Blog Archives
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
Day 5
Dear Friends, this original image in color is brown and black, not very appealing, so black and white might make it better, the only regret i have is leaving out the beautiful red eye of this coot in his breeding finery, til Tomorrow MJ
Day 4 : Black and White
Dear Friends, this black and white was taken in the badlands of North Dakota. This storm chased us back in the vehicles but never did rain on us. I am not a lover of black and white photography probably because my career was spent at an electron microscope and in a traditional black and white darkroom. All work was done in black and white, but i accepted the challenge so this is the work for this week. til Tomorrow MJ
Sunset
Dear Friends, Day 3 of 5 day Black and White Challenge. This sunset in the rain was taken in the North Dakota Badlands, on top of Buck hill in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Juniper and cedar trees are prevalent in these landscapes, but one can usually see the sky, hence many sunrises and sunsets. Black and white??? 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
Foliage is Gone
Friends, this is to remind me of the beautiful foliage that is now gone from this place. Crex Meadows in the fall is truly an amazing place and i like to share with you. til Tomorrow MJ
Heron Snacking
Friends, this Great Blue Heron is having a fishy snack at the fishing hole. Like eating popcorn, you can’t just eat one. I know he is backlit, but i like how the light lit up his beak. 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
MJ Springett 