Sunset clouds reflected in the pond glow softly behind these developing seeds.
D5100 f/5.6 1/125s 55-300@155mm – Summer 2012
Seeds at Sunset
Monthly Archives: July 2012
Ssso, What Else Is in the Pond?
Bridger was up fishing at the pond when he spotted a snake swimming by.
D5100 f/22 ISO 800 1/250s 55-300@260mm – Summer 2012
Later that morning I went up to take some mid-day photographs. Usually I am there just after sunrise or just before sunset, but it turns out there is plenty going on in the heat of the day. Bridger’s snake swam by a couple of times, looking mighty cool and comfortable in the pond water. It surely was more comfortable there than I was on the bank in triple digit heat!
It is a pretty powerful swimmer if we can judge by the ripples it is creating! Does anyone recognize the variety of snake?
One more visitor to the pond.
Nikon D5100 f/6.7 ISO 400 1/60s 55-300@300mm – Summer 2012
He trotted casually up to the pond while I was standing stock still waiting for a dragonfly to return to a stump. He didn’t notice me for some 25 minutes, but he was hidden in some brush where I could only occasionally glimpse an ear when he moved. Consequently, I only have two photos of him from that morning.
The photo is somewhat out of focus. It is amazing there is any sort of focus at all, as I had done something I rarely do, turned it to manual focus in an attempt to capture a dragonfly skimming the pond surface. My autofocus kept bringing the reflection into focus instead of the surface of the water. When I saw the coyote, I forgot all about focusing and just snapped a photo – I did, barely, remember to roll the little wheel, changing my aperture to allow for switching from sunlight to shadow.
Salutations!
Charlotte’s Web fans will recognize that famous greeting by which Wilbur met his best friend. Could this web have been created by one of Charlotte’s descendants?
Nikon D5100 f/13 ISO 800 1/250s Nikkor 55-300@300mm – Summer 2012
It has a cheery, artistic look to it, and glints of sunlight spark off it in such a magical way – it sparks my imagination 🙂
Invisible?
Bridger, as he so often does, told me he saw something I needed to photograph….
Nikon D5100 f/11 1/250s ISO 800 Nikkor 55-300mm – Summer 2012
A gray tree frog. His color blended perfectly with the electric pole he was on, even to the green, speckled areas resembling moss or lichen. He froze and stared at me, hoping I didn’t really see him. He crept downward, easing a leg forward, pausing, then slowly moving his body to catch up. This was great for me, as it put his head in the sun! Finally he decided I was showing too much interest and he was close enough to his intended hiding spot, so he hurried into a crevice where I could not get at him.
Isn’t Bridger great at spotting critters for me to photograph?
The Flag of the Underbrush
Soft focus, blurred background, woodland colors…
Nikon D5100 f/6.7 ISO 100 1/180s Nikkor 55-300mm lens 185mm – Summer 2012
I love these leaves displayed on their twig like the flag of the underbrush!
Recently we did some mowing and weedeating along the trail to the pond and on the bank of the pond. The idea was to facilitate access to the pond for fishing. While I have to admit that in some respects it is nice to have a clear trail, I also think we went overboard. The trail is too wide, too clear. Many of the areas where I took photos of insects, flowers, and seeds last year are now brown stubble. The underbrush has been cleared back, but now there is no buffer between the woods and the path. The underbrush needs someone to stand up for it, waving a flag, proudly declaring love of the weeds, bugs, and small critters who are the underbrush and its residents! I have nothing against neat, manicured lawns and pathways, but that is not where I want to live and take my photos. I leave those areas to others.
Behind the veil
Virginia Creeper veils many a tree. When we step out our front door on a sunny, summer morning, we are greeted by the beautiful sight of sunlight glowing through the veil of Virginia Creeper leaves, and are also able to see the shady, rough bark of the oak tree behind the veil.
Nikon D5100 f/5.6 ISO 100 1/180sec Nikkor 55-300mm lens – Summer 2012
Desiccated Beauty
Between the recent triple digit heat and near drought conditions, plants have had it kind of rough this month of July, 2012.
This photo, like yesterday’s photo, has less contrast, softer colors, less intense light, than the photos I usually prefer. It has a soft, almost painterly quality. I quite like it, though not so much as my bright and sunny photos. What is your opinion?
Nikon D5100 f/5.6 1/180 ISO 100 Nikkor 55-300mm lens – Summer 2012
Just because they are dried out doesn’t mean these leaves have no beauty. The early morning sun can reveal beauty in many otherwise unnoticeable things.
Soft and Spiky?
A thistle. A soft thistle?
Nikon D5100 f/5.6 1/180s ISO 100 Nikkor 55-300mm lens – Summer 2012
No, a thistle that has the feel of a watercolor painting, with soft focus and soft colors.
Yearning
Yearning for the sunlight. Live-giving light beams down onto these beautiful leaves, and they convert it to energy they can use to create flowers and seeds. Simply perfect!
Nikon D5100 f16 1/250s Nikkor 55-300mm lens – Summer 2012
Profiles
Cynthia (the cat) loves Bridger. She was taking this opportunity to get as much affection as she could rub off.
Friends in Profile – Summer 2012
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