Two Views

With the sunshine and heat, the roses have exploded.  There are so many that it is difficult to keep up with the trimming that must occur to get even more!

Flowers can be presented in as many ways as people see them - here's a couple different views from my vision. Some have a dreaminess about them that is incredibly captivating; others explode with life and color vividly!

A First (for me).

I led a class in Photographic Expression today, as part of a program that the local Audubon group and Hawkwatch.org sponsored.  We had about 8 folks in the class, did about an hour and 15 discussion focussed mostly on thinking about taking photos as a means to tell a story.
We then adjourned to a park about a block away and Jen Hajj of Hawkwatch brought a Red-tailed hawk and a Kestrel for us to photograph (both have one bad wing.).  After that we reconvened and looked at some of the photos that members of the group had taken.  All in all, it was a good class.

Here's a few of my photos from the park:

More Antelope Island and Big Sky

Here's a few more shots from our Antelope Island trip last Sunday.  I see the world in vivid colors and worked with these big sky photos to bring that out.  We all see things differently - how do you see the world?
The birds were a true giggle!  The sandhill crane adults threw back their heads and let out that ancient, bloodcurdling cry as we watched them.  We really felt honored to see them.  And so many folks just drive by and never see or even look :-(

Watching us!

Murphy and Brodie came out to Antelope Island with Lisa and I; Murphy is used to traveling with me and mostly lays down and sleeps until the truck does something (slow down, etc) that he takes as a signal that something is going to happen.
Here he is, giving us the 'What's up?' eye as I believe we woke him up from a nap!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all you who are or act as Fathers!
For Fathers day, Lisa took me out to Antelope Island - despite heavy rain in Salt Lake the island was dry for our visit. We got to walk around, take in the spacious land and sky and had a good visit together.  We saw 17+ different species of birds, of which I will post a few shots during the week.
The most impactful part of being there, for me, (other than getting to spend time with Lisa), was the big sky view..  Or should I say BIG SKY views.  Here's a couple from the day - the clouds were very dark around us at times and the sun shone through also.  A very magical time and something one can only experience in wide open spaces like this. Add to it the scent of sage, the melodic call of the meadowlark and a breeze that clears out all extraneous stuff - and you can see why it is magical.  A photo cannot truly capture all of that, but we can try to bring you along with us!  See if it does.

Reminder to always carry camera

I was stopped in traffic waiting for the light to change at the exit off 201 for 3200 west.  I watched the kestrel hover and reached for my camera. He then dropped like a rock into the grass, then rose and flew off with the mouse in his grasp.  This is a composite of 4 shots - with a little grain applied.
Just when I think nothing will show up along comes something like this!  Carry your camera!

Nature Photography Day

Yesterday was Nature Photography Day - I told my work team to take a photo and I got some wild ones - mostly of people in their work modes.  But also one of horses, and one of the full moon.  Here's my contribution - I was watering the containers on the back deck and saw these.  I'm a sucker for light and dark.

Flowering Beauties

We visited one of our favorite stores yesterday, the Garden Store.  They have an exquisite garden behind the store with wonderful flowers, trees, shrubs and water features.  Here's three flowers that caught my fancy as we walked around.

Summertime in the 'hood!

Well, although it is not really warm here, it is almost summertime; and as far as the kids are concerned they are out of school and it really is summertime! So the 'hood has been filled with kid noises the last few days.   Everyone seems to be having fun and lots of energy is dispelled.
Here's a couple of shots - I was invited to this 'lemonade' stand - although they had no lemonade, just water.  But they did have jawbreakers and a jolly roger for 10cents!  So I got them.  Love it!

Cole, who is the lad on the far left above, is into wheeled vehicles.  That's him below riding his dad's ATV around.

Creatures from the past

Similar to Sandhill Cranes, pelicans are creatures from the past.  They have apparently developed over a long, long time and are very good at what they do.  They are also very 'cool' creatures to watch.  Here's a couple of shots that isolate them.

Wrapping up weekend birds!

More birds today, and many of them are the commonplace birds that we often take for granted - sparrows, goldfinch, house finch, starlings, robins and mourning dove.  They are so ubiquitous that it is easy to overlook them and not see the beauty that they bring to the show.  Closeups often are helpful in stopping us for a moment to really look at the bird - they often have feet, eye stuff or other things that we haven't noticed.
Also included today are families of Canadian Geese - big and little, and a Tern - I think it is a Forster's but identification is not 100%.
Hope you enjoy and you take a moment to stop and look at the common birds around you.

Look at his right claw - looks like it is out of proportion!

The geese look like they have had a good year.

A real hunter for small fish - will dive underwater.

Coo, coo - I'm looking at you!

Starlings - one of the goofiest but very beautiful birds.

What do you call a gaggle of sparrows?

The common robin is a very beautiful and striking bird.

He looks like he just emerged from a pile of catsup! God can he sing!

More Birds!!

Murph and I visited the Farmington Bay Wildlife refuge with the rented 300mm f/2.8 and a 2x extender - and boy, what a feast!  It would have been a feast if all I had was an iPhone for a camera - as you'll see.
Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, ducks, flycatchers, grebes, yellow-headed blackbirds, carp, sandhill cranes (no photos), red-winged blackbird and a blue-beaked Ruddy Duck!
Here's some shots - the pelicans do a lot of things in small formations, so here they all dip beaks in at the same time (look like headless turkeys!) and then eat all at once - very cute.  The GBH was fairly comfortable with me while I was in the truck, so got some neat shots. American Avocets are always elegant.  And what can you say about a bunch of mallards with the white feathered guy?