Nature

Train!

You’re not supposed to walk along the train tracks.  I get that but I was scouting out a location for an aerial shoot and a train needed the tracks.  I actually heard the gates closing before I heard the train.  It was a total Back to the Future moment (you know, at the end of the third one – anyway…).  I jumped off the track and launched really quickly.  So quickly, in fact, that I thought for a second I was going to hit the train on the way up.  It really wasn’t as dangerous as I’m making it out to seem.  The train was moving fairly slowly, I wasn’t anywhere near the tracks when the train passed, the aerial cam was well clear by the time the train passed…

…just enjoy the image.

The train tracks that run through the Abram's Creek Wetlands Preserve.

The train tracks that run through the Abram’s Creek Wetlands Preserve.

Change

It’s so weird driving through the JMU campus nowadays.  There’s so much that I remember, but there are so many new and subtle changes.  And, of course, as I look around (not paying attention to the roads) I miss traffic lights and totally look like a tourist.  Never mind the fact that I grew up here.

Today we’re band parents at the first-ever Band Day (I swear I’m hearing “band-aid”) at JMU where high school students will be on the field (briefly, but still on the field – and in the stands) with the JMU Marching Royal Dukes.  What an awesome experience for these students.

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Even the potted plants have the team spirit!

Subtle Movement

We all know that the clouds are moving, but it’s incredibly subtle movement.  At least to the naked eye.  I was driving home this afternoon and that cloud formation was just screaming for me to grab my camera.  I shot some video with the aerial camera, but I’ll have to play with the stabilization a bit before I post it (if I post it).  I didn’t really stabilize this one (as you might be able to tell) because the algorithm was getting confused by all the cloud movement – there’s no real reference point.

Adventure

Problem solved!  So there’s a lot of ideas out there to solve the whole squirrel-on-the-bird-feeder issue and apparently the bb/pellet gun is frowned upon.  Anyway, my son proposed that we address the tree and not the feeder by wrapping a piece of sheet metal around the tree so the squirrels couldn’t launch themselves.  Nice, but we didn’t go that route.  And then there’s the Yankee Flipper (Whipper, Flipper and Tipper also available).  To costly and is kinda mean.  We went with a cleverly designed bird feeder that closes with the weight of a squirrel, but allows the much-lighter birds to feed.  And I put the old feeder in a different location for the squirrels.  Win-win-win!  However, now the squirrels are apparently ticked and have begun chewing through the hanging wire which is simply old landline telephone cable.  The adventure continues…

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Not sure I’m going to refill the “squirrel feeder” as much. It’s kind of entertaining to watch them try to get the feed from the other one.

Dug

Hey I know a joke! A squirrel walks up to a tree and says “I forgot to store acorns for winter and now I am dead.” Ha! It is funny because the squirrel gets dead.

– Dug from “Up”

Dug

Target Practice

Alright, so the consensus is that it would NOT, in fact, be a good thing to use a pellet/BB gun to shoot the squirrels off the bird feeder in the back yard.  I think I’d be a good shot, though, considering I’m a halfway-decent photo shooter.  I’m considering this my target practice…

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Horseshoe Bend

Free photo contest!  When I first started, I joined any and every photo contest out there.  Not so much anymore.  It just seems to me that photography is so very subjective (as is any art) and it really depends on how the “judge” is feeling that day.  Sure, anybody can evaluate an image based on a set of established criteria (framing, composition, use of leading lines and so on and so forth), but that removes all beauty from the work and it becomes sterile.  Anyway…

But this contest is totally random.  You submit an image to be eligible for a random drawing.  The photos aren’t really “judged” at all.  They’re there for the viewing pleasure of all – minus all “objective” judging criteria.  I’m in.  You should be, too.  Enter the contest here and support Virginia State Parks.

The Shenandoah Valley's very own version of the Horseshoe Bend in the Grand Canyon.

The Shenandoah Valley’s very own version of the Horseshoe Bend (like the one in the Grand Canyon).

Summer Lovin’

I remember my youth when my mom would go out in the back yard and spend an afternoon pulling Japanese beetles off the flowers and dropping them into a can of gasoline.  Yep, that’s how I remember it.  So when I saw the beetles on the flowers today I had to grab my camera and, of course, I like to get creative (go figure).  Not only with my photography, but with the names and post titles and…well everything.  I just couldn’t help myself with this title.  Sorry Mom.

Summer Lovin'

I know nothing about entomology so this may or may not be a suitable title for the blog posts, but it’s appropriate as far as I’m concerned.

Dragon

One of these days I’m going to invest in an actual macro lens.  Until then, enjoy…

Dragon

Light Show

So, it’s been quite a while since I’ve actually been at home for the 4th of July.  I completely forgot that the fireworks were set off last night.  Oh well.  No biggie.

I posted an image previously from this lightning storm, but this was what was happening over the ocean in the other direction.  Pretty crazy considering that this was taken between 10 and 11 pm.  Our own little pre-4th fireworks show.

I'd posted an image previously from this lightning storm, but this was what was happening over the ocean in the other direction. | Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

Photo Blog

Can I just post a picture?  No writing.  This is, after all, a photo blog.  Can I just post an image that has no worldly significance other than to portray the subject in my viewfinder?  Is that acceptable?

Yes.

My mother inherited an enormous yard of flowers from my grandmother and is enjoying all the different colors these days. I seem to remember, when I was much younger, my grandmother cross-pollinating various iris species to get a new one with crazy color schemes. Am I not remembering that correctly? Anyway, here's one of the many irises in the yard these days. More images coming soon here.

My mother inherited an enormous yard of flowers from my grandmother and is enjoying all the different colors these days. I seem to remember, when I was much younger, my grandmother cross-pollinating various iris species to get a new one with crazy color schemes. Am I not remembering that correctly? Anyway, here’s one of the many irises in the yard these days. More images coming soon to my newest gallery here.

Last Look

So after this two-week vacation, our next 1-week vacation is going to feel way too short – OR – all our vacations from now on will have to be at least 2 weeks long!

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

The Sun Also Sets

Yeah, I know that’s not the title, but that’s not what I’m going for here.  With so much attention to the sunRISES lately, I needed to turn around and give some time to the sunSET.

The Sun Also Sets

This Sucker’s Electrical!

“No, no, no, no, no, this sucker’s electrical, but I need a nuclear reaction to generate the 1.21 gigawatts of electricity I need.”

– Dr. Emmett Brown

I think Doc Brown would have been all set for a few more trips in his time machine after last night’s storms!  I wonder how many gigawatts were generated from this one.

I give you 1.21 gigawatts! | Order a print of this image.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you 1.21 gigawatts! | Order a print of this image.

Different

The thing I like the most about the sunrise (sunsets follow suit) is that it’s always (always – no exceptions) different.  And the clouds make it even better.  In my opinion, a clear sky with just the sunrise is kinda boring.  I’ll take it, but I’d rather have the clouds and patterns they make.

Order a print of this image

Order a print of this image

The Funshine State

We’ve renamed the Florida state nickname to the “Funshine” state.  Just so you know.  That is all.

A protected wildlife habitat that we pass every day on our walk.

A protected wildlife habitat that we pass every day on our walk. | Order a print of this image.

Shark!

Yeah, it wasn’t that impressive, but I wonder if its big brother is still lurking…

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In no way did we harm this shark. It had washed up on the shore. Just FYI.

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Longest Day

Exactly one year ago I was participating in “The Longest Day” sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association.  I’ve never experienced anybody who suffers from Alzheimer’s, but now understand how traumatic and very difficult it can be and am thankful that a friend asked me to participate.  If you’re participating this year either as someone who is going through it currently or as a friend, here’s to hoping that today is filled with good memories of your loved ones and friends as you start your longest day.

The Longest Day

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Flora

Anybody know what this plant is called?  I’m in Satellite Beach on vacation and the red-splashed leaves really caught my eye.

This is the perfect Christmas plant for Florida.

This is the perfect Christmas plant for Florida.