Aspen Leaves

There is still color to be found in South Dakota, though most of the trees in our yard have lost their leaves. These aspen leaves are still hanging on. The blurred color in the background is caused by the bright red leaves still clinging to the burning bush plants that decorate one edge of our deck. Generally, I work pretty hard to get the focus on the main subject to be deep enough so it is all in focus. But this time, when I looked through the viewfinder, I decided it was OK to have a couple places on this branch blurred. Why? I can't tell you, except that it seems to somehow complement the seeming randomness of nature.We have had a great October in eastern South Dakota but I know winter is coming. In fact, I looked at the snow blower in my garage yesterday and thought that maybe I should see if it runs.

Magical

This is from a few years ago. The original photo is fairly mundane and though I don't like to manipulate a photo too much with Photoshop affects, I'm guilty of doing it here.

10-10-14 Nature in Black and White

I was back in my neighbor's back yard this past weekend looking for photo opportunities. We probably have plenty for me to photograph in our yard but we didn't have hosta plants with big leaves that were giving up the ghost as these were. I turned this photo to a high contrast black and white photo in part because I have been looking at the photography of Edward Weston. I'm not sure I like this photo but here it is anyway.

There Are No Answers Here

I remember reading an essay in a college literature class that was written by a poet who was concerned that the so called "new" science would take the mystery out of the universe by coldly explaining everything in scientific detail. Today, when I was looking at these yellow leaves, I wondered for a moment why some leaves are red in the fall and others, like these, are yellow.I imagined that science could give me an answer and I almost did a Google search. But then I realized that I am better off just wondering what the answer is because for me wonder lies in the mysterious realm between ignorance and truth. Though I do respect science and embrace its truths, I am also occasionally comfortable with my imaginings.So if you know the scientific reason for different fall colors, good for you. But don't tell me - at least today. I am quite content to wonder. . . .

Ready To Retire

These leaves have done their work for the relatively short summer season in South Dakota. The fall colors of these leaves are not very glamorous. But at this stage in their lives, they have an amazing amount of character with the many shades of green, yellow and brown.Soon they will fall to the ground and be raked up. But before then, they will grace the little lilac tree in our neighbor's back yard with the kind of quiet beauty that is often ignored.

Verdant Tropical Stream

A few years ago we were visiting our youngest son, Jon, on the Big Island in Hawaii. As is his nature, he took us to a place that wasn't exactly easy to get to but which was stunning in it beauty. It is called the Waipio Valley. This is a small creek that we encountered and I would have liked to have had much more time here. As it was, because we had two cars full of family members, I had about 5 minutes to photograph this spot. Maybe next time. . .

Electric

This is from one of my favorite spots in the Black Hills - Lakota Lake. I have taken other photos of backlit leaves here and I have found that getting to this spot just after the sun comes up gives me the best photo opportunities. In fall, oak leaves are not particularly striking. But with the right light they are much more interesting. Maybe that's true of anything we photograph.

A Simple Flower

There were at least two dozen flowers in the bouquet my wife put out in our dining room, including the noble red rose. But I was attracted to the soft pastels of this orange relative of the common daisy. The light was diffused window light and, as you can see, I focused on the green "button" in the center.This flower is another simple thing that might have been ignored if not for the great macro lens I own.

Sinuous

I found these superficial tree roots somewhere in Japan a few years ago. I have passed over this photo many times when looking for interesting captures. But today I like it. . . .

Random?

Here is another green thing, this time from Mexico a few years ago. I think it is some kind of succulent decorative plant that grew at the resort we were staying at. The curved edge of the convex leaf caught my attention. Is there an evolutionary purpose for this design? Or is it eye candy for indolent tourists like me?

Puffin

I don't do much wild life photography, mainly because it seems to take too much patience. It also helps if you have a really big lens, and I don't.But sometimes I get lucky as in this photo. We were visiting our son Jon in Sitka, Alaska and he had taken us in the company boat to see the flora and fauna of a few nearby islands. We don't have puffins in South Dakota so I felt lucky to be close enough to a few to get some photos. I took 10 or so photos but this is my favorite because it does a good job of showing the flared wing tips and the excellent aerodynamics of neatly tucked legs and feet.

Hvar Chamber Of Commerce?

Just to make it clear, I am not employed by any organization that represents Hvar tourism. Or Croatian tourism. But I am a fan of Hvar, Croatia. So here's yet another shot of venerable gray stone walls and fragrant lavender.If you noticed yesterday's post, I had said that I didn't know where the city portrayed was on the island. Thanks to someone familiar with the island, I am able to put it more firmly on my mental map. This photo is typical of many locales on the island, though I can say that it was taken fairly close to yesterday's photo.