Pieces of My Life

Every time i lift my camera to my eye. I realized that every photo i take is a piece of my life i will never get back, but i will always be able to see again and again. - Malcolm Flowers

I borrowed this quote from one of my Facebook friends today.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Choices

"I choose…to live by choice, not by chance. To make changes, not excuses. To be motivated, not manipulated. To be useful, not used. To excel, not compete. I choose self-esteem, not self pity. I choose to listen to my inner voice. Not the random opinion of others."

~Unknown

We all have many choices to make in life.  Those range from the simple things, like what am I going to wear today to what am I going to do with the rest of my life.   The choices we make determine how successful we're going to be, how happy we're going to be, etc.  These choices, however, don't only effect us; they effect all those who we meet.   They determine whether we're going to be a positive force in the lives of those we meet, or a negative one.  So,  when you're faced with important decisions today, or in the future, think about the long-term effects those decisions will have on your life and the lives of others.

I wish you well.

Good vs Evil

A Native American was talking to his grandson about how he felt.

He said:
"I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.
One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one.
The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one."

The grandson asked him,
"Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?"

The grandfather answered,
"The one I feed."

Native American parable

We all have internal struggles.  Whether the good or the bad wins out, depends on which one we focus on and which one we "feed".

Superior or Inferior?

"The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot." Mark Twain (1835-1910), USA

Is man superior to other animals?  Does the fact that he can make decisions and then still do wrong make him inferior?   Mark Twain was always good about giving us things to think about.  What's your opinion?

The Art of Photography

"I want to expose people to nature and wilderness and wildlife, and make a difference, but also do it in a way that has all the elements of what we consider traditional art: the creativity, the composition, the light, design, texture, whatever it might be, and the moment."  Conor Risch
I found this quote in PDN Magazine yesterday and thought it was worth sharing.  All of the things Conor mentions are important to good photography.  You can take pictures of a scene, but without the proper lighting it's not going to be as dramatic as it would be otherwise.  The same thing applies to "capturing the moment" when you're photographing wildlife or people.  You can take wonderful pictures, but if your subject is not doing something interesting, it's just not going to have the impact that you want. So, be patient, wait for the right light, compose creatively and capture the moment.

Have a great day and Happy Shooting!

The Sandhills of Yellowstone

Sometimes something as simple as a sandhill crane sitting on a nest in the middle of a pond can convey a sense of peace and joy.   Although we'd seen sandhills in Yellowstone before, I enjoyed watching this pair more than the others.  Perhaps it was because they were in such a beautiful setting,  because they were so interesting or because they looked so peaceful.  The female remained on the nest while the male dug in the shallow pond to get more debris for the nest.  He then flew over to the side of the pond to look for food for his mate.   Based on what we'd seen in other nests, it was too early for their eggs to have hatched, due to the extreme cold weather in Yellowstone this spring, but soon there will be little sandhill cranes running through the grass.  I wish we were going to be there to see them, but we had to return home to our normal lives.  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted and I guess all good things must come to an end.  Visit http://carolynfox.photoshelter.com/ to see more new pictures.

I hope you enjoy the sandhills and have a wonderful day.

Flying for Freedom

Sometimes a simple picture, like this one of two sandhills flying over my head, can convey a lot,.  But, what does it convey?  To me, it means that I was getting dizzy from leaning backwards and shooting straight up over my head.  LOL!  Seriously though, to me it conveys freedom, joy, simplicity, and an easiness about life. What does it mean to you?   If you like reading this blog, please leave comments once in awhile.  Otherwise, I don't know if anyone ever reads it.  Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Sunrise Over Nebraska Sandhills

This was my favorite morning while we were in Nebraska.  The sky was absolutely beautiful as the sun came up.  It provided a nice background for the sandhill cranes that were hanging out on the sandbars before flying to the cornfields for a day of eating.  Unfortunately, the wind was blowing the other way and, between that and the noisy Canadian geese and snow geese down river, we couldn't hear them talking.  On the previous day, however, we had been in a blind and heard them talking quite well.  They're very noisy, but we enjoyed it.  Have a great week-end.  If you enjoy this blog, please leave a comment once in awhile, so I'll know that someone actually reads it.  Thanks!

The Magic of Light

Sometimes it's difficult to believe how much difference a little light makes.  When I was photographing these geese, there was just a fraction of a second when they were in the magic glow of the sun.  As you

can see, the two geese on top had not reached that point yet.  A fraction of a second later the other geese were black too.   Just in case you're wondering, this picture was not altered using PhotoShop or any other photo software.  It's just the way it was.  Mother Nature did it all by herself.   :-)

Swans in the Fog

3

2

1

You can do all kinds of things with the help of PhotoShop or other editting software programs.   This picture was taken on a very foggy morning.  There was so much fog, in fact, that you could barely see the trees.  I love foggy pictures, so I just started shooting, knowing that I could make the necessary adjustments when I got home.

Picture #1 is a copy of the original file, with some minor adjustments done in Camera Raw, such as bringing up the brightness, fill light, clarity and adjusting the blacks just a little. 

Picture #2 was altered in PhotoShop using curves & levels to brighten the overall scene and to bring out the whiteness of the swans.

Picture #3  is Picture #2 with the NIK graduated fog filter applied to it.  I softened the effect to the point where I liked it and then saved the photo.

My oldest grandson likes picture #3 best, because he likes the soft, graduated effect of the fog.  I think I agree with him.  Which do you like best?

Swans in the Fog

I did some different processing on this swans in the fog photo to make it look like it was taken at night and illuminated with a spotlight.  I have fun trying different things. Hope you enjoy it.

Yellowstone Traffic Jam

Yes, they even have traffic jams in Yellowstone.  They're usually caused by bison who think they have a right to walk down the middle of the street.  Since we're invading their space, I think they're probably right & that we just have to wait until they decide to move.  It does slow things down, though, because you really don't want to pass them.  They can be onery and are apt to ram your vehicle if you get too close. 

If you want to see Yellowstone up close and personal, join one of my workshops this year.  We'll have a great time.  Send me a message if you're interested.  :-)

Only This Moment

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."

                                                         Marie Beynon Ray

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

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.

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

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 .

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.

A Little Piece of Nature

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Thomas Merton


I don't know if you consider this art or not but, as far as I'm concerned, each time you capture a piece of nature, you create a type of art. When I'm out photographing nature, I completely lose track of the time. My focus is on my subject, on the light, on the beauty of what's before me. I hope you enjoy this little piece of the beauty I found yesterday.