As is often the case when I share my own images, I try to bring some
variety to the show. Two birds, two varied macros, one black & white
landscape, and one waterscape/sunrise are on today’s menu.

The image below of a butterfly, was created on film in the 1980s. I
cannot tell you which species this dew choked critter is, but I owe a
debt of gratitude to it for gracing me with a kaleidoscopic prism full
of colors, deep in the grasses of a riverside meadow.  It took what
seemed like days (20 minutes really) to skillfully ease myself and my
tripod into position without dislodging this little jewel.

In those days of yesteryear, when film was the only option, and
slowwwwww speed film was necessary, pictures like this were rare.
This image has in fact been included, and sometimes featured, in many
publications. It was one image out of about a dozen of mine that were
featured in the old Wisconsin Trails Magazine’s portfolio section. I
entitled that selection of photos, Jewels of The Morning if memory
serves. Morning dew was the portfolio’s theme.

Remember high quality magazines?  Luscious and lustrous. Taking us
into worlds we could only dream of.

An overweight gunslinger?  Was there a Mourning Dove at the OK Corral?
Well this one, posed on the roof of my garage, and brought a smile to
my face.

Ok, I know it is spring, soon to be summer. It will always be winter in the life of this little bird.

This shot does not represent perfection by anybody’s standard, but come on now!

I actually sold some prints of this Black-capped Chickadee image back
in the day. I use to create titles for many of my images and this one
was called, “Cold Feet, Warm Heart”.

As a photographer, when the background for an image had only a limited
area that provided for a non-confusing, simplistic photo, I simply got in tight and made use of that limited area.

This beautiful, wild Prairie Smoke flower was going the seed, which
was exactly what I wanted with this species.

Every image is subject to the point of view of the photographer (and
viewer), and I loved sharing my point of view.

The flower was actually growing in place that was a weird
combo of half prairie, but half bog. I had been there in spring years
before with my pal Ron and I had gotten soaked completely through my
shoes and socks, not to mention my pants. This time, I came prepared
with chest waders. It allowed me to kneel, sit or lay in that wet
prairie/bog.

Those chest waders gave me more subject options as a photographer.

A string of pearls.

I can picture these around the neck of a beautiful woman, all dressed
up for “going out”. Of course, even if she managed to get them on, the
dew would be lost, and the spider web would break.

Some things are better left where found.

Who would make an image of a golden Colorado rock form and an intense
blue sky, and then convert it to black and white? Well, I would.

Black and white is a foreign language in its relationship to color
images. It speaks with fewer letters and syllables. It is simple and
clear. It makes its point, directly and without confusion.

In photography, it pays to be multilingual. The more we can say
through visual language, the more people there are who can hear you.

There is nothing quite like the combination of a powerful summer
storm, the sunrise, and Lake Michigan. This image manages to be both
serene, yet powerful and dangerous at the same time. That’s exactly as
I remember it.

Almost every form of expression is a type of language. Words of
course, exist within languages, but those very same words can express
something different when spoken instead of written.

Certainly painting is a language, as can be music, even without words.

Photography is no less a language than any other form of
communication. It matters not whether the photographer is merely
attempting to share information, or convey an emotion, it is a
language of visual words and meanings.

Grab your cameras and go out discover the language you use to create images.

May God be with you,
Wayne