I make my share of nature abstracts using the colors of sunrise or sunset.  Macros in general, and moving water specifically are also favorite abstract subjects of mine. Those nature subjects are all easy to reduce to colors, tones and patterns.  I have written on several occasions that I am not the biggest fan of wildlife abstracts.  I am not against them, I just choose realism with animals.  It is hopefully artistic realism, but realism just the same.  I do make exceptions when I am moved to do so.  Such is the case below with some Tundra Swans.  As is usual, the image is created entirely in camera via a slow shutter speed (1/15th ), and an intentionally slow pan.

Of course the bulk of my wildlife work is not abstract.  This Sanderling is one example.

This Great Egret is also consistent with the majority of my wildlife work.  There must not be a catch and release law at this pond.  That’s a mighty small fish.

Let’s finish with some images of my second most prolific subject.  Only birds dominate my files more than sunrise/sunsets.   There are a few shots below that have never been shared before. I will forego writing about location and techniques. Sometimes it’s nice to just share.

Those of you who love nature photography, should know that the North American Nature Photography Association, NANPA, will be holding its annual summit and trade show in Jacksonville, FL from February 28-March 3.  In all of these years of writing about nature photography I have never promoted the NANPA summit.  You will see presentations by, and get to meet, many of North America’s premier nature photographers.  You will also get to see and learn about many new photographic hardware and software products. I have known several photographers who have gone to the summit and enjoyed it.

I do not know who this years Nature Photographer of The Year is.  If memory serves me John Shaw, Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe and Frans Lanting were the first four. It simply doesn’t get any better than that.

Many years ago I had a very small part in helping to form NANPA.  At least I was asked to contribute my opinions and they were given. NANPA quickly became mostly a political  group, and I never even joined.  Despite that, I think it would be a fun and fulfilling journey for any fan of nature photography.

I think I should take a minute a talk about one of my recent posts and it’s aftermath.

In a recent post I ended a photography related article with some social/political comments.  Those statements resulted in the loss of two subscribers to this blog.  Those comments no longer exist on Earth Images and that is not unusual.  As I often do, I write controversial “add ons” to conventional posts for subscribers and daily visitors only. Once that post has gone out,  I then eliminate the controversial portion of the post.  It was never meant to be out there for eternity.  When I write an entire article on a political/social subject, it is meant to be viewable forever. If I could remember word for word what I said, I would reproduce those words here as to bring my statements in today’s blog,  into context.

The comments (by me) in question referred to statements by others. Those comments appeared on my home page on Facebook.  None was made by my friends, but they came as an answer to a non controversial post by one of my friends.  In other words, they were friends of a friend.  They essentially glorified or at least accepted the California killer who is thankfully now  deceased.  To me, you cannot make the statements that were made without supporting the murders of innocent people and the terrorizing of their families.  One has to accompany the other. I will admit that my statements were written while I was angry.  They were also very political, although I made it clear that I was not equating those statements with normal rank in file members of the political party of the offenders.  While I probably should have calmed down a bit before adding those final paragraphs, some of my most successful posts are written while my passion is burning.  I write and I make pictures from a position of passion.  I know of no other honest way to live, write or make pictures.

I am always saddened when I lose readers.  That is never my goal.  Those that have departed certainly have that right, and in fact it is what they should do if my words anger them so much.  One of the reasons that my stronger opinions are offered on my blogs instead of on the pages of social media, is so you have an easy choice whether to read them or not.  You won’t open your own home page of a social media site, only to be inundated with statements from me that you find distasteful.  You have to make the effort to come to my blog, or to subscribe to it.  I would prefer everyone would remain, but I understand when they leave.

I will always comment critically about people who give credence and comfort to murderers.  The  murderer at the Oak Creek temple here in WI was a man with a past.  He left behind a small trail of writings and words describing his opinions. There are many disciples of the American right on my Facebook pages. There were no words of encouragement or support for the Oak Creek killer (racist slime) by any of those conservatives.   Quite the opposite in fact. Both sides of the political aisle need to be held to those same standards.

Yes I am responsible for my words, but I don’t stand alone in that fact. That also goes for the people I have commented on.

I will try to keep Earth Images content directed mainly towards kinder and more inspiring thoughts. That is my true joy.  I have other places where I can write my more controversial thoughts.  I cannot however promise that from time to time, my disgust with the words and acts of others, will not find their way into Earth Images. I will try to limit those occasions and do a little more self editing in an effort to respect the thoughts of my readers.

Thank you much and have a great day,   Wayne