Torn

Sometimes it's really hard to photograph from a photoblind. Once your camera is set up on one of the viewing portals of the blind it can be difficult to move to a different portal without disturbing the widlife around you. This morning I was photographing birds on the feeder in front of me. To my right side I kept observing quite a few birds coming in for drinks of water from our little garden pond. I was really torn as to which portal to photograph from. The final deciding moment of where to photograph came when a pair of Hermit Thrushes came to get a drink at the same time. I don't have many Thrush images in my files and that settled it for me. Very carefully I repositioned the blind and then I slowly changed my camera position to the other viewing port. I wasn't set up more than a minute before a Chestnut Backed Chickadee came in for a drink. I was being kept pretty busy when suddenly all of the activity stopped. Into the blind comes Papaya Annika's cat. She wanted to be petted. I pet her for awhile until the birds returned. Then she wanted out! I put her down and she scared all of the birds away. I climbed out of the blind to put her in the house and she would have none of that and she took off running. With a little bit of persuasion I was able to get her into the house. I let the dogs out and then called them back in again and she followed them in not wanting to be left out of what was going on indoors. After securing the cat I was able to create a few nice Thrush images as well as some Red Breasted Nuthatch images. Overall it was a pretty splendid morning in the blind. May God bless you this day, chris Equipment Used- Canon 50D and a Canon 100-400 L IS lens.

Couple of Dark Eyed Juncos

Late this afternoon I noticed that there were a lot of Dark Eyed Juncos coming and going to the backyard bird feeders. I decided to give it a try in the photoblind. After settling into the blind it took them about twenty minutes or so for them to get the courage up to come back to the feeders. Here are a couple of Junco images that I was quite happy with. God's precious love to all, chris

Steller Fungi

I spent a little bit of time in the backyard photoblind this morning. Interesting to see the change in species starting to come through in the migration. There have a been a lot of Hermit Thrushes. More than I have ever seen. Which has only been a few every year. There were a few scattered warblers and even a kinglet. Getting them in front of the lens in good lighting is another story. Something to keep working at. I must say that I had a wonderful time with the Steller's Jays! God bless, chris

Country Roads

Yesterday morning I had to drive out into the Little Lake Valley. I was headed to the vets to pick up some medication for our old labrador Lance. I love driving out there along the little two lane country roads. It was foggy which adds to the wonder of it all. I stopped on one of the corners and took an image of where I had been. I just love that morning foggy light. God bless, chris

Surprise!

I must say I was rather shocked when my daughter Annika stepped out of the hallway to go to school. I didn't know that she was dressing up in school spirit so I was a bit surprised when I saw her. Two thoughts immediately came to my mind. What are you dressed as and I think you would be great to photograph. I found out that she was dressed as "Pop Art". Next we went over by an open window in the living room. I grabbed a couple of quick images. Then it was the mad dash out the door and off to school! God's light and love to all, chris

Carving Pumpkins

I love carving pumpkins even though I'm not a big Halloween fan. We bought two of them this year and Annika and her boyfriend carved them. So I didn't really get to carve any this year but I did have fun watching them and I got to photograph them when they were done. They just look so cool all lit up in the dark. Now which one do you think Annika carved? God's light and love to all, chris

Playing With Polarized Light

Some days you have just got to play. Last night I was looking at some images made using polarized light and I thought to myself, " I haven't done that in a long time!". This morning I grabbed a bunch of plastic wine glasses arranged them in a suitable still life. then I illuminated them with polarized light. Next I put a polarizing filter and a short lens on my camera and had some fun. I ended up making a lot of interesting images but this one ended up being my favorite. If you look closely at the rim of the glass on the left of the frame the polarized light makes it look like the plastic is distorted. God's precious love and blessings to all, chris