...in the forest or out on the ridge with headlamps is a pretty new experience to me.
We were riding with hounds that were hunting which I think makes it doubly interesting.
I think I may have discovered a new love. I really enjoyed riding under the stars and the challenge of riding through the thick brush to find a treed dog.
The temperatures were downright cold. But I'd dressed for it and had good insulated riding boots. They are made by Bogg and were worth every penny I spent on them.
I loved seeing the absolutely startlingly bright stars over head. I felt I could reach out and touch them a few times.
One time while we were waiting to see what the hounds were up to, a hoot owl screeched and then began to call.
There was only one time I didn't care for the dark. That was when hubby went back home to put a dog away and get another one. I was left with Mona which was fine.
But then a coyote started barking somewhere near. Mona quite whining and sat very still.
Opal started doing some 'Blow Snorts'.
Then the bone chilling coyote calls started. To her credit, Opal just stood there and listened. I watched her ears and she was very aware of where the coyotes were at all times.
Normally when I go 'coon hunting with hubby, we are on foot. Just this year we started to take the mules with us. After all that is why he got into mules years ago.
I generally get a bit bored and tired from all the hills and the walking [not bad exercise...but].
The past two times we've gone, I was not in the least bored or tired.
In fact last night when we decided to head home, I glanced at my watch and realized that it was after midnight.
I was sort of sorry to have to go home.
Look out Siera! It is your turn next!
Here it is November already!
Who keeps making time pass so swiftly?
We are entering the time of cold weather, falling leaves, a dead looking forest, and a colorless looking landscape.
For those who are avid deer hunters ... the bow hunters are in the woods searching and waiting.
For the gun hunters,...they have to wait an extra week this year for gun season...thank goodness.
For me?
I want to get out and explore how this change of weather and season has affected different areas of the creek.
Oh, and I wouldn't mind taking a mule or a dog with me!
The grandkids are coming Saturday. Well, probably not until Saturday night. So I hope I am able to take a hike with them and show them the cool rocky ravine on Sunday.
Have a great weekend!
No that is not me now...that was me when I was about 3 or 4 yrs old!
But I thought it would be a fun photo to share while talking about what I learned yesterday at Range Practice.
First let me say that for my part time job, I am an armed security officer. That is all you need to know.
I do like the job a lot.
Each year we need to qualify with our weapons and we need to put practice time in at the range with a shotgun and a glock.
I learned that all of my practice at 'taking' up the slack has really improved my shooting. As long as I remember to do that with a proper grip.
I have to increase my shoulder and arm strength along with practicing racking with dummy shells for our heavy shotguns.
I learned that my 'inner' calm is good when I start out. But the fatigue that set in with using the shotgun and the problems that caused effected how I was able to shoot the Glock later on.
Combine that with some frustrations at myself ... caused my shooting to become poorer in quality.
I also learned that the instructor I had [while his voice and manner do work me up inside]...is good. He stood next to me and helped me with things when my brain became frazzled and fried.
What I also learned, is that I want to get better with these weapons so I can score higher. I didn't walk away disgusted as I have in the past. I left with thoughts of
HOW can I improve?
HOW can I overcome my muscle fatigue?
How can I make parts of what I am doing become muscle memory so I don't have to think about doing ... but just do it.
So I now I have given myself a challenge. Now I'll set up a plan and work on it.
After all, I've had some pretty tough challenges in the past.
In 2006 I had 6 weeks to recover from surgery and condition my mule for a 26 mile Endurance ride. I faced that huge mountain and climbed it.
This shall be no different.
Thinking positive can only have positive results. I've walked away before disgusted and defeated...not wanting anything more to do with what I'd experienced at the range.
Not so this time!
Now that cold weather has come and we are at that awkward stage of Fall...
where everything is rather dull looking and the cold winds blow...
I thought I'd go out looking for anything interesting that I could find.
What I did find is fungi.
Lots of it in the likely places.
And some not so very obvious.
The tiny puff balls where lined up like a little family on a rotting log.
These little fungi, were hiding in the fallen leaves. They literally covered the forest floor in an 8 X 10 foot area.
Behind our garage was perhaps the most surprising place, bright orange fungi had these small little ones flourishing amongst them.
I found these ugly ones near the base of a tree.
And these on another log in the forest.
Funny how many different kinds of fungi there are.
And funny how easy they are to find once you begin to look. [Providing there is enough moisture for them].
It is these little things that we often overlook and forget to see them as they are...part of nature's beauty.
When the fall winds turn cold and the forest looks drab and ugly, it is time to go out and look for the 'little things'.
...with Professional Ball Head.
I'm not a professional reviewer or professional photographer, but I am a hobbyist who enjoys good equipment and getting the job done.
First off, I never thought I'd really have a use for a good tripod. After all I try like heck to avoid lugging my plastic long tripod through the woods. I bought a small sturdy one from another company...I think it would withstand a hurricane.
I also have a very cheap telescoping one meant for pocket cameras, of which I have cheated with and used my light weight Olympus E-420 with.
When visiting my brother in Virginia, I borrowed his tripod. It was not only heavy duty, but it worked so smoothly with my camera while photographing Crabtree Falls, that I decided at that moment to start the research for a good tripod.
I wanted one that I could carry in a backpack. I wanted one that I could travel with. I wanted one that would hold my camera with a long lens in any position I wish to put it. My cheapo tripod did no such thing and it was difficult to get into position. Sticky and cumbersome.
I chose the Dolica because it was so versatile and the reviews on it were quite good. Well, as many as I could find at Amazon and B&H Photo, along with Adorama.
One of the nicer features that it has it even if you loosen the quick release...even by accident, the camera still has to be released. Meaning, it won't fall off the tripod unless you really try to make it do so.
It is fast and easy to set up. At first you may fumble around a bit getting used to the twist release legs ...and figuring out how to lock them and unlock them. But it took me only about 3 minutes of play before I had it working well for me.
I even reversed the legs and used the center column for shooting a macro.
I tried it out the first night I had it for a 20 second exposure after the sun went down. [Shot facing east 45 minutes after the sun had gone down.]
I brought it inside and quickly sized it so grab a shot of Morris on the couch in the fading light.
It is taking me a bit to get used to using the ball head, but I think I'll quickly adjust.
I looked at the MeFoto and the Manfrotto brands and decided to invest in nearly $90 versus nearly $200 for banging around in the woods.
For me the price was right.
Now let's see how it holds up to snowshoeing, backpacking, and all the other stuff I can throw at it.
I'll update my thoughts as I go!
Recieved my Dolica TX570 Ultra Compact Tripod with Professional Ball Head the day before. So yesterday morning I took of with the tripod to try it out at Jersey Valley.
The results were more than satisfactory.
It was cold and frosty, but still quite stunning even with the overcast skies. While at Jersey Valley, it flurried!
Morris went on a hike with me to hunt up little fungi.
We found more than one variety. I got full of burrs while getting way down on my knees and ...even further 'down' to get the 'shots'.
Morris decided at noon that he was rather done in with all the fresh air. He promptly took up a spot on the couch and decided it was nap time.
After dark we rounded up Axe and Dixie to take them hunting. Dixie has never gone before so she was more or less 'job shadowing' Axe.
Axe did a great job. It was fun to walk quietly through the fields and woods and listen to a hound dog bay.
One of the things I've never done before is try to take photos of a hound 'treeing'. This didn't turn out so badly for shooting in the dark.
We traveled about 2 miles by foot and there were a lot of elevation changes according to my Garmin.
Lastly, we rested by the creek before heading home.
Talk about a full day!
It was near midnight when we got home.
I can say the fresh air and hiking really gave both of us [and the hounds] a good night's sleep.
It has been more than a year since my last 'photo book' project. I enjoyed doing 'The Sleeping Forest' quite a bit.
Now I am looking forward to a new project.
I'm not sure what the subject should be or have a clear idea of what I'd like to do...
but I am slowly getting some ideas.
Today I will recieve a new tripod. I've been searching and searching ever since I used my brother's nice tripod in Virginia this past month.
I decided to get one that can be very versital and can be packed around easily.
Good for macros,
Good for landscapes,
Good for traveling in a back pack or in carry on luggage.
I came up with this from a company called Dolica.
The column can be reversed and the legs will lay flat so I could take photos like this one... of a fungi no larger than a dime...
Or I can shoot in really low light with my Fuji P&S with a super macro and not worry about blurred shots...
I'll be able to 'shoot' waterfalls in our creek and get that wonderful blurred motion...
So part of my new project will be to scout out a spot ... probably along the creek and mark it. I would like to take shots from the same exact position in different times of the year, or season and see how things change.
I think I may do my next project on 'The Creek' as it plays such a huge role in the lifeblood of the surrounding forest.
No doubt Morris will also be a big part of this project, after all he is my camera assistant.
He has been for years!
