Monday, October 15, 2012

Busy!!!!!

WOW! It has been sometime since I have posted anything.
Summer was busy and this Autumn is and still is busy. Below are just a few of the photos I have taken this Autumn.







Even with the heavy rains and strong winds it still looks beautiful out in the forests.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Exciting day!

It was a cool morning as I set out to do some exploring and photography.
I made a quick stop at the Michigan Magazine Musuem to pick up some fliers for an up coming event. I than headed in to the back country. I made my way slowly down the dirt roads looking for anything that might be worth stoping for. As I rounded a small bend in  the road a medium size black bear was crossing, but I had no time for and photos. I continued on down the road and keeping a shap eye out for other exciting wildlife.
I made it to the swamp around 10:30 am and decided to head deeper into the swamp. I found many subjects to shoot such as, butterflies, snails and ferns. Many wildflowers were in bloom and I had to stop and admire the beauty that each one had....plus photos.
As I was heading back out it started to rain, so I put my rain cover on my bag. I kept moving and as I moved through a pine thicket I stopped in my tracks. In front of me were the Queen's of the forest.
Hundreds of Showy Lady's Slippers. I headed to a large cedar tree and stood under it and watched it rain. Nothing is more beautiful than being in a swamp/bog during a summer rain. The air smelled so fresh and inviting. I was soaked, but I did not care. All I wanted is to get some shots of the slippers with rain drops on them.


The rain slowed enough that I could set up my gear. I was using a rain cover for my camera and lens. With  the rain falling and the heavy overcast...it was perfect. Shot after shot...image after image was recored unto the memory card. The rain had stopped and by the time the rain stopped falloing I had more than 800 images. The sun started to peak out from behind the clouds and I headed back out to continue on my adventure.

As I was making my way through the hills I kept watch for anything worth stopping for. As I creasted a large hill I noticed large clouds and started to pull over. Suddenly a mother deer and fawn walked out of the woods in the valley below. I slowly grabbed my gear and set up and started firing away. Frame after frame. I had shot about 40 images when the Doe started to look behind her and up the road. I thought a car was coming, but nothing came over the hill.



The fawn began nursing and I fired of more frames. I decided to switch my lens so I could get the deer in a landscape shot. I put on my 70-300mm. No sooner had I switch when a lone Coyote walked out into the road about 50 feet from them. I was able to get one shot as the two deer high tailed it into the woods.

(Notice the fawn in the lower right corner. It's leaving mother behind.)

The Coyote knew the deer were to fast to catch. At this time I was feeling kind of foolish for changing my lens, so I quickly changed back to my 400mm and was able to get one good shot of the Coyote before it trotted off into the forest.

The rest of the afternoon was just as thrilling. Butterflies, landscapes and wildflowers filled my memory cards. It was a great day and Summer has only just begun.


Saturday, June 16, 2012

Slippers

In the cool dark cedar and spruce swamp grows one of the most beautiful ladyslippers in all of Michigan. 
The Showy Lady's Slipper.
When I am sitting inches away from them I find myself not wanting to leave. The wet moist ground and the coolness of the swamp is so inviting. Warblers sing in the trees overhead and the breeze whispers in the cedar trees. From early morning till late evening the slippers put on a show.
When ever the light changes they seem to change.
The image you see here was taken late in the evening and the dark of the swamp created a pleasing and magical mood. With the company of yellow lady's slippers growing right next to them it makes for one beautiful sight. 


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Search Continues

The search continues for orchids. My latest find was this Small yellow Lady Slipper.
So far I have located 6 species in this one cedar swamp. I am now watching another species that is getting ready to bloom. This one will make 7 species in this one swamp. The amazing thing is I have found all these orchids in a 400 foot area of each other. Here is the list I have located so far.
Ram's head ladyslipper
Pink ladyslipper
Showy Ladyslipper
Small Yellow Ladyslipper
Large Yellow Ladyslipper
Early Coralroot.
Today I sat for about 2-3 hours watching this one Ox-eyed Daisy. A golden-rod crab spider was waiting for lunch. It was amazing how many insects visited this flower. The spider never did catch lunch while I was waiting and watching.
 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

After spending many years searching for the Ram's-head Lady Slipper I found one today. It is always a great thrill when you find something you have been looking for. Five hours in a cedar swamp and many mosquito's, but it is worth it. I plan on going back in the morning to get some better shots and to search for more. The wind was really blowing today so it made for some bad shooting conditions. I also found two other species...Pink Lady's Slipper and Early Coral Root.
Pink lady's slipper
Early Coral Root
Ram's-head lady slipper (Rare)

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Common Loon

Been a long time since I last posted anything. Been very busy here. I just thought I would post a photo of a common loon. Will try to post more often. Wildflowers are starting to really bloom and the birds are returning.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Spring

Spring is here and everything is greening up. As far as I am concerned it is a bit to early here in Northern Michigan. I decided to head North to the hills and it was very enjoyable. Only thing is I almost ended up getting myself lost. I was going from water hole to water hole chasing frogs. Before I knew it I had lost my bearings. So I turned around and tried to backtrack, but somehow I ended up about 1/2 mile from where I entered the woods. I did however find some early wildflowers that were in bloom.
 Round-lobed Hepatica
Carolina Spring-beauty

I would say it was a great afternoon. Will head back up there in a few days to see what else I can find.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Almost Spring

Sorry I have not posted much lately, but been really busy. Between photography and yard work and other things I have been kept busy. Here are a few favorite bird images from this month. 



I will be posting more as the spring season begins and I get out more to explore.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Ice

Well winter is coming to an end soon and I'm glad.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Bloodroot

When April winds arrive
And the soft rains are here,
Some morning by the roadside
These Fairy folk appear.

We never see their coming,
However sharp our eyes;
Each year as if by magic
They take us by surprise.

Along the ragged woodside
And by the green spring-run,
Their small white heads are nodding
And twinkling in the sun.

They crowd across the meadow
In innocence and mirth,
As if there were no sorrow
In all this wondrous earth.

So frail, so unregarded,
And yet about them clings
A sorcery of welcome,--
The joy of common things.

Perhaps their trail of beauty
Across the pasture sod
In jubilant procession
Is where an angel trod.


[The end]
Bliss Carman's poem: Bloodroot

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Along the river

With the warm weather I have been out enjoying it. Not much ice along the river, but still many subjects to photograph. I was playing around with slow shutter speeds and water. The blue skies added some nice color to the smooth water.


Friday, January 20, 2012

Busy!

WOW!
It has been more than a month since I last posted....sorry!
 Been really busy with a death in the family, new camera gear and many other things. I'm back now and have many images. It's that time of year for ice images. Ice details and other winter subjects. So starting with ice shapes I shot on a small stream. It was 23 degrees when I went down to the river, but wish it would have been colder. I will be going back to get many more shots of my favorite winter time subject.



You can see the on location shoot here...