02-MAR-2015
Happy Landing!
This Great Blue Heron landed in the nesting tree at Alton Baker Park. I was ready to capture it as it did! I will be watching them and the nesting tree whenever I can. Guess everybody knows I love herons! :)
03-MAR-2015
The Shadow Knows!
This is a selfie of sorts. I noticed my shadow on a fence as I walked by and thought, 'maybe there is a photograph here.' Anyway, this is what you get for today. :)
Perhaps I am dating myself with the title, and not too many remember a radio program called "The Shadow"! More recently a movie was made based on the character. I can remember as a young kid hearing the program, a detective story, on the radio and being somewhat scared by the story and sound effects. Sometimes a person's imagination is more vivid than a scene on TV or in the movies.
04-MAR-2015
Hooded Merganser
I saw this Merganser along one of one of the Delta Ponds. It was obscured by brush and was tough to get a shot as it stayed behind the brush. I got this shot through an opening in the brush. It took enough work to get the shot that I decided to make it photo of the day. :)
05-MAR-2015
Hello Deer!
I was walking along a narrow trail through the forest at Clearwater Park when I came to a spot where a deer trail crossed it. As I looked down the trail, sure enough there were three or four deer coming toward me. The doe in the lead stopped and looked directly at me, just long enough for me to get a couple shots of it. They then turned and off they went. It was a great moment!
06-MAR-2015
Just Dropped in to Sit a Spell
I didn't go on a photo walk this morning, had too much to do. As I was eating breakfast, I heard a loud noise, like someone threw something against a wall. I looked out the sliding glass doors in our little sun-room and saw a bird sitting on our patio. I realized the poor thing had hit the house, whether the glass doors or something else. It just sat there. I thought it best to leave it alone for a while to see if it came out of it. When Carol got up she let the dogs out and they immediately began barking at something on the fence. It was my bird! Thank heavens it could fly. But it seemed to still be a bit dazed and just sat there. Carol called to me to come out and take some pictures of it. I got some nice shots, one of which is this one. The bird is a Varied Thrush. After sitting there a while, it finally flew away. Happy ending! :) And my photo for today came to me! I didn't need to go anywhere!
It does seems strange to me that on January 18th I posted my first photo of a Varied Thrush that was standing on the sidewalk, also appearing dazed. I was able to get quite close to photograph it, hoping it too was only stunned and would fly away. Makes me wonder if Varied Thrushes are actually good fliers! :) I can't imagine that to be true. Perhaps this was just coincidental. I am sure they all have their flying licenses!
07-MAR-2015
In Clearwater Park
I love to wander around in Clearwater Park, especially when the sun shines or there is fog. I just love this particular spot and got down to the water's edge to get the perspective I wanted. Hope you like it too!
08-MAR-2015
Sunlight on the Water
This is another scene from Clearwater Park. I really like going there on a foggy morning to catch the sun shining through the fog and reflecting on the water, as in this view of the Willamette River.
09-MAR-2015
Our First Rhody to Bloom!
This rhododendron blooms early each February. Since it has been so warm here this winter, the rhody began having buds in January, and was filled with blossoms in February. But then we had a couple frosty mornings and it ruined all of the blossoms. Much to my surprise, the rhody now has new blossoms coming out! They sure stand out from the wilted discolored old ones. This is one of the new blossoms.
(I should have used a bit smaller aperture. :)
10-MAR-2015
Carol at 18
This is a photo I shot of Carol about the time we got married, almost 54 years ago. She was 18. What a beauty! And after all these years she still is! This image is made off of a print.
11-MAR-2015
Half Inch Long Ivy Geranium Bud
I used a new extension tube with my V2 today to get a very close up shot of this 1/2 inch long Ivy Geranium bud (I measured it). Carol had just planted them in a front window planter and I thought it would be good for a first try with the extension tube. I got two tubes in a set, and they work with full metering and autofocus on the V2. Quite nifty!
12-MAR-2015
When a Tree Falls in the Forest
When I saw this log, I saw not just an old dead tree but the cycles of nature at work. The elements making up this tree do not go out of existence, they merely change. As we can see, the elements making up the dead tree become nourishment for the moss and ferns now growing from it. Another of the miracles of nature that can only be explained by recognizing the wisdom at work that is beyond the capabilities and wisdom of mere man. Don't know about you, but it humbles me!
13-MAR-2015
Looks Like This Calls for Dendrochronology!
Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating, is the scientific method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree rings, also known as growth rings. I will depend on you to determine the age of this tree. :)
To read the rings of a tree, right click on this link -
"https://www.internationalpaper.com/documents/EN/LearningCenter/TreeRings.pdf"