The Joy of Oversleeping

For much of nature and landscape photography, the general rule is be early...earlier than you think is early.
Stay late, later than you think is late.
Many types of wildlife (I'm thinking birds right now) are more active at the crack of dawn and then again at dusk.

For landscapes, nice colors, skies, and shadows are also more prevalent during the "golden hours" just before and after sunrise and sunset.

With those thoughts in mind, I set my alarm to get up early and get to the Magee Marsh boardwalk shortly before sunrise and hopefully see some birds.
Except I forgot to hit save. So I woke up just minutes before sunrise, 45 minutes later than planned. I rushed out the door of our hotel for the 25 minute drive, the sun was already on the horizon. And then, a mile down the road I saw this:

Port Clinton Lighthouse at Sunrise, Port Clinton Ohio

I still managed to be the first one at the popular birding boardwalk, and did capture a few bird photos, but the photograph that made my day was that sunrise.

Cape May Warbler, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

Great Egret, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

Green Heron, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

Taking the Kids on a "Bug Hunt"

Sometimes it's difficult to get my grandkids interested in getting outside and walking around, just looking at things and exploring. They'd rather play inside, play on the computers, other electronics, or boardgames. A few days ago I made them go on an "adventure" with me, a short walk in a nearby nature preserve. They didn't fall for the "adventure" gimmick so there were complaints... but then I got them looking for bugs and butterflies for me to photograph as we went along. Lots of butterflies were spotted but wouldn't stop to pose. A few dragonflies were the same, but then a couple decided to be perfect models.

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Spring and Summer Arrive Earlier and Earlier

I've been taking photos of flowers, bugs etc consistently since I retired and moved here permanently 7 years ago. At least for south western Ohio, the Ohio River valley outside of Cincinnati, spring and summer seem to be arriving earlier and earlier. Here are photos I've taken in the past few days. Hellebores have been blooming since at least Feb 1 and are still going strong. Many daffodils are still blooming whie the grape hyacinth are at their peak. The tulips and woodland poppies are blooming a week earlier than they've ever bloomed before. Today I noticed some iris about to bloom (a good freeze will kill them). I know 7 years is an inadequate sample in the scheme of things, but it's still a sample that gets one thinking.


Grape Hyacinth

Daffodils

Hellebores (aka Lenten Rose)

Tulips

More Tulips

Honeyberry

Woodland Poppy

Ice and Frost, Winter is Coming

I haven't been as active with my camera the past month or so. Usually a good frost gets me out in the morning to get at least a few photos of plants and other subjects with interesting frost and crystal patterns. This year, I just finally got my butt out a couple days ago. I spent just 10 minutes or so photographing the ice and frost on a glass table on our deck. It was reminiscent of my "Sand Project" during the summer, but much more limited in scope. Here are a half-dozen of the images.


Ice and Frost I

Ice and Frost II

Ice and Frost III

Ice and Frost IV

Ice and Frost V

Ice in His Veins

This Year's Version of Fall

I got around a bit these past couple weeks. No matter where I went, the trees were glorious, especially the maples. Here is a sampling:


Hoye-Crest, MD

Mt. Davis, PA

Earl H. Barnhart "Buzzard's Roost" Nature Preserve, OH

Out The Front Door, OH

Reflection Out the Backdoor, OH

"In Ruins"

A friend of mine wrote a book.
"In Ruins", you can find it here: In Ruins

On my walk today through Valley View I came across these Virginia Creeper vines climbing up the side of an old barn. The scene reminded me of her cover art for her book.

In Ruins

I Like Harsh Light

I can not lie. I'm intrigued by the harsh shadows, the forms, the contrast, the backlight possibilities...
Yesterday it touched 80° here, so we'll call it spring, winter will be back again sometime in April, summer may pay a visit at anytime. The Ohio River valley offers an endless supply of weather surprises.


White Crocus

Daffodils

Helleborus

Purple Striped Crocus

Reflections of a Garage

I'm sure this garage has seen a lot pass through its doors, and if it were an old person in his twilight years, he would reflect upon what he's seen and heard over all those years...


Reflections in the Garage Window

Aces & Eights

Another nearby cemetery, Evergreen Cemetery, features a large headstone easily seen from the state route that goes past it. "Aces & Eights".
I finally stopped by on a recent afternoo and took a few photos in addition to the mandatory Aces & Eights.


Aces & Eights

All In A Row

Major League Baseball Buried Here

Evergreen Cemetery

Little Lamb So Common in the Pioneer Days

Carpenter's Run Pioneer Cemetery

Pioneer cemeteries (roughly mid 1800's) are quite common in Ohio and especially in the vicinity of the Ohio river valley. Growing up, I always knew this particular cemetery as "Plainfield Cemetery" but now, many, many years later, Blue Ash is a well developed area with expensive homes, golf courses etc and things have been "cleaned up" a bit, shall we say. "Carpenter's Run Pioneer Cemetery" is one of the beneficiaries of that development. I stopped by recently and took some photos. Someone, or ones, took the time to try to piece together broken headstones, and in general, really make and keep the whole cemetery neat and orderly.



A Jigsaw Stone

Melissa Hunt Nearby Hunt Road gets its name from this family

A Row of the Hunt Family Nearby Hunt Road gets its name from this family

Soldier from the Revolutionary War Many of the settlers in the south western Ohio region were veterans from the Revolutionary War claiming land grants

GPS Overview of the Cemetery

Parsley, Sage,

...Echinacea and Thyme.

On a frosty morning..


Parsley

Sage

Echinacea

Thyme

Ending the Year in a Fog

After being below 0 F and now about 60 F, it makes for some fog in the river valley. Add in a little bit of mist, and I decided to go for it...until the rain poured down upon me :(



Camp Dennison, Ohio

Camp Dennison, Ohio

Camp Dennison, Ohio

Camp Dennison, Ohio