Today’s post is one of those “scattered thoughts” type of articles, where I go wherever my mind leads me.

Winter Visitors

A few months from now winter will encapsulate my home turf here in Wisconsin. That will bring two great visitors from the north, the Rough-legged Hawk and the Snowy Owl.

The hawk pictures were made at Bong State Recreation Area, right here in southeastern Wisconsin.

This Snowy owl posed on a hill of snow just west of the city of Waukesha, WI.

Winter also makes for a nice backdrop for local species like this female Ring-necked Pheasant. This was made at Bong.

Once again Bong was productive for me, although this time in September.  This happy couple are Sandhill Cranes.

Go West

There are no Roadrunners in Wisconsin unless you count old Plymouths, but the famous Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico has them (the birds that is). This one is……well……running along the edge of a road. Hence the name I guess.

Fox Trot

Below we have some well-worn images of an assortment of Red Foxes. You will find foxes of every age here. They were made in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, near Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois, and near an Illinois woodland.

Young

With Mom

Less Young

Nearing Full Growth

Prime

Aged

Fighting For The Title

Two young Yellow-bellied Marmots show that it’s not only foxes than can roughhouse.

These were made above 12,000 feet in Rocky Mt. N.P., Colorado.

Sand Virgin

The pictures below were made on my first trip to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. That was during my film days.

I made a lot of pure sand landscapes (sandscapes?) on every trip, but I slowly started using the desert plants to compliment the sand. Eventually, I began focusing on the plants like this So Tall, and using the sand as a backdrop.

If you’re a nature photographer never forget to look down. There is not only an entire world living down there, but there are often signs of things that go bump in the night. I always wanted to tell all of nature’s story and mammal tracks in the desert, are just one more way to let people know that there is life in that sand.

It’s What’s Inside That Counts

Photography at its surface seems to be an external act. I mean, we are making pictures of subjects with height and depth. You can touch (not always wise) what we photograph and feel its texture. It has color or tone. It often has weight, and sometimes a flavor (as in taste). We are creating images of the literal world. Yet, the act can be at its best, personal. We are using what’s inside to photograph what’s outside.

Enjoy your time making images. It should be fun. Just the same, don’t be afraid to make use of what’s inside. Those indefinable qualities that make each of us who we are.

See Ya Next Time

Well I guess that’s about it today, so I will say goodbye and see you next time. That’s what I felt this female Snapping Turtle was saying to me.

Wayne