My online journal sharing interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
I sat on a bench to watch these six pelicans feeding. Pelicans often fish in groups. They will form a line to chase schools of small fish into shallow water, and then scoop them up. Large fish are caught with the bill-tip, then tossed up in the air to be caught and slid into the gullet head first. Quite comical to watch but efficient.
‘Tis a time to be thankful for all that we have, even if it is not very much. For me I can say I’m thankful because I’m healthy, game-fully employed, have a wonderful family. I can even say I have some great friends or at least 2 that I know of. I’ve also got $20 in my pocket, half a tank of gas in the car and my internet bill is paid (for this month). Right now I’m in Phoenix with my parents and my two sisters and a darn cool brother-in-law. So, there is much to be thankful for.
But not everyone is as thankful. There are those who have no food, no home, no family, no job, no money. Or maybe they’re in some outpost in Iraq or dealing with a death in the family. For me this is also a time to remember them. I can’t help all of them but will reach out to those I can. I hope we don’t quickly forget those in need and then move on to our next helping of turkey or take that first piece of pumpkin pie? What is it we can do for those in need?
Now, as for these guys above in the above image, I don’t think they’re quite as thankful about this time of year. If you look closely you’ll notice how they seem to be edgy, checking things out, not trusting me or any one else. Each step is deliberate. Cautious. Wonder why?
I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.
This was taken a few years ago while on a walk in one of the natural areas near my condo in Colorado. I had a telephoto lens on when we noticed the pelicans circling above us. I just stopped and tracked them as the soared.
While visiting Blendon Woods Park I walked to the observatory buildings near Thoreau Lake to see what waterfowl were on the lake. I noticed movement just below a bird feeder located off to the side of observatory. I waited a while before this raptor made a quick and short appearance. I’m not sure but I think he was searching for the squirrels that feed along the base of the bird feeder. I got off one shot and here it is.
It was cold yesterday morning, 5 degrees at 6:00 AM. Yet, with the sun shinning brightly in a blue sky we warmed up to about 28 degrees. And, tomorrow we are predicting more snow. Outside my living room window is a small courtyard with a half dozen small trees with berries. I found this robin moving from branch to branch and puffing his feathers to keep warm. It’s not a day to be out and about for this old photographer, so I shot this one through the window. 🙂
This post was stirred by Scott Bourne when asked why he pursued the career of a photographer. His answer, “Because I want to do something that matters.”  I really had to stop and think about that for a minute. I know I take photographs because it’s an enjoyable hobby, to nurture the creativity within me and to share my vision of this world but I had never stopped to consider if it mattered or not.
He suggests we can protect our memory of a scene with our cameras which is true with the weddings and portraits we shoot. I believe we often walk through life without being present to the here and now. We can easily get lost in our thoughts and miss seeing the small sprouts of a flower breaking through the soil on an early spring walk, or miss seeing the farmer plowing his field, or the pelican as it effortlessly circles above us, or the children waiting for the school bus, etc. Photography has helped me to see the world as it is at that very moment, even if it’s 125th of second. I also see the world using different lens. I’m learning to see things up close and take in the scene that’s taking place across the street. It all matters to me.
So, do you think your photography matters?
The Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus is a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania. Its habitat is rainforest, coastal bush and woodland areas. I figured most of you would not be able to continue through your day unless you knew the above information. 🙂 This image was take an year ago at the Columbus Zoo.
Today is my oldest granddaughters birthday, the daughter of my oldest daughter. Hope you followed that. So I want to say, “Happy Birthday, Abbie!” I love you!