At our home on the Long Beach Peninsula, Washington State USA, the birds are my main attraction. Though there are many other wild creatures, I rarely see them close enough to photograph unless they are no longer living. Seals and whales have washed up on the shore, and in the night I have heard (but not seen) live coyotes and tree frogs. Consequently, resident Black-tailed Mule Deer are a delight to see and photograph.
I have encountered the local Black Bears in person once, and again from a distance. I prefer from a distance!
To qualify as wildlife doesn’t mean being a red-blooded mammal! Many of the creatures I encounter on my excursions are insects and critters of the sea. Here are but a few.
Still, what I love most is the abundance of bird life on this peninsula at the western edge of the continent. I have delved into observing, photographing then doing research on the birds I’ve seen so that often I can identify them when I see them again. The older I get, the more important it is to me to learn!
In the interest of time, I will leave the names of these birds for you to guess. Or, you could email me if you really want to know. For now I sign off with a thanks to this week’s host for another outdoor adventure.
Wherever wildlife finds you, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
Sophia takes us back to the basic elements of photography with this week’s challenge exploring the difference underexposure and overexposure make in our finished photographs. In the cloudy Pacific Northwest, quite often I find my shots are dark and moody, so a bit more light and color can add to their appeal. Below, the Red-necked Phalarope is lost in the cloudy reflection on the pond. By boosting the light and adding a touch of color, the bird pops out and the scene still keeps its drama.
Red-necked Phalarope
On the other hand, sometimes the dark skies add to the mood, as in this photo of a beach fort. Although the addition of light makes the features of the fort more visible, it detracts from the whole setting.
Sometimes I’m amazed at how different two photos (below) taken with the same exposure and only 1 minute time between and just a few feet apart end up being.
To finish off, here is a series of Max and Daisy exposing themselves to my Biolight. In addition to mood-altering light, the box emits radiant warmth. The original shots were all overexposed (no kidding?!) and reducing the light made the finished photo more clear. The one of Max is a before and after, the others are with light reduced, as Daisy moves in to share the joy!
As you find your perfect exposure, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
Thanks to Sophie for another plunge into the helpful techniques of photography.
When I was a young girl, I would sometimes sleep outside on warm summer nights. Living on the outskirts of a small city, I could see the vast array of stars and planets, and recognize a few of the constellations. There was nothing man-made out there until October 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, into orbit. One time my brother and I spotted a Sputnik satellite racing across the dark night sky like a wayward falling star.
A decade later, on December 24, 1968, William Anders, in the Apollo 8 lunar orbiting module photographed our earth as it rose above the surface of our moon. This image remains as proof to me of what is possible when a nation puts its collective energy and resources into research and education.
Three years later, in 1971 */John Lennon’s song Imagine was released. According to Wikipedia it was among the top 100 most-performed songs of the twentieth century. It remains one of my internal theme songs asking us to “Imagine all the people living life in peace,” a forever pipe-dream that helps me hold onto hope in desperate times. The image of Waldron and Saturna Islands bathed in a cloudy pink sundown personifies Imagine.
Climate change has been pooh poohed way too long. I still wonder where we would be as a nation (USA) and international community if Florida and its “hanging chads” had not cheated Al Gore out of the presidency in 2000. I’m pretty sure we would be in a much better position regarding our warming atmosphere. After 47 years living in the Pacific Northwest, the past two summers have confirmed that we are in the midst of the heat-up. The above temperature gauge from 2021 is witness to an unprecedented hot few days, and the average/mean temperature in the greater metropolitan (Vancouver WA/Portland OR) region for August, September and October 2022, were all record highs.
This is just how the sun looked through a veil of clouds as it set in the western sky. No filters used! Digital single reflex cameras was an invention that changed my creative pursuit of photography. Without worrying about how much it will cost to make copies, I can snap as many shots as I want in order to get the one that I like best!
Having a place at the beach that I can retreat to whenever I want, is another one of those fantastic notions I held in my heart for decades – and then it happened. I’ll close with this shot of Moon-down at Sunrise seen through the dune rye grass at Long Beach.
Thanks to Johnbo for another thought provoking challenge!
*”You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one”
Wherever you pursue your flights of fancy, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
Wouldn’t you know, all my photos of Mount Constitution on Orcas Island, are not on this computer! Ah well, save those old ones for another time. Here are three shots from my archives that showcase some of the lovely mountains I have viewed.
The Olympic Mountains of Washington State, photographed from the west side of Orcas Island. “Located in the northwest corner of the state, this mountain range rises from the Pacific Ocean to an elevation of 7,980 feet at the peak of Mount Olympus.”
Diamond Peak, with sunrise glowing on its remaining snow in July, as seen from Odell Lake at the summit of Willamette Pass. Part of the Cascade Range of Oregon, Diamond Peak reaches an elevation of 8,748 feet (2,555m).
Crater Lake, located in the Oregon Cascade Mountain range is 5 by 6 miles (8.0 by 9.7 km) across, with a caldera rim ranging in elevation from 7,000 to 8,000 feet (2,100 to 2,400 m). Though I have featured it in previous posts, it is such a beautiful setting – worth another view!
Thanks to Amy for taking us off on another nature adventure!
From the mountains to the valleys, wherever you find yourself please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
Flowers always invite me to smile, and smiling sends all kinds of positive neural messages through my body that enhance my well-being and improve my disposition. Especially in the short days of winter when I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Having flowers blooming in my gardens like the naturalized clump of Trillium surrounded by periwinkle (Vinca minor) below, brightens my life.
Wake Robin – TrilliumTrilliumLenten rose
Another winter bloomer that cheers me is Helleborus orientalis, more commonly known as Lenten rose. They are a hardy ground cover with evergreen foliage that blooms profusely on through spring. Adaptable to shade and drought they also self-propagate, making them a winner in my book!
Camellia
Rounding out my favorite late-winter/early-spring bloomers is Camellia japonica. With its glossy evergreen leaves and a profusion of blossoms on through spring, Camellia is a joy to behold. As the tight buds burst out in full, they fill my heart with sunshine!
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is native in the Pacific Northwest and their evergreen foliage provides shade and shelter for birds year round. These I planted thirty-five years ago and they have grown into a mature base planting at our home. Though their bright blossoms fade sooner than I want, they are always a show stopper!
Lilac has been in my life since I was a kid. Its lovely range of purple hues and fragrant perfume wafting on spring breezes weaves a spell on me to this day!
Then comes summer with a parade of beauties to charm my soul! Mop head Hydrangea are among the happiest blossoms at this time, all crowding to catch the sunlight and emit their radiant blue hues.
My choice of plants to nurture in my gardens is driven by a variety of conditions: shade/sun, perennial/annual, native/compatible, thrives/struggles, low-maintenance/invasive and most importantly, plants that enhance the habitat for birds.
All summer and into late fall, Echinacea better known as Coneflower, and Rudbeckia or Black-eyed Susan flowers fill the sun-drenched border of my front yard. Resident bunnies hop and hide underneath them, and when the petals die back in fall, the seed-heads provide sustenance for migrating finches and other seed eating birds.
Though the fading blossoms signal the end of this year’s procession of favourite flowers, I am content knowing that it will only be a little while before I see the bright faces of garden friends that make me smile.
Whatever is blooming in your corner of the world, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
Thank you Ann-Christine for giving us gardeners carte blanche to show off our favourite flowers!
Walking With Eagles is a collection of original poems and photographs by Lindy Low Le Coq. A lifelong naturalist, amateur photographer and bird enthusiast, Lindy’s verse, composition and photographs open a window into the essence of her subjects. Her poems and photography reflect the rich natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.
Bald Eagles mature over the course of five years. Walking With Eagles invites the reader to take a poetic and visual tour of this odyssey.
view ~ Walking With Eagles ~ in top menu bar for a preview, though the folio is much nicer!
Lindy Low LeCoq 