Shooting Grosbeaks through the window.

During the winter we have a little bird feeder outside the window where we feed the Chickadees.  They've become little piggies and spill as much as they eat which has been a good thing as it has attracted a family of Pine Grosbeaks.  This afternoon they arrived for their feeding while I was near the window with a camera near by, so I did the natural thing and stated shooting.

Lafayette Cemetery - A Picture Tour

Words aren't necessary when touring this cemetery in New Orleans.

 

Northern Lights at the Farm

During the past two years while photographing the Northern Lights, I often thought about what it would be like to see the lights while visiting the farm.  The farm belongs to my brother-in-law and his wonderful wife, my sister.  We spend a few weekends there each November which can be prime Northern Lights season.  Chances of being there on a weekend, with the lights and clear skies can be slim, but last weekend it all came together.  The white snow reflected the yard light and with the near full moon and long exposures the scenes looked like they were taken in daylight.

Their beautiful red barn was the perfect fit with the lights.

Open pasture provided a clear opening to the skies.

It really was a cold and nasty night but I didn't have to wonder off too far for fantastic views of the farm and the Northern Lights

I did take a little walk down to the barn where a couple of horses came to greet me.  Trying to get them to pose still for a 20 second exposure was difficult but we almost got it right after a few tries.

 

Northern Lights November 13, 2012

There is an advantage to living in Alberta with our snow and early darkness.  Tonight while making supper, my husband came into the house and told me the Northern Lights were out.  I checked the Aurora site and the percentage was only at 22%.  Further checking on the internet really didn't show anything spectacular so I went outside to take a look for myself.  Saw the lights in the sky and thought it wouldn't last long so went back into the house for supper and a little TV.  When we were finished supper the lights were still in the sky so we took a quick trip down to the lake.  This is the same lake I got the truck stuck in a few years ago so my husband told me I'd have to walk in.  Bundled up and ready for some exercise, off we went.

This is the view I saw when I stepped out of the truck.




Took a few steps towards the fence line.




Turned the camera a little eastward and caught a trail someone was brave enough to drive down.




I turned facing North as the lights began to appear down the trail to the lake.




And a few more steps.




Finally to the edge of the bush looking out towards the lake. Here you can see the clouds staring to move in.



Not wanting to walk to far in the cold, I found a very different view than I usually see.  The long exposures of 20 - 25 seconds have lit up the snow like daylight, but it was actually very dark outside.  Kind of thankful my husband made me walk tonight.

Morning Fog

Our warm fall days and cool nights have been bringing wonderful fog to the morning commute to work.  Probably not the best for driving, but creating some wonderful photo ops.

Garden Flowers

Texture Tuesday on a Wednesday.  This week's theme is the color orange.  Right right I have an abundance of these little orange flowers in the garden and thought they would make a good subject for the color orange.  The texture used is Kim Klassen's Paperlove.  If you hover over the photo with the mouse, you can see the before and after.

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A yellow walk

Inspired by http://www.lafcustomdesigns.com/2012/09/walk-and-click-wednesdays-2-yellow.html I took a walk around the yard after work to see what I could find in the yard that was yellow.  It was a perfect day for shooting yellow, a little gloomy and overcast.

A bottle on the shelf to start the walk.

This little yellow flower certainly stood out surrounded by orange.

Such a soft pastel yellow, this little daisy waited until now to bloom.

Sometimes the back can be just as interesting.

Dill flowers in the garden.

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