One from the archives

Because it is so hot outside here currently, I am posting a previously unseen shot of a snow leopard getting a drink on what for her must have been an incredibly hot day (it was 80F that day).  She must have wanted that drink very badly, because she knew I was there the whole time and came down anyway.  She never took her eyes off me, and as soon as she was finished she made two 15-foot leaps straight up the rocks and vanished.

Grosbeak

A nice portrait of a rose-breasted grosbeak.  This is a juvenile male.

Two photos, two weeks apart

A robin's nest, two weeks ago, and then yesterday afternoon.  Man, they are some ugly creatures when they are little!  Hard to believe that in just a few weeks they will be fledged.  Summer is on its way!

Lessons in camouflage

I spotted this wood frog while looking for morels the other day. If I hadn't been specifically looking for things which look like leaves but aren't, I doubt I ever would have seen it.

Lots of good shoots coming up on my schedule, so stay tuned!

Yay Spring!

Not bad for manual focus. I like to practice manual focus handheld shots with tight focal planes (this one was just about 1cm) as it keeps me physically in the habit of maintaining solid basic shooting practices. It is easy to abandon things like proper form when technology makes it easy to get by without it. Technology fails though, and when it does you only have yourself to rely on. And my self is getting old enough to where holding stone still is not as easy as it once was, especially in awkward positions that shots like this often necessitate.

This butterfly is called a Longwing, btw.

Spring is just around the corner...

Hard to believe this shot was taken in the middle of February in Michigan. Not a flake of snow to be seen.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Smitten with the Mitten exhibition, especially those of you who braved the awful roads on the night of the reception!

For you local folks, as of tomorrow I will have eight images on display at the Howard Christensen Nature Center. They are located in the middle of the Rogue River State Game Area, NE of Kent City, about half an hour north of Grand Rapids. They are wonderful people, with just tons of nature-centered programs for both kids and adults.

I should mention that there will be an "Inspire Your Heart With Art" Art show there on Sunday, March 18, from 11-5. I heard this evening that there will be over 100 works of art displayed for this one-day-only show!

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

I think I have posted this shot on a previous incarnation of the site, but I ran across it today and thought I would post it again just because I have always liked it.