Chick a Dee Deedee

Earlier this week I put up a new knothole feeder. Chickadees seem to prefer knothole feeders to any other kind of feeder and this feeder was no exception as they discovered it in the first day. This morning I was finally able to sit down and use it for a short period of time. I set up a patio chair next to the BBQ and prefocused my camera on the feeder and just waited. In less than five minutes they settled into their old routine and started coming to the feeder.The whole time I was photographing a Western Gray Squirrel sat high up in a fir tree scolding me. These were my favorites from the morning. Please leave me your comments.

God's blessings to all,

chris

Chasing My Sisters

This is one of those goals that doesn't seem to have an end. I have been trying for years. Yes, years! To get an incredibly good image of a "California Sister Butterfly". I have taken some good ones but never have created one that I can truly state captures the essence of that particular butterfly. None yet that I can look at and say. "Oh, What a beautiful California Sister!"

Earlier this week in the afternoon it was hot. So I decided to make an attempt at photographing a Sister. I got out the hose and watered down a section of the backyard around my garden pond. I sprayed the rocks and the plants. Within minutes a really ragged Sister came by and after several flights around the pond came in for a closer look and landed on the rock and grabbed a long drink.
I spent the next hour sneaking slowly up on Sisters and trying to find a really good composition. I'm getting a little closer but I'm still looking for that one image that truly captures their essence.

God's blessings to all,

chris

Next to Turn

This week started the official change in fall colors with the Big Leaf Maples just starting to change color.The poison oak while beautiful in color really doesn't count. After being beat up by Angela during my work out this morning I decided to stop and shoot a few leaves along the way home. There is one Big Leaf maple on my route to town that has been catching my eye so I finally decide to stop and create a few images from it. Here is the result. I'd love to hear what you think of it. So write me a comment or two.

God's blessings to all,

chris

In Pursuit of Blacktails

I got up really early today and worked on uploading photos to my website. It's getting there. Then I dropped off Jay and met Lenore to work out. It's amazing what you can do in the morning if you get up early enough. Following that I went in pursuit of photographing Blacktail Deer. I have been watching four bucks that hang out about ten minutes or so from where I live. They have been feeding on mast (acorns) from the tan oak trees and it is pretty dark under the canopy of the trees. Today was no exception except for a few times when they would wander into a shaft of light piercing to the forest floor. It was challenging photography to say the least.One of the bucks was an inquisitive little spike. The biggest buck had been in a serious fight and had a wound to show for it. The other two bucks even sparred a few times. I spent about a half an hour working at it and I think the results are worth it. Let me know what you think.

God's blessings to all,

chris

Angels in the Air

Last night the fog crept in on cats feet so today there was angels breath in the trees when I got up. I both drove and walked up and down the ridge top looking for good locations to capture it wherever the was sunshine streaming through the trees. It's amazing how the fog and light can transform the trees into something so beautiful.
I must say that I prefer calling the marine layer "fog" and the crepuscular rays "Angels Breath"

God's blessings to all,

chris

My Little Window on the World

My bedroom window provides me with a view of my small part of the word. Each day it greets me with never ending views of the distant mountains and the valley below. The sky,light and fog combine in never ending patterns. This morning I was treated to a spectacular half hour show as the sun slowly climbed the horizon into the sky. I almost didn't know what image to compose and create next as so many possibilities came up. In the end I settled on a few and they are included here.

God's blessings to all,

chris

Islands in the Sky and Castle Spires

It's foggy at the coast today. Which sometimes means that the fog rolls in and bumps up against the tall ridgetop that I live on. It's like looking out over a vast ocean of white. This morning after I got done working out with Lenore I spent a little time trying to find a spot where I could photograph the top of "Three chop Ridge" which was rising up out of the fog like an island in the sky. I remembered a location down the ridge from me that was perfect. Then I took a bit more time and found a group of trees that looked like castle spires sticking up from the fog. It was a start to a beautiful day.

God's blessings to all,

chris