Lorain, Ohio’s Lighthouse on Lake Erie stands on a plane between the morning’s
open, blue sky and sand-tinted waters.
Got Hay?
She Who Must Be Obeyed bought herself a new camera yesterday, so what better way to spend our Sunday than at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! Near the entrance to the park is the zoo’s expansive African Elephant Crossing enclosure. Despite temperatures in the low-40s, all of the big animals were strolling around in the open air. The cloudy skies made conditions a bit chilly for us visitors but softened the midday light: perfect for portraits of people or pachyderms!
Keeping Company
The elephant enclosure is behind post-and-cable containment that, though lacking high-voltage warnings, looks like it came directly from Jurassic Park. There are plenty of vantage points for humans to watch the elephants, and places created for elephants to seek fresh treats secreted within concrete walls made to look like stone outcroppings.
Open Wide and Say Hay
We spent quite some time observing and photographing the elephants. Though we went on to see the Australian Adventure area, the primate-cat-aquatics building, and the African Savanna, I think our first sights and photos of the day — the elephants — were our favorites. By the way, these pictures are mine but She found her new camera to be quite to her liking. Her little Canon PowerShot SX50 produced images with terrific detail, excellent exposure and contrast, and lovely color — all without manipulation. The 1,200mm-equivalent zoom with image stabilization, all packed into a small all-in-one package, made me a little jealous.
A Place of Their Own
On my way to where I need to be, I try and look around. We are surrounded by everyday beauty and wonders. We see only a tiny fraction of what is offered us though it is all present; if only we would slow down. Look. Listen. Feel. This morning I paused to take in the first of the day’s light falling across the cold, still waters of shallow Baldwin Lake. Canada Geese were standing in shallow water streaming over a small dam. They watched me carefully and, judging I presented a possible danger, pushed off and into open water. Still water turned silver, reflecting the open morning sky. The geese had the lake, a place of their own. I had to move along, though I already was where I needed to be.
Returning from with nesting materials this Great Blue Heron turns into the wind.
This morning we paid a visit to the heron rookery, or heronry, to see how the Great Blue Herons were getting on with their nest building. This particular communal nesting area is within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, at the north end of Akron. It was a fine, warm, spring day with large patches of milky clouds floating in a pale blue sky. A strong breeze flowed from the west-southwest and we could see the big birds struggling, at times, to control their landings high in the naked tree branches.
Hard turn across the wind exposes this big bird wingtip to wingtip.
The bright cloud layers made many of our photographs into silhouettes; working with that was difficult but a few nice images emerged. Still, my personal favorite shots of the day were pictures that showed off the size, power, and primitive beauty of the herons — possibly my favorite birds to watch and photograph.
Flying up from the ground beneath the heronry trees, this bird returns with his prize.
Joining the gullfriends at the beach.
At the base of steps leading to the sands of Huntington Beach.
Dull morning light reveals a snow-flocked tree.
We’re nearly one week into spring, says the calendar, and today we received about four inches of very wet snow. Yep. Lots of wet snow. On the one hand, most of us are kind of tired of looking at it, much less dealing with the slipping, sliding, and shoveling. Then again, it can be very pretty.
It was hard to keep driving.
Driving this morning was actually a pleasure. I took the most scenic route I know of to get to my destination. It was very tempting to stop every five minutes and take it all in. I did not stop every five minutes but I did stop several times, right in the road, to shoot photos from inside the car. I would make an exposure, look into the rear-view mirror which (I swear) seconds before was clear, only to find a car approaching, pushing me forward. The only real stop I made was at the Strongsville Wildlife Area where I hoped to see dark water surrounded by snow-flocked trees. I got a surprise. After spying on the Canada geese squabbling on the chilled waters, I turned to the left and, from inside the observation blind, was shocked to see a Great Egret standing only a few feet away. I had only my little PowerShot G11 with me and its operation is as near-silent as can be. Still, the great white bird allowed one photo, then took wing. I’ll bet that’s the same bird I spotted last summer. I’ll get ‘im yet!
Not a Snowy Egret but a Great Egret in the Snow!
The snow didn’t stick to the trees for long and later in the day, despite continuing spits of new snow, their branches were bare and dark. We may be ready for spring but we need to be ready for unexpected treats.
Steaming West
Welcome, uh, Spring?
Today was the first day after the Vernal Equinox, it could be said to be the first full day of spring. For those of us in Northeastern Ohio, this fine “spring” day dawned with temperatures hovering at about 17 degrees (F) with a light coating of snow everywhere, and new snow lightly falling. Yeah, spring. Driving to my duties, I passed through the snowy spring wonderland gazing at many a lovely scene. Finally I stopped at a favorite place for morning pictures, the Lagoons area of Cleveland Metroparks, to record a scene or two. Dark waters set off snow-covered wooded grounds, and outlined the trees. Falling flakes clouded some distant areas. Amidst this seeming unseasonal scenery was a bit of a surprise. Two Canada Geese launched into the frigid waters to escape my approach and on their backs… a coating of snow. Spring? Well, it hasn’t “sprung” just yet.
Not Snow Geese, SNOWY geese!
As if taunting me over my failed comet photography, the crescent Moon formed a Cheshire Cat grin.*
I went out seeking Comet PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4) tonight. The sky was promising but, as we all know, promises were made to be broken! As the sky darkened the little comet became visible through binoculars. A thin crescent Moon, reminiscent of the fabled Cheshire Cat’s grin, presided over events. Soon, bands of thin clouds encroached. The comet began fading in and out. Finally, by 9:00 PM, after perhaps only a half-hour of visibility, it was gone. It was easy for them to quickly find and capture the dim apparition in the twilight. I had shared a parking lot with, perhaps, a couple of dozen cars. Folks exclaimed “cool” and “awesome” as they spotted our little visitor. Then they headed home. I looked around just about 9:00 and realized I was the only person left there! It was, after all, a cold night (32 F) for standing out in the open hoping to see a comet only briefly visible through binoculars. I chose to make my photographic efforts with my 400mm telephoto; makes sense? No. Those with the greatest success, both technical and aesthetically, used 70mm and short telephoto lenses. I tried a few non-tracking astrophotographs –all of them disappointing– and headed for home. So, I didn’t get a useable photo of the comet. I did, at least, see it. How many comets do most of us see in a lifetime, anyway? I believe I’m up to five!
* The Cheshire Cat faded away slowly until nothing was left of it but its grin. “Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,” thought Alice; “but a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in my life!” (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 6)
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