Larry at Larry's Images.com: 10/16/11

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Black Locust

Black Locust in Bloom

I recently saw a closeup of some blooms shaped like these. I could not tell from the shot if it was a tree or what. My first guess was that they were peas. It turns out that they were on a tree. I take it that it is similar to the Black Locust only from Scotland.

Just the other day, I noted that the Black Locust tree now has pea pods on it. I found one open.

Black Locust Seed Pod

We don't have very many of these trees at Gorman. I know of only one location. Sometimes, trail maintenance cuts them back because they stick out over the trail and have thorns on them. I have noticed that they grow back. I find them among the most beautiful of tree blooms.

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Memories of Leaf Color

Gorman Nature Center

These leaves will all be gone when you read this. Sorry, if you have not gone to look by now it is too late at GNC.

Gorman Nature Center

I was hoping to redo this one. I wanted to try to get in closer to the upright dark stalks, blazing star using a wide angle lens. I may still get to try it but the leaves in the distance will be gone by then. I went back the next day after I made this shot but the wind was blowing strongly and needless to say, still photography was not possible.

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Migrating Birds 2

Song Sparrow

Wikipedia says that some of these migrate and some don't.

Savannah Sparrow

These are probably migratory in our area. In other words, this bird is just passing through on migration to further south.

Summer Tanager

This bird resembles the cardinal but does not have the black face. The beak is also different. It is a migratory bird just passing through.

I find it easier to photograph birds as the leaves are falling, less obstruction obviously. Unfortunately many of the birds will be or are already gone. It is non-the-less interesting to be aware of the time that birds migrate and look for them passing through.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Migrating Birds

Female Cardinal

The Cardinal is not a bird that migrates from here. They stay all winter. There are are other birds which do migrate. One of those is the Red-winged Blackbird.

Male Red-winged Blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbirds which spent the spring and summer here left long ago. We have not had their sounds for probably a month. Recently, we have been hearing their call again. These are of those migrating south from further north. They behave differently in that they sit mostly in the very tops of the trees. This is because they are not mating here now. They may be gone by the time you read this.

Female American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch over winters here. They change to much more muted tones in winter. This one is feeding on the seeds from the Prairie Dock. Later they will feed on the seeds from the Goldenrod.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Deep DOF

Multiflora Rose

They call them rose hips. They reportedly contain lots of vitamin C. I hear that people sometimes use them in tea.

I saw some with interesting light and a background I liked the other morning. The dew had been heavy as you can see. I immediately made this shot. After making it, I began to analyze the problem before me. The specular highlights off the water droplets were extreme but if they are not too large we can sometimes live with them being over exposed.

It was a small scene and I was using a Sigma 105 mm macro lens. DOF (depth of field) is limited in macro photography. I decided to shoot a series to be processed in Helicon Focus software later. While I was at it, I decided to also shot a series to be processed in Photomatix Pro software. I focused on the furthest berry that I wanted in focus and shot four exposures at ec (exposure compensation) -4, -2, 0, +2. I then refocused on the middle berry that I wanted in focus and did the same thing. I then focused on the closest berry and shot four more.

Multiflora Rose

I like the effect of having the entire subject sharp along with a softly focused background. If you compare the two shots you will notice that I also removed some components which I consider distracting.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Four and Five-leaved Clovers

Four-leaved Clover

This one has not opened fully. It is on that plant that was mowed off earlier. The warm weather has brought on more growth.

Five-leaved Clover

I was thinking this morning after viewing the plant yet again, that there is probably a different technical name for it. As I understand the terms, if the flower stem grows out of the same point as the leaf stem then the three, four or five "things" are really called lobes. I think that it would be correctly called a five-lobed clover leaf. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

When learned about poison ivy, they told me it have three leaves. I think that the same applies. It has three lobes to the leaf.

Let's see, there ought to be one or more other plants like this but their names escape me at the moment. Sorry.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Fall Color at Gorman Nature Center

Eastern Cottonwood

I was concerned as to whether we would have much fall color this year. It has finally arrived and I am enjoying it.

Gorman Nature Center

Maturity is beautiful as you can see.

Gorman Nature Center

GNC Frogpond

Sassafras Tree

I tried to tell my grandchildren one time that a Sassafras tree has five (5) differently shaped leaves. I could only find four (4) that day. I just read about the tree on Wikipedia and they say just three (3). They listed the oval, the mitten and the three lobed variation. I was thinking that the mitten thumb can be on either side. There are probably only 3 or 4.