04-29-16 Free Range Rooster

By Scott Shephard

It is 5am as I sit here writing this and there are at least three roosters crowing. They have been doing this all night long. The idea that roosters make good alarm clocks because they crow at dawn is a "city-folk" concept. Certainly, on the island of Tortola is isn't true. They seem to call out out 24/7.

This particular rooster was part of a band of chickens we encountered on our explorations yesterday morning. There were other roosters in this group so I can't say if this one ruled the roost. Since chickens like this are free range and appear to belong to no one, I don't know what the island culture is about turning them into food. Deb had chicken on her salad yesterday and it makes me wonder. . . . 

Canon 5DIII 1/350s f/2.8 ISO400 100mm

04-28-16 Night Falls Fast on Cane Garden Bay

By Scott Shephard

The sun sets around 6:40 local time and it is completely dark by 7:00. In the northern latitudes we're used to long, lingering twilight and because I tend to go to bed early, I don't do night photography.

But here in the Virgin Islands it's no problem. It's certainly warm enough to be outside and, in the case of our current location, I have a fairly photogenic subject. 

I don't think I mentioned yesterday (same subject, different look) that Jimmy Buffett mentions Cane Garden Bay in his song "Manana." And "Cheesebuger in Paradise" may have been inspired by a meal Buffett ate at one of the restaurants here.

I believe that I have found paradise.  I haven't started looking for the perfect cheeseburger yet. 

Canon 5DIII f8 iso 800 30 seconds

04-27-16 A View from Our Porch

View fullsize

By Scott Shephard

Deb and I have re-located for a few days and our first stop is a small house above Cane Garden Bay on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. It gets up to 85 degrees pretty regularly here and at night it dips down to 83. Pretty boring, I guess.

I hear that snow is forecast for parts of our home state. Unless climate change takes a bizarre turn, we won't see any snow here. :-)

Canon 5DIII 1/10s f/8.0 ISO200 27mm (3 frame HDR)