The last of the light illuminates the line of clouds lining The Atlantic Ocean as seen from the shore at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore. It was a magnificent night.
Tomorrow starts the Twelve Days of Christmas, TLT style.
Atlantic Waves Off Chincoteague, Virginia /
Yellow-rumped Warbler /
This is a first year bird - born last spring. You can tell this one from a more mature bird by the grey cheek patch v a dark, even black patch on an older bird. I once tried to get very close up photos of birds and occasionally still do, but I really like one that shows more of the environment as this one is a very typical perch in winter for this abundant bird.
A Bird Photo! /
For three days I was in Chincotreague, Virginia with two friends, George and Dennis. We photographed a variety of things but were primarily there for birds and Snow Geese were high on that list. I did not see any on the day I arrived. On day two we knew where they were likely to be early the morning and I was up well before light to walk up the beach a bit and then back toward the bay side to be in position close to the flock. I tried several photos before it was really light enough but about 7:45 there was sufficient light to get this first usable picture. Aesthetically it is not great but it is still satisfying to me as by then I was really cold. I just got back from the trip and am too tired to look at many of the images taken but I will get a few more up before I start the 12 Days of Christmas photos.
There are male and female geese and what was once classified as a Blue Goose but is now considered a dark version of the Snow Goose.
Not a Bird Photo! /
It should or could have been but I forgot my connector to download images from the SD card. So, here in Chincoteague with birds and ponies taken however, not transferred. I did buy one today, too tired to plod through the photos - however, tomorrow! Thanks for looking at NYC skyline. Maybe there is a bird in the photo somewhere.
Tight Right /
A Sunbeam Alpine leads an MG-A into a turn on the Schenley circuit for the 2012 Pittsburgh Vintage Gran Prix. Schenley Park is an urban park in Pittsburgh’s Oakland area near the Pitt and it is a fabulous place to watch this form of racing. Excellent spectator areas, staging and pit areas you can walk through, lots of parking and three days of racing plus a great car show. And lots of food venders.
Gift of France /
The Statue of Liberty is a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. It was built in France and shipped to the US in pieces. Sort of the first IKEA. It is an iconic representation of the US well known around the world.
Before the Green /
I enjoy vintage car racing. Perhaps because I am a product of the 60’s when many of these cars or at least the marques were at their apex and back then I followed racing intently. Maybe because one of the premier venues is in Pittsburgh where every July they stage a week of events at Schenley Park. One thing is for certain it is a target rich environment if you are a photographer. These shots are from 2012. I took them along the staging area where the drivers wait for their race. The line up here by class and go out as soon as the last race is done and the track is cleared. These are amateurs and most will not push their cars to the limits but occasionally a race will be hotly contested. And accidents do occur so there is a quiet in the waiting. Some are reviewing the track, or thinking about a tricky corner or a recent mechanical issue they hope is resolved. A few get last minute advice or a quick “Be careful out there.” But it is the stillness you see before the frantic pace of a 15 laps feature as they wait their turn for the green flag to fall.
Along the Washington coast /
Way North /
We were in the Moosehead Lake area of Maine and we needed a place to stay. No trailer then. We make a reservation for a place that was only 35 miles away. However it was 25 miles on the Golden Highway, a dirt logging road toward the Canadian border. It took us nearly 2 hours to drive the road, huge ruts, deep holes, standing water and BIG trucks. The place was quiet, they did have a second guest on property. While we were eating dinner the rainbow appeared and I want out to make a photo. It was an interesting place. But one time is sufficient.
Peek /
Once more at the Richmond Folk Music Festival in 2011 ( I have not even looked at the other five years we attended the RFMF). This was a mariachi band getting ready to go on stage and I could see them warming up through an opening in the tent. Hence the shot.
I did so much poorly... /
on this photo and I still love it. This is the first grizzly I have ever seen in the wild. We were at Yellowstone and she emerged from the tree line with her cub. They were in sight for about 5 minutes. By the time I got out the tripod, changed the lens and got it set up, there was very little time. The bears were a looooong way away. - across a valley. I was still very new to photography with any actual intentions and was with my new camera. I rushed everything and got about 12 shots of the bear. Only this one had the cub sitting and both faces visible. And my exposure was off and my focus was really off, see how nicely sharp the tree on the right is:) But still the first grizzly, a pose like a teddy bear for the cub, a photo to remember it all and a desire to not mess that kind of opportunity again. I would do, of course, but maybe fewer times. One reason I really like this medium the experience of that moment comes flooding back even when the photo is not superior.
Yellowstone /
Yellowstone is an incomparable national park. On our first visit there we explored the hot pools, bubbling mud pits, geysers and lots more of what we had planned based on some tour book I am sure - and every one was an experience to behold. However we were not prepared for the scope or the beauty, the animals or the stunning scenery. We did not know this lake existed until we rounded a bend on the way back to our campsite. Wow. This is Yellowstone Lake and the mountains in the background are the Absaroka. As usual my photo is just a bare hint of the transcendent landscape.
Sly Smile /
This is another shot from the 2011 Richmond Folk Festival. I really like shooting events like this but they are challenging. There are large crowds, limited movement for me - (no press pass!), terrible lighting and lots of movement. But it is really fun and occasionally like this image you get something a bit special from the performer. This bass player was part of a jazz trio that included a singer. I watched him for a long time. He was neat and impeccably dressed. His cuff links would shine occasionally as the spots hit them. He was super concentrating on his music but one time in the midst of a song he got this slight, sly smile. Loved it.
27,758 Photos /
That is how many images I was able to recover from a damaged disk. I have not seen these for three years or so. I am so grateful to have them back and now, secure and backed up well. The issue arose when 1. the programs they were in were discontinued and, 2. the hard drive and the BU hard drive both corrupted.
I have only had a couple of hours to work on the pictures but already great memories and an occasional decent photograph. But this one brought back a great night. We were at the Virginia Folk Music Festival in Richmond in 2011. There are five stages and things going on all of them all the time so you have to choose. We did not choose this one but we were at this stage for the previous show and did not need to leave for our chosen one for 1/2 hour so we thought we would watch Maggie and the Igramettes for a few minutes. We had little expectations. We never left. What an amazing group and a more remarkable and inspirational story. Maggie Ingram is in the center in the photo a son and two daughters flank her. She could not walk well but she danced and sang and simply captivated the audience. Who cheered and applauded and did not want to leave. What an event. Please pause what you are doing and read this article published at her death four years after this shot.
If you are not impressed and blessed by this story, we offer a full refund for TLT for the year!
https://richmondmagazine.com/maggie-ingram-farewell/
Savage River, Alaska /
You Can Make It.... /
kid!
No extra charge for the pun today.
Just After Sunset /
Colonial Williamsburg getting dressed for the Christmas Season.
Thankful /
“Gratitude exclaims... 'How good of God to give me this.' Adoration says, 'What must be the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations are like this!' One's mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun.”
― C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
Bruton Parrish Church, Willimasburg, Virginia completed in 1715.
Storm Descending /
This was taken at the Badlands in South Dakota. The light is behind me but the rain is on the way.
