Best Photos of 2016 - January

Best wishes for a healthy, happy and creative 2017. Many of us are glad to see the end of 2016, but are uncertain of what the new year brings. One thing that always makes me happy is to observe nature and try to capture the best of what I observe through photography. I take photos most every day and have selected my favorites here from January 2016:

Red-bellied Woodpecker - this photo reveals how it got its name--not always evident in most photos:

Red-bellied Woodpecker showing off its flashy cape and hood:

Pileated Woodpecker, a rare visitor to my yard. Here it shows off a striking red Mohawk:

Blue Jay--striking markings stand out against the snow:

Some closeups of the small Downy Woodpecker:

Last January was a snowy month so it was a real pleasure to feed the birds and capture them on camera. If you enjoyed these photos, check back in a day or so for the February favorites.

Best of 2013 - April Photography - Spotted Pony and Sunny Yellow

 

For the April pick of best photos of 2013 I chose this friendly spotted pony at a riding stable out in eastern Jefferson County.  I went back later in the year and was pleased to see my friend still in the pasture.

 

And just for the benefit of all my friends who hate this bitter cold winter weather that we're currently experiencing, how about some sunny yellow?  Hang on!  The forsythia will be blooming before you know it! 

Monday Mosaic - Late Fall on Beargrass Creek

Click on images to enlarge

Each season I try to get some photos of this twisty-trunked old tree on the banks of Beargrass Creek in Cherokee Park.  For the fall shoot most of the colorful leaves had fallen by the time I made it to the park last week.  Instead of being disappointed, learned an important photography lesson: focus on what's in front of you and you'll always find great subjects.  In this instance, found all these different small shells on the creek bank and even on submerged leaves.  Serendipity!

Linking to Mosaic Monday.

Super Moon and a Break

After a week of frustrating issues with technology--computer freeze up, Internet and DSL disconnects especially--I've decided to take a break from blogging until July 1.  By then hope to get these things sorted out, plus taking care of some issues around the homestead that need attention.  To quote Ballykissangel, my favorite Irish TV series:  "Missing you already!" 

Before I sign off though, have you been enjoying the Super Moon these past few days?  I have, and luckily we've had clear skies these past three nights.  Here are my best photos:

Around 3:30 a.m. June 22nd.

Around 9:00 p.m. June 22nd.

Around 1:30 a.m. June 23rd.

Enjoy these first weeks of summer and I'll be seeing you soon.

Chet's Walk in the Park

Chet here - hope you're having a great Memorial Day weekend if you live in the U.S., folks.  The Roommate is taking it easy today, so I'm standing in as guest blogger.  Thought I'd take you along on one of my daily park walks.  And I don't mind admitting that I'm just the right height for some macro views.  The only problem is that I have a hard time slowing down for the Roommate to get those macro shots, so don't be too critical of her photography. (click on the photos and mosaics to enlarge)

We go through three connected parks, so in order here are just a few of the interesting things we see.  First, these nifty tulip poplar blooms that fell in the grass from Neighbor Mary's tree:

Next we cross over the bridge to get to the second park.  Sometimes the sun makes a little water magic on the creek:

Now we were walking along the creek bank when I spotted these strange things.  The Roommate jerked me back and yelled "Don't eat!"  Like I'd confuse this with a Beggin' Strip!  Anyway, she thinks they're mushroom or fungi, but can't find the same thing on Google.  Anyone help us out?

Now here the proper position to get a macro view of your world--every time we go through the park I have to check the hole in this tree trunk.  Keep hoping I'll find a snake.  The Roommate, not so much:

Now when I was down in the macro position, look what I almost stepped on!  At first this old Turtle Boy had his head out all friendly and then he just closed up shop.  Believe me, I was just as scared as he was.  His backside is not quite as cute as my "bubbles", but he is very handsome:

At this point we're heading back through the parks.  Of course the Roommate was oohing and aahing about the wildflowers and bushes, especially the honeysuckle and dogwood.  And she keeping going on about interesting the sycamore bark is.  Me, I'm still thinking about Mr. Turtle:

Final stop on our walk is in Neighbor Mary's yard.  I take the opportunity to lie down and rest for the walk home while she takes photos of this bench.  I pointed out the robin having a foot long worm (get it?) with my macro vision:

Well, I lied.  The bench was next to last stop.  The Roommate has been trying to get a macro shot of these Japanese maple whirlygigs for a long time.  Here I get one as a cap, so suggested that we let well enough alone and go home!

Hope you enjoyed tagging along for a view of my world.  Enjoy your summer and we'll chat again further on down the road.  Chet

Linking to: Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday .

On Golden Pond - Some Canada Geese

~ click on collage to enlarge ~

Salato Wildlife Education Center, Frankfort, Kentucky 
 November 2012

Linking to Water Wednesday II and Wild Bird Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - Confused

Lilacs blooming with goldenrod - September 24

For more Wordless Wednesday photos be sure to check out Wordless Wednesday Again .

Quotography - Hawk's Feather

"Not everyone likes to look at what they call 'little birds'. They want to look at something big. They like to watch the hawks."
 Margi Huber

This quote must be true.  Or, at least I was thrilled to find this feather in the park when walking Chet recently.  Last fall two hawks stayed in a tree in my suburban back yard long enough for me to get a photo.  Better than any cardinal or even hummingbird! (I think this may be a red-tailed hawk feather.  What do you think?)

For more quotes and photography celebrating a July favorite, be sure to check out My Perspective Blog .

First of the Month - Great Balls of Fire!

This photo shot on June 1 at 8:30 a.m. pretty much tells the weather story in Kentucky over the last few weeks. We went immediately from a cool, rainy May to hot humid days with temperatures hitting mid-90s for too many days in early June. Could someone remind the weather guys that we're supposed to have four seasons, not just winter and summer?

For the past six months I've been scanning Kentucky skies, camera in hand, in order to participate in a year-long photography meme that attracts aspiring photographers from all over. The idea is that we look at our surroundings and record the changes from month to month. The host for this meme is Jan at Murrieta 365 . Here's how it works: Jan is calling her new meme First of the Month. Here are her directions: "The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first day of each month. It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is fine. It can be a record of where you are each first day of the month." I decided to photograph Kentucky skies.

Check out Jan's link above for some photographs of people and places from all over on the first day of June.

First of the Month - Spring Greening

For the past four months I've been studying Kentucky skies, on the lookout for photo opportunities that capture the current season. In January I discovered an exciting blog photography meme started by Jan at Murrieta 365 . This meme appealed to me because I need to work on taking better photos, which do a lot to enliven and illustrate blog posts. Here's how it works: Jan is calling her new meme First of the Month. Here are her directions: "The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first day of each month. It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is fine. It can be a record of where you are each first day of the month." Interesting exercise, right? I decided to photograph Kentucky skies. So, after a week of unseasonably cold, wet weather and gloomy skies with the occasional snow flurry, here you have Spring Greening on April 1. These trees are huge maples in my neighbor's yard. I love the soft yellow-green new growth against the pale blue spring sky: I could have shared photos of dazzling pink saucer magnolia blooms or white flurries of Bradford pears or even sprays of brilliant yellow forsythia against the spring sky. But being able to look up at this subtle green growth and see the sky among the still bare almost bare branches says springtime in Kentucky. If you'd enjoy seeing some more beautiful photography from all over and on many subjects--Norway to Australia--just click on Jan's web page for a list of other First of the Month Players.

First of the Month - Sycamore Sky

In January I discovered an exciting blog photography meme started by Jan at Murrieta 365 . This meme appealed to me because I need to work on taking better photos, which do a lot to enliven and illustrate blog posts. Here's how it works:

Jan is calling her new meme First of the Month. Here are her directions: "The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first day of each month. It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is fine. It can be a record of where you are each first day of the month." Interesting exercise, right?

I decided to photograph Kentucky skies. Every day I'm looking at the sky and taking photos of Mother Nature's many moods. She's been rather surly the past week--rain, rain, rain. Yesterday morning four tornadoes touched down in the area causing a lot of damage from straight line winds. On March 1, when the official photo is to be taken, the weather shifted. All day the sky has been a brilliant blue with not a cloud to be seen. Just perfect to show off the bare sycamore tree, icy white against blue skies.

Even if you know these clear blue skies are temporary, it's still lovely to see them on March 1. A promise that spring will come in its own time. If you'd enjoy seeing some more beautiful photography from all over and on many subjects, just click on Jan's web page for a list of other First of the Month players.