28 Sunday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Jackie, the puppy, has learned to retrieve a tennis ball that I throw away as far as I can. She enjoys it, for that is bred within the Golden Retriever genes, but she also likes the small treats she gets after each successful retrieval, which is most of the time.
Jackie running toward me with the tennis ball.
28 Sunday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
I took the following two photos last year, forgot about them, and only today got the time to review and process them.
First a Mourning Dove seemed interested in the flowers of a Desert Rose kept in a planter.
Mourning Dove.
The same flowers after a rainy night.
Desert Rose after rain.
This last shot of a Cosmos is from this morning, when temperatures were still below 90 F(32 C).
Cosmos in morning sun.
25 Thursday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Cee’s Black and White challenge, Trees, is at this link: https://ceenphotography.com/2016/08/24/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-trees-2/
I took the following photos at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near the town of Bishop, CA. These trees are said to have lived for several thousand years, some over 4,000 years, at elevations of about 10,000 ft (3,300 m) and above.
Bristlecone Pine.
Bristlecone Pine trunk.
Bristlecone Pine roots.
Dead Bristlecone Pine.
21 Sunday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Tags
cleome, crape myrtle, dragonfly, hibiscus, photography, postaday
It was cooler today, though not by much. It got as hot as 90 F (32 C) then stopped there before backing down a notch. I took the opportunity to go to a local park in search of summer flowers to shoot. Here are a few that are representative of this time of the year.
Cleome, easy to grow, almost like a weed.
Hibiscus, a favorite that comes in many colors.
Hibiscus, this one was too well liked by the bugs.
Red Crape Myrtle.
Finally I managed to catch a dragonfly almost in flight, but not quite.
Dragonfly landing on a twig.
20 Saturday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Tags
carnegie center, dragonfly, hosta, lotus, photography, postaday
Today I took a quick trip to the lotus pond in early morning, when it was still not too hot. The flowers were mostly gone, with fewer than a dozen left, like this one below.
White Lotus.
There were many pods, some filled with large seeds, right next to flower buds still trying to bloom.
Lotus seed pod.
Nearby, in deep shade, hosta flowers were in full bloom. The buds were white and a pale lavender at the tips.
Hosta flowers.
Finally, the dragonflies were as plentiful as ever. I tried to snap a few shots of some that were flying and buzzing around from end of the pond to the other, but nothing came out well. Finally, I had to settle for a stationary Blue Dasher basking in the warm sun.
Blue Dasher.
17 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Great Egret and Snowy Egret.
15 Monday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Jackie is a Golden Retriever puppy that has been in our home for over a month. She is now a little bit over three months old. She looks pretty, but can be quite a bundle to handle.
Jackie, the puppy.
15 Monday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
It’s been a month since my last trip to the lotus pond. I’ve been meaning to go back and take more pictures, but haven’t done so yet, mainly because it’s been so hot.
The following photo is a monochrome version of a shot taken last month. Since the flower is white, it lends itself easily to this b&w treatment.
Lotus flowers in monochrome.
14 Sunday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Tags
Sunflowers are a perennial favorite of late summer. Their name implies that they are sun worshipers that track and turn to face the sun. However, once they are fully mature, they are resolutely turned to the East as you can see in the second photo shown below.
Sunflower. It was a very windy day, and perhaps I caught this one as the wind tried to twist it to face the sun.
Sunflower turned away from the late afternoon sun.
12 Friday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Coyote Buttes North is an area in Arizona, near the border with Utah, with some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. I went there a little over three years ago to see The Wave, that I have posted about twice already in this blog. Recently, going through my files, I found more photos of The Wave and the area around it, and some definitely deserve to be shown here.
The Wave at Coyotes Buttes North.
Before reaching The Wave, from the parking lot you have to walk 3.5 miles through landscape that looked like this.
On the way to The Wave. There was no apparent trail, and people do get lost, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
On the way to The Wave. It was mostly uphill, although no actual climbing was involved.
Nearer to The Wave. The twist lines in the rocks were becoming more and more elaborate.
The Wave is where those two people were standing.
Wavy and graceful lines imprinted on red sandstone by the forces of nature.
Clashing waves.
From inside The Wave looking out.
More clashing waves.
I would not hesitate to go back to see The Wave again. However, access is very limited. You have to apply for a permit, names are drawn by lottery, and only 20 people are allowed to go there each day.
06 Saturday Aug 2016
Posted in Photography
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are common butterflies during the latter part of summer. From the photos below, you’ll see why they are named that way. Male butterflies have stripes, and blue and orange spots in the lower part of their wings, while female ones may have yellow or deep blue, almost black colors.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail feasting on Zinnia flower. This one could be a female.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Thistle flower. This one is a male, with more colored spots near the tail.
Female Swallowtail.
Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
02 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
In January of 2015, I spent half an hour watching the sun set over the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, taking a photo every minute. The colors kept getting more vivid and the clouds more intricate. The scene became most intense in the last few minutes, after the sun had plunged below the horizon.
Sunset over Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
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