3/7/15

I shot this image last night just after the sun had dipped below the horizon.  It was still illuminating these geese enough that I was able to capture them clearly but in silhouette.  I liked that I could see details in their wing tips even in silhouette.  You will most likely have to click on the image and view larger to see.  :-)

3/6/15

I shared this image today for my nature challenge.  I caught this Clear Wing Hummingbird Moth feeding on the Buddleja or Butterfly Bush this summer.  It was busy feeding on the plant and not paying much attention to me so I was able to get off a few up close images of it that showed it and the flower boom it was feeding from rather well.

3/5/15

I started a Nature Challenge over on Google +.  I love shooting nature so it isn't too much of an actual "challenge" for me.  My first image for today was a Yellow Jacket Wasp that I photographed on one of my Sunflowers this past summer.  I find it odd and a bit annoying that I can get volunteer Sunflowers that grow just fine out of the birdseed that falls on the ground but Sunflowers that I plant from seed packets have trouble or get eaten by something.  One year some insect was eating through the stems about half way up the plant.  Very frustrating.  Not sure if I want to try them again this year.

3/4/15

This is another view of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park.  This view was taken on Uncle Tom's Trail.  It is about a 500 feet decent into the Canyon of the Yellowstone on about 300 steps.  Going down wasn't too bad but going back up was rather strenuous.  I took this image on one of my rest stops back up the stairs.  It's a bit of a long exposure as well to get the look of the water as it is.

3/3/15

I recently read an article about photographing birds and that you could use your car as a blind because birds seem less skittish if you are in your car.  I have had a few experiences like that and this image came from one of them.  I shot this image of a Red Wing Blackbird on this stump at the edge of one of the many ponds in Minnesota.  It was posing very nicely and I was able to get off several shots of it.  My best Bald Eagle images that I shared recently were shot from the car as well.  I guess the article was correct.  :-)

3/2/15

Well, I felt like looking at mountains today.  This is an image of the mountains of West Virginia that I was able to get while riding the Cass Mountain and Scenic Railway.  With this view it was easy to see how it got it's name as the view was quite nice.  I was pleased that I was able to get a bird in the image and didn't notice till I looked at it on my computer.

3/1/15

Well, we made it to March and we are not supposed to have any more snow today.  So is it coming in like a lamb or lion?  I am hoping it goes out like a lamb but I guess we shall see.  :-)  Today's image goes back to Minnesota and warmer days.  This is locomotive 353 on the shift before mine pulling it's train up the beginning of the steepest grade on the railway at the Steam Thresher's reunion in Rollag, Minnesota.  The smoke is black at this time due to the particles from the coal that would have just been thrown on so the train can make it up the hill with no more firing.  If you open the door to put more coal in while it's working hard you can cause the water tubes to warp because of the cold air coming in.  Therefore before we start up this hill we try to make sure it has a good bed of coals and then hope we have done a good job and end up with good pressure still at the top.