Cloudscapes and creative in camera stuff.

 I had a sudden inspiration yesterday after reading She Who Seeks blog. It was the photo of a thousand sunsets.

I recognized how it was done immediately and decided to try it too. The photo clearly was done with an Olympus camera LiveComp mode. I've done this too but not with the brilliant colors.

There were some clouds in the sky when I set the camera out for an experiment. I set the LiveComp mode to 4 second intervals and let it go for about 7 minutes. The camera takes a shot every 4 seconds and composites anything that has changed in the last 4 seconds on to the first shot. Every 4 seconds for 7 minutes means about 105 shots.

This mode is fantastic for Star Trails and it is what I always use it for. Doing a daylight photo was a bit tricky as I had to add a heavy lifter ND filter and use the internal ND filter of the OM-5.

So this was my view out the window from our eating area of the 'subject matter'.

Yup, the yard pony, Lil' Richard. He has been fantastic this spring at keeping the yard trimmed. Yes, I have to pick up his droppings, but he crops evenly and in circles from his tether.

This is what I shot. At first I wasn't going to even use it anywhere, but then I thought it was pretty funny to see how much Lil' Richard moved in 7 minutes time. He really moves around quite a bit! 

This morning I got up before dawn and decided to try this again with the camera pointing SW from our porch. This one turned out pretty cool and was an 8 minute LiveComp.

Oh that was cool and kind of fun! So I let the camera go for 17 minutes [yes, it is hard on the battery especially since it was 35 F outside]...and this is what I got.

I love it, but sadly...also since I zoomed in on a section of sky...it shows the dust spots on the lens!

I think the most interesting thing is...the different layers of clouds that are moving in different directions. I find that totally captivating. 

Next? I'm going to try some fun experiments that Anvilcloud has done. In camera double exposures. I did this a long time ago and had some fun results. Time to try it again. If you haven't seen his crocus photos, you need to jump over there and take a look.

Experimentation and taking chances on a new way of seeing things adds so much to the creative juices.

October ...

Say goodbye to October.

The colors were incredible, the weather was quite beautiful but awfully dry. It was really a month to celebrate fall.

My camera was busy.

I hiked around our farm and sought out trails.

I enjoyed the beauty of golds, reds, and the colors of October skies. 

I watched wild life while leaning up against an ancient old oak. 

I listened to the birds chatter as they migrated through, stopping to rest in the yard and meadows.

I chuckled at the squirrels who scolded me from the Hickory trees.

I often sat quietly on the porch or a log in the woods, just to live in the moment.

and now we move on to the next chapter....

November....

Night Moves...

We had waves of storms come through after over the weekend. The hail storm sounded absolutely wicked and put holes in the leaves in my remaining flowers around my porch. 

The sky cleared up, the temperatures rose quickly and then another wave came in, thankfully without any hail.

I caught this sky looking southwest late in the afternoon. They are called Crepuscular Rays. I used to call them just Rays. Grandma called them God's Rays. All cool names.

It was a good afternoon to do a deep cleaning of the little house. That was pretty boring, but necessary since I really hadn't made an effort while I was sick.

Between storms I had a chance to take Charlie out for a nice walk and let him inspect the forest floor and scents. When we came out of the woods, the sun was shining, but I could hear what sounded like a Herd of Trucks in the distance. To the northwest was another storm front heading in.

Just before I went to bed I stepped out on the porch to watch Charlie do his night time thing and saw lightening in the distance along with stars.

What was even more amazing was the fact I could see the Milky Way. By October the Milky Way will 'set' and I won't be able to see it again until late February or later. In the shots below, it is faint, but still can be seen despite the light in the clouds. I was pretty excited to catch so much action.

Lucky for me, we have dark skies here. Only one neighbor who is 1/2 mile off uses a yard light. My immediate neighbor shuts off their outdoor light at night so they can enjoy the stars.

The next morning was fresh and wonderful. I put Little Richard out for his last few days of fresh grass on the hillsides were it is difficult to mow.

He has been with us for 26 year and has had a job doing yard work each summer. He is probably the most handled animal I have on our land. At least twice a day I am leading him either to a new spot or over to the hydrant for some water.

He is a good boy who is getting quite grey in the face. However, the way he still acts, you'd never know he was 30 years old.

The colors red

 ..and other inspiring ideas....

Sometimes after a having an dry spell of ideas and lack of motivation one needs ... something. Early this morning I looked around the internet and read a few things then looked at some blogs. Most of them had to do with photography.

Well that added to my motivation and joy. So much so that I was able to go out and look for opportunities.

These are Highbush Cranberries taken last week when Charlie and I took an afternoon walk up the road to check these plants out.

Here is the difference from July 1st of this year:

And here is the photo I took of the berries this morning...

I thought Red! Red! It is the color of holidays, of cheer, of bright and beautiful things. 

I have been following this bush since spring. Oddly enough, I've never gotten a photo of this bush in flower. I hope to get it this coming spring so I can complete my 'journey' of watching it through the season. 

I should mark it with a little flag before it drops its leaves as it will be hidden amongst all the other brush this winter.

Nanny Berry Red! Apparently after red, they will turn dark purple or black colored.

Nannyberry on July 1st of this year. No photos of the flowers this year. Again, I need to flag it somehow.

And then just your run of the mill Sumac. Truly though, they do add so much color to the roadsides!

Of course, there is always this in red....

A Ninja Minifig helping to trim flowers....

And in the spirit of the coming Fall season...

A Vampire Knight... in Red....

Some shots from the morning's walk to the meadow as the sky burst out with color.

The last shot is looking west from the pasture south of the house. This is probably the only other spot I can get a full view of the sky without the forest or trees crowding the sky.

That was my Red Theme for the day. September has been providing us with some amazing morning skies ... finally!

Woke last night...

to the sound of thunder...
how far off,
I sat and wondered...
Started humming a song from
1962
Ain't it funny how the night moves... [Bob Seger]

I love the night sky too much to be afraid of darkness...

[Let me qualify that by saying that I live in a very rural area so any life I'd run into at night would be wildlife and not humans]

I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a walk across the ridge top and through the corn fields before the corn got too tall.

I brought a tripod and thought it would be fun to try some Milky Way shots. I am always experimenting and learning. I may even improve a little as I keep going!

Lightening Bugs and stars 

Walking on the road

Headed across the open fields

An attempt at a panorama shot that didn't quite work. Two shots.

I ended up a mile from home on a ridge and I wanted to try another shot where it was sort of a selfie shot with my head lamp shining into the Milky Way. 

The swirls in my light are moths

 that came to dance for me. 

I spent about two hours on the ridge walking and admiring the skies.

My night moves included watching a 'possum watch me. Deer eyes glowing in the woods and further off in the field. Unseen creatures moving about in the underbrush.
No coyote noises. 
No sounds of traffic.

I thought I'd try something different on my way home. My photos of fireflies were sort of bleh and dark so I thought I'd try some 'light' painting with my headlamp.

What felt so amazing is that I'm sure the fireflies danced just for me. I could have stayed all night.

Nothing is more amazing than a clear night sky full of stars and the Milky Way.

Skies from the porch

Sunday night this sunset presented itself after so many cloudy yucky days.

Actually this was the last 'gasp' of light. For 20 minutes or so the sky was lit up with bright oranges and reds, but I liked this last ... blast best with the dead tree in the photo on the right and the yellow in the middle highlighting the clouds.

Oddly enough to the east there was a beautiful rainbow that lasted as long as the sunset did.

After the yellow flare of light some more clouds moved in and so did dusk.

The sky really became interesting then...

...and that is why I love our porch!

Well that is pretty dull. November is sort of dull in a way though.

I'm hoping for a nice snow fall to cover up the mud and it sounds like it just may happen starting Tuesday afternoon.

Time to get some diesel fuel for the skid steer!

Mother Nature's July 4th Show

I think just a few shots should explain it all.

Our day was hot, humid, and quiet. I took Charlie to visit the Nursing home and then most of the day was spent avoiding the heat. I sat on the porch and read a book with Charlie overseeing the yard.

Just before sunset and amazing storm front came through.

Mother Nature was prepping for a real show.

Later on my porch....I watched her Fireworks or Sky Show.

And that was our not so exciting 4th of July.

Charlie figured out he could have a new perch in which to watch over his domain....

I'd set his rug on the bench when I washed the porch...

HOT times a comin'

Last night's view from the ridge top. Temperatures and heat indexes are supposed to rise dramatically today. So I already moved all the animals to fresh shady spots with fresh water.

Well the morning started out not so great. The good ol' Truck had a dead battery. Not surprising, I'd been asking to get it in for a tune up and some other work for a while.
Now I have permission to make the appointment...next month.

Relatives. Well there is going to be a lot of that this weekend. Miss Ariel and her dog Angel will spend Sunday and Monday here I guess. Angel will have to be kenneled and take turns with Charlie being tied out to potty. Charlie isn't allowed to rough house or get too excited.
He had surgery on Tuesday and was neutered.

He seems fine now but the vet said the inside needs to heal. So be it. Charlie is under restrictions.

Heat. HOT.
Dangerous heat today. I did get a load of small bales home and I think I'll just park it in the shed and use off from the back of it while the Excessive heat warnings are in effect.

Meeting with a psychiatrist today. He will be doing an independent evaluation of my MIL. The VA called yesterday, Rich will be doing several evaluations in the next few weeks also. His will involve driving, finances, and ADL's. All to establish a baseline to work from.

I knew the next few days would be a bit of a cluster, so last night I drove to the ridge and watched the sun go down.

I should have stayed longer. But felt I needed to be near the house.

This afternoon, I'm thinking of setting up the hammock that the Kenosha Gang gave me.
It may be a perfect day to lay under the trees and read.

And that is...it...

Spring ... ing...

Flowers are springing up.
My Grand daughter and I hiked the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. We enjoyed finding Blood Root, Hepatica, and Pinks along the Wintergreen Trail.

When we walked past the Reserve Center we encountered a bat. We watched as it climbed a tree. I really wished I'd had a great long lens, however this was the best I could do with not really wanting to get too close to the little brown thing!

The Wintergreen Trail really did not disappoint us at all. We found the outlook on a bluff over the Kickapoo River and decided to stop there and have our packed lunch.

The trail behind us looked like a mystic movie set.
I could imagine Elves and Hobbits peering at us from behind the Hemlock trees.

There is a surprise if you follow the trail all the way out nearly to the end.
An Ice Cave.

We spent a good part of the day doing some portrait shots. Ariel was a fantastic model and very patient.

The boys finally came home from their fishing excursion with a nice 'mess' of fish.

Our weekend ended last night with a nice pink and purple sky.
Spring has arrived...time to get to working on the fencing!