NATURAL PATIENCE

I became acquainted with this young Great Blue Heron last summer.  I am almost 100% sure its the same one because while all of the other herons will take flight as soon as I come into view, this one will move to the shore, and then upon realizing that I am not a threat, it will resume its search for fish.  Its patience is evident here in this extended exposure shot.  I slowed the shutter down to soften the surface of the water but was able to keep the heron pretty much in focus because it was standing perfectly still while waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim by.

Patience is a virtue, and the key to survival.  This heron caught and swallowed 3 fish while I watched from the dam.

NEW TO MY FAVORITES LIST

'Spring Blossoms'  (I took extra care to get this shot focused only to load it onto the computer and smooth the edges with the 'digital noise remover'.  I like the resulting softer lines better than the original sharply focused image.)

I read a lot of journals in the course of the day, but my favorites are the ones that require no reading, just looking.  They are the Photo-Blogs.  Over the past two years I have come across and enjoy dozens of online albums by some super talented photographers, but I am always on the look out for new talent.  Some of these newest favorites of mine are actually old aquaintences such as my husband and my sister.  Others I came across by accident.  Either way, they are full of talent and inspiration and it would be selfish of me not to bring them to the attention of others who might not already know and appreciate their works.

PAPARRAZI BY PROXY:  My husband Steve (more commonly known as 'Dickidoo') has always had a good eye for photography and I finally got tired of his constant suggestions that I should shoot this or do that, and I handed him my camera with the suggestion that he take the picture his own darn self.  He did, and he did it well.  And now I have to fight to be able to use my own camera (I don't share well).  However, I am always eager to see what he has captured during his outings and am rarely disappointed.  While I am the actual author of the journal, all of the pictures are the works of my husband.

Retrospect USA: Meet my older sister 'Redbird'.  She began her passion for photography several years ago with a 35mm SLR camera and recently evolved into the world of digital photography.  I love how she uses color and angles.  During a visit over the summer, she and I took our cameras out to a favorite scenic location of both of ours, the Garden of the Gods, and I was amazed by how differently we both captured the same subjects.

Anywhere Is....:  This is a brand-spankin'-new find for me, and I instantly fell in love with the earthy talent of Shutterbug.  When I first clicked on this link I was completely in awe, and the feeling remains with each new entry. 

Photo Trek:  Radar calls himself a 'hobbyist photographer', but do not mistake that for being amateur.  There is nothing amateurish about this guy.  His pictures are fabulous!  Don't limit yourself to his journal, check out the links to his galleries.  You won't be disappointed.

Involuntary Motion:  I have mentioned this journal before for its written words but would be amiss to neglect mentioning the breathtaking photography found within the entries.  His pictures reflect the simple yet beautiful lifestyle he has chosen to live.

Enjoy!

APRIL'S FULL MOON

I missed the opportunity to capture the moon while it was a dark orange in the early evening sky due to the fact that I was on the road and my camera was at home.  When I finally returned home, the moon was hiding behind a neighbor's trees.  I'm sure that if I had the know-how to get the settings right, this could have been a really nice shot.  For now I am happy with the mystical quality of the picture.  As a child I had always been intrigued by the moon.  As an adult I am still mesmerized by it.  I don't think I will ever tire of its many faces.

GONE FISHING

Its spring, the ponds have all thawed out and the anglers are on the shorelines every chance they get.   A lone fisherman sat across the water, enjoying the sweet melodies of the songbirds as they flitted about in the nearby trees and reeds.  Occasionally he would move to reel in his line and cast it out again, but for the most part he just sat there and enjoyed the day. 

Me:  Hi, how're you doing?

Him:  Good, you?

Me:  I'm doing great, thanks. 

Him:  Where's all the fish?  Been here since 11 o'clock this morning, only caught 2 fish all day.

Me:  Maybe there were only 2 fish out there and you caught them all.

Him:  They said they stocked the lake... but there aren't no fish out there.  They lied!  There aren't no fish out there at all.

When I left the pond a while later, he was still sitting there, his stringer with the two fish lay in the water below his feet.  He hadn't had a bite since I'd been there, but you'd never tell by the look of contentment on his face. 

He had reached the point in his life when it was no longer about the fish, it was all about the fishing.

GOOSE SONG

I spent the afternoon with this Canada goose.  Despite its appearance, the goose was actually quite docile around me, making only soft grunts while begging for crumbs from my sourdough roll.  It was obviously the dominant gander (?) on the pond for the other geese kept their distance and those who ventured too close in the hopes of scooping up some crumbs were quickly chased away with a flap of wings and a warning honk.