Happy New Year

Well, I've been reviewing my photos from last summer for the worst of reasons:  I got a coupon for free prints on Snapfish.  It almost makes their incessant e-mails worthwhile.  So while I'm at it I thought I'd print a photo or two from my backpacking trip.  I really need to get on here a while and tell the whole tale.  It was a great trip.  But here are the photos. I just learned that today is National Bird Day. I added this little bird in its honor. I haven't worked on an ID yet but if you know what it is please let me know in the comments.

Documentary Photography

I have been making strides in my project for my documentary photography class even though I haven't posted about it to date. I have been documenting a high school biology class at a local school. My inspiration was actually how much my son has been turned on to biology by this particular teacher who seems to love animals and has carried that over into a teaching style that makes learning fun.



The teacher has been most cooperative but I haven't asked if I can use his photo in this blog so I will be sticking to faceless pictures but I will share a few here to see if you feel my enthusiasm as well. Those of you who can't take photos of bugs and snakes will not likely share my enjoyment.



Stay tuned for more in the next few days.

Visual relief from winter

Growing wild in the Bahamas.

Sea shells by the sea shore

I collected these on the beach in the Bahamas. The picture had no color to speak of so I adjusted it to black and white. The animal is a mollusc known colloquially as Flamingo Tongue. Its scientific name is Cyphoma gibbosum. I actually saw one of these feeding on a sea fan while I was snorkeling. Alive, they are gorgeous but I didn't have a camera to capture how they look. They look sort of white with orange and black polka dots. I can't do justice to them so if you're curious do a brief image search on line.

April Flowers

Bring May showers? I hope not. I'm all rained out.

Curvaceous but Spiny

Melon Cactus seen in Guanica Dry Forest, Puerto Rico. For Moody Monday, Shapely.

Autumn over Lake Michigan

Feeling nostalgia for summer....

Fishy, or Enjoy Dessert

 

This post is inspired by a fellow Chicago blogger who has issued a mail art call for cards related to fish. This will be my second submission. The last one was in 2007. I'm impressed that her blog, A Fishy Requisite, is still up and running. Then again, I'm impressed that my blog is still up and running. Unfortunately the image is very low resolution. It is a collage based on part of a fish wrapper and an fortune that reads: "You deserve special treatment this month. Enjoy dessert." Thanks, I will.

I've added a few fishy photos of my own to follow the theme.





I'm home alone with my younger son who has been down with a mean version of the flu since Tuesday. I'm thinking/hoping he is beginning to improve but he still spiked a nasty fever last night. Since I'm not getting out much I'm overdosing in electronics. Too much computer and TV can't be that good for me but I've read all I can handle too. Whine, whine.

A Touch of Purple

Wild Geranium.

May Flowers

My back yard has a small forest of Mayapples in bloom.



Happy Mother's Day!

Spring Birding

A series of storms came through today and yesterday and conditions were right to have grounded a lot of migrating birds, so I went out to the local nature preserve to see if I could get any pictures. The birds were there but I had a rough time getting any good shots. I'd love to blame the birds but I think it is the photographer's fault. I have shots of bird bellies, bird butts, blurred birds and absent birds that jumped out of the picture just as the shutter snapped.


Common Yellowthroat


Black-throated Green Warbler

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

This little fellow was in my backyard this morning. For those who aren't in the know I live a few miles from downtown Chicago. We are not rural or even suburban. City life it is.
Although it kind of hissed at me, it was so cooperative with my picture taking that I fear it was ill. I've never seen an opossum before outside a zoo setting. It allowed me to get within two feet of it. There was a fence between us or I'd have feared getting bitten. No need for rabies now, is there?

Endangered Species Video

I don't usually post video material but this is just choice. A photographer documents the trials and tribulations of making a book about endangered American species. Funny and poignant all at the same time. I might just have to buy the book.

RARE: Behind the Scenes from Joel Sartore on Vimeo.

Lichenous

I think this photo sets a certain mood but I couldn't figure out how to caption it. Any suggestions?
A blue green lichen seen in Washington last month.

Waves of Sand

The sand ripples make for lovely images, don't they?
Taken when I was back home in Washington.
Thanks all for the kind wishes. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

Coral Pink

Why here? Good question.

One of our scheduled stops on my recent vacation was at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. How can anyone turn down a chance to play on pink dunes? As we turned off onto a small side road to the park, snow became an issue. Even though we had rented the world's largest SUV to park our 6 bodies and luggage in, some members of our party became concerned we would get stuck in the snow. Personally, I didn't agree--the snow wasn't that deep, we had 4 wheel drive, the road wasn't that bad or that isolated. It nearly created the first of several squabbles that are inevitable with 6 opinionated people from 3 generations in one car for two weeks and 700 miles. Sounds like a road trip movie, right?



I think the pictures speak for themselves. Coral pink sand dunes look white, white, white under a foot of snow. Chicago today has plenty of white drifts of snow. No need to fly all the way to Utah!


What we were missing.


So there's the coral pink.

Happy New Year

I haven't had much time for posting. Here is a shot of ravens flying over the Grand Canyon.

R & R

I am currently traveling in the southwestern US. The past two days we have spent in Zion National Park. I was here around 4 years ago in the summer. I think despite the cold and snow, the winter has a lot to recommend it. It is amazing to have the feeling of having the park all to oneself. There are other people here of course but there is so much space, quiet and freedom that I feel it is my private park space. What a treat.
I don't have regular control of my internet access so I may not post as much as I'd like but I'll try to post a few pictures and updates of my adventures.

Hanging Potato Tree

OK, it isn't really a hanging potato. But it sure looks like one. Anyone know what it actually is called? Posted below are some pictures of the flowers.
Actually after much ado I am adding to this post with the identification of the tree in question. I must have spent nearly an hour on Google searching images of trees from Hawaii.
Courtesy of the University of Hawaii website, I have discovered the following:
The tree is Kigelia africana, or the sausage tree. It comes from west Africa. Somehow it doesn't surprise me the tree is introduced. The island of Oahu seems to have trouble taking care of its native species. Most of the birds I saw were also introduced but that is for another post.
I am so relieved that mystery is solved.





This post is being submitted to Festival of the Trees. Check them out and consider submitting your own tree thoughts.

Backyard Buddies, or Is It Bunnies?

My closest neighbors.