family portrait...

...of ducks
.
.
.
.

who couldn't quite get their act together -

 

they dillied - they dallied...

 

they tarried around the little lake - they couldn't decide if they wanted to be in the water - or should they be on the ice... is it really worth it to have this portrait done...  there was a whole lotta quackin' happenin'... 'til they got 'rounded up - and waddled half in, half out - so it appears that they're standing on water... clever duckies - when really there's a layer of ice underneath 'em...

 

in the end - they managed to group around together - the way most families do in these situations - most dislike having their portraits taken (i know this may be a gross generalization) - it's a fuss, a bother - who said it has to be done anyway - is it really necessary... do we have to get dressed up - where's aunt betty... ho-hum...

 

personally, i believe it's important to capture family time on film - kiddos grow up too fast - precious moments you forget but would like to remember - it's a way to look back - reflect - laugh over - bond together...  share the what dids, what might have beens, what could bes in life - and ultimately, make for way more than...

 

one

 

happy day.....

a pigeon's life...

how do you perceive the pigeon?  aka - morning dove, rock dove and/or any other kind of dove, perhaps...

some think pigeons are a pain - a nuisance - bothersome...  i tend to disagree, believing pigeons are quite pretty in their own right.  plus, i'm certain they play a vital role in the whole eco-system of the planet!  there are different varieties - myriad colorings as well, with shades of green - purple - blue - gray...  they make the coolest sounds ever: cooing around you if you don't bother them - and if you listen closely, their wings will sing to you as they fly...  making this glorious sound of fluttering that once you get to know it, will always be recognizable to you wherever you are - wherever you go...

as i was visiting my little lake the other day - pigeons were out in abundance - flying here and there... funny to observe them attempting to navigate their way around the frozen sections of water - as they skidded, slipped and slid on the ice trying to maintain balance...

as they finally succeeded in their ultimate goal - quenching thirst...

and demonstrating - in the animal kingdom - there does exist kindness, compassion and a willingness to share with others - for there is plenty to go around...

what a wonderful example to set - one we all should follow...

happy day.....



random birds

sometimes i have no idea what it is that i'm photographing... i just point my camera at something flying through the air - and click the shutter button.  mostly - it's because the sun is shining too brightly... and if i wear my sunglasses - which are prescription - then everything is magnified... appearing distorted and i really have no idea what i'm shooting. 

so on this particular day - the sun was extraordinarily shiny... i originally thought i was seeing a morning dove, then thought it was too dark... perhaps a black bird - it was flying very fast over the water - even to get it not blurred would please me. 

being able to capture birds flying is always a challenge... i realize there was a reason god created them to move quickly - but sometimes i find myself wishing they'd slow down... suspend themselves for a moment in time just for me - so i could get the most perfect picture...

then am awed at the sheer beauty - of the shiny iridescent coloring... reflecting off the water... blues - purples - golds - blacks... blended together in a splash of artistic splendor...

then when they do slow down - in fact, stop... resting in a tree as it were - sometimes they totally blend in... where you can barely make them out - is it the branch?  a leaf?  an insect?  or... maybe it's a bird...

even if you don't know for sure what kind of birds they are... they're all a part of creation - a beautiful sight in nature...

happy day.....

hello world...

...to the new goslings - born within the last couple of weeks... so cute - little yellow fluff balls: learning to swim... balancing on webbed feet... exploring dry ground and munching on the grasses. their tiny wings beginning to form - excitement building with the realization that flying lessons will soon take place.

they will grow quickly... entering the 'tween stage before you know it... pressing the limits with mama and papa goose - testing for independence... it will be fun to watch - observe - record... nature is so fascinating - a thrill to be a part of it...

happy day.....

water droplets...

i had some fun the other day... playing with geese at the lake...  one was drinking water - we experimented with water drops...

then... he just gave me the eye...

happy day.....

ravens...

...were taking over - flooding the shoreline - attempting to intimidate the gulls - calling to each other in a loud raucous fashion that echoed off the mountain...

on a day filled with wind - billowing clouds and disappearing sun... it was an appropriate scene.  i stood in the sand, the wind whipping my hair around my face, taking in the sight - deciding to chat back to the ravens... feeling a bit foolish, although getting caught up in the moment not caring if anyone heard me...  being comfortable with myself - the ravens seemed to sense a kinship with me... allowing me to get fairly close before feeling a breach in their space - then flying off...

due to the conditions of the day - the cloudy overtones and intermittent sun casting shadows... post-editing and processing gave me an opportunity to play with my portraits of the ravens - to color outside the lines of just an ordinary picture - adding some creativity and innovation...

ravens get a bum rap - for being a bad bird...  when they really are very intelligent; equally beautiful - creative - innovative...  one has only to give but a moments' time to them versus a snap judgement - or preconceived notion to recognize their ultimate value in the wildlife world.

happy day.....

spring is on the way

there are signs of spring everywhere...  this is new growth already occurring on the rose bush in the backyard:

it's twins on the christmas cactus... apparently confusion reigns in its mind regarding what season to bloom.  doesn't matter to me - i'm fine with it producing flowers year-round if it wants to...

ducks are holding lessons on proper landing techniques... as well as free-winged water skiing... next classes will be held at 11:00 a.m. - don't be late:

squirrels are gathering for the neighborhood coffee klatch.  i've seen groups of 5 and 6 hanging out in trees... chattering away non-stop - getting caught up from winter goings-on:

and soon all kinds of outdoor flowers will be in full-blown blossoming... for everyone to enjoy:

happy day.....

close goose encounters

so elegant in their flight patterns...  graceful with wings outstretched...  i don't ever tire of watching them - observing their fanciful ways in the sky - at times, swooping down so close overhead i feel i might be able to just reach up - and touch those big bellies...

then once they've come in for the landing... in this case onto the water - the most beautiful preening takes place...

the preening is done to get the oils redistributed through their feathers... make them lubricated again so they can fly to the best of their ability - not just to show off... i'd never really realized that 'til someone told me.  i always thought it was to shake the water off - to fluff - a way to make themselves look beautiful and/or because they were truly listening to me when i asked them to preen for me - boo... right!  they are most remarkable - some of the prettiest birds on the planet albeit a bit quirky at times...

happy day.....

identity... unknown

saw a bird...

have no idea what kind it is...

originally thought it was a baby crow - but upon seeing it up close - realize there is no way that's the case anymore at all...

the coloring is different - he has a fluffy crest or puff of hair on top of his head... which is uber adorable and just look at that beak - with the yellow stripe across the bottom... crows do not have this cute appearance, let's face it.

no matter that i don't have a clue as to his name or species - i'm grateful i saw him - he sat still long enough for me to get a nice clear picture - before flying gracefully off into the blue sky.

happy day.....

graceful gulls...

during a sunny day... the gulls were swooping about - i was blessed to capture them in wonderful positions... in flight - on the ice - alone... very fortunate for once - whereas usually they are zipping by faster than i'm able to even process it... or remember to press the shutter button.  today was almost as if they knew... were willing to cut me some slack - wait for me.  i was ready...





happy day.....