Teasels

Teasel - from Merriam-Webster
a : an Old World prickly herb (Dipsacus fullonum of the family Dipsacaceae, the teasel family) with flower heads that are covered with stiff hooked bracts and were used especially formerly in the woolen industry —called also fuller's teasel.


These 'prickly herbs' surround wetlands here in Utah and I love the way they stand and show themselves - whether with hoarfrost, backlit light, snow, raindrops - they are beautiful. Capturing that beauty is not easy for me - so here is another attempt to share the specialness they bring to me, with you!

Standing in one place

Sunday when Murph and I visited the refuge, after a nice long walk, we picked one place to set up and stay.  It was on a dike across from the heron rookery and with two open bodies of water between us and the rookery. After an initial scolding by the Canucks, things settled down and we were pretty much ignored.
So much so that this muskrat swam pretty much up to us before realizing that we might not be friendlies; plus the light changed and I could isolate different views that you only see after you are silent for a time.
Try it - you'll like it!

Note the American Kestrel communing with the Great Blue Heron!

Blue hour

As the sun sets, the hour of blue begins, and can lead to some fascinating colors and photo effects. Yesterday at the wildlife refuge, I was photographing herons on their rookery and then turning around to capture the sun on the buildings and fence behind me.
Much of these two photos break the rules - the horizon line is pretty much in the center and the highlighted fence is pretty much in the center - but I like it!

 

Fuzzy - another view

I have been experimenting with different ways to present subjects - trying to break out of my mold. Here's another view of Fuzzy that appealed to me.

Thanks!

Feedback from friends who have gone to Alpine says that they are no longer running the contest - informal word is I might have won, but will wait for official word! Thanks for everyone's support!

These spring days bring wonderful light into the backyard - the grasses are a constant source of beauty and change; and Fuzzy was feeling springy himself and climbed up the trellis and posed!

A little help from my Friends

Just before we left for our Hawaii trip last December, I was invited to participate in a photo exhibit - by choosing an hour slot during January 1, 2012, to take photos and submit one for the exhibit.  Alpine Art at 430 S. Temple here in SLC organized this - a very neat idea!
I had the 6am-7am time slot and Rick and I went to Punaluu Black Sand Beach on the big island - left the house about 4:45am to get there in time. I shot maybe 300 shots (Rick took a lot also); and of those shots chose this photo to submit.
The help I'm requesting is this: Alpine has a little contest going to pick the most popular of the photos, and the winner gets the framing free. So, IF you happen to be going downtown, and want to see some very neat photos, AND if you like mine, please vote for it! Thank you!

Antelope Island Landscapes

The other part of visiting Antelope Island are the landscape possibilities; they are never-ending! Big-sky, water, grasslands, whatever you want can usually be found out there. Here's a few from our trip yesterday that I liked.