Vernal Pool

Vernal Pool

I dreamed this shot.  I awoke in the morning thinking that I maybe could not execute it because of the high water, for this time of year, in the pool.  As it turned out in real life I was able to setup my tripod in the water and get the camera close to the water's surface.  It was an HDR series.  I had just shot a series of the vernal pool at the side with the sun rising.  I still can't believe that I was able to get around the pool and down in, setup and shoot this series.  It is just the way I dreamed it!

Vernal Pool

This is not a shot of me making the capture at the top.  I am using my insect setup here.  I put my camera on a clamp at the top of an 8' stepladder and used the remote wireless release.  Note my left hand pushing the button.  I show this shot because I think that it gives a good idea of the relative size of the pool.  It is lower in this shot than in the shot at the top.  

I am printing a group of ten of my best images of this pool and the life in it.  I hope to display it this holiday season.

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Shadow Darner

Shadow Darner

I had noticed these dragonflies flying around the vernal pool.  They would not land so I could get a better look to identify them.  I had one other shoot where I was able to capture an image of one but with a background I did not like.  I had made my ID from that shot.

Shadow Darner

It was late morning and the air had warmed enough for them to fly.  The water was higher in the vernal pool and I did not want to do the setup for insects so I grabbed my bird camera and sat down on the walk to shoot them absentmindedly.  I had "motor drive" enabled at the rate of 8 fps.  They hover every once in a while and with auto focus I found it easier to shoot them than with the insect setup which requires manual focus.  I liked the background of these two shots.

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The Leaf Hopper

Leaf Hopper

This is one of the little insects which frequent the vernal pool.  It is tiny and might make a meal for a dragonfly or spider.  As you can see, this little guy has red eyes.

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Fall Color

Sassafras Leaves

The leaves are starting to change color.  I liked the light the morning that I made this image.  Sassafras trees grow along the trail leading to the wildlife tower.  It seems to me that they are becoming more prevalent.  It, as we probably all know, has three shapes of leaves.  One is oval, one looks like a mitten and one looks like a mitten with a thumb on both sides.  It's wood is orange and may still be used for furniture.  The bark of the roots my be boiled to make tea.  I have always enjoyed drinking sassafras tea.  I read recently that because of an FDA ban it is no longer recommended.  

Woods Vine

The woods vines are turning red also.  That change is a precursor to the trees' leaves changing.

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Stronger Image

GNC Pond

I like being able to arrive as the sun is rising.  The nights have been cool enough that I don't want to go so late in the day for the insects so I just go early.  It is a different type of photography but I like it too.

I think that the steam rising from the warm water into the cold air adds drama.  I did not have to struggle with flare on this one because the bush with red leaves on the left shielded my lens.  I did not think about it at the time, but I think my image would have been stronger if the tall grass, Tall Bluestem, on the right did not run through the bench.  The bench is an important part of the composition as I think about it.  My eye wants unfettered access to it.

Maybe I will learn someday.

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Seeing an Image

Frog Pond

I have known for several years that I walk through a potential image into a not so good one.  It happened at this location.  This one was the not so good one.

Frog Pond

This is the one which in my mind is better.  I felt it as I walked into and through it.  I backed up my cart and set up the tripod.  I have been noticing the potential of this view for some time.  We had the hazy aerial background.  the sun reflecting off the Indian Grass to the right.  The foreground adds interest with the red colors.  I set up and made the HDR shots.  I wrestled with the lens flare.  I held my hand over the top of the lens so that the light would not hit it.  It was a Sigma 10 - 20 mm lens, an ultra wide for my camera.  It is easy for my hand, protecting from lens flare, to get into the frame.  I had to continually watch for it through the view finder.  In the end,  I had some flare and some hand in the upper right corner.  The flare was in the grasses in the center.  I worked them both out and really liked it.

Call me over sensitive, but I felt it start and stop as I walked through.  Please don't call me crazy,  I really felt it!

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Stream Changing

I don't get into the forest much during the summer months.  I am so busy photographing insects that there is just not time.  I ventured in the other day and had a striking revelation.  The water fall which I have named b3sf-3 has gone away.

Bridge 3 Stream Feature -3

I made the above shot on 03-19-2010.

Here is a view just recently captured.  

Bridge 3 Stream Feature -3

The stream is constantly changing.  I think that this was caused by a log jam quite a way downstream from it.  It caused the water to slow up, dropping the gravel it was carrying.

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