Cold Winter Survival

Winter is hitting us this year with ferocity.   Temperatures going down to -10 F (-23 C) have been with us on occasion. Entire weeks of temperatures well below 32F (0 C) have been common. 

This puts a strain on the wild life and creates unique photographic opportunities.  In the national park by my home, the river that runs through the heart of the park will still have open water flowing.   At these frigid temperatures, the warmer water vaporizes as it hits the much colder air and a frozen mist clings to trees, surrounding landscapes and the poor wildlife that use the river as there home. 

These are normally a very annoying bird in our area (Canadian Geese).  But during these frigid mornings, I have sympathy for there endurance and survival.   They hardly want to move and they hover around the open areas of the river as protection from predators. 

During one of these frigid mornings, I spotted one of the birds that was struggling with trying to remove a large block of ice that was literally frozen to its foot.

It struggled and given the temperatures it was unlikely this ice block was going to fall off anytime soon.   This hardship can hamper the bird from avoiding predators or moving easily.   Its chances of survival are diminished.    

It is a harsh reality check to see the conditions the wildlife endures during our cold winter.  I will not complain about being cold when I think of the animals surviving in the cold winter.

Energy of Flight

Been working on a new project that I'm starting to really enjoy.   I call this 'Energy of Flight'.

Often while I'm standing in the pre-dawn light, I see birds in flight.  The energy from the birds always brightens up even the most mundane mornings.  

Recently I decided to start experimenting with different expressions of this energy and thus this new project 'Energy of Flight'.   Let me know what you think.

Finding the Light

Sometimes a photographer chases the light, and sometimes the light chases the photographer.   The above is more of the later.

My photography friend Jeff and I ventured to one of my favorite summer time locations - Kendall Hills.  We were expecting to photograph some insects and see what the area had to offer.

Well as we got to the lake, shortly after sunrise, the lake was full of families of canada geese.   The young ones are the same size as the adults and it is hard to tell the young geese from the parents.  

As we were enjoying the geese swimming and feeding, the light began to turn the misty fog off the lake into a golden hue that was really spectacular.

As the families swam around, at times it was tough to see exactly what was happening because the intense light from the sunrise hitting fog just made the lake GLOW a golden color.

Luckily the camera is able to capture what I had felt of the tranquil scene.   One of the more magical mornings in the park this year.