TESTING, TESTING, 1, 2, 3.....

Its been a while since I've been able to work with my camera.  In the meantime I have been doing a lot of reading on how to take better pictures.  My first accomplishment, moving out of the center of the frame.    While it is necessary for some shots, so much potential is lost if the subject is always smack dab in the center.(thanks plittle).

This colorful, furry little creature is the larvae of the 'milkweed tussock' moth.  I have seen hundreds of its younger, smaller and less hairy siblings during my visits to the milkweed field but this was the first time I'd ever seen the larvae in this stage.  Ironically it will morph into a rather dull, mono-color brown moth.

ROUND ROBIN CHALLENGE: Transportation

I did not get to go out today in search for inspiration for this week's challenge since my paparrazi husband decided that his need for MY camera out weighed mine and he took off with it.  That left me with the easy task of finding my favorite 'transportation' pictures in my library of 100,000's of shots.  I have always been fascinated with hot air balloons and it has been a long time dream of mine to one day ascend into the clouds in one.  While I have never actually been in one, the hot air balloon is by far my favorite vehicle of transportation.

This may not be the best picture... in fact its a poor example of contrast, color and lighting, but truth be known it is my favorite balloon picture.  Just looking at it transports me back to the moment in time when I took it.  I remember that I was happy that morning, with my son home on leave before departing for the first half of his tour in Iraq.  I can almost feel the peacefulness and contentment I felt that morning as the balloon floated with seemingly weightlessness high above the mountains in the crisp morning air.  One day I hope to know the feeling of looking down on those mountains with the same peaceful contentment.  For now I must be content with this picture and the memories it invokes.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE:  TRANSPORTATION