• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  reflections,  sunsets

    Take My Photograph

    Riverbend Ponds – 7.5 second exposure at f16.0

    I have often photographed when I am not in tune with nature but the photographs look as if I had been. So I conclude that something in nature says, ‘Come and take my photograph.’ So I do, regardless of how I feel.

    Minor White

    Happened to me with this image last night. I wanted to get out east to see if I could find a sunset image. Because I left late I stopped at Riverbend Ponds and walked to a spot I’ve shot from before. The sun had set but the clouds looked promising. I felt no urgency only a need to be there. It was cool enough that I was glad I wore my coat. Nothing spectacular but oh so beautiful. A few geese and ducks honked and quacked. I wondered if they liked the scene also. I smiled. Only took 16 images but have three keepers I like. So, I went and took the photograph.

  • Albert Einstein,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Frozen

    Cold February day at Riverbend Ponds, one of the cities natural areas

    ““The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.” 

    Albert Einstein

    Made a short walk at Riverbend Ponds just to find some images to bring home. These ponds are a popular place for fishing, primarily for bass. Needless to say not many anglers out there today. 

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas

    Still cold

    Big Pond at Riverbend Ponds Nature Area

    It’s still cold here as can bee seen in the above image. Most ponds and slow moving streams are still thick with ice. However we are predicted to have three days of temperatures in the high 40’s with clouds. I needed to have my emissions tested yesterday so I stopped at the Riverbend ponds because of the look those clouds were giving me.

  • lake,  landscape

    Here it comes!

    Bright Twinkling Stars

    As I post this image the sun is shinning. However, the wind is picking up and dark clouds approach from the North. The temperature is a nice 58 degrees, yet they are predicting temperatures in the teens tonight and near zero the next two nights. The daytime highs will not be much above freezing as Old Man Winter moves in. So, I decided to post this bright and cheerful image from Saturdays walk. Stay warm!

    PS: It’s now noon and temperature is at 28 degrees. We dropped 30 degrees in 4 hours and had light snow. Brrrr!

  • landscape,  Plants

    Can’t See Where I’m Going

    Boardwalk and Cattails
    Boardwalk and Cattails

    There is a popular saying that the “destination is the journey.” However, most of us have some pre-visualization of a destination and not much of the journey. We’re focused on the dream home, the career, the perfect family, a life of travel, status, money, whatever it is. Then, after all the planning and starting out on the journey we find we are unable to see the destination. All we’re experiencing is the journey. We thought we know where we’re going, but this is not what we had in mind.

    Well, we started out on the dirt path and before long we found a fork in the road. Where did this come from? It was not in our plans. We decide to go left. Before long we find ourselves on a rickety boardwalk surrounded by cattails rising above our heads. We begin to question our decision to go left. There is no destination be seen. We’re not sure about this boardwalk or where it’s leading us? Will we run out of boardwalk? Should we turn back?

    But, you know what, we made the choice to make this journey so let’s see where it leads. We just might enjoy the journey more than we expected. After walking a short distance we begin to realize the cattails are providing shelter from the heat of the day. We notice the dragonflies zipping in an out of the cattails and a sunflower plant rising above the cattails. Even though we can’t see him, we hear a Red-winged blackbird singing somewhere among those cattails. He is soon joined by a chorus of croaking frogs. And, we imagine they are encouraging us to move onward. A spider scurries to get out of our way. We realize we are not alone on this journey. Before long the boardwalk makes a curve and we enter into an opening. A bench awaits us and the clouds join the setting sun to makes today a beautiful journey. As much as we plan, the journey may not be exactly as we planned or expected but we feel inside we’re on the right boardwalk. Wonder where the rest of the boardwalk goes? It does go right.

    photocrati gallery

  • landscape,  natural areas,  People/Portraits,  Plants

    City Noise

    Walking the Dogs

    Paul had a recent post about the constant noise he experienced in New York City. I relate. In my area its riding lawn mowers, leaf blowers, grass trimmers, trash truck, train whistle ( a mile away), sirens, loud stereos, Harley’s, etc. Some people seem to enjoy making the noise and for others it’s a way to make a living. For me I have enough noise in my head without all the external noise. Yesterday was an extremely noisy day as they are tearing up the parking lot across the ponds so machinery have been in operation all day. Tearing up asphalt makes a lot of noise! Maybe I need to move to the country.

    My escape are trips to local nature areas, the mountains or some dirt road on the eastern plains. Basically out of town. This past weekend I took a drive to the Riverbend Nature area. This area is on the edge of the city limits so I can still hear some of noise, but it is the reprieve I needed. The clouds were putting on a beautiful show and helped cool things down while the setting sun make for some nice light and shadows. As I worked my way back to the truck a few rain drops added to my enjoyment. And, I was not the only one who needed to get out to the nature areas.