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.