• clouds,  consumer,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  storm clouds

    Just Clouds

    July 4, 2023

    I’m not into the 4th of July celebrations as in the past.They have lost their allure for me. However, that is not true for me with twilight hours and clouds. Our weather forecast calls for possible thunderstorms later today which will put a damper on some peoples plans. Since we were expecting overcast skies I drove east to find the open vistas and take in the beauty of the early morning clouds, their patterns, and their colors. A touch of pink was offered for a short period of time so I stopped the car and accepted the above image.

    Driving home a few minutes later, 11 minutes to be precise, I noticed these clouds in the west and again stopped the car to accept the image. I have been invited to my youngest granddaughters for a BBQ later this afternoon. Hope you enjoy your holiday and be safe!!!

    I’ll end with a prayer that we become known as a nation of peace rather than as a destructive military power (repeatedly proving that peace has never come through violence), consumerism, greed, wealth, corruption, racism, and inflated pride.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    … to be a part of it

    June 8, 2023

    The morning temperatures this time of the year are comfortable enough for me to stand or sit as I watch and wait for the sun to crest that horizon. I like to think the birds are singing because they are happy to see me again, which in turn makes me happy. This morning I sat on a favorite rock and I let everything soak into the ground of my very being. The only words needed in this silent prayer is just my presence. As I sit here a thought runs through my mind, “What if I’m not so much of an observer of this moment but more of an essential part of it.” Some voice within me suggests that this scene would be incomplete, definitely not the same, if I was not here to be a part of it. I apologize for another sunrise image, yet each one is so uniquely different. Thinking I need to write a post about that statement. Have a wonderful day!!

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  Photography,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    Frames of Reference

    June 6, 2023
    Final image of what my eyes saw

    To be human is to continually mistake our frames of reference for reality itself. We so readily forget that our vantage point is but a speck on the immense plane of possible perspectives. We so readily forget that there are infinitely many kinds of beautiful lives.

    Maria Popova

    Yesterday, I had lunch with someone who’s frame of reference of themselves is different from how others see them. They are frustrated and also hurt because others to not see them as they do. I’m also aware that people who have had the same experience in the past, such as a car accident, will remember it differently due to their frame of reference. The reality each of us experiences is definitely not the same. The same is true of the reality my eyes see and what my camera sensor can see.

    As I watched the sunrise this morning I was fascinated with the dewdrops clinging atop each blade of grass glowing in the sunlight. When looking at the scene on my LCD or through my viewfinder I could barely see those dewdrops. This is because my Fujifilm X-T3 has a dynamic range of around 9-10 stops of light while the human eye can see up to 24 stops of light. However, I know the sensor is able to capture a bit more detail than the limited range of the viewfinder or LCD are showing me and know that my editing software will be able to increase the dynamic range, drawing some of the details out of the shadows. This allows us to see the glow of those dewdrops closer to what my eyes see. So, I press my shutter button with confidence. This reminds me how our frames of reference for reality differ. 

    Straight out of the camera

    The second image is what the LCD showed me and the top image is what my software was able to pull out of the data captured by the sensor. If you click on each image you will get a larger view. And if you click on that image it will give you the full size image. You will also notice a couple of dust spots in the second image that were removed in the final image.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  sunrises

    Everything is better now

    June 2, 2023

    For those of you who slept through the announcement or didn’t get the email, it’s National Donut Day . I must confess I missed it and had to be reminded by my sister in a text message. And since I didn’t want to carry around that guilt all day I felt the need to buy a donut once I got to the coffee shop. So, I’ll carry that guilt around all day. 😁 Everything is better now!!

    The clouds were putting on quite the show for us this morning. I personally don’t want to miss anymore opportunities to see them, life is too short. We also had rain during the night and light rain was falling when I got out of bed. I took this image on my way to the area around Arapaho Bend Natural Area and the Environmental Learning Center. A few years ago there was a cement plant just to the right of this scene, and noisey. I personally believe this is a much better view. Seems the birds think so also as I had barn swallows flying all around me, geese on the water’s edge and on the water, meadowlarks and robins singing to the world. I’ve had the gift of seeing eagles there earlier this spring. Anyway, Happy Donut (Doughnut) Day!

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