Blue Sands? I’ve shown you pictures of White Sands National Monument when the sand was brown, yellow, gold and pink. I’ve even shown you quite a few when the sands were actually white. Blue sky can mean blue light and that can mean blue sand.

The Water’s Falling. Two ways of looking at one of photography’s favorite subjects.

Just Remembering. I often forget about this little Red Fox from 2010. I am sure he had siblings and parents near-by but he was alone when he found us. He had absolutely no fear. In fact, only once (vertical picture) did he acknowledge my existence. I took no offense.

Tis The Season. When you follow many of the world’s top bird photographers as I do on Facebook, you quickly remember what’s so great about spring.  Bird, birds, birds. In fact in the west and southwest there are “bird ranches” set up for songbird photography. The birds are fed and there are dozens of blinds/hides set up. Perfect, clean backgrounds. The images are outstanding. Between the newest camera equipment and software available, and locations like this popping up all over the world, I often wonder if the fun and adventure is not going out of bird photography. Soon they will deliver the birds to your yard and someone will set up your equipment for you. You will of course, click the shutter. What will bird photographers do when absolutely everyone can make the same pictures? The same quality, the same content. I guess I do not regret, that I made pictures back when just getting a new species could take a whole summer. Sometimes the more we move ahead, the farther we fall behind.

I know, I know, I’m just whining because in my time, I couldn’t get the sort of images I am now seeing. We’re all entitled to an “occasional” whiny moment.  In fact I probably would of availed myself of one of those “bird ranches”.

Bonaparte’s Gull
Forster’s Tern
Male Canvasback Duck
American White Pelicans
Cleanliness. Canada Goose Gosling preening.
Sidelight. Never say never when it comes to the direction of light for birds. Sandhill Cranes

Playing Bridge. Making the format fit the subject instead of the other way around. Remaining fluid is a key ingredient in being a photographer.

Creating Lines. Shorelines that bob and weave, give photographers a variety of methods for creating a journey for future viewers of the picture. There are more traditional (leading lines) compositions to be made at this Lake Michigan location and I have made most of them. One job of a photographer is to keep searching for new ways to “see” an old subject.

Life On The Prairie. Not long after spring and its woodland flowers pass into history, will come the prairie flowers. There are more ways to look at a flower than most other subjects you will find in nature. This is a Purple Coneflower and a Prairie Coneflower..

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No Regrets?                                Regrets?

I love it when I hear people say that they have no regrets in life. How can you live an entire life with no regrets?

I do not regret the same things that many others often do. I was married as a teenager and it certainly didn’t take.  I would suggest for others not to do that, but despite the turmoil, I really don’t regret it. I don’t regret going into business for myself at 23. I eventually failed, but my life became richer (not monetarily).  At 24, I stood in front of a board of directors of a major bank, attempting to secure a photography job relating to solar power (International Solar Thermics) in mobile homes. I did this despite the fact that standing in front of even two people made me nervous. That day served me well later in life and I do not regret it. I do not regret that my young marriage closed my opportunity for going to college. I would suggest going on to college for anybody that might ask, but I learned that there is a lot of ways to educate yourself. It is amazing what we can do in life, without depending on others to show us how.

I regret not doing some things. Round about 2007 I turned down the chance to teach bird photography for two months in Mexico. There were more possible opportunities for international workshops that would follow that series. I put it off and the operator/birder has since died. Life will not slow down for you while you make up your mind. He (the birder) knew that. I have said yes to much in my life, but I have still used the term “no, not now but maybe later” too many times. I regret stalling my life in a series of short romances in the 1980s. There was much to do, and much to learn, but instead I just kept repeating myself. I always wanted to backpack and camp deep in the wilderness with no real time line for coming out.  I have hiked into the wilderness. I have camped in the wilderness. I have accidentally spent a night in the wilderness. I have ridden horseback and camped with a group, in a planned outing in the wilderness.  None of that would have compared to backpacking and remaining in the wilderness on my own or maybe with a one friend for at least a week.  No cells or GPS.

Always kiss the girl when you have the chance. (a metaphor for life)

Wayne