An online journal sharing my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, spirituality and asking deep questions.
… well actually two more dewdrops. I found these two hanging on after a night of rain. Just after I took this image the dewdrop in the background fell to the ground. If you look closely in the front dewdrop you can see yours truly, kneeling on the ground with wet and muddy pants. 🙂 There was no way for me to get a sharper image than this as the wind was making the blade of grass sway constantly.
Okay, I could be wrong but I think this is called a Russula Mushroom. I came across four of them grouped along the path in Blendon Woods Park and was immediately drawn to the red color. So, with tripod in hand and a macro lens mounted on my camera I got down on my knees for several macro images. My pants were dirty and wet and I did a bit of grunting as I stood back up. (This aging body does not function the way it did 20-30 years ago, it creaks and cracks at times. 🙂) Rain earlier in the morning left everything with a bright shine and wonderful contrast to work with. It almost looks like a bite has been taken out of this one. Thinking I may have to buy a longer focal length macro.
I think most of my missed opportunities, and this includes all areas of my life, are because I fail to be there, to take the necessary steps to be there. If I had not picked up my camera and tripod then headed to Blendon Woods Metro Park, I would not have had the opportunity to meet this milkweed bug face-to-face. Nor, would he/she have had the opportunity to meet me. 🙂 If you look close enough I thin there is a smile on their face. I did not plan our encounter but was actually searching for raindrops on leaves or flowers after a hard rain we’d just had. And, once I’d experienced this moment I needed to know something about them, so I googled milkweed bugs. I discovered an interesting little character. Yep, I need to place myself in more places so I do not miss any more opportunities.
And, in case you need to know a milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, is a very large–sized hemipteran of the family Lygaeidae. And, believe it or not, they feed on milkweed plant juices, seeds and occasionally on other plant juices.
“All you can work on today is directly in front of you. Your job is to develop an imagination of the possible.”
Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland
While on a trip to the Smoky Mountains I dropped and broke my Nikon 80-400mm VR lens, a $1400 loss. Ouch! Needles to say I spent the last 3 days of our 7 day trip with nothing but two other Nikon lens, a 16-35mm and 24-85mm. Now my longest focal range dropped from 400mm to 85mm, what was I going to shoot?
The first morning we were able to shoot in Cades Cove we were met with fog, wonderful fog. Along with the fog comes the heaviness of the morning dew, so needles to say we were pretty wet by the time we returned to the hotel. I noticed a barb wire fence covered with dew near the Tipton Place and wandered over to have a look-see. I discovered this grasshopper hanging upside down and patiently waiting for the morning sun to dry his body for the days activities. Since the 24-85mm also had macro capabilities it worked great for me to get some nice images. The fog was burning off and you can see the sun approaching in the background. This image was one of my first attempts at macro photography and spurred the purchase a nice macro lens. So, I ended up working on what was in front of me.
“Words are important. Without them our actions lose meaning. And without meaning we cannot live. Words can offer perspective, insight, understanding, and vision. Words can bring consolation, comfort, encouragement and hope. Words can take away fear, isolation, shame, and guilt. Words can reconcile, unite, forgive, and heal. Words can bring peace and joy, inner freedom and deep gratitude. Words, in short, can carry love on their wings. A word of love can be the greatest act of love.” Henri Nouwen
How we choose our words is important in how people hear us and see us. David duChemin has an interesting rant (his word, not mine) on choosing words to describe what we create with our photographic tools. Go for it David. And, Sabrina Henry in her post on Jill’s Garden, along with some input from Ray Ketcham, talked a bit about the word inspiration and what it means to them. The words we select are vital, just as our point of view or composition within our view finders. The images we create say something to our viewers. Anyway both posts are good reads and I wanted to pass them along.
I agree with Nouwen and David and Sabrina and Ray, words are important.
It’s late and I should be sleeping. But, I’m processing this image and listening to the rain tapping against my window and hear the rumble of soft thunder off in the distance. A Spring rain is refreshing the earth. I like it.
This image is another one of those subjects I would have walked by a few years ago. I’ve never been interested in playing chess and with all honesty because I didn’t think I was smart enough to understand and win. However, at this time in my life this game board and chess pieces capture my attention, not because I wanted to learn to play it, but because of the play of light on it. I like it. Who knows, maybe my grandchildren can teach me how to play it sometime.
Have you ever watched a dragonfly? I mean watched them without lifting your camera to your eye. They are so elusive, always on the move, requiring patience to get a shot. They live a very busy life. I confess to chasing them to get an image and I’ve also stood, for what seemed like eons, waiting for one of them to come into my frame. Today I found a couple of them who landed on a fence rail and posed for me.
Just as this dragonfly moves from plant to plant, I’ve found my mind moving from this thought to that thought. But just as this dragonfly, I also need to stop and be quiet, find a fence post to rest. Let the sun warm me. Relax my fluttering wings. Rejuvenate and get ready to move on.
“An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.”
Walter Bagehot