Dedication

Today's post is dedicated to my dear uncle who passed away yesterday.  He was 92 years old and lived a good life.   He'll be missed by all who knew and loved him.  I used this photo, because he always loved my pictures of the Yellowstone elk.  I hope these words give some comfort to my aunt, my cousin (who's more like a sister to me than a cousin), his grandchildren and other relatives.

Please don't mourn for me.
I'm still here, though you don't see.
I'm right by your side each night and day.
And within your heart I long to stay.
My body is gone, but I'm always near.
I'm everything you see, feel and hear.
My spirit is free, but I'll never depart
As long as you keep me alive in your heart.
I'll never wander out of your sight -
I'm the brightest star on a Summer night.
I'll never be beyond your reach -
I'm the warm moist sand when you're on the beach.
I'm the colorful leaves when Fall comes around.
I'm the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I'm the beautiful flower of which you're so fond,
The cool clear water in a quiet pond.
I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the Spring,
The first warm raindrop that April will bring.

I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine.

And you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking that there's no one to love you,

You can talk to me through the Lord above you.

I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees

And you'll feel my presence through the soft Summer breeze.

I'm the hot, salty tears that flow when you weep,

And the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.

I'm the smile that you see on a baby's face,

Just look for me, I'm every place.
Author Unknown

Light

"Light is not so much something that reveals, as it is itself, a revelation." James Turrell (b.1943), USA

Daily Gifts

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons." ~ Ruth Ann Schabacker

More Plaza Lights

I decided to post another Plaza pic today.  This one's a little different from the other ones.  I used one of the plug-ins in NIK's Color Effects Pro product.  It's called Polaroid Transfer.  It's supposed to make the picture look like it was processed using polaroid film that was slid off the photo paper after being immersed in warm water.  I've seen it done and it's an interesting process.  This doesn't look quite the same, but it isn't too bad.

I have to get back to editing photos from a photo shoot I did Sunday.  Have a great day!

Plaza at Christmas Time

I decided that, since it's Christmas time, I'd use another Plaza lights picture.  I wish I'd had more time to get the pics I really wanted, but I did like that the horse & carriage were in this one & that a lot of people weren't.    :-0   Hope you enjoy it.  Have a great day! 

Follow Your Heart

"What your heart thinks is great, is great. The soul's emphasis is always right."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think we often question ourselves, wondering if what we're doing is right, is the best thing for us, for our families and perhaps even the world.   If you follow what this quote is saying, though, if you truly follow your heart, you can't really go wrong.  So, next time you're making an important decision, weigh all the facts, consider the alternatives, but remember to follow your heart.

We saw this family in Yellowstone and I liked the interaction between father and daughter as they were standing in front of one of Yellowstone's hot pools.  I'll bet he got a great pic of his little girl. 

Glacier Reflections

I recently licensed this photo from a RM site that I submit to.  Wish I knew what publication it was going to be in, but I guess that's the life of a stock photographer.  LOL!  By the way, if you see this picture somewhere, please let me know.  I'd love to know wherre it's going to be used.  In the meantime, though, I'll just enjoy the check.  LOL!

Swirling Waters

"Beauty is God's reflection in the swirling waters of the universe." Lourdes Mallo (b.1930), Gran Canaria

I used NIK and Topaz plug-ins to improve the focus on this image.  I thought it was worth saving because I liked the splashing of the water and the fun the ducks appeared to be having.  I hope you enjoy the picture as much as I enjoyed watching these delightful creatures.  Have a great day!

Where's Your Sanctuary?

The challenge this week is sanctuary.  Sometimes nature can be a sanctuary, a place where you can feel safe, a place where you can sit and think, a place where you can just be. 

I think we all have places that give us peace and make us feel safe and happy.  This picture was taken at Cedar Park Forest in Montana last Fall.  It's a beautiful place that makes you feel like you've stepped into another world, a place where worries don't exist and peace and beauty is all around you.

Where's your sanctuary?  I'd love for you to leave a note here and let me know. I'll be posting more sanctuary theme pics this week, so stay tuned to see more images and to see what others have to say.  So, if you read my blog, but don't usually comment, please let a note this week, so we'll know where your sanctuary is.

Explore, Dream, Discover

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover" - Mark Twain.

This is a picture I took a few years ago in Jackson Hole.  I would have liked more room around the swan, but it was one of those times when you get the shot you can get or you get nothing at all.  Another problem was that I forgot to change my ISO from shooting at 1600 the night before.  That wouldn't be as much of a problem now, since I have a camera that is better at high ISOs, but this camera wasn't.  I used noise reduction software on it, though, and decided it might be worth sharing anyway.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed watching the swans.  They're truly magnificent birds. 

The Eagle

"When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head." William Blake (1757-1827), England

I love eagles and take photos of them every chance I get.  I got this shot as we were going from Yellowstone to Jackson Hole last month.  There were three eagles, two adults and one young one, sitting in trees aways off the road.  This one took off as we were watching them and I was fortunate enough to get a few pics of him.  I hope you enjoy it.

Beauty For The Soul

"Mere color, unspoiled by meaning and unallied with definite form. can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways." Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), England

I think this is so true.  Many things in nature can speak to us with their colors, their form, their simplicity and their beauty.  All we have to do is to take time to enjoy them.

Meditation

"Meditation is a time of quiet when the mind is free from its attachment to the hysterical ravings of a world gone mad.  It is a silence in which the spirit of God can enter us and work His divine alchemy upon us."  Marianne Williamson

Shooting Landscapes - A Tip from Killer Tips for Better Pics

This is a paragraph from my last book, Killer Tips for Better Pics.  You can see the first 15 pages of the book by going to blurb.com and typing in the name of the book.  If you're interested in purchasing one, you can do it there or, if you're local, you can get it for a little less by ordering directly from me.  I won't normally use this blog to advertise products, but wanted to let you know where you could get the book if you're interested.  It's not a big book, only 40 pages, but has some good common sense tips to help you improve your photography.  Now, here's one of the tips from the book about shooting landscapes.  I hope you enjoy it.

"The best time to shoot a landscape is 15-30 minutes before sunrise to 30 -60 minutes after and the same time frame at sunset. It’s called the “magic hour”, because that’s when you get the soft, warm light that makes great pictures. Yes, you can take landscape pictures at other times, but it will be more difficult to get the kind of shot you want. So, now you know that you’ll be getting up before dawn & will always be late for dinner. That’s the life of a landscape shooter, so you’d better get used to it."   I tried to inject a little humor into my book.  I hope I suceeded.  LOL!

On my recent Yellowstone workshop, my group told me that they enjoyed the workshop and would love to go on another one, but they also told me I was a slave-driver.  I guess I have to plead guilty to that charge, because I usually drug them out of bed earlier than they would have liked.  But, if you sleep late, you may miss opportunities that may not be repeated later in the day.  If you're serious about photography, sometimes you just have to get up early, go out and get some great images and then take a nap in the middle of the day, when the light's not as good, if you need to.  Does that mean you'll always get great pics if you get up early?  Absolutely not.  We took one of the workshop participants out early one morning to get some good sunrise pics and there just weren't any.  But, after looking around a little, we did find a small herd of elk and got pics of them in the early morning light.  Were the other participants jealous?   I don't know.   They probably enjoyed staying in their warm beds just a little later that day.  LOL!

Oh, by the way, this image is from one of the early morning shoots during the workshop.   Every one in the group got great pictures that morning, so I'm pretty sure they were glad they got out of bed.

Pay Attention

"When you mak the effort to pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells and sensations around you, you're encouraging yourself to live in the present moment."  Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Success

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. "- Albert Schweitzer

Perfection

"When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."  The Buddah (c.563-c.484BCE), India

I Am

"I am the dust in the sunlight, I am the ball of the sun.
I am the mist of morning, the breath of evening.
I am the spark in the stone, the gleam of gold in the metal.
The rose and the nighingale drunk with its fragrance.
I am the chain of being, the circle of the spheres.
The scale of creation, the rise and the fall.
I am what is and is not . . . .
I am the soul in all."
Jalil al-Din Rume (1207-1273), Persia

Foggy Morning in Yellowstone

"To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle.  Every cubic inch of space is a miracle."  Walt Whitman (1819-1892), USA

As you have probably figured out by now, I love fog pictures, especially when the fog is above a river.  To me, it creates a magical scene which transcends me to a peaceful place, a place where I can relax and be one with nature.   I hope this image gives you a peaceful feeling and adds joy to your day.

Enjoy Nature

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, alone or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God.  Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."  Anne Frank (1929-1945)  Netherlands

Through the Fog

"You vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens."  Carl Jung (1875-1961), Switzerland

Harmony With Nature

"All things are parts of one single system, which is called Nature; the individual life is good when it is in harmony with Nature."  Zeno of Citium (300-260 BCE) Cyprus

This vegetation was growing in one of the hot pools in Yellowstone.  You'd think that would be impossible but, apparently, it's in harmony with Nature and, therefore, able to live in this environment which, to us, would appear to be hostile.

With all of today's conveniences and gadgets, it can be difficult to be in harmony with Nature.  In past generations, I think it came easily; today we have to work at it.

Pano Tips

In my book, "Killer Tips for Better Pics",  I give some tips regarding taking panos.  I'll share a couple of them with you.  

In order to ensure that you are able to keep the most important parts of the image, it's a good idea to shoot vertical when you're doing a pano, even on horizontal scenes. If you shoot horizontal and your shots don't line up correctly, you may lose parts of the image that you really wanted. Shooting vertical will give you more latitude.  This method will require that you take more shots, but it'll also improve your chances of retaining all the important information in your photos.  Just be prepared to spend a little more time processing the pano files.

If you're like me, in addition to just shooting a pano, you also take some regular shots of a beautiful scene.  Therefore, when you start processing files, you may have trouble determining where your pano starts and ends.  A good way to avoid this problem is to take a picture of your finger right before and right after the pano shots.  That way, you'll know exactle which shots to include in your pano processing.  This can save you a lot of time and, after all, it's not like we have to pay to process the film any longer.  I hope you'll try doing some pano shots.  It's a lot of fun!

The Simple Life

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated ~Confucius

 The constant rushing, worrying and striving to succeed can sometimes throw us into a spin cycle that's difficult to stop.   This can cause turmoil, depression, anxiety and even health problems.  Sometimes doing something simple, such as fishing or taking pictures, can help put things in perspective and simplify our lives.  So, grab your fishing pole or your camera and start relaxing.  You'll be glad you did. :-)

  

Peregrine Falcons Save Lives

Although they may look like nice, unassuming birds, peregrine falcons are formidable hunters that prey on other birds (and bats) in mid-flight.  They hunt from above and, after sighting their prey, drop into a steep, swift dive that can top 200 miles an hour.  They are used at airports to scare other birds away from commercial and military airplanes.  Even larger birds leave the area once they see this small, but determined hunter.  Due to their extreme hunting abilities, they .have saved many lives and thousands of dollars by preventing other birds from flying into airplanes.

"Oh, Great Spirit

"Oh, Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.
I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and make my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be superior to my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes,
so when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit will come to you
without shame."

Chief Yellow Lark (19th/20th century), USA

Balloon Fest

"Throught-out my whole life, during every minute of it, the world has been gradually lighting up and blazing before my eyes until it has come to surround me, entirely lit from within."  Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), France

These balloons glowed from within, creating light for those who were near.

Water Droplets in the Woods

"I feel that God is behind every flower and every tree in the woods. He is behind every mountain rock and every foam-crested wave in the sea."  Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002), Norway

This little group of leaves and a spiderweb adorned with water droplets was close to a local waterfall that I photographed yesterday.  The droplets caught my attention and than I noticed the nice color of the neighboring leaves.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 

Retirement

Living in retirement beyond the world,
Silently enjoying isolation.
I pull the rope of my door tighter
And stuff my windows with roots and ferns.
My spirit is tuned to the spring-season:
At the fall of the year there is autumn in my heart.
Thus imitating cosmic changes.
My cottage becomes a universe.

Lu Yun (265-303), China

I Want to be a Cowboy

The second lesson in my book is about checking your camera settings before you start shooting.  Have you ever changed your ISO or set your exposure compensation and then forgotten to change it & ended up with a ruined shot?   I certainly have & it taught me to always check before I shoot.  I once ruined what would have been a great picture of a Trumpeter Swan landing on a lake in Jackson Hole because I forgot to check my controls.  I had shot a moose the night before and had increased my ISO to 1600 and forgot to change it.  With some of today's cameras that might not be a problem, but with the D30 that I was using at that time, it definitely was.  So, remember to check your ISO, exposure compensation, exposure mode, focus point, shooting mode, etc. BEFORE you start shooting. 

This is Teddy B.  We found him in Black Water, a small town in Missouri, & posed him in several  locations there and in Arrow Rock.  You'll probably see more pictures of him in future blog posts.  I've found that stuffed animals make great models.  They're very cute, never complain and always stay where you put them.  LOL!

Little Bear

                                     


You just never know what you're going to find in with your plants.  LOL!

Have a great day!

Know Your Camera

This is the first tip in the photo how-to book I just wrote, "Killer Tips for Better Pics - A Field Guide for Photographers".  If you'd like to order the book just go to blurb.com & put Carolyn Fox in the search box.  It'll bring up information about the book.  If you live locally, however, just let me know & I can save you some money.

The first thing you should do before you leave for your photo shoot is to get very familiar with your camera.  Read you manual & practice changing controls until you can do it in the dark.  If you're out shooting & you don't know how to change shooting modes, set your exposure compensation or change focusing points, you might miss the shot of your life.  So, your first assignment is to become an expert at operating your camera.  That may be the most important tip I can give you, so open your manual, with your camera in hand, & start reading.

Relaxation for the Soul

"The mark of a successful man is one who has spent the entire day on the bank of a river without feeling  guilty about it."  Chinese Proverb

The Jail

Sometimes it's fun to just hop in your car and start driving.  That's what I did yesterday, just my camera and me. This picture is one of the interesting things I found on my "road trip".   It's part of a tiny  building that I found in a small town in Missouri.  I told a friend about it and she thinks that it was a small jail.  I think that's probably correct, but it sure is tiny.  A person would barely have room to lay down on the dirt floor.  I guess that's when prisoners were actually punished when they went to jail.

Killer Tips for Better Pics

If you follow me on Facebook, you know by now that I changed the cover of my latest book to black. I decided it looked better that way and, since it's intended as a field guide that photogs can stick in a camera bag, I thought it might stay looking cleaner for a little longer. At least, I hope people will like it enough to carry it along on photo shoots. There's nothing spectacular in the book, just a bunch of tips that people sometimes forget about. One thing I should have put in there, and didn't think to, is that you should immediately back up your photos and then format the memory card, in camera, of course. I guess that will have to be in the next version. I always back up my photos quickly, but forgot to format the card yesterday, so I had to uncheck the photos that I didn't want to load or just upload them again. I hate it when I forget to format before I start shooting. It's a huge waste of memory card space. Oh well!

This is the proposed cover of the photo how-to book I'm working on. I won't be updating this blog until I've submitted the book for publication. Hopefully, that will be in the next couple of days. Stay tuned.

The Elephant

"The elephant, not only the largest but the most intelligent of animals, provides us with an excellent example. It is faithful and tenderly loving to the femaile of their choice, mating once every third year and then for no more than five days and so secretly as never to be seen, until, on the sixth day, it appears and goes at once to wash its whole body in the river, unwilling to return to the herd until thus purified. Such good and modest habits are an example to husband and wife." St Francis de Lals (1567-1622) France/Switzerland

I had never heard this before and thought it was interesting, so I wanted to share it with you.

I hope you have a wonderful day. Perhaps you should start it by giving your significant other, your children and/or your parents, a big hug. You'll all feel better for it. After all, hugs make us feel good .

Little Flower

"They tell us that plants are not like man immortal, but are perishable, soul-less. I think that is something that we know absolutely nothing about." John Muir (1838-1914) Scotland/USA


What do you think? Are plants soul-less? Are they just put on this earth to give us nourishment or enjoyment for a brief period of time and then are gone? What happens to them after they dry up and become part of the soil? Are they just gone or do they live on in the substance that they become a part of? How do we know what happens to anything, human, animal or plant after it's served it's purpose here? Faith and religion guide us in some regards, but perhaps not in others. I think John Muir's quote is probably correct. There are just some things that we know nothing about.

Life

"Life is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you." Nathaniel Hawthorn (1804-1864) USA

Does the author mean that if we work too hard to pursue happiness, it aludes us, but that if we relax and enjoy living, it will find us?

Just Flowers

"The path of the spirit is not a line, but rather a flower. Lines are time-bound whereas the spirit's path is liberation from time; all-encompassing, never-ending. Like a lotus of innumerable petals, our soul's journey is an unfolding of infinite self." Sofia Khawati (1821-1890)

Little Cabin in the Woods

I thought this little cabin would be the perfect subject for some enhancements, so I played around with a couple of Topaz filters to get this painterly effect. The original picture was fine, in focus, etc., but I thought the filter gave it a little extra pazazz, as my mom would have said. I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful Friday. :-)

Sunset on Kauai

"With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thurnderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Alligiance?" Jay Leno

Well said, Jay! If you don't want to say the word God, then don't say it, but don't expect it to be removed simply because you don't believe in God or don't want it there. It's not abusing your rights by leaving it in, but it is abusing ours by being forced to remove it. If you don't like it, just do what the kids do these days, and put your hands over your ears and say, blah, blah, blah.

Kite Surfers

Kite surfers are sure fun to watch, especially when they're as good as these guys were. Unfortunately, we didn't find them until our last day in Hawaii. We were able to watch them for an hour or so, though. The challenge was to get good pictures of the guys and also enough of the scene to show the viewer what was happening. In this picture I was focusing on the surfer and didn't worry about showing the kite. In other pics, however, I showed both to get a good sense of the skill these guys possess. It was a fun time. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Camp of Man

"How hard to realize that every camp of man has this glorious starry firmament for a roof! In such places, standing alone on a mountain-top, it is easy to realize that whatever special nests we make - leaves and moss like the marmots and birds, or tents or piled stone - we all dwell in a house of one room - the world with its firmament for its roof - and we are sailing the celestial spaces without leaving any track." John Muir (1838-1914) Scotland/USA

This picture was taken in Hawaii. It's part of the Waimea Canyon. It's a beautiful area with a variety of colors. There was a haze present most of the time we were in Hawaii and I should have used my polarizer to cut through the haze, but I didn't. So, if you're in a similar situation, get out your polarizer and put it on your lens. It'll give you a better picture.

Riding the Waves

Wind surfers don't try to tame the power of the ocean. They learn how to use that power to achieve their goals. We can do the same thing when we encounter obstacles, whether it be weather, difficult people or business issues. We need to analyze the situation to see if there's some way to turn the problems into avenues to success.

When my husband and I were in Kauai a few months ago, we spent part of our last day there watching wind surfers. We watched these guys fly into the air, come down on their feet and continue to ride the waves. They were absolutely remarkable! My primary challenge was to catch the leaps into the air, while still keeping the sense of what was guiding their actions. There had to be a trade-off sometimes between taking a close-up shot & the sense of place shot that included the parachute that was pulling them. I ended up taking a lot of both, so I could document the power of the waves & the skill of the men who were riding them.

Be Happy!

"Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people we like and respect. Remember that while money talks, chocolate ice cream sings! " Author Unknown

Live well, love much and laugh often - Be happy!

Happiness

"Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars . . . . and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers - happy for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are." Osho (1931-1990) India,USA

It's too bad that we can't just be happy for no reason. Why can't we? Do we just make things more complicated than they need to be? Do we constantly strive to have more, to do more or to be more? Do we complicate our lives unnecessarily and, as a result, cause unhappiness and dissatisfaction? Perhaps we need to examine our lives and determine if we're causing ourselves unnecessary unhappiness and stress. If we are, maybe we need to work on being a little more like the flowers, the birds and the trees, and be satisfied with what we have. Does that mean we shouldn't strive to do better and shouldn't have goals? No, it just means that we need to determine what's important to us and do the things that will help us achieve those goals instead of stressing about those things that aren't important.

What is life?

"What is life? It is the flash of the firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." Chief Crowfoot (1830-1890) his last words, Canada

Bison often stand next to hot pools in Yellowstone to warm themselves. Using a long lens allows photographers to get good images without endangering themselves or the animals. Unfortunately, people are injured every year because they ignore the guidelines regarding maintaining appropriate distances from the wildlife. Bison may look like they're slow and sluggish, but they can move very quickly when they want to. Always remember that they're wild animals & animals are unpredictable. They can be quiet and calm one minute and denting the side of your truck the next minute. Enjoy the wildlife when you visit Yellowstone, or any wildlife area, but be safe.

Wild Grasses

"I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of the summer. My bank of wild grass is majestic and full of music. It is a fire that solitude presses against my lips." Violet Leduc


Although we may be tiring of the heat of summer, it's beauty and warmth is something that stays with us and helps us endure winter's cold.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

"The glories and the beauties of form, color and sound unite in the Grand Canyon - forms unrivalled even by the mountains, colors that vie sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrops, from cataract to bubbling fountains." John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) USA


I know this isn't the Grand Canyon. I haven't been there for many years, and don't really have any good pictures of it, so I thought I'd share this picture of the Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Although it isn't as large, it is still a beautiful place, one that makes you realize how powerful and majestic nature can be. One of these days, I'm going to get up early enough to be there at sunrise, when the light brings out the magnificent colors of the rocks. That would, of course, require getting out of bed at about 3:00 a.m., since our motel is not close to the spot. If I ever make it, I'll be sure to share the images on my blog. If I were you, though, I wouldn't hold my breathe.