Sunday, January 31, 2021

Strong Colors: Beatles in Blue

 


I was walking in NYC in the So-Ho area back in December 2019 and saw this wonderful Beatles pop-up store. They had lots of cool little Beatles-themed things to buy. I was tempted to splurge on these little figurines but decided on a photo instead. Anyway, this shot fits the strong color theme and then some!!!

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Three Snowy Egrets at 10 Thousand Island National Wildlife Reserve, Florida

 


I wanted to interrupt my series of strong colors from my back catalog for a more recent picture. Two weeks ago, we risked it all (not really, since we already had COVID--but you never know) and took the RV down to Cortez, near Bradenton, Florida for a week of sun and fun. My buddy Bill and I took a side trip for a day to the Everglades. A side trip to that side trip was a visit a birding platform near the Big Cypress National Preservation Area in an area called Ten Thousand Island National Wildlife Reserve. At dusk, thousands of various water birds fly in for the evening which puts on quite a show. Saw this grouping of what I thought were 5 Snowy Egrets about 500 yards away across the small lake where these birds all gather. As I took the shot I saw it was only 3 Snowy Egrets but with their reflections, it looked like more. I knew I had a cool looking shot when I pressed the trigger. Back at home, the shot looked very painterly when I started to edit it and whenever that happens, I whip out the software that gives me some filters to play with to turn the picture into more of a painting. After trying lots of versions, I like this one best. Got hundreds of shots over the week showing 27 different bird species, a whole bunch of them new to my catalog. This got me inspired again to work on my bird book for my accidental birding year, which is one of the things that COVID brought on. Anyway, more on that later. For now, this is a new favorite. 

Friday, January 29, 2021

Strong Colors--Red Dahlia

 


I am feeling like I need some Spring red today. So, Red Dahlia it is. 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Red Hawaii Sunset

 


Yesterday was a blue sunrise from Chicago, today we get a red sunset from Maui in 2011. Aloha. 

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Strong Colors--Orange and Blue Chicago Sunrise

 

If you are looking for strong colors, hard to get stronger than this one. The blue hour on this morning sunrise was very blue. Morning shots across water give the best chance for clean reflections as usually the wind hasn't picked up yet. Anyway, this orange and blue sunrise on an early June morning back in 2008 is one of my favorites. 

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Strong Colors: Green Heron

 


The theme of these recents posts has been strong colors. This Green Heron's colors look pretty strong to me. We found this little guy inside the Everglades National Park. The park is better known for its alligators and swamps but it has a ton of birds as well. Since COVID time, I have been hunting out birds and this was a nice find for the catalog. Pretty much every bird I see is a new bird since I am so new to birding. Hard to catch them in flight or in a tree. Super easy when they pose for you!!!

Monday, January 18, 2021

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Friday, January 15, 2021

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Cold Blues

 


Burlington, Vermont for work on a cold January back in 2017 bought out the blues in the body and in the scene. Dress for skiing, weather like this is no problem. Bring it on. Dressed in a suit for work--not so much fun. But a great place to visit and a wonderful town. 

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Strong Yellows---and Browns

 


That's some strong yellows, no? Wonderful memory of a fall walk. 

Monday, January 11, 2021

Strong Colors -- Reds and Greens.

 


Reds, and greens and a little filter play. 

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Strong Colors -- Black is a color too!

 


If you are looking for strong colors, nothing is stronger than some sharp black and white. Got one of the statues in Grant Park in 2019 and made a black and white image of it. Thought it made a strong image and therefore, it goes in the strong colors collection. 

Saturday, January 9, 2021

Strong Colors--Pinks

 


Just looking for some color. From a walk around in downtown Chicago with Cheryl back in 2018.

Friday, January 8, 2021

Strong Colors

 


Walked past this Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas back in 2017 and saw this strong red display of color, light and shapes. Thought it would make a fun picture. 

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Washington DC--a city I love to visit

 


I was about to start a series of pictures with strong colors as a theme, but I needed to post this one first, after what happened yesterday. This is one of my all-time favorite shots. Just love visiting Washington DC. So much to see and do. Funny that normally you can't take any photos in the tours they offer inside the Capitol but yesterday, protesters with cell phones were filming their own crimes. Yes, many were peaceful and expressing a right to protest but not those who got violent and broke the law. The cell phone pictures will serve them justice. Anyway, want to stay apolitical here as much as I can so I just like this shot. Wish I could go back there this April and get this same shot with the Cherry Blossoms blooming. That would be the way to make this better. However, for now, I like it as it is. Wonderful place to visit and it will be so again. This shot was taken back in 2007. 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

How about Green (and Blue?)

 


Yesterday's post was all about yellow from a shot taken near Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. Right after I took that shot, I took this one from the hotel we were staying at for a bond conference. I thought yesterday was yellow, today could be green or green and blue, depending on how you saw this shot. So, now I am thinking of a series of shots for January, based on color. Fun theme. 

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Tilting towards the sun

 

You don't get much yellow in the midwest this time of the year but nevertheless, it is coming. While it is true that we are 3 million miles closer to the sun than we are in the summer (surprising no?) but we are tilted away from the sun so it doesn't get as high in the sky nor stay up as long (of course). It is the tilt that causes the seasons. The other little tidbit that I forgot about is technically, our winter is shorter than our summer since we are moving faster in our orbit being closer to the sun at this time of the year. Bummer for Australia and the southern hemisphere which has a shorter summer and longer winter. Rounds to about 89 days of northern winter vs 94 days of northern summer. So we have that going for us! Anyway, all of these thoughts were an excuse to get one of my favorite summer shots posted from a trip I did up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire back in 2011. That was the hardest hike in my life. I was so unprepared for it. Uphill for about 4 hours straight. The only thing that saved me is that they have a train that can take you back down. Like to do that hike again as I am in a bit better shape (but older and with knees that aren't sure if they are going to stay around). Anyway, enjoy the yellow.