From Sunrise

Good morning

Wolfe Lake, Wisconsin

The trio

Female Red-winged Blackbird

Male American Goldfinch

Eastern Kingbird

Three very different deserts

The Sonoran Desert in the morning, southern Arizona

Valley of The Gods, southeastern Utah

White Sands, central New Mexico

Delicate but tough 

Pale Purple Coneflower

Almost ready to fly

Great-blue Herons

A tale of two foxes

#1

#2

The last ray of light

Mourning Dove

To Sunset

I have been listening to the radio all morning and I have heard a variety of commercial adds for different hospitals.  Three separate hospitals mentioned how a part of the healing process they offer includes nature.  I am not talking about herbal healing or anything like that.  I admit I am not very knowledgable about that subject.  I am not speaking of some sort of health fad either.  They simply make the point that bringing people out to nature when possible, and certainly bringing a piece of nature to the patients, has amazing healing qualities. 

Nature photography is and should be different things to different people.  Take it as you may but my observation has been that those who come to nature photography simply because they love being out-of-doors in nature, and they love photography, are the ones that will last forever as nature photographers. Other reasons seem to mean that n.p. will be only a passing phase.   That of course does not mean that it is not valuable during the time it is pursued.

Enjoy this peaceful and pretty autumn season.  Keep in mind that one of the special things about nature photography is that the power and mood of winter can also be a satisfying and very special subject.  It is a great way to embrace winter instead of curse it.

Thoughts about a special morning

Yesterday I had a very rare opportunity to get out and make a few nature photographs.  I could have gone anywhere in the area but I chose my favorite “little nature sanctuary” Hawthorn Hollow.  I have taught many a workshop at Hawthorn, and I have made pictures here in all four seasons.  I met my best pal (Ron) here and I have introduced Hawthorn to many other friends.  As I sat watching for birds and listening to the breeze blowing through the autumn leaves, a small bus pulled up and parked.  Oh no, I said to myself!  A short while earlier about 12 cars had pulled in.  Everyone headed out to learn about the trees at Hawthorn.  I said to myself, well I guess that’s nice.  Now yet another vehicle, a bus,  no doubt carrying children was here.  Now I support getting children out into nature but do they have to break up my peace and quiet.  I mean I rarely get to do this anymore.  They were parked in back of me and I just kept looking ahead for birds.  I did think how quiet and polite they were for children.  Finally they and their chaperone made their way to my area for photographing birds.  The children ranged in age from 15 to 50.  They were mentally and physically challenged.  One wonderful and sweet lady was guiding them on their “day out”.  Now I have felt cheap and selfish once or twice in my life but never like this.  Every one of them looked around and laughed in awe of this wonderful day.  It was the trip of lifetime.  I remembered what I preach about living in the moment, and always finding the beauty around you.  I had forgotten that but a busload of “challenged” (not as challenged as I was) people and one nice lady showed me where the path was.  They reminded me of the joy of just being there.   The curiosity and wonder that we are born with is enough to lead us down the path to happiness.  It was more important that they were at Hawthorn that day than it was that I was there for the 500th time.  It felt good to think of someone else.  God smiled at me that morning at Hawthorn Hollow and I am so thankful that I smiled back.

Thank you,

Wayne