My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
Over a week ago I sat in the shade at our hotel to get out of the 103 degree heat. It actually was too cold for me in the hotel so I needed to be outside. While today in Colorado our temperatures during the night were in the high 40’s and we had mixed snow and rain in the high country. The dark clouds along the mountains reminds me, winter is approaching. Have a super day!
We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills and winding streams with tangled growth as “wild.” To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery.
Luther Standing Bear, Rosebud Sioux
I actually committed a crime to get this image. I stepped onto the farmers field to setup my tripod. I parked my car along the two lane paved road where there was a turnoff to an oil pump. I then walked up the road to where I thought would be a good place. And, what do I find but an open gate in the fence and no signs. So, I walked about 20 yards into the field and setup. 🙂
After loading this image into Lightroom I noticed a spot in the sky on the right hand side. The sensor on my D300 is pretty good about staying clean, but I must admit to slacking about cleaning my lens. So, I was not too surprised when I saw a large spot on this image. However, it was not on the rest of the images in the series. Upon a closer look I discovered it was a dragon fly caught in flight. This brings up something I’ve been noticing about this summer, there seems to be a lot of dragonflies this year. They are abundant around our lake and when I’m out in the fields. The other afternoon I was outside having an iced tea at a local coffee house when one decided to pay me a visit. It circled around me then landed on the tip of my straw. I started talking to it but it only seemed like a one way conversation. Can you see it? You can click on the image to enlarge it. Anyone else notice an increase in dragon flies this summer?
A common misconception is that sunflowers track the sun. In fact, mature flowerheads typically face east and do not move. I also found out Native American groups planted sunflowers on the north edges of their gardens as a “fourth sister” to the better known three sisters combination of corn, beans, and squash. I did not know any of that so that was one of my lessons for today. I am surprised how many fields of these magnificent plants there are.
Or, otherwise known as a boxelder bug and considered by many to be a nuisance. They are most abundant during hot, dry summers. While walking along the bar ditch a few days ago I found pairs of them all over the place. Busy little buggers.
Barns have many uses such as storage of grains, stock barns and stables, dairy barns and milk houses, tobacco barns and especially photography. I’ve posted several images of this barn and finding myself drawn to it, so expect more until I find another one. 🙂 Of course I”m also drawn to clouds and open spaces.
For a photographer this is a magic moment… about 45 minutes before sunrise, light is already starting to push back the dark. I open my camera and let nature paint me a picture. – Steve Coleman
Hope you are enjoying your holiday!