My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
Trying to shoot any insect that’s capable of flying is a challenge. They are always moving. They are not moving as fast our universe, so eloquently explained by Paul in his posting on the Milky way. However, they are elusive and ddarters, tough on auto focus systems. I noticed several bees hovering over these flowers and knelt down to watch and tRyan to get some shots. Even though the bee is blurry, I was pleased with this image. He’s airborne and most of those images are blurry. This one’s in focus enough for posting but not printing. Another reason I like this image is the large glob (technical term) of pollen on his leg that can be clearly seen during flight.
… my blue Adirondack chair. I’m grateful for my sister who gave me the Adirondack chair. I’m grateful for the patio for my Adirondack chair. I’m grateful for the times I can sit in my Adirondack chair. In fact, I’m just grateful for life! Thank you, Sheree!
I’m not sure how it happened. I was working through some images from 2009 taken at Inniswood Gardens when I discovered these two images. It seems I did very little with them at the time and most likely because I had shot a lot of images that day. It was a cloudy, overcast day with light rain and I’m in this beautiful garden, why not. For some reason I found the only keyword I had entered for either of these images was Inniswood Gardens. There was no keyword for dragonfly or plants or leaves or rain. Nothing. How the heck am I suppose to find them without keywords, unless I’m just browsing? I suspect slothfulness or skipped them because other images were more appealing to me. I could have skipped the dragonfly because it is a bit out of focus.
I think this a Clubtail Dragonfly. Forgot to ask when I took the photo.
However, this time around they caught my eye. They also reminded me of those rainy, overcast days that provided such wonderfully diffused light while I lived in Ohio. It also reminded me of how often I came home with wet pants (from the knee down) when it was raining or just rained. I played with them a little, and for my taste, I like the way these two images turned out. My post processing included exposure, tone and contrast. Pretty simple actually. Why I did not play with these five years ago, I don’t know. But, five years ago something within urged me to press that shutter button. I must pay more attention to the urge.
Delicate Flowers
Oh, and these flowers? Well, I’m going to throw them in because I have the urge too. 🙂
When reason goes out the window, problems come in through the doorway of irrationality. Be careful it could be a giraffe. Sorry, but I’m playing around today. Only drugs I’ve had this morning is caffeine.
“Always carry a notebook. And, I mean always. The short-term memory only retains information for three minutes; unless it is committed to paper you can lose an idea forever.”
Will Self
Same goes for a camera, otherwise I would not have this image or yesterdays or the day before.
“I’m an old man now and have had a great many problems. Most of them never happened”
Mark Twain
Each time I wait at the bus stop at the Mountain Avenue stop, I see this bicycle on the other side of the tracks. And, each time I take a photo. It’s a simple image. No strong colors or repeating patterns. It has a strange illusion of imbalance due to the sidewalk that rises on the right side. Yet, it speaks to me in some way.
In reference to the quote, yes, my imagination does create illusionany problems, amusing commentaries and scenes at an astounding rate. They arrive while driving, doing the dishes, meditation, reading, etc. Each time these take me away from the present, which is the only place I can live this life. As Rohr says, “Presence is only known by presence itself.”
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy
Earl mentioned in a comment how he is noticing the mornings are becoming cooler. I’ve noticed it also on my morning bicycle rides and walks. We’re seeing leaves changing and falling. Before long we will have our first frost. I find fall is an enjoyable season as I see and feel those changes happening in nature. During this season of my life, changes are happening, some are from external forces and some are internal. I believe those changes are a good thing.
On my walk through the Fisher Nature area I cross an open field of knee high tall bluestem grass. I tickles my bare legs as I walk through the grass. Every once in a while I’ll startle, and be startled, by a field mouse or notice a fox watching me. Butterflies follow along and of course the birds let me know with their song how much they enjoy the meadow and surrounding trees. I also believe their song is my invitation to enjoy the medow along with them. Of course, I’m always enjoying the light cast across the field. No matter how many photos I have of that field I’ve never really been satisfied with the images I bring home. Yet, I will continue to carry my camera and take photos as I walk through the field. The walk is what it’s about, anyway.
