I think that was a Beetle’s song. Or sort of. Each year the North Carolina Museum of Art plants an extensive flower field on their grounds. It is used by scores of photographers doing wedding, baby, engagement, senior photos and, I am sure, many more. And just for taking nice pictures. By a week or two into the “season” there are several trails trampled into the field and at a month or so it starts to look a bit sketchy. I love that they do this and it brings so many people out to view it that I am sure it raises the profile of the museum. In this shot you can see parts of four outdoor sculptures as well. One in pretty well hidden, so good luck with finding all four.
Inspire (2 photos) /
These four crosses are found atop the c1900 Russian Orthodox Church in the village of Ninichik, Alaska. It is a small place but the church is fascinating. I spent a long time trying to get a shot of the four steeples. i edited the photo to apprear a bit painterly. I may have made that word up? The crosses are typical of the Russian Church, the top bar represents the sign over Jesus’ head, the center, the bar on which he hung and the bottom, the foot rest. In the oldest of these crosses the bottom piece was usually straight, but for several centuries it was at an angle.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20,21 NLT
I think I was inspired by the lady who was painting the church to finish the steeples as I did.
This just makes me smile /
This is at the parking area of the public library in Intercourse, PA.
Outstanding /
Whatever you do you should strive to be outstanding in your field. It may not be that you are the best at something but you can do what you do consistently and, at your level of learning, demonstrate excellence. You can show up on time, work hard, support your peers and produce results. Those factors alone will often lead to outstanding success. All this wisdom from a neat. imperfect sunflower at the North Carloina Museum of Art.
Meet the Otters /
Dad swam over to join the rest of the family for their portrait. Could not get his feet under control so this is the best they can have for their scrapbook.
Mom & Baby /
The baby otter alternated from climbing on mom and simply floating like a small log. Occasionally mom would dive and return with a morsel of food. Dad joined the group just as the boat we were on moved on but I snagged a shot of the family that I’ll run tomorrow. This is my favorite of these otters with the baby looking right at the camera. This happened while the boat was idle waiting for a humpback whale to resurface. I was looking the opposite way watching this little tableau unfold.
Cling /
The Devil’s Tower in Eastern Wyoming was far more interesting than I expected it would be and the two days we spent there allowed a little time to explore several trails. On this day I spotted the tree groving on the ledge of the massive tubes that comprise the tower and thought how adaptable is nature.
Fast Start /
Hope all your plans and activities unflold well this week and that you get the things done you need to acomplish. This young man was riding bareback and quite fast as I captured him at the turn at the end of the field.
Alaska II - Awash /
“And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” Revelation 21:6 NLT
Alaska Ii - Flight /
Our flight over Glacier Bay National Park was one of the highlights of all the travel we have ever done. Just a magical late afternoon experience.
Alaska II - Success /
We were standing on a bridge about 10 miles from Haines, AK at the head of the Lutack Inlet. This is about as far as you can drive from Haines to the northeast. We were watching some fishermen behind us and there were two or three eagles in the tress in front of us.. I was trying to capture on and had my tripod set up when another one swooped out of the trees, did a circle sort of banking in front of us, just time to get the camera out of the tripod and then quckly he dropped into the tall grass, just about disappeared with just the tip of his head showing and then he leapt up with this prize in the talons.
Alaska II- Puffin Pair /
The Lulubell nosed into a sea cave and in the darkness we spotted scores of these Tufted Puffins.
Alaska II - Truck Garden /
This is from the Alaska Botanical Garden. They had an extensive section set up with crops grown from the 1930’s to present for sale in the various farmers’ markets and roadside stands that dot the countryside in the Palmer area particularly.
Alaska II - Who Is Number One ? /
These two grizzlies are - according to our pilot/guide, either 4 or five year olds and this is typical of that age. They tend to stay together a year or two after leaving mom and eventually they each choose their own path. Here the playful actions are also showing a bit of dominance and the one on the left was first to cross rivers, fish, walk near us etc.
Alaska II - a walk in the woods. /
There are a lot of photos I never got around to looking at carefully but I am in the process of doing so now. So, the next few days will be photos from our 2019 trip but not ones I posted before. Some are similar - taken close in time yet overlooked the first two times through. The first time is when I am on the road and doing a quick edit and post while traveling. The second time I was doing more careful work but sim;ply got lazy at some point or overwhelmed with thousands of photos. I am now a bit more careful shooting but still take too many in many cases. At any rate, I hope you like these from the trip in 19 - they sure bring some great memories back to me.
Passing /
This scene might be taken (with the exception of the reflectors on the buggy), anytime in the last nearly 300 years as the cemetery behind the wall dates from 1724. This was an early morning photo on the only day we had significant fog. It was a neat time to be out and the muffled sounds early in the morning made it even more interesting. I like the three layers to the photo with stone, corn and sky. Today’s scripture fits well with the photo.
“A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 3:2 (NLT)
Power /
Power comes in many forms on a farm: animals, machinery, water, muscles and wind. Harnessing the wind is an ancient practice and this neat windmill runs a pump that serves up water to several head of cattle. It is on a fram that primarily raises eggs for market but, like most of the Amish farms, has a very diverse operation.
Cindy and May /
We visited a deer farm, friends of Tom, about an hour West of Lancaster. I will share photos from there next week and tell the story but for today this is Cindy feeding the 2 month old May, a Piebald deer that is being raised on a bottle at the farm.
Comin' /
This is the same team as yesterday’s shot but obviously from the front as they approach the end of the field. This was a very efficient operation and the large field took about 2 hours start to finish. The wagon was unloaded three times I think. I was at the campground on the other side of the road and sitting on the ground behind a fence so I ha something to rest the long lens on as the tripod was in the car but I did not want to miss the approaching team and the next pass was higher in the field and the photo was not as direct. So I just waited. I am very pleased with this shot both from the composition - though it was rather straightforward and with the technical aspects of the shot, light, color, sharpness etc. Not something I usually think about the photos I take. I do wish I had left a tad more space on the left side of the photo but I was trying to get the light dust from the other side - oh well, next time:)
HAW! /
Haw is the traditional command for a team of horses to turn to the left, Gee is the verbal command to turn to the right. Here we see a portion of the team that consisted of four mules and two horses moving to the left. The young man driving the team added to the momentum as he leaned to the left with the team. Father and son are baling the newly mowed field of alfalfa. The young man was working hard but over his voice you would hear the command of the father ring out. I imagine the animals were more accustomed to his voice. The two horses were easier to control so they were positioned on the ends to assist the turning of the rig.
