Friends, i had to be creative today and do some artwork on photos that i took on Thursday. Cranes Flying and the moon rising were just too tempting to leave as is, so here is my rendition that depicts the crane spirits moving into winter across the harvest moon. God gave me photoshop, so i sometimes use it to express my feelings. til Tomorrow MJ
Blog Archives
Fall Sunset
Dear Friends, with my feet up and sitting in my lawn chair, watching the sunset and the cranes come into the roost sight, does life get better than this?? In the fall watching the cranes is my idea of perfect, however, it could be a little warmer. Tomorrow a big snow storm, so enjoy the heat while you can, til Tomorrow MJ
Time to Go
Dear Friends, with two inches of fresh snow this morning, this will be a common sight on Crex Meadows. The Sandhill Cranes will start to leave for cornfields and marshes further south. I will be sad when they leave, they are better than watching television. But the sun is shining today so guess i will grab my camera and venture outdoors. til Tomorrow MJ
Keeping both eyes open
Dear Friends, this is not a photoshopped experience, it took me about 200 images captured to get these cranes and the moon in a single shot. I found that the secret (for me) was to leave both eyes open so i could see the cranes approaching and leaving the lens on the moon, try it you’ll like it til Tomorrow MJ
Flaps Down
Dear Friends, today i am back to posting color images. This Sandhill Crane is coming into a landing on the marsh and this is by far the best image that i have taken of this natural history moment. Most of the time these cranes are too far away and have too much brush in front to render a good image, but with my 600 mm and the bird being within 20 yards, i was able to show this moment better than in the past, flaps down and landing. til Tomorrow MJ
Cranes Comparison
Dear Friends, day 2 of black and white challenge and another crane image. Those who know me, know that i spend most of my waking hours in the fall in the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, an area of wild rice marshes. This is a comparison of the adult head (right bird) after preening with feathers raised and a juvenile head (left) who has not been preening. Black and white still has to show something of interest (for me). so til Tomorrow MJ
Dancing in the Drizzle
Dear Friends, accepting the 5 day black and white challenge issued by my friend, Jan. Today was a very iffy day for light so black and white was quite appropriate and as usual the Sandhill Cranes at Crex Meadows, dancing for our entertainment, til Tomorrow MJ
Preening Feathers
Friends, after three days of cleaning up a hacker’s mess, i have finally returned to the land of computer sharing. If you receive a notice from yahoo telling you to update your software, please know that it is a scam to steal your contacts and email. Then they horse up your passwords and send out embarrassing messages saying you are in Istanbul and need cash. I don’t even have a passport. So back to Crex Meadows and this beautiful crane, cleaning her feathers. til Tomorrow MJ
A Tight V
Friends, first , thanks for all the birthday wishes. i had a great day. Jim and I went to Crex for dawn and watched the cranes leave their roost site in the morning. This image was taken the night before when the cranes were coasting into their roost site. Three natural history facts are in this photo, cranes fly in a v formation, they coast before landing and they talk to the birds below to warn them of their landing. so til Tomorrow MJ
Artwork
Wing Beats
Friends, i know i do this same image every year and sometimes several times a year, but the takeoff and landing of cranes on their roost site is still a wonder to me. The air from their wingbeats causes a rush of joy as they pass over my head, sometimes so close you feel you could touch those feathers. Crex Meadows this time of year is a paradise for photographers who love nature. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 