• Black and White,  grass,  natural areas,  Plants

    Time in Nature

    July 26, 2021
    From a weekend walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    “Nature, too, supports our personal blossoming (if we have any quiet exposure to her) through her spontaneities, through her beauty, power, and mirroring, through her dazzling variety of species and habitats, and by way of the wind, Moon, Sun, stars, and galaxies.”

    Bill Plotkin

    It is a desire of mine to spend more time in nature. Hopefully, you already knew that. It is now obvious to me how deep these roots of solitude with and in nature have always been present. There is an awareness, also, that the more time I spend in the natural world, the more I desire to be there. My condo of bricks and sticks is not where I want to spend my life. It has provided a place of comfort but at a price. For many the house is all they need and want. Our culture stresses that. I’m not one of them. There is a desire to blossom. Have a great day and wonderful week!

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  • grass,  John O'Donohue,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Sunlit Grass

    July 22, 2021
    Another image from that older Fujifilm X-T10 camera

    “No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself; you are its custodian and entrance. No one else can see the world the way you see it. No one else can feel your life the way you feel it. Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground. When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy into your consciousness; it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.”

    John O’Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom
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  • Camera Equipment,  landscape,  natural areas,  Photography,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    Laughing at Myself

    July 21, 2021
    Fujifilm X-T10 and XF 18-55mm f2.8-4.0

    I decided to go on a walk to reservoir Ridge Natural Area with my older Fujifilm kit, taking the X-T10 and the XF 18-55mm f2.8-4.0. I needed to get in my steps and wanted to enjoy the beautiful evening. I chose the lighter kit because I wanted to carry less. I was surprised at the experience I had using my older camera. Embarrassingly, I’d forgotten how to use it and at times I was quite awkward, clumsy and confused. Found myself talking to myself, saying things like: Now why is it doing that? That’s not what I wanted. Dammit! Okay what did I do now? Sh*t! Spent way too much time fiddling with and talking to the camera. But so enjoyed laughing at and with myself. 😳

    Anyway, I became aware of just how much progress had been made with the technology in the three and a half years from the introduction of the X-T10 to the X-T3. I quickly noticed how much slower the X-T10 turn-on time was. Then I noticed how much improvement there was in the focusing ability. The X-T10 was way behind in that area. Another surprise was the weight difference. For me the six ounce difference and overall physical size were much more comfortable using the X-T3. That, or maybe I’ve just gotten used to it. Anyway the X-T10 still does a good job taking images as long as the photographer does their part. Well, it will remain my backup and I got my steps in while laughing at myself.

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  • Avian,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Afternoon Walk

    July 18, 2021

    I had a quiet walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area yesterday evening. It was a hot and muggy day so I was sweaty by the time I returned to the car. May have to take my monthly shower a week earlier than scheduled.

    It was also very quiet. In the hour I was there I only heard one meadowlark, far off in the pasture, a half dozen red-winged blackbirds chattering in a tree and this mourning dove, who was mourning.

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  • fog,  landscape,  Plants,  trees

    Silent Waves of Fog

    July 15, 2021

    low lying clouds
    sea of suspended water
    silent waves of fog

    ms

    Had a short night of sleep but slept sound for most of it and feel rested. Headed out early and discovered a bit of fog on the eastern plains. A world of clouds and haze until the sun burns it off. Very humid and cool morning with 96% humidity and 57 degrees. It is fascinating to watch fog as it changes and moves like a wave ever so silently and quickly. Fog does not hang around for too long. It is a cloud at the earth’s surface. A wave moving over bales of hay.

    A touch of pink in this image as the sun is about to rise behind the low clouds in the east. We are seeing fields of both the ripening wheat and three foot tall stalks of corn. Farmers are irrigating the fields of corn so lots of surface moisture to generate the fog. Where I’m standing is a ditch full of gurgling water, almost like having my own little stream. Have a great day!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  storm clouds

    Ever-so-silent

    July 4, 2021
    Storm clouds in the south

    I enjoy the walking trail at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area because it is reasonably flat, has wide open vistas, lots of songbirds and healing silence. When I get to my rock-bench I usually find the silence I’m seeking. And, the silence I’m seeking is absence of manmade noise. I can sit there for 15 minutes with only the sounds of nature reaching my ears, which is music to my soul. Last Friday evening was one of those ever-so-silent times. Loved it. Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July.

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