“If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it’s already a lot. The instrument is not the camera but the photographer.” — Eve Arnold
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 07/17/2022: Posted photo — Single Point.
A hornet’s nest in out backyard.
Monday, 07/18/2022: Posted photo — Star.
One of my brother-in-law’s creations.
Tuesday, 07/19/2022: Posted photo — Summit.
The summit of Mount Monadnock. The first longer and more difficult hike on my recovery.
Wednesday, 07/20/2022: Posted photo — Trail.
One of the trails run along this ridge.
Thursday, 07/21/2022: Posted photo — Having Lunch.
My son having lunch at the summit.
Friday, 07/22/2022: Post photo — Roses.
Some roses from my shopping trip.
Saturday, 07/23/2022: Post photo — Petting a Bison.
“The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.” — Scott Lorenzo
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
I am still trying to be up to date on my blog posts. I am still one post behind. Working on it.
Sunday, 07/10/2022: Posted photo — Chicago.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/320 s, 290 mm.
The first national park on our trip was Indiana Dunes. Indiana Dunes is on the shores of Lake Michigan. We decided to go to the lake to take some sunset photos. I took many photos of the sunset. I would normally post a photo of the actual sunset, but I did like this silhouette photo of the city of Chicago.
Monday, 07/11/2022: Posted photo — Milky Way.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/3.5, 20 s, 18 mm.
We arrived at our first campsite at Badlands National Park late at night. After we setup our campsite, my wife and stayed up late to look at all the stars. I practiced my Milky Way photography. Still need much work.
Tuesday, 07/12/2022: Posted photo — Nests.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/320 s, 103 mm.
Walking around Badlands, we saw a swam of birds coming out of a kiosk. When we saw the enclosure, we saw all the nests on it. What you see was on all four sides if the information kiosk.
Wednesday, 07/13/2022: Posted photo — Only in South Dakota.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/250 s, 35 mm.
This is a sign we saw at a rest stop in South Dakota. True cowboy and farming country.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/160 s, 50 mm.
The coal fire in Badlands was set during a controlled burn. The burn set off a vein of coal. You could smell smoke in the area. The only time they suggested you reported the fire is if you saw flames from the vein.
Friday, 07/15/2022: Post photo — Campsite.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/100 s, 27 mm.
My campsite in Cody WY at Buffalo Bill State Park.
Saturday, 07/16/2022: Post photo — Looks Like a Good Site.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/250 s, 135 mm.
Here are a couple of bison looking for a campsite at Yellowstone. Looks like they found a good one.
“Photographs open doors into the past, but they also allow a look into the future.” — Sally Mann
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
For this post, I am showing you a few of the mountains and other geological formations that I saw during my vacation.
Sunday, 06/26/2022: Posted photo — Badlands National Park.
Here are some of the formations in Badlands National Park. Badlands National Park is in South Dakota. Its dramatic landscapes span layered rock formations, steep canyons, and towering spires. Bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands.
Monday, 06/27/2022: Posted photo — Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is in North Dakota and is one of the lesser know parks. After visiting the park, I have been in all 50 states! There was a stamp at the park that is a map of North Dakota and stays, “Saving the best for Last”. What a great stamp to put in my National Park passport.
Tuesday, 06/28/2022: Posted photo — First View in Yellowstone.
For a few weeks we were concerned about going to Yellowstone. As you may know, there were floods in the northern part of the park. The northern section of the park was closed when we were there. Some of the northern section opened about 3 days after we left the park. This did not disappoint up since we wanted to explore the southern section more during this visit.
Wednesday, 06/29/2022: Posted photo — Tetons from Yellowstone.
Grand Tetons National Park as seen from the West access road at Yellowstone National Park. We did not visit the Tetons this time. We have visited the Tetons in the past.
Thursday, 06/30/2022: Posted photo — Good Morning View at Yellowstone.
Good morning from Yellowstone. This is what I looked at when I came out of my tent the first morning in Yellowstone. What a great view to wake up to see. Just for your information, the temperature was in the low 30s F when I woke with frost on my tent. Some nearby campers had their water frozen.
Friday, 07/01/2022: Post photo — Mount Baker.
Mount Baker, also known as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan, is a 10,781 ft active glacier-covered andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the North Cascades of Washington in the United States. Mount Baker has the second-most thermally active crater in the Cascade Range after Mount St. Helens.
Saturday, 07/02/2022: Post photo — The Sisters.
From left to right North Twin Sister, South Twin and Little Sister. The North Twin is the second highest point in the strikingly jagged ridge known as the Twin Sisters Range, 10 miles southwest of Mount Baker. Pyramid shaped; the North Twin has three ridges which connect directly to the summit area. One to the northeast, one to the southeast which is joined by a saddle to the South Twin, and finally the west ridge. The South Twin is the highest point in the Twin Sisters Range. Little Sister is the lowest and most northerly of the Three Sisters and is in Canmore, Alberta.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
My Weebly website has not been updated since February 16, the day before I broke my ankle.
“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.” — Diane Arbus
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
These next few posts will be photos only that I have taken over my vacation. This week will show you some of the animals that I encountered.
I will be posting a few times this week to catch up with my postings.
Sunday, 06/19/2022: Posted photo — Prairie Dog.
One of the campsites we were camped, was a remote campground in Badlands National Park. In this campground and the surrounding area, there USGA was doing a study on Prairie Dogs. These were some that were near my tent.
Monday, 06/20/2022: Posted photo — Camping Bison.
In the same campground, there was a bison that used the site markers as scratching posts. This bison also showed up in the morning. The remote campground had only 10 sites. All eyes were on the bison. People did come out of these tents as the bison moved away.
Tuesday, 06/21/2022: Posted photo — Ducks.
These ducks were in one of the rivers at Yellowstone National Park. I did look up the type of ducks these are but did not write it down.
Wednesday, 06/22/2022: Posted photo — Elk.
This elk came to visit us at the first campground we had in Yellowstone.
Thursday, 06/23/2022: Posted photo — Bison by River.
At the second campground in Yellowstone, we took a walk in the morning and saw this bison by the river. There was a plaque at this location that stated that this was the exact location that the idea to make Yellowstone a national park was born.
Friday, 06/24/2022: Post photo — Mini Cow.
One of my sister-in-law’s animals.
Saturday, 06/25/2022: Post photo — Feasting Bald Eagle.
This Bald Eagle just caught a fish, brought it to the top of this tree, and had its dinner.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
My Weebly website has not been updated since February 16, the day before I broke my ankle.
“The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.” — Andy Warhol
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
This week we are taking a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Since I may not be able to get to the park this summer, I am posting photos from a past trip.
Sunday, 06/12/2022: Posted photo — Old Faithful.
They call it Old “Almost” Faithful. Old Faithful goes off plus or minus a half hour from its scheduled time based on the height of its last eruption. Still wonderful to see.
Grand Prismatic Spring is one of more than 10,000 thermal features in Yellowstone.
Tuesday, 06/14/2022: Posted photo — Moose.
A female moose seen along the road. One of many different forms of wildlife found in the park.
Wednesday, 06/15/2022: Posted photo — Hot Springs.
Mammoth Hot Springs. One of the areas in the northern part of the park. This is the area that received the most flooding.
Thursday, 06/16/2022: Posted photo — Formation.
This is one of the formations caused by the sulfur in the hot springs.
Friday, 06/17/2022: Post photo — Tower Falls.
A spectacular waterfall in the part. Tower Fall is a beautiful, accessible waterfall in Yellowstone located in the northeastern part of Yellowstone near Tower Junction, the fall plunges a stunning 132 feet.
Saturday, 06/18/2022: Post photo — Bison.
Imagine seeing this by the side of the road. Such a docile looking animal. Not very docile and very fast. The people that get attacked by the bison get to close.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
Next week may be skipped, or with a different format, depending on my availability to the internet.
My Weebly website has not been updated since February 16, the day before I broke my ankle.
“It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.” — Paul Caponigro
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
For the first time in a while, all these photos were taking this week.
Last week we are played a game — name the national park.
Here are the answers.
Bring Water! — Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez and Mancos, CO Do not Stand — Natural Bridges National Monument, Blanding, UT Impassible When Wet — Arches National Park, Moab, UT Holt Orchards — Capital Reef National Park, Torrey, UT Dangerous Cliffs — Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon, UT River Walk — Zion National Park, Springdale, UT Mules — North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, AZ
Now for this week’s photos.
Sunday, 06/05/2022: Posted photo — Pentecost.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 193, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
Pentecost is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles.
Monday, 06/06/2022: Posted photo — Batting Cage.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 132, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
This is our son’s batting cage. We purchased it when he was in high school about 10 years ago and he still goes out to hit balls. He is now coaching baseball at the high school that he is teaching. He enjoys going out and hitting balls.
Tuesday, 06/07/2022: Posted photo — Wildflowers.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 83, f/1.8, 1/1462 s, 4 mm.
With rain, comes wildflowers. These are at the parking lot at work. The grass gets cut when wet, and once the sun comes out, these flowers appear.
Wednesday, 06/08/2022: Posted photo — Deer in Backyard.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/250 s, 135 mm.
My son and I were going to the Relay for Life (RFL) to bring more items to our site. The Relay for Life is a 24 hour walk to raise money for cancer research and is put on by the American Cancer Society (ACS). This was the first time in three years that the relay was live.
Back to my story, my son asked me if I had my camera an saw this deer in the street. Shortly after I gathered my camera a car came by and spooked the deer. I followed it into our yard, expecting not to see it. I was surprised to see it posing for me next to out son’s batting cage. This delayed our trip to the RFL.
Thursday, 06/09/2022: Posted photo — Relay Quilt.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5, 1/80 s, 27 mm.
At the RFL you can do on-site fundraising. One of the members of our team made this mini quilt as a fundraiser. The color of the ribbons indicates a different type of cancer. There are websites that can help you identify the ribbon color to a type of cancer. I was going to list them here for you, but there are so many different colors. Here is a link to on website: https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/cancer-ribbon-colors.
Friday, 06/10/2022: Post photo — Survivors Lap.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/6.3, 1/160 s, 76 mm.
At the start of the RFL, cancer survivors take a lap. Encouraging to see so many out walking. There were survivors of less than a month to over 25 years participating in survivors lap this year.
Saturday, 06/11/2022: Post photo — Luminaria.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 0.8 s, 27 mm.
One of the most powerful events at the RFL is the luminaria. Each back has the name of a family member, friend, colleague, or acquaintance that is either fighting cancer or has finished their fight. There is a silent lap after some ceremonies. The only noise during that lap is the sound of footprints and the sound of a lone bagpiper leading the lap.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
My Weebly website has not been updated since February 16, the day before I broke my ankle.
“You don’t take a photograph. You ask quietly to borrow it.” — Unknown
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Here are some flowers around my house this week. The plan is to post photos from another trip next weeks. Plans do change.
Sunday, 05/15/2022: Posted photo — Azalea.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 141 f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
An Azalea bush is a popular flowering bush and foundation plant, with bright spring blooms. The bushes are native to Asia, Europe, and North America., Azaleas bushes are members of the Rhododendron family.
Monday, 05/16/2022: Posted photo — Lilac.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 82, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
Common lilac bushes are deciduous shrubs that bloom in the springtime. They are part of the olive family.
Tuesday, 05/17/2022: Posted photo — Bluets.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 137, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
These are small, delicate perennial is found growing in compact tufts, 8 in. high.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 68, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
Blueberry plants come in two main types: highbush and lowbush. Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) grow in a wider geographic range than lowbush, and they are a common choice for home gardeners. These blueberries are just starting to bloom.
Friday, 05/20/2022: Post photo — Pink Azalea.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 44, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
This is the pink variety of azaleas. They bloom after the red variety.
Saturday, 05/21/2022: Post photo — Dandelion.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 316, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
From root to flower, dandelions are highly nutritious plants loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
My Weebly website has not been updated since February 16, the day before I broke my ankle.
“What makes photography a strange invention is that the primary raw materials are light and time.” — John Berger
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
This week we are travelling to Goosenecks State Park on the San Juan River just outside of Mexican Hat, UT. At the time we camped in Goosenecks State Park, it was free camping. There was no water and just a drop toilet. It now costs $10 a night to camp. It was one of the darkest places that we have camped. No ambient light for miles and miles.
Sunday, 05/08/2022: Posted photo — First Gooseneck.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/11, 1/250 s, 18 mm.
Goosenecks State Park is located between Monument Valley – Four Corners Area, UT, CO, NM, AZ and
Natural Bridges National Monument, Blanding, UT just outside the town of Mexican Hat UT. It is situated near two goosenecks along the San Juan River. Many of you may know of Horseshoe Bend in Page AZ. These are the same. This park is not visited by many because of it remote location.
Monday, 05/09/2022: Posted photo — Second Gooseneck.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/10, 1/250 s, 18 mm.
In geology, “goosenecks” is a term used for sinuous canyons and valleys that resemble the curved neck of a goose. The Goosenecks of the San Juan River have rightfully earned themselves a state park designation.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 250, f/7.1, 1/400 s, 300 mm.
Here is a lizard that we watched for a while as it was hunting for food. It was very cooperative allowing me to take its photo. We saw a number of lizards in the park, along with black scorpions at night.
Wednesday, 05/11/2022: Posted photo — Second Desert Spiny Lizard.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/400 s, 300 mm.
This was one of the many deserts spiny lizards we saw in the park.
Thursday, 05/12/2022: Posted photo — Sunset.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 100, f/13, 1/1250 s, 300 mm.
We experience a wonderful sunset since the air was very clear.
Friday, 05/13/2022: Post photo — Sunrise.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 100, f/4, 1/60 s, 70 mm.
After a night that was very windy due to desert cooling, we awoke to see the sun’s soft glow towards Monument Valley as we headed off to Natural Bridges National Monument.
Saturday, 05/14/2022: Post photo — Monument Valley.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/160 s, 270 mm.
Here is looking back at Monument Valley from our campsite.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
My Weebly website has not been updated since February 16, the day before I broke my ankle.
Settings: KODAK DX6490 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA, ISO 80, f/6, 1/253 s, 9 mm.
We arrived at Yosemite National Park late one evening in 2008 and did not see the valley. Today we went hiking to Bridalveil Falls. Since this trip took place in the summer, the water was not flowing over the falls as well as it does other times of the year.
Monday, 04/25/2022: Posted photo — Camp Curry.
Settings: KODAK DX6490 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA, ISO 400, f/3, 1/147 s, 8 mm.
This is where we camped, Camp Curry. We occasionally had a visitor near our site. Yosemite bears will open your car doors to get food. All your items that have odor were to be placed inside a bear locker. Yosemite bears are the only bears in the National Park system that will open your door for you.
Tuesday, 04/26/2022: Posted photo — El Capitan.
Settings: KODAK DX6490 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA, ISO 80, f/4.8, 1/434 s, 6 mm.
The famous El Capitan. We saw some climbers on the side of the cliff. It is interesting at night to see their flashlights as they are setting up their sleeping ledges.
Wednesday, 04/27/2022: Posted photo — Half Dome.
Settings: KODAK DX6490 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA, ISO 80, f/8.5, 1/274 s, 18 mm.
Also next to our camp is Half Dome. We did some hiking around Half Dome but did not have the time to climb it ourselves.
Settings: KODAK DX6490 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA, ISO 80, f/4.8, 1/360 s, 18 mm.
Here is Yosemite Valley. One of the most picturesque placed that I have visited. We drove in at night and did not see the valley. When we did see the valley later in our visit, we were not disappointed. As I stated above, this was the start of me taking photographs daily. I have an inexpensive camera and did not have much experience with post processing my images.
Friday, 04/29/2022: Post photo — Vernal Falls.
Settings: KODAK DX6490 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA, ISO N/A, f/3.2, 1/350 s, 28 mm.
Another hike, another waterfall.
Saturday, 04/30/2022: Post photo — Yosemite Falls.
Settings: KODAK DX6490 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA, ISO N/A, f/3.2, 1/500 s, 11 mm.
Since our trip was in the middle of the summer, upper and lower Yosemite Falls were not flowing. Would be nice to get back to Yosemite National Park in the spring to see the water flowing.
Photo by Joseph Ciras 