Fall Color Continued

Our fall color is starting to wind down.   It has been a longer than usual spell of colorful trees and the oaks are just starting to turn there deep reds and browns.    

Been trying to see as many color spectacles as I can.   The images above and below are from the South Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metro Parks. 

From Indigo Lake a sunrise with the beautiful fall colors lighting up the morning trees.

After the sunrise, I walked to a beautiful spot of sumacs in flame red color.   Decided to get a different perspective of the fall display.

While exploring the beautiful woodland scenes, capturing the feel of the intimate fall color amongst the trees is always fun.   The following from Brecksville Reservation of the Cleveland Metro Parks.

This past week, we had an semi-unusual snow during our peak fall color.   It was a lot of fun to try and capture as many scenes as I could with snow and fall color before the snow melted away.  From the Bedford Reservation of the Cleveland Metro Parks.

The final image from a Tinkers Creek overlook in Cleveland Metro Parks.   Trying to capture the snow amongst the fall color again.  

Summer Wings

As summer comes upon us, the number of flying insects increases dramatically.    I'm fascinated with these winged insects.   When I can find them in nice photographic circumstances, I enjoy capturing them in all of there beauty.  

The first image is a crane fly.   There are numerous species of crane flys and I'm not certain of the exact species, but all crane flys have a lot of beauty in there wings and bodies.

Next up is my favorite dragon fly - the calico pennant.  Both the males and females have such beautiful patterns and the mature male (pictured above) has the most beautiful gold and crimson coloring. 

The close cousin of the dragon fly is the damsel fly.   I'm really poor at identifying individual species in damsel flys.  They have so many closely related identification markings that I give up and start lumping all of them together as just damsel flys.  

Last image is a newly emerged prince baskettail dragon fly.   As they mature, they have some really beautiful colors.  Hopefully I'll get to share one of those with you later this summer. 

Belated start of fall

Indigo Lake Sunrise

The fall season is upon us here in Northern Ohio.    Probably my favorite time of year.  The air is cool, the leaves are changing into the beautiful colors to treat the eye.

After a very harsh, dry and hot summer, the changing of the colors was very much in doubt.   Luckily, mother nature has decided to grace us with an early display that promises color riches over the next few weeks.

The above image is from my favorite location in September for a colorful sunrise.  The beautiful Indigo Lake in the Cuyahoga Valley National park has a spectacular display of golden rod and the air can be ripe with beautiful morning clouds.  

As the air changes, so does the resident deer.   The white tailed deer begin the mating season and it can make for a beautiful display of deer among the changing fall colors.

Finally is the start of the gran show itself - COLOR int the leaves.

The early signs are very nice.   So lets hope the color continues and I can find enough time to capture the scenes of fall.

Enjoy your fall season.

Spring Wild Flower Landscapes

Spring is a unique time in nature.   Wild flowers compete for space, nutrients and light.  Each species develop strategies to best find there niche in the ecosystem.

As some species grow and find habitats suitable for themselves, they can grow and form some of the most beautiful landscapes for themselves and us to enjoy.

This season has been exceptional for these large landscapes.  It is a real challenge for a nature photographer to find the time to capture all of these areas.    This year I made a dedicated effort to capture as many as I could find.   Here are a few of my favorites.

One the early 'grand' wild flower landscapes are formed by virginia bluebells.

Furnace Run Area in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The late April display is a true visual treat.  There are areas that have acres of the bluebells carpeting as far as the eye can see. 

This year my good photography friend Jeff found some wonderful displays of an invasive species called dames rocket.

Indigo Lake Area in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Even though this is an invasive species, it is really beautiful and inspiring to see.  Just don't tell others that I told you. 

On the more native side of wild flowers, I found a new area for myself this year.  While hiking one morning, I came across a beautiful stand of golden rag wort.   Luckily I had my photography gear and was able to capture some of this beautiful display.

Kendall Lake Area of Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Last wild flower landscape that I'll share is unfortunately another invasive species - yellow flag iris.  Annually an area near Beaver Marsh in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park has a beautiful display of this invasive wetland species.  On a crisp, foggy morning, watching the sun burst through the trees makes for a special start to a day. 

Beaver Marsh in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

I am lucky to be able to enjoy these beautiful ephemeral treats of nature (both wanted and unwanted).  

Next up in natures spring wake up is the mass emergence of dragon flies.   I'll share some of those treats later in the week.   

Dragons in the Spring

Indigo Lake Sunrise - May 4th

When I mention to people that an alarm clock is the best tool a nature photographer has, they look at me kind of skeptical.  I will submit the above image as evidence.

Taken this morning at Indigo Lake in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  

Then as my photography friend Jeff and I were heading back to the parking lot, Jeff spotted the first dragon fly of the season.   YEAH!!!!    Nothing can help enhance a beautiful sunrise as much as finding your first dragon fly on the season.

Springtime Darner

Aptly named the springtime darner.   This early emerging dragon fly lived upto to its name this morning.  Always exciting to find a fresh dragon fly.  The first of the season is always special.

Then as I was leaving for the morning, I spotted this very zen like pattern on reed grasses in the lake.

You can view all of my favorite images from this morning at my web site:
Indigo Lake - May 4th Morning