

Years ago we were subscribers to National Geographic magazine. Each month the magazine with the yellow border on the cover would introduce me to far away lands, wildlife, or views of common areas seldom seen by ordinary people. As I studied the pages I would think about how fascinating it would be to shoot for National Geographic - either…

Please, Just Chill!!!

Apparently this adult bald eagle has a burr somewhere causing it to have a short fuse.

I spotted the bird in a beautiful setting - the top…

Birds I Don’t Often See in January (and a couple I do)

Today was a cold, windy, blustery day of travel in four counties. By the end of the day I had photographed three bird species I don’t see every day in January and a couple species I can readily find. Let’s begin with the less common birds.

Brrrr….

During a bit of gravel travel today I noticed our wildlife appeared to be taking advantage of the calm conditions. It was still cold (below zero), but the wind was tolerable.

I found and photographed ring-necked pheasants and whitetail deer. Also seen were…

Tales in the Snow and Reconnecting

What began as a snowy hike to search for winter birds became an exercise in reading stories in the snow - at least two of them.

Story 1 appeared to be a short saga indicating the demise of a cardinal. Based on the number of feathers present at the scene, I suspect this bird may have put up some resistance, but not much, before it was carried off. This may well have been a case of bird-feeding in a literal sense - a bird of prey may have swooped in for a meal.

Cold Conditions with Contentment

Days before a family member and I traveled to the healing spot to the north I was thinking about this composition. Yes, I have featured this tree before, but no - not in snowy, blustery conditions as we had this afternoon.

Since the weather was providing us conditions different than normal this afternoon, we…

Not What It Appears

This picture does not show a whitetail buck in hot pursuit of a reluctant doe. What the image does show is a buck and doe (two of maybe a dozen and a half) whitetail deer heading over a hill after my stopping to photograph them spooked the group. I wonder if…

Giddy for Nothing

Imagine this guy (me) headed down the highway and seeing this at blurred speeds. (see below)

Sand Crane Along Wapsipinicon River

With great hesitation I share an observation from today.

Somewhat hidden along the Wapsipinicon River was this older sand crane. Notice how the crane was on level ground, not on a hill. Had it been on a sandy hill, this could have been considered a sand hill crane.

Incoming, Parked, and Planted

Early this morning I spotted white shadows, if there are such things, moving low over the wind-blown, snow-covered field beside me. Very quickly I pulled safely off the road to watch the scene as the incoming trumpeter swans approached and passed over me. That few seconds were “Wow” moments, especially after the many cloudy and snowy days we have been enjoying (not really).