February 2016 – Page 2 – Circadianreflections Blog

Monochrome Madness 2 45/52: Willows

February 17, 2016February 17, 2016Posted in Black and White Photography, Fine Art, Landscape Photography, Monochrome Madness2, National Wildlife Refuges in California, Photography, TreesTagged Black and White Photography, California Wildlife Refuges, Landscape Photography, Marshes, Marshlands, Monochrome Madness2, Nature, Photography, Trees, wetlands, Willow Trees6 Comments

Here we are at week 45 of Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2. It’s hard to believe I’ve been posting in this group for almost a year already! Time has raced by with just 7 weeks to go until this year of Monochrome Madness 2 comes to an end.

For this week’s entry I’m in California’s unspoiled marshes in the wildlife refuges surrounded by grass, reeds,creeks, ponds, and the willows.

Some of the Willows look like shrubs, and others like the Black Willow stand tall. Until I started photographing these trees I had no idea there were so many types of Willow Trees.

To see all this week’s entries to Leanne’s Monochrome Madness 2 click here.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 28-105mm| Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2015 & On1 Photo 10

More to come…

Red-tailed Hawk 2

February 16, 2016February 15, 2016Posted in Bird Photography, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Hawks, National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuges in California, PhotographyTagged Birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Macro photography, Photography, Red-tailed Hawk, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge16 Comments

This Red-tail is from a couple of weeks back. My friend and I were birding in San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and nearing the end of one of the auto-routes when we spotted it high in the tree. I was driving and didn’t think I’d get a decent photograph of it because it was on the passenger side of the car/road, and climbing over the console and gear box wasn’t something I wanted to do.

Red-tail Hawk

We had the route nearly to ourselves so I thought I’d pull the car caddy-whompus across the road and shoot leaning into the passenger seat. I was able to get several images of it before another car came up and I had to move.

It is striking isn’t it with its white cap and that gaze?

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2015

Loggerhead Shrike

February 15, 2016February 15, 2016Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, National Wildlife Refuges in California, PhotographyTagged Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Loggerhead Shrike, Photography, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge21 Comments

I have only seen this bird a handful of times, and managed to get an image even less.

This Loggerhead Shrike was on the fence bordering the Tule Elk Paddock as you enter the Refuge. This one was pretty accommodating and let me take its photo for a couple of minutes.

Loggerhead Shrike

Coming around to the end of the auto-route in the Refuge was this Loggerhead Shrike perched on a dried plant in the Tule Elk paddock. It was pretty far away and behind a wire fence. This is cropped in a bit. I wondered if it wasn’t the same Shrike I’d seen when I first entered the Refuge? I’ll never know but am thrilled to have seen it!

Loggerhead Shrike

This was an exciting start to my day of birding.

Nikon D300s| Nikon 200-500mm VR| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2016

More to come…

Thursday Doors 6/52: 3 Red Doors

February 11, 2016February 11, 2016Posted in Architecture, Photography, Red, Red Doors, Thursday's DoorsTagged Architecture, Doors, gate, Heart, Houses, Photography, Red Doors, Thursday Doors32 Comments

I’m into doors of color at the moment so this week I present 3 Red Doors from my neighborhood walk-abouts.

Nº 5049

Red Door Nº5049

Nº 131

Red Door Nº 131

Nº 2033

Red Door Nº2033

The top two panel doors are popular in my area. I’ve seen quite a few of them

painted red. I looked at getting this same door when shopping for a new door last year, but we bought a different door with more glass.

The bottom door reminds me of farmhouse door. I don’t see many of these in my neighborhood which is classic Suburban.

Nikon Df w/ 28-105mm, and the Lumix FZ200| Hoodman and Lexar Digital Film|PS CC 2015

This is my entry to Norm 2.0s Thursday Doors. To see all this week’s entries or post some doors of your own click here.

UPDATE: Little link thingy wasn’t working but it’s fixed now!

More to come…

Monochrome Madness 2 44/52 Late Afternoon Merced Marsh

February 10, 2016February 10, 2016Posted in birding, Birds in the Wild, Black and White Photography, Monochrome Madness2, National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuges in California, PhotographyTagged Bird Photography, Birding, Birds in the Wild, Black and White Photography, California Pacific Flyway;, Monochrome Madness2, National Wildlife Refuges37 Comments

MM2 Late Afternoon Merced Marsh_3000593

My friend Dali and I went out to Merced National Wildlife Refuge last week-end and found oh, so many Snow Geese, and some Lesser Sandhill Cranes along with the usual suspects. We were photographing some of the Snow Geese and other birds in the nearest marsh when all of the sudden the noise level escalated and the birds took to the air!

The squawking, screeching, quacking, and honking was so loud you couldn’t hear yourself speak! It was pretty neat to see and hear. We’re not sure but, we think a Hawk, or Coyote spooked them.

This is my entry to Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2. To check out all the entries this week click here.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Delkin Devices Digital Film| PS CC 2015 & On1 Photo 10

More to come…

Early Spring!

February 9, 2016Posted in Bees, Flower Photography, Flowering Trees, Honey Bees, Nature, Nature Photography, Nikon DF, Photography, Poems of Robert Frost, Poerty, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Seasons of the Year, Spring, Trees, WinterTagged Bees, Flowering Trees, Nature, Nature Photography, Poetry, Robert Frost Poems, Seasons, Spring, Sweat Pea Vine, White blossoms27 Comments

I had a walk-around the neighborhood Sunday morning and found Spring everywhere.

The flowering trees are in bud, and beginning to blossom while others are in full bloom!

A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost-

“Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.”~Robert Frost (from A Boy’s Will, 1915)

Flowering Tree in Full Bloom

The huge white flowering tree was a hive of activity in the canopy. The buzz of bees

was dizzying, and the warmth of the sun on my face when I looked up felt wonderful, healing, and nourishing.

The branches were heavy with blossoms,

Flowering Tree in full bloom

papery white, with lovely “look at me!” centers.

Blossoms on a Flowering Tree

Plus one more…

Nearly home I found a huge Sweat Pea vine spilling over a fence with dozens of busy bees.

Honey Bee and the Sweet Pea

Nikon Df| Nikkor 28-105mm| Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

Vermilion Flycatcher Male-In Watercolor + 1

February 6, 2016February 5, 2016Posted in Art, Birds, Flowers, Photography, Watercolor PaintingTagged arches watercolor paper, Art, artist loft watercolor paints, artist loft watercolor paper, Flowers, iceland poppies, painting, Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Photography, Student watercolorist, Turner Watercolor paints, Vermilion flycatcher watercolor, Watercolor31 Comments

It was rainy last week which kept #1 Grandson and myself indoors. Some of the things I’m trying to teach him are coloring, writing, and painting. One rainy morning I set up his paints, paper, brushes, water bowl, and crayons. While he was giving his crayons a bath, and finger painting I reached for a piece of his Artist Loft watercolor paper then using my brushes dipped into his Artist Loft’s watercolor palette to paint a loose rendition of the Vermilion Flycatcher I had photographed the previous week-end.

Vermilion Flycatcher in Watercolor

A few days later I tried to paint it with a bit more structure and detail using my Turner Watercolor paints, and Arches 140lb cold pressed watercolor paper.

Vermilion Flycatcher Male in Watercolor

I like the loose painting best even though the pigment isn’t as rich and the paper hasn’t much tooth.

The Reference Photo-

Vermilion Flycatcher-Male

The following evening instead of watching TV or reading I went in a different direction and painted Poppies.

Poppies in Watercolor

I used my Turner Watercolor Paints, and Arches Watercolor 140lb cold pressed paper for

this painting. I’ve been doing poppies on and off for a few months and I like this one the best so far. I have a LONG way to go before I’m anything other than mediocre as a painter, but I’m having fun learning and trying.

Panasonic Lumix FZ200| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015|

More to come…

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