summer

All posts tagged summer

A closeup isn’t everything

Posted by Photonstopper on July 26, 2014
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Photo: Eastern Amberwing dragonfly perched on sunken log. Photo by James Guilford.

Eastern Amberwing

While it’s often possible to shoot closeup photos of insects such as dragonflies, it’s not always necessary or even the best approach. I spent an enjoyable time this afternoon along the edge of a pond seeking one of my favorite subjects: dragonflies! I had some very good luck and even got some very nice shots of a Slaty Skimmer — a big, indigo blue dragon I don’t believe I’ve captured before. As I walked along beside the pond I looked out across the quiet waters and saw a tiny Eastern Amberwing perched on the top of a sunken tree trunk protruding from the surface. The weathered wood was dark and in silhouette, its form reflected on the water, but the little dragonfly glowed in sunlight. I shot image after image ’til finally the Amberwing flitted away. It wasn’t one of those highly-detailed, super-macro insect photos we often wonder at; I think I actually like it better. ‘Turns out, it was my favorite picture of the day! A closeup isn’t everything!

Groomed sands, quiet waters

Posted by Photonstopper on July 17, 2014
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Photo: The day begins at Huntington Beach with freshly-groomed sands under a beautiful sky. Photo by James Guilford.

Beach Morning 5535

It may be some time before I get back to the shores of Lake Erie. Over the past many months, my travels have allowed me to regularly visit the lakefront. The view was different every time I visited. Colors in the waters change. Wave patterns constantly shift. And the sky… oh, the sky! I’ve stood on the sands to shoot photos while being pelted by freezing rain and snow driven by gale winds. I’ve walked the breakwalls when the lake appeared as a sheet of glass. Not once have I regretted visiting the shore. So it was this morning as clouds of various shapes moved across the big sky, waves criss-crossed on a quiet lake surface, and sands lay freshly groomed awaiting the day’s visitors. I’ll miss the visits but at least I have some pictures.

Feeling much better now

Posted by Photonstopper on July 6, 2014
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Photo: Dragonfly perched atop the green arch of a water plant leaf. Photo by James Guilford.

Arches

I was reviewing my recent efforts at photographing my favorite insects, dragonflies, and was growing discouraged. Recently it just seemed I couldn’t catch a break. Maybe my missing “luck” was due to a want of recent experience. Last year wasn’t a particularly good one for dragons though this year looks to be very good. Whatever the reason, I was deleting way more images than what I considered worth keeping. Until I came across this one. It was shot late last month in Lorain County on the edge of a pond abuzz with dragonflies. It all came together: a gorgeous dragon, perched atop arches of green leaves, against a nearly black background. I’m feeling much better now.

A morning of stars and gulls

Posted by Photonstopper on July 5, 2014
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Photo: Sunburst over Lake Erie with Gulls in Flight.

Stars and Gulls on the Water

Down at the Lake Erie shore the sun shown brilliantly over calm waters, the sky was clear and blue, and gulls gathered on the breakwall. Moving a bit too close for their comfort, I scared up half of the gathered flock. The birds took flight to the west but soon circled around to the east, then south, and into my shot of the morning sun and diamond waves. At first I was a little annoyed at the presence of so many little black dots. Quickly, however, I realized the beauty of the flock against the sky.

Garden Shed Red

Posted by Photonstopper on August 22, 2013
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Photo: Wall and window of a garden shed in Milan, Ohio. Photo by James Guilford.

Garden Shed Red

We had a lovely time Sunday exploring the little town of Milan, Ohio. Milan’s claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of inventor Thomas A. Edison. The American icon spent the first six years of his life in Milan and maintained a lifelong fondness for the place. We purchased tickets and received an informative and personal guided tour of the residence. She Who Must Be Obeyed carried her camera and shot enough photos of the objects in the house that her collection could serve inventory purposes! I carried my iPod Touch and shot only one space — the light coming in through a tiny, narrow dormer on the second floor. We toured the grounds on our own and then walked around the village square. I shot quite a few scenes of old buildings and the like and it would be worthwhile returning one day to do some more. My favorite shot of the day, however, was of the wall and window of a garden shed. The wall was a velvet red and the contrasting white window frame and mullions showed signs of their age.

Photo: Window dormer upstairs at the Thomas Edison birthplace, Milan, Ohio. Photo by James Guilford.

Spooky Window Upstairs at Thomas Edison Birthplace

Stalking the stalkers

Posted by Photonstopper on August 17, 2013
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Photo: Great Blue Heron, by James Guilford.

Great Blue Heron Stalking Prey

The weather was splendid today, if slightly cool for August in Northeastern Ohio. We took a little jaunt down to the Ira Road area of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to walk the wetlands boardwalk portion of the Towpath Trail. It wasn’t long before we spotted the first, and boldest, of three Great Blue Herons. This big guy was perfectly happy to stand in the shallow waters of the abandoned canal stalking prey as we watched from the nearby trail. I’ve a wonderful set of shots of the big bird staring, preening, and yawning. This closeup, however, is my favorite and possibly my prettiest shot of a heron yet.

Photo: Great Blue Heron strikes to catch prey, by James Guilford.

Great Blue Herons Strikes, Full-Force, to Catch Prey

The heron was, however, all about making a living and we as we watched it spotted something between the lily pads and, with lightning speed, struck at its prey full-force. Whatever the would-be lunch was, it got away this time, leaving the heron thrashing in the water, even appearing embarrassed as it flapped up to a log to shake off water and shame.

Photo: Green Heron stalking prey. by James Guilford.

Green Heron Spots Something

Within sight of the big bird I thought I saw something much smaller and less familiar but I wasn’t sure. Was it an upturned lily pad or, yes (!), a Green Heron! Typically skittish I fully expected the little thing to rocket skyward as I approached on the trail. Like it’s giant cousin, however, the Green wasn’t shy and went about its business with us watching. It had been about two years since I’d last seen a Green Heron and this was a welcome sight.

It was a great day (and photographically productive) in the soft sunlight and fresh air spent stalking the stalkers!

The Day Began That Way

Posted by Photonstopper on August 11, 2013
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Photo: Waves roll ashore highlighted by beaming sun. Photo by James Guilford.

The Day Began This Way

I stopped by the Lake Erie shoreline again Saturday morning. The sun was breaking through some high clouds and I wanted to see the interplay of morning sunlight and lake waters; It was exciting! The waves, while not large, constantly smashed against break walls and crawled up the sandy beach. The sky, to the east and south, was mostly clear but clouds were moving in from the northwest. I had a wonderful time, shooting more than 200 exposures of waves, water, sun, clouds, and more. A couple of my favorite “sun” photos are shown here. Maybe, one day, I will post more here or on my gallery site. For now, these will have to do.

Photo: Sun over Lake Erie with Cleveland Skyline in distance. Photo by James Guilford.

Dark Sunburst

Seeking Return to the Sky

Posted by Photonstopper on August 2, 2013
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Photo: Waves crashing on a Lake Erie break wall. Photo by James Guilford.

Seeking Return to the Sky

This morning’s excursion was to Rocky River Park in Rocky River, Ohio. The day had beautifully dawned, the air was cool and comfortable, and low waves were coming in to shore from Great Lake Erie. There is a breakwall running parallel with the shoreline and not far out. The waves rising in the shallows crashed against blocks of old stone, spraying into the air, sometimes forming tall fans as if the water was seeking return to the sky from which it fell.

Worn out

Posted by Photonstopper on July 21, 2013
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Photo: Tattered butterfly on a fading purple coneflower. Photo by James Guilford.

Worn Out

Whether butterfly or flower, we wear out. Our time is limited. We beat our wings or unfold our petals and we go out into the world. And, eventually, we wear out. Perhaps it is best to shine as brightly as we can, while we may, so it cannot be said we did not make the most of what we have.

Tiny garden

Posted by Photonstopper on July 20, 2013
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Photo: Tiny orange fungi on the top of a fence post. Photo by James Guilford.

Tiny Garden

The hot, and wet weather we have “enjoyed” lately have been great for plants and perhaps better for fungi. Various, mostly unattractive, ‘shrooms have been popping up in the garden mulch. What caught my eye this morning, however, was a tiny garden — really tiny — of bright orange fungi sprouting from the top of a fencepost outside our door. I grabbed my little PowerShot G11 and clicked off a few macro shots of the little wonders before we took off for some grocery shopping. Returning about an hour later, I took another look at the object of my attention; they were withered and sad looking. I suspect they’ll show themselves again since the little growths are only the tops of fungus that runs deeper into the seams of the wooden post.