Spied this beautiful moment while hanging out with the darling Samantha Yates and Alison Sparx.

Sam graciously stood still just long enough for me to catch her behaving for a change!

Tamron SP 500mm f8

While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a macro photograph of dahlia petals with water droplets.

while you go off and shape your own life :-)

Robert Brault

HFF!!

nigella, denver botanic garden, colorado

While waiting last night in Ramat Gan under a full moon !

While on a photo walk with two Flickr friends last week in Fort Langley, we saw this old car underneath a willow tree, slowly rusting away. I got so excited when I saw it!

A male house finch munching on a seed while sitting under the cover of some grasses ✔️

With all the processing options available today, it seems we become programmed to look at photos and immediately analyze what might be done to tweak them to make them better in some way. I recall when I first began photography 8 or so years ago, I knew nothing about anything and thus deleted at least 90% of my photos upon review, often all of them. Now, even though I still don't know much, I delete none on the basis of being possibly able to do something with them. Sometimes I do with pleasing results. Most of the time I do not and they remain buried in the archives where they will probably never do more than take up space.

When this view of the far north end of the lake (where the turtles bask in the spring and summer but have now already vanished into their hibernational haunts) appeared, now habitual thinking said, "what does this need?" I thought for a while and finally determined that there was really nothing I could do to make this photo better. Different maybe, but not better. Perhaps you agree.

So here you have it...an actual unenhanced SOOC snap shot of my beloved northwoods entering prime time for color. Maybe not too artsy...but still kind of pretty...;-))

While waiting for a clear shot of the Torii Gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, I saw this loving couple with the gentleman tenderly guiding the lady through the gate. It is such a beautiful sight that I had to get a snapshot of this couple. While I did not get any clear shot of the gate, I was delighted to be able to come away with this photo.

A red-winged blackbird singing while perched at the Las Gallinas ponds

While some things are in state of decay, others are in sate of growing,

Reddish Egret on the run after its next fish.

While editing this image I kept thinking of Botticelli's Birth of Venus, a painting I adore. The editing became more painterly and I liked the way it finally turned out. The haunting trees and the snakes seemed to come alive. I love this set. The artistic brilliance and creativity behind this collaboration is just inspiring. ....

Read the rest and grab the designer and event information on Threads & Tuneage

while the camera does not express the soul, perhaps a photograph can! :-)

Ansel Adams

HMM! Ukraine Matters!

hybrid magnolia, 'Green Mist', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

...smell it...

...feel it...

...see its colors...

...don't let it become stories to your grandsons....

One of several photos that I took while visiting this quaint and very picturesque old lobster fishing village of Stonington Maine. The town, filled with beautiful and boundless photographic opportunities of old buildings, lobster and fishing boats, viewed in a beautiful harbor setting often lined with wild rosa rugosa rose bushes.

Stonington is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. It's located on the southern portion of the island of Deer Isle. The population was 1,056 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of Burnt Cove, Oceanville, Green Head, and Clam City. A picturesque working waterfront and tranquil tourist destination in eastern Penobscot Bay, Stonington has consistently ranked among the top lobster ports in the county and is the largest lobster port in Maine. In 2011, 14,854,989 pounds of lobster were landed by Stonington fishermen with a value of $46.3 million.

Sailors on the island became renowned for their maritime skills. Full crews for two America's Cup teams were recruited from Deer Isle for the victorious America's Cup Races of 1895 on The Defender and again in 1899 on Columbia. The Stonington harbor has long been filled with Friendship Sloops among other boat designs, powered by sail only. Lobstermen once used them to haul traps. Most of their trips were to the outer islands (like York Island) near Isle au Haut, fishing during the week and returning to the harbor on weekends. This changed with the advent of gasoline or diesel engines, along with new hull designs, which enabled fishermen to make day trips to fishing grounds in Penobscot Bay.

Tune

Credits

♥

While I was looking for puffins on Bempton Cliffs, I saw a lot of other birds - like these guillemots

Lots of bunny tracks around here this morning. They seem to know when there is no dog around. I'm always amazed by the abundance of wildlife outside my door. Too bad it wasn't wearing a white winter coat but it still cheered me up, nonetheless. I had a bad morning getting stuck in a swamp with my skidoo, the new snow and ice disguised the water underneath. I swear I have a permanent black cloud over my head.

It was as if this bunny was saying "Listen Up, don't think you are eating me for Easter" It sure got fat off all the oats my horses left behind this winter. I do eat bunnies this time of year but it is the white chocolate ones ;-)

While many capture Canary Creek sunsets, the other side of that coin, sunrise, is equally beautiful...

While Ruby concentrated on the hot air balloons with my phone, I took shots of the sun rise

Came upon this view while hiking up to Lake Agnes there in Banff National Park. Just had to stop and take a shot ... hard to do this view justice but liked the interplay of tall pines and the peaks and the patch of blue sky through the clouds.

While on Holiday i had a go at Night photograph when i booked i didn't think where the Moon will be . This was about 2.30 in the morning and i couldn't see a thing, trying to frame a shot, i had to take a picture first then move the camera i did brought a torch while i was out there that cost 3 Dollars with Batteries

While the snowstorm rages outside my windows, I long for summer. The years goes by too fast and I wish for a summer like the one we had 5 years ago.

Taxi: ELVION, Forevermore

♫ ♩ ♬ Young and Beautiful - Lana del Rey (Slowed)

An image from last spring in Prince Edward County - I have one week or work travel before I get a chance to head back there for a few days to check in on the migration.

Last year my visit coincided with a major push of Grosbeaks and Orioles, and they were everywhere along the shore, in flocks. I had not witnessed a landing by so many of a single species before, let alone a species that one is lucky to find, let alone photograph, in Ottawa.

My preference is always to find birds in habitat and to situate them as such in images, but every once in a while opportunities arise for a completely clean image.

It’s been a while since I shared a photo from my Sabi Sands safari, so thought why not post one of its most magnificent residents — the leopard.

This young cub was perched high in a tree, curiously watching us as we watched him. I can only imagine what he thought of the rapid-fire click of all those camera shutters! The more sensible among us (if I can ever be called that 😉) had our cameras set to silent mode.

It was fascinating watching his mother teach him the essentials of leopard life — how to wrestle, eat, and nap — all safely from the branches above, far from hyenas, photographers, and other distractions. I have such wonderful memories of these extraordinary animals. Nature at her finest.

Today's fun fact: That lovely smell of freshly cut grass? It's actually the grass releasing distress signals! The scent comes from green leaf volatiles — compounds plants emit when damaged, to warn nearby plants, deter grazers, & attract helpful insects.

So maybe I’m not lazy after all — I’m just being considerate by not mowing too often 😉

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Thanks for taking a look, I really appreciate your comments and support.

Amsterdam - Piri Reïsplein - Baarsjesweg

Amsterdam - Photo shoot with Me Inge

Copyright - All images are copyright © protected. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

St. John the Baptist's Church (15th ct.) in Ribčev Laz on Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Here, just by chance, we're caught, in the shade

staring, surprised, into eyes of the past

while watching the ducks as they circle the pond

It seems they are hands on a clock sweeping time

where silence is gentler,... because now we are friends

Today, on this bench, lost men will linger,

while waiting for nothing, and no place to go

Once we had claimed this 'our' place to hold hands,

planning a future that never began

Children we were with the world at command

I'm glad we aren't talking in circles, .. like then

Other children are playing in the rust afternoon,

zippered up tight, against winter wind

Talking of children..you tell me there's two

You show me a photo,…then, I share a few

I am all out of bread, as the sun starts to fade

taking away all the stains of the day

East of the bandstand shadows grow long,

falling in corners like memories do

We've learned to know twilight can be bittersweet

And taste what dim recall has only allowed

Goodbyes are said, and you then, kiss my cheek, ..

then you turn and you wave, as you are crossing the street

Left wondering now, where those lost men will go,

it worries my brow, what lost men will eat

A shadow of you, is still left in the park, …

of us holding hands, as it starts to get dark

I leave a few dollars here, on our bench

Checking my watch,… I will leave no regrets.

(While Feeding the Ducks by Carrie Richards)

at dawn

I paid the ferryman

the sea is calm and deep

it's time let's go

towards the sun

to new horizons

we trust

on the wide ocean

we are in solitude

floating on waves

of eternity

some words

in my mind

... while you slept

This is an older phone shot , from my archive.

Split - Croatia, when traveling was easier. I

am not an expert on phone shot, LoL ;-)

Thanks for take your time and look at my photo,

much appreciated.

While I love shopping, baking, cooking and decorating for the holidays, I detest wrapping. This is the best I can do! I love using bags.....they have saved me at this time of year!

While in the park, I came across this coulourful tennis ball! It attracted my attention :).

UTS Building 11 - Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

Broadway, Sydney

December, 2022

While trying to entice the Orioles into my backyard, I've been getting some other interesting visitors! Orange loving Catbird. :)

While Visiting the Rain Forest in Alaska, I thought to my self, "You know who would love this, Mishindi". So with a little digital help.........

Taken while I was on the dock out into Lake Hancock at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida. If you look carefully, there is a small fish in this osprey's right talon.

This photograph/image is copyrighted and may not be used in any way without my permission. If you would like to use it, please contact me via Flickr mail.

Thanks for visiting and for your faves and comments.

If you'd like to see more of my images, go to schockenphotography.com. I have many more images of eagles and other raptors as well as owls, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, songbirds and mammals and I have a full section on birds in flight which is my specialty.

While the whole world is going crazy today, I'll just drink coffee and listen to my favorite tracks...

while I enjoyed this glorious sunrise!

... while waiting for a warm breeze of spring!

A Peaceful Caturday for all the felines out there!

Mira on our terrace - Frankfurt-Nordend

Ricoh GR1s, Ilford HP5 400

Here we have another bird that has been eluding me for a while folks, but managed a few of this guy.

Early shoot today and will catch up later.

Thank you for stopping by everyone, and have a great day.

While a group of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep grazes, an elder watchfullly observes.

Oaxaca de Juarez Oaxaca Mexico

From restless thoughts, that, like a deadly swarm

Of hornets arm'd, no sooner found alone,

But rush upon me thronging.

~John Milton

I’ll try to make this my last Snow Bunting post for a while 😊

While I was photographing some flowers, this very young lizard (only about 6cms long) sat unmoving on a leaf beside them.

While working on a modelling pose, got distracted and decided to take this photo showing off the waterfront views where I live.