This is a brand new Northern Lights video by Ole Salomonsen. The Facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/arcticlightphoto I think this is really impressive!

There are a few wildflowers that are not seen very often but I have them on my radar. Here are two of them. The first one is a cousin to Dutchman's Breeches and the second is a Trillium.

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Squirrel Corn, Dicentra canadensis

IMG_0525 Prairie Trillium, Trillium recurvatum

... would be a tulip. This photo was taken with a wide aperture lens (f\1.2) wide open to give it a narrow depth of field. It was taken this afternoon at the 4H Children's Garden, one of my favorite places to visit.

_MG_7268 Here are two more photographs from the 4H Children's Garden. In the first photo I use a tree to frame the little girl eating an ice cream cone. In the second image I use a tree branch and the bridge to frame and direct the eye to the little boy on the sheep sculpture.

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Ice Cream Joy?

_MG_7305 Garden Bench

It sure is nice to wake up in the morning and have a job to go to. It's even better when that job is at Michigan State University.

Go State!

When I saw this I just couldn't resist taking a picture. There is a story to go along with this that goes something like, "one thing I remember from my college days is Pinus strobus". Here it is, the White Pine, in all its glory.

Enjoy!

Beal Botanical Garden @ MSU

The weekly assignment is Urban Macro. I had a lot of good ideas but other photographers beat me to them. So I had to go with plan xyz. I stumbled across this industrial strength lock on a flimsy door that was falling apart. Seemed kind of funny to have such an impressive lock on such a weak door. It wouldn't  have taken much to just push the door in. Anyway it made me think that this is pretty much how I feel when I am in an urban environment, out of place, caged in and locked down. Which reminds me of a song, but I won't torture you with it today.

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Here is the image that I wanted to use for the assignment. I think it makes a powerful statement.

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The shell casing was provided by Rick. 

A friend of mine sent me this link:  What is Photography for You?

This is pretty close to what photography is for me. I sit and watch and try to capture moments in time. I fully understand how some cultures believe that a camera captures a bit of their soul when a picture is taken. For me taking a photograph is like capturing a bit of Mother Natures soul.  I think that is why, just like this author, I always say Thank You when I finish a photo expedition. And like this author, at the end of the day, Mother Nature assures me that it is all right to leave. She will have plenty more "waves" for me whenever I return. Truly great lady, Mom Nature.

Trilliums are starting to bloom. It just doesn't seem possible. If this keeps up there will be no May flowers from April showers.

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It's hard to photograph wildflowers in the mid day sunshine. Generally the colors are all bleached out and there are harsh shadows. Tip: Stand so your shadow falls over the area where the flower is. That is what I did for this photograph and I think it turned out pretty good. Below is the same flower photographed in direct sunlight. Which one do you like best?

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This morning on my way into work I was greeted by a rainbow and it reminded me of one of my favorite songs. Here is the photo that I took and the song I love. I hope it starts your day off as good as it has mine.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Isreael Kamakawiwoʻole

I need to laugh, and when the sun is out,
I've got something I can laugh about,
I feel good, in a special way.
I'm in love and it's a sunny day.

Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine...

Good Day Sunshine by the Beatles.

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I really enjoy being out doors. I spend as much as time as possible  in the woods, or on a lake or river. On a given day you might find me walking, running, kayaking, bicycling or sitting in a blind waiting for a photo op. I usually try to get out and run a couple of times every week. Here are three pics that show how lucky I am to have 8 miles of trails not far from my back door. For the most part the trails follow the Red Cedar River. 

Note: These photos were taken with my new (used) 15mm (fisheye) lens. It covers 180 degrees. That is why there is some distortion and the trees look bent

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I took these photographs about 2 seconds apart from one another. I really like how it shows the movement of the feathers.

_MG_3623 Mute Swan in Flight _MG_3626