Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above (part 3)

Last but not least, a photo with my kids down by the water. They love climbing down the giant, steep rock hill from the top of the dam. They are good at it, but I still worry like a mother hen. I know I would have loved it as a kid, way back when I was a lot more brave and daring than I am now. I used the “Colorstrokes” program to create the black and white with color part. It is extremely easy to use. I have a Mac, in case you want to try the Colorstrokes. I got it through their store, and it wasn’t expensive either, if I remember correctly. My daughter loves playing with it too.

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above (part 2)

This is the view from yesterday looking down from the bridge on the dam at Alum Creek. The swallows are flying and swooping and catching the insects. Good God, they are FAST!  And so pretty. I also like the texture of the water and the sun shining though the grate openings in the bridge.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above (part 1)

My youngest dog Juni is quite the character. As I was wandering around my house trying to thing of something interesting to shoot “from above” he was getting all squirrely and rolling on the floor barking and playing and pushing off my legs. I wish the silly ones were in focus better, but with a fast-moving target at such close range, without a flash (which I still don’t have) that isn’t going to happen. My part 2 post of the weekly challenge also has some movement issues, but I have yet to capture a swallow in pure focus. I learned at a recent photography seminar, the way to get great shots of birds is with these things: a set-up for the birds (like food, water-pond or habitat, flowers, etc), a blind that you hide in for god knows how long, tripod, and a flash (especially off camera). So, not doing any of those things, I will say, ok, pretty good for using none of those things. Someday I will get a flash.  I have a tripod. I usually don’t feel like carrying it. As far as the set up and blind goes….the thought is nice. Only time will tell.

 

This Morning in the Garden

Yes, I should be weeding my garden. The weeds already are out of control and it looks horrible. But I spent the time taking photos instead!

Stormy Weather

Not much rain came, but I enjoyed some beautiful clouds the other day. Same day as my Nessie sighting. I am pretty sure the wavy, poodle hair looking clouds are Undulatus Asperatus. Much like identifying birds, it is hard to tell the different clouds apart. Especially when height is a factor. Plus there can be many all together. I am sure technically there are many different kinds that are identifiable in these photos. Did you know there are over 40 different kinds of sparrows? And they all kind of look alike, and birds can differ seasonally, male to female, etc. I can tell you if a bird is a sparrow, but which kind…hmmm. I have several bird field guides, but still won’t be able to say 100% what is what. I will leave that to the experts. I am a little better at some of the clouds. And I am pretty sure most of these wavy ones are the Asperatus. But, I will admit when I am mistaken, and I do not claim to have a PHD in Cloud, so forgive me (and correct me) if I am wrong. I still love them, whatever they are!

Nessie in the Sky

Has Nessie relocated??

Spring Fever Part VII aka A Final Thought with Clouds

This is the last of today’s Seven Part Spring Fever Series. Thank you for joining me, and I hope you enjoyed the best from my recent outings. I am always partial to a dramatic lens flare. The fuzzy clouds are unusual to me, I am not sure what category they might fall under. Clouds photographed April 25th, 2013.

 

Spring Fever Part VI aka Lavender and Moon

As we watched the storm that gave us rainbow number 1 (April 24th), suddenly the moon popped out from behind the cloud front! It was really funny, I didn’t expect that to happen!

 

Spring Fever Part V aka Rainbow 2 of 2 in 2 Days!

We did some more storm chasing. And what do you know?! ANOTHER rainbow (as though the title didn’t give it away…)! It was super windy and rather chilly, but we saw a beautiful sight and had lots of fun. The kids rolled down the hill and play wrestled while I took photos. Fun was had by all. Taken April 25th, 2013.

Spring Fever Part IV aka Rainbow 1 of 2 in 2 days

The other day we went storm chasing and got to see a beautiful rainbow. I wish my attempt at piecing together 2 photos to create a panorama was better, but oh well. Vignetting spoiled a better result. Taken April 24th, 2013