Mar 152018
 

In winter various birds congregate on the ponds just behind our house.

A Pair of Sandhill Cranes Wade in Shallow Water on the Littoral shelf at Golden Hour

A Pair of Sandhill Cranes Wade in Shallow Water on the Littoral shelf at Golden Hour

The Red Mask of the Sandhill Crane Is Skin, Not Feathers

The Red Mask of the Sandhill Crane Is Skin, Not Feathers

A Favorite Swimming Spot

A Favorite Swimming Spot

Take Off

Take Off

Reflective Patterns of the Water Surround the Duck Like Mettalic Cloth

Reflective Patterns of the Water Surround the Duck Like Mettalic Cloth

Iridescent Feathers of the Brown Limkin Light Up at Golden Hour

Iridescent Feathers of the Brown Limkin Light Up at Golden Hour

A Turtle Pokes Its Head out of the Pondwater

A Turtle Pokes Its Head out of the Pondwater

Cormorant and Starling Enjoy the Pond

Cormorant and Starling Enjoy the Pond

Ruffled Feathers on the Little Green Night Heron

Ruffled Feathers on the Little Green Night Heron

An Egret Takes Flight at Golden Hour

An Egret Takes Flight at Golden Hour

Dec 092017
 

One photographer complained that he had to travel 50 miles to photograph birds and some people find them in their backyard! I am fortunate to live by two ponds, a nature area, and a golf course. Sometimes I see something and go for my camera. Other times I take the camera on a short walk and see what I can find.

Look who we found at our back door, inside the garage, festooned with holiday greenery!

Look who we found at our back door, inside the garage, festooned with holiday greenery!

He tucked in for a lift back to the pond

He tucked in for a lift back to the pond

And look who appeared in the driveway to see all the excitement!

And look who appeared in the driveway to see all the excitement!

Our friend does a good job of scaring the anoles and startling me

Our friend does a good job of scaring the anoles and startling me

The coot enjoys a little swim in the pond

The coot enjoys a little swim in the pond

The bald eagle flies over the pond fishing

The bald eagle flies over the pond fishing

Black and white peacefully sharing the pond

Black and white peacefully sharing the pond

The sandhill crane is dancing for its partner

The sandhill crane is dancing for its partner

Angry Birds: two storks express their displeasure with a heron and me getting too close

Angry Birds: two storks express their displeasure with a heron and me getting too close

The clouds drew me outside and the great snowy egret strutted across the golf course

The clouds drew me outside and the great snowy egret strutted across the golf course

Dec 122016
 

The Garden Club of Punta Gorda, Florida celebrates the season by decorating four private homes and gardens with their creations made specifically for the site. They collect trimmings of plants and create beautiful or whimsical decorations. Each year is a whole new treat. Here are a few of my favorites from this year’s tour.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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Yes, this little creature is alive! It hopped onto this tree limb and held still for its portrait. Merry Christmas to all Christians and Peace on Earth to Everyone!

Apr 252016
 
My bromeliad pup grew up and blossomed

My bromeliad pup grew up and blossomed

The starfish flower center looks like an insect

The starfish flower center looks like an insect

Starfish flowers attract flies with their meaty scent

Starfish flowers attract flies with their meaty scent

Starfish flower buds

Starfish flower buds

Moon reflections

Moon reflections

The young sandhill cranes go exploring

The young sandhill cranes go exploring

A family of four out for a walk

A family of four out for a walk

Parent and young sandhill crane check out some food

Parent and young sandhill crane check out some food

Young sandhill crane struts by

Young sandhill crane struts by

Orchids in front of one of my paintings

Orchids in front of one of my paintings

A white phalaenopsis orchid blooms

A white phalaenopsis orchid blooms

A recent gift of phalaenopsis orchids

A recent gift of phalaenopsis orchids

Three otters play at their new habitat at Mote Marine

Three otters play at their new habitat at Mote Marine

Two otters greet their friend

Two otters greet their friend

An otter plays in the water

An otter plays in the water

Amaryllis with a different background color

Amaryllis with a different background color

Three stems of amaryllis in three different parts of the garden bloom simultaneously

Three stems of amaryllis in three different parts of the garden bloom simultaneously

An egret catches an anole

An egret catches an anole

Feb 092016
 
the skyline has grown dramatically since I worked here

the skyline has grown dramatically since I worked here

the atrium of the Javitz Convention Center cast shadows reminding me of ships

the atrium of the Javitz Convention Center cast shadows reminding me of ships

the circle repeated in a tight pattern over the face of this high-rise

the circle repeated in a tight pattern over the face of this high-rise

from inside the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown looking at classical and contemporary styles

from inside the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown looking at classical and contemporary styles

forms and textures of the skin of this building held my attention

forms and textures of the skin of this building held my attention

the new tower reaches to the clear sky

the new tower reaches to the clear sky

 in the American Express headquarters, where I once worked, their employees who died in 911 are memorialized, their names and adjectives describing their qualities in life, around and in the reflecting pool, with water falling into the pool, like tears being shed forever

in the American Express headquarters, where I once worked, their employees who died in 911 are memorialized, their names and adjectives describing their qualities in life, around and in the reflecting pool, with water falling into the pool, like tears being shed forever

trees planted along side the fountain in the footprint of the South World Trade Tower testify to the life that springs up after destruction

trees planted along side the fountain in the footprint of the South World Trade Tower testify to the life that springs up after destruction

this enormous sculpture outside the new entrance to the PATH train reminds we of a bird taking flight

this enormous sculpture outside the new entrance to the PATH train reminds we of a bird taking flight

visitors to the 911 South World Trade Tower memorial  were hushed and reverent as they traced their hands over names of victims carved into stone

visitors to the 911 South World Trade Tower memorial were hushed and reverent as they traced their hands over names of victims carved into stone

my montage of the memorial fountain, bird-like sculpture taking flight, and the new tower  say that love and freedom will prevail over hate and terror

my montage of the memorial fountain, bird-like sculpture taking flight, and the new tower say that love and freedom will prevail over hate and terror

my imaginary Manhattan skyline with the Hudson River so still it reflects the lights

my imaginary Manhattan skyline with the Hudson River so still it reflects the lights

As a member of Venice Camera Club, two of my montages will exhibited in our annual show, including the montage, Freedom Rising, above. A reception for the public will take place at Pinebrook South Clubhouse, 1343 Featherbed Lane, Venice, Florida, 3:30 – 5:30 PM.

Oct 252015
 

The Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore along Lake Michigan in the northwestern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is a national treasure. Majestic clouds swirling about provided a special opportunity to share their natural beauty.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Steep Climb up the Sleeping Bear Dunes

Steep Climb up the Sleeping Bear Dunes

Windswept Dunes

Windswept Dunes

Climbing to the Top of the Sleeping Bear Dunes

Climbing to the Top of the Sleeping Bear Dunes

Dancing Clouds

Dancing Clouds

Farm Nestled in the Dunes

Farm Nestled in the Dunes

Layers of Beauty

Layers of Beauty

Glen Lake

Glen Lake

Oct 182015
 

The western coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula along Lake Michigan’s dune area makes a great microclimate for farming. Oceana and Grand Traverse counties are known for their many varieties of cherries. I had the privilege of visiting there in July to see tart cherry orchards at harvest time. I also bought quarts of black sweet cherries at a road-side stand of a farm owned by the same family for over a century.