missing in non action

I've been missing. But I'm back now.

 I just emersed myself for 5 days at fotofusion. My head is spinning, my creative juices are overflowing, and I'm exhausted. I'm even dreaming in photographs. This particular image has captured something unexplainable in me. It's soft and dreamy, holds so much promise. It sits on my desk and I keep referring to it. 

Here it is again in a vertical. Notice how the light has changed. 

Bobcat

She came to our back yard and stayed for at least ten minutes. Tully barked and tried to go through the screen door of the bedroom to get to her. Thankfully I shut the door and we watched her from a safe distance, Tully however stood very far away from the door. The bobcat was very connected to the sounds of Tully and the sight of Brad and I peering at her from various windows. She followed us with her eyes, everytime Tully barked her ears moved and she watched and watched. I found my camera which was thankfully in the house and not in the studio. I opened the french doors in order to get a better shot. She watched me as you can see here. She was no more than 20 ft from me.  A very young healthy bobcat.      However she would eat Tully in a nano second....

As she was leaving I was clicking away and everytime she heard the camera she would turn back and look at me. Just before she disappeared into the overgrown dense area in the back she sat down and very gently washed herself with a pink tongue.

Tully will remain on a very tight leash.... 

Heads up

I was lost somewhere between heaven and earth. Within minutes this sky changed dramatically. The midtones took over and put the last blues and yellows to sleep. A sky retiring for the night..

ISO 200
1/80 sec (on a tripod)
f/14
24-70 lens

grasping again

 This was a Wakodahatchi day. We saw three Egyptian Geese, can't imagine how they got there!

and of course our old favorites... 

I love the birds, I start the day with such enthusiasm and excitement over who I will see there. I shoot like a crazy person, eventually throwing out most of my images. The light was a bit harsh and contrasty and many of my shots were not sharp. It was a perfect example of grasping. My enthusiasm takes over my grounded quiet and the results are photographically just plain bad. But the fun that day was more important than the images I took home. Next time I shall slip away before daybreak and have a more contemplative session with my camera...

ISO 100
1/100sec (resting lens on railing not tripod)
f/5.6 goose
f/18 egret
100-400 lens

in my window

This has been a very grey day, cold and dreary, but my fancy orchid brought some sun into my studio. I set this on my counter in the studio window and used my new expensive tripod. I should be taking out my flash but I have a combination of fear and laziness that seems to prevent me from opening the box. I really prefer natural lighting anyway.... see I'm making excuses.

ISO100
1/8 sec
f/6.3
100 macro lens

out my window

These juicy blossoms are out my studio window, getting blown around on a chilly windy Saturday morning. This photo was taken on a warmer quieter day. It was filled with reflections of itself. Which composition do you prefer?

ISO 200
f/9
1/50 (tripod of course)
100 macro lens

one eye

It's important to keep busy and stay on track. But sometimes you can lose sight of where you're going. Or at least part of your sight!

ISO 200

1/100 sec

f/3.2

70-200 lens

heads up

Now it seems I'm even dreaming of those northern skies. This one was taken on Christmas at Meadowbrook. It was preparing me for the hot Florida weather, all orange and warm. The reality was that we were all in our winter coats and scarves. It was my last northern sky...

ISO 400
1/200 sec
f/8
24-70 lens

evening meal

 Not time for dinner

Time for dinner...

ISO 100

1/250 sec

f/6.3

100-400 lens

small worlds

When you first look at our Dahoon Hollies you see the shiny leaves and all the red berries, they are loaded with them now. But of course things always get more interesting if you look further,  get up close and personal. The tree trunk was alive with texture and colors.
When I discovered this little piece of art I was without my tripod. In fact my tripod has been left in LI. Trying to use a macro lens without a tripod is pretty impossible for me. But it is what it is and that's what I got....

ISO 200
125/sec
f2.8
100 macro lens

Expectations

This is going to be an interesting journey. I'm planning to head out on this road with my camera in hand and take notice of everything around me. The feel of the road under my feet, the smells, the rustle of the leaves. The colors will shift and the intensity will be forever changing. The skies won't always be so clear, I will welcome the storms and the wild results reflected in the sky. I'm going to look deep into the ponds and find myself there. I can't wait to get outside, I'll bring back what I find.

ISO 250
1/400 sec
f/5.6 (f/11 would have made more sense)
24-70 lens

tomorrow

When you see an opportunity take it. Put your hand on that gate and pull it towards you, it will be difficult  to pull through the thicket, grinding at the joints, lopsided and wirey. But once you're through it feels like freedom and open vistas and peace. Go ahead open the gate.

ISO 250 (early morning light)

1/100 sec

f/13

24-70 lens