tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24749560840188589072024-03-13T20:40:55.628-04:00All Nature SingsRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.comBlogger707125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-16991669401093228282018-09-07T23:56:00.000-04:002018-09-07T23:56:01.718-04:00They Walk Among Us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We feel blessed to be able to live in a rural setting. No city hustle and bustle here. We are pretty much surrounded by woods through which we've maintained a trail where our dogs can run freely as we walk along with them.<br />
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We've often wondered what sort of wildlife might be found out here. A year ago I received a couple of trail cams which I installed to help answer our curiosity. Over the months, as I took the camera cards out to see what was captured on them, we saw a variety of wildlife - coyotes, skunks, raccoons, deer, etc - as well as people and dogs.<br />
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Then as I reviewed one of the cards recently, I got a large surprise, captured on one of the cams only 200 yards behind the house ... have a look:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxRkL_fArww8SEKvGHxD7jSPZx0oauvjI-pQdnm5uQisSlGOpkxDQyIpyEuOkW0YHTgXau3Z1TVqpvXEFdj' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Although we've lived here for 15 years, and we'd heard rumours of sightings in the area, this was our first actual evidence of their presence. We do pay a little more attention on our daily walks now !<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-2586759097773880742018-08-30T21:03:00.000-04:002018-08-30T21:07:44.518-04:00Too Close for Comfort !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been AWOL (or MIA) for the past 10 months and I have a raft of excuses for not being active here - but I won't list any. I have wrestled with those good intentions of posting once again, and I finally landed here. It was not due to stepping back from photography - I have many folders of 'unprocessed film' that need to see the light of day (for me anyway).<br />
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Late on an evening about 3 weeks ago when I was in Florida, I heard the distant rumble of thunder - not at all an unusual event at that time of year. As I heard continued rumbling I thought I'd step out to see if there was a photographic opportunity. Indeed, the sky was being continually lit up but it appeared that the storm was quite some way off (based on the time between lightning and thunder).<br />
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I would normally use a tripod to photograph lightning but had left it behind up north. With the camera braced against my chest, and with breath held, I managed to get a few shots of the spectacular light show:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ar2CSYgH4yfGagx5ZbpzhF3QMDCnn2CLaUSkbsoEBa79HKgVf4u5eIp7fy1zRQ0pIDsRnyDM0khn3-_jk_EjE-jgYKKAhEfpE4qr32TluvlLIaVmG1v8e_gJQ1cmquJoGdjjTuC_NtA/s1600/180810+lightning+1-6156+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ar2CSYgH4yfGagx5ZbpzhF3QMDCnn2CLaUSkbsoEBa79HKgVf4u5eIp7fy1zRQ0pIDsRnyDM0khn3-_jk_EjE-jgYKKAhEfpE4qr32TluvlLIaVmG1v8e_gJQ1cmquJoGdjjTuC_NtA/s640/180810+lightning+1-6156+sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-tp4MYuYCAF_2Mvw5tZLOvPciG652euaPmqc_TMwdJ_YrygeCsrQh84LfbINqeOzQ9Uzhm6LkslSg4RtOZ2e0M1fmjpMA9wRvxCNt2D8N4dHxDGPtcSRZz8nPRmRMatsE02JgMeOos0/s1600/180810+lightning+2-6160+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-tp4MYuYCAF_2Mvw5tZLOvPciG652euaPmqc_TMwdJ_YrygeCsrQh84LfbINqeOzQ9Uzhm6LkslSg4RtOZ2e0M1fmjpMA9wRvxCNt2D8N4dHxDGPtcSRZz8nPRmRMatsE02JgMeOos0/s640/180810+lightning+2-6160+sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I continued to shoot while also counting seconds between flashes and peals of thunder and figured that with at least 12 seconds between them, the storm was still at a distance. That theory clearly was disproved when the very next flash lit up my surroundings so brilliantly that I thought it had removed me from this world. I could literally feel the electricity in the air. Upon realizing that I could still move, I hastily retreated inside on what I will admit were shaky legs. Since I had the shutter open when the flash occurred I can share my near-death experience:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo-4h8rDH74nHi_H7FbVYpnrKvZ47QXBbXP-6PfZfZtZD0Zt-7GTzSs6T79sw86GMwsw17N-5mkFMgacicsv6uIPG68b8NlbX0Ad7nbnq08OnthTa1seVJCoTPYG7zSHmACMiiI0d_pQ/s1600/180816+lightning-4364+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo-4h8rDH74nHi_H7FbVYpnrKvZ47QXBbXP-6PfZfZtZD0Zt-7GTzSs6T79sw86GMwsw17N-5mkFMgacicsv6uIPG68b8NlbX0Ad7nbnq08OnthTa1seVJCoTPYG7zSHmACMiiI0d_pQ/s640/180816+lightning-4364+sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The exposure times were similar in all 3 shots but obviously the flash proximity and intensity was not. Lesson learned (I think) for next time.</div>
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-32249899436900613222017-10-29T00:34:00.002-04:002018-08-30T20:21:40.135-04:00Photography at 60mph<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't know about you, but I hate it when a fleeting moment presents itself that I want to capture so I can freeze it and keep it from being fleeting only.<br />
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Unfortunately those moments sometimes occur when I'm behind the wheel. Fortunately, sometimes I have the camera right there beside me.<br />
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Now you also have to understand that I don't have a death wish, either for myself or those I'm sharing the road with. So I do exercise caution under these circumstances.<br />
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But I also enjoy reliving the moments at a later time - moments that otherwise would have been lost.<br />
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Have you ever indulged ?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHPj7GjikTdEIX2kHJUst2MIZm3WzDGc6UvbJEouJ3HQ3B_IfPjTwnDF_kwiQOo9v9bhmKkiQGZzGRob59ojPXakl9COQF3cdLcOjlAxcpI9w_MD7aBeLjdxp0wBFikZUpWK_Si3BF10/s1600/170517+bringing+Koda+home+-+sunrise+on+401-5434+sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHPj7GjikTdEIX2kHJUst2MIZm3WzDGc6UvbJEouJ3HQ3B_IfPjTwnDF_kwiQOo9v9bhmKkiQGZzGRob59ojPXakl9COQF3cdLcOjlAxcpI9w_MD7aBeLjdxp0wBFikZUpWK_Si3BF10/s640/170517+bringing+Koda+home+-+sunrise+on+401-5434+sm.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5XmjkLRcpbII6tSNlj2R4BBfN0-ZnbtaQ7UhlIt-RbOlDVSzisf2Mln-fAa_6akPuWbQoeKCx2aGwsTQYZ0Zk9HPILi8D1Ly7DkeqoIw0XtrnYXDti9r4im8DPnrG0cIMhbGdMvJ0Cg/s1600/171004+Lake+Superior+sunrise-9373+sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5XmjkLRcpbII6tSNlj2R4BBfN0-ZnbtaQ7UhlIt-RbOlDVSzisf2Mln-fAa_6akPuWbQoeKCx2aGwsTQYZ0Zk9HPILi8D1Ly7DkeqoIw0XtrnYXDti9r4im8DPnrG0cIMhbGdMvJ0Cg/s640/171004+Lake+Superior+sunrise-9373+sm.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVV3rllF2d5tBBPdjsS9gOC22xdDktPZqPf3nKT0lj27XB7_cYhdgbiTTd097tQtDMUx2CcmFI0SIZu1cQ_d0i1HqIABgpdXcZdToiDb0V1Lh7oBVWiH9S5wOalXCnEpaNL7XYC9AX24/s1600/171004+trip+to+Thunder+Bay-9424+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVV3rllF2d5tBBPdjsS9gOC22xdDktPZqPf3nKT0lj27XB7_cYhdgbiTTd097tQtDMUx2CcmFI0SIZu1cQ_d0i1HqIABgpdXcZdToiDb0V1Lh7oBVWiH9S5wOalXCnEpaNL7XYC9AX24/s640/171004+trip+to+Thunder+Bay-9424+sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-16032631930175738612016-11-20T22:46:00.001-05:002016-11-20T22:46:38.105-05:00The Trees of the Field ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"You will go out in joy<br />
and be led forth in peace;<br />
the mountains and hills<br />
will burst into song before you,<br />
and all the trees of the field<br />
will clap their hands."<br />
(Isaiah 55:12)<br />
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Well, metaphorically speaking, the trees were doing just that when I stepped out into the creation early one morning a few weeks ago. I was up before the dawn to capture a sunrise in one of my favourite places. Since I hadn't calculated the time of the sun's appearance very well, I arrived in almost pitch darkness. 'Sunrise' was a bad news/good news story - the early morning mist was so thick that the sun was unable to break through for several hours. However, it was easy to experience the peace Isaiah wrote about (above) as I wandered about in silence.<br />
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I'm only now coming back to processing my raw photos of that morning (I will post some misty scenes at another time). It was not by happenstance that I 'discovered' another area on my way home, although a road closure forced me there. I happily scrambled through brush and over rocks with Keera (see Jan. post) to see scenes like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmqhrQ4bYGSZbRGEA8P1TBMkGWm4uBgPLxPCide4RdiEFP-_6-vA62X8Iob1JQ1FTPGnYaH86lBVlRdAColGBeZRIbz10gnlVu39JKslR_EGH4RYDYDPzcRVudy4M79N_GD8KwCfVfYg/s1600/161014+fall+scene+-+Lyndhurst+1-2+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmqhrQ4bYGSZbRGEA8P1TBMkGWm4uBgPLxPCide4RdiEFP-_6-vA62X8Iob1JQ1FTPGnYaH86lBVlRdAColGBeZRIbz10gnlVu39JKslR_EGH4RYDYDPzcRVudy4M79N_GD8KwCfVfYg/s640/161014+fall+scene+-+Lyndhurst+1-2+sm.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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And only a few days before, we experienced the joy of grandchildren (another gift of God) as they experienced the joy of riding in the rumble seat of a car from a bygone era:<br />
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If you're not familiar with Isaiah 55, take 3 minutes to read it <span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+55&version=NIV" target="_blank">here</a></span></span> - it's an open invitation to peace and joy for all.<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-77110043587887361302016-11-06T01:10:00.001-04:002016-11-06T01:10:29.796-04:00Did You Hear THAT ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yes, that WHOOSH was time flying by ! Even I can't believe that almost 10 months have flown by since I last posted here.<br />
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This will likely be my shortest post (I won't say ever, for who can predict ...), but I did want to drop by to tell you that (most of) my 'spare' time has been consumed by my work on behalf of Finding Them Homes (see <a href="http://www.findingthemhomes.com/">www.findingthemhomes.com</a>).<br />
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I also want to mention that my plan is to be at least a monthly presence here since I've been able to do some photography in the remainder of my 'spare' time and will try to post a sample here occasionally.<br />
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Not sure if any followers remain out there but if so, hello, and hope to hear from you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXXJ3zvoLZ5N4f6tX7JwtyzTi8qN8sx_o2wCf9RGrJ6Glb2nMy41Cvjzu8D960owvQoSnQnGnAcRVr17ktNJpptsUS_wiGmLZr-E8CWZjAraRUs3RgCpqhlQsYfoM22nOOqbx5eFwCJE/s1600/160804+Model+A+in+front+of+KD+Design+2-0574+print+sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXXJ3zvoLZ5N4f6tX7JwtyzTi8qN8sx_o2wCf9RGrJ6Glb2nMy41Cvjzu8D960owvQoSnQnGnAcRVr17ktNJpptsUS_wiGmLZr-E8CWZjAraRUs3RgCpqhlQsYfoM22nOOqbx5eFwCJE/s640/160804+Model+A+in+front+of+KD+Design+2-0574+print+sm.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh, did I happen to mention that I was also able to fill a long-time dream of acquiring a vintage automobile - a 1930 Model A - shown here in front of my son's business office.<br />
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Back with more soon.</div>
Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-47104078292299572392016-01-21T01:02:00.000-05:002016-01-21T01:02:26.660-05:00Is There Anybody Out There ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You might well ask that of me. I'm afraid I've been MIA from blogland for quite some time ... a couple of seasons and a lot of water under the bridge in that time. It was never my intent to update this only once a quarter but you know how sometimes life gets in the way ...<br />
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I was wondering which photos to post since my camera hasn't been MIA and I've clicked the shutter quite a number of times since I last posted. I decided to share a few of our new furry best friend who joined our family last August. We took her to a doggy beach and we learned that she's definitely not a water dog - you'll see ...<br />
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I hope everyone's new year is off to a good start. I didn't make a resolution to come here on a more regular basis, but I will try ...<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-29954214004413019102015-10-16T00:53:00.000-04:002015-10-16T00:53:12.265-04:00Autumn Road Trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The forecast looked dreary - the next 4-5 days would bring clouds laden with rain and gusty winds. And autumn colours don't wait for the perfect weather forecast. Not only would the light be dreary, the wind would hasten the undressing of the trees.<br />
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I've learned through the years that in photography 'carpe diem' is a motto to live by. So, equipment in car and off on a road trip to see what effect autumn had had on areas I'd made mental notes to re-visit when I saw them in summer. I wasn't disappointed - here's a small sample of the hundred and some-odd scenes I captured.<br />
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(<i>For some music to put you in that autumn mood, click on the link below</i>).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyuMui2E9EtyzvDxSCUU-5YJYYgXry-B2GNkMtyMwLntk0YefIClGrwvdc8mjNbMNwgqXbnb74EI0U7nICPJq6VheueC1WxctKKmU6vglypmK9fe5N6Yu0nysHC-fKPYl6MjShixFgAM/s1600/151012+Westport+in+autumn+4-4534+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyuMui2E9EtyzvDxSCUU-5YJYYgXry-B2GNkMtyMwLntk0YefIClGrwvdc8mjNbMNwgqXbnb74EI0U7nICPJq6VheueC1WxctKKmU6vglypmK9fe5N6Yu0nysHC-fKPYl6MjShixFgAM/s640/151012+Westport+in+autumn+4-4534+blog.JPG" width="800" /></a></div>
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-11164502397272347232015-10-09T21:01:00.000-04:002015-10-09T21:01:41.795-04:00What I Did On My Summer Vacation or Post #700<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Has it really been several months since I was last here ? There have been fleeting moments when it crossed my mind that I hadn't posted anything on my blog but then the busyness of the day prevailed and the thought was swept away. A quote in a photography newsletter lead me to a blog which reminded me of my neglected blog ... and here I am. (And this so happens to be my 700th post).<br />
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No I won't bore you with details of the past few months, but I have been fortunate enough to do some work for several clients (one of which featured a number of my photos <a href="http://www.covedweller.com/" target="_blank">here</a>). One of the major occurrences during this time was the addition of a new member to our family. Some of you may remember the loss of our beloved <a href="www.http://millemots-365.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-saddest-decision.html" target="_blank">Sasha</a> late last year. Through what can only be described as divine intervention, Keera entered our lives in August (after being abandoned on a busy city street, brought into the veterinarian used by the dog rescue run by 2 of our daughters - <a href="http://www.findingthemhomes.com/" target="_blank">Finding Them Homes</a>, and a fruitless month-long search for her owner). Through her microchip we discovered that she turns 5 years old this month - we're looking forward to many happy years with her.<br />
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So let me introduce Keera to you - as you can see, she is already fitting in very well. (Oh, and I will do my best not to leave such a time gap before I pay a visit to you, and return here).<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-14625482143891441682015-07-24T01:54:00.000-04:002015-07-24T01:54:48.838-04:00I Lift Up Mine Eyes ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It had been another one of those changing weather kind of days - alternating sun, gray skies, a threat of rain followed by more blue sky. Then after dinner the wind kicked up and storm clouds gathered. In no time rain was pelting against the north-facing windows. But as suddenly as the storm had come upon us, the wind blew it southward.<br />
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The sudden quiet made me glance out the window and I caught the remains of a double rainbow. I figured since I was outside with camera in hand I might as well also capture some of the summer blooms, freshened by the rain. I was absorbed in catching the raindrops hanging from petals and bees scurrying to gather nectar in the golden hour.<br />
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I finally lifted my eyes when I came around the west side of the house and was greeted by a sky in turmoil. Another storm further away had roiled the sky in the west while at the same time the sky in the northwest was trying hard to revert to blue. It made for an awesome sight ...<br />
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[<i>Have a listen to an oldie goldie below while you relax here for a few minutes</i>] <br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-91072031859923060072015-07-07T00:45:00.001-04:002015-07-07T00:45:53.269-04:00Lost and Found<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know from a comment I received last week from a visitor here that I'm not the only photographer who has occasionally (often ?) gone out on a photo shoot, and downloaded the results into a folder with the intent of coming back to review them when time permitted, only to let them languish - sometimes for years (?)<br />
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I've been slowly working to get photos from past years catalogued in Lightroom (I suspect this will be a lifetime project). Until I do it's a hit and miss approach when looking for something specific in my old folders. The upside, however, is that I do stumble across photos that I'd almost forgotten existed.<br />
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And so I came across a series I shot while in Denver to attend a niece's wedding almost 5 years ago. I dusted a couple of photos off and thought I'd share them with you. The first was shot from a hotel balcony with a 70-200mm lens perched on the railing, and the second with my then newly-acquired 10-22mm.<br />
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Perhaps you have some buried in a folder that should see the light of day.<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-72855211007034944962015-06-21T00:49:00.001-04:002015-06-21T00:49:53.805-04:00The Beauty That Surrounds Us (Reprise)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm working on an assignment for a client who is in the business of enticing people to take a pause from the hustle and bustle of life by enjoying a week of cottage living in beautiful surroundings. He rejuvenates tired cottages that once served that purpose.<br />
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I went out earlier this week to capture some of that beauty in an area about an hour's drive from our place, where the cottages are located. I could easily post a dozen photos but I think you'll 'get the picture'.<br />
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[Coincidentally I <a href="http://millemots-365.blogspot.ca/2012/06/beauty-that-surrounds-us.html" target="_blank">posted</a> under this same title almost 3 years ago to the day - it just seemed fitting again]<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-52716158241392036382015-06-04T23:52:00.001-04:002015-06-04T23:52:09.859-04:00Terror in the backyard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The calendar is marking time for me these days rather than the clock. I realized it's almost been a month since I last posted. My camera has not sat gathering dust, however - I've done a little commercial work and family shots at birthdays and soccer games: those important moments in life. My work as treasurer for the dog rescue run by two of my daughters, with the help of many volunteers, has also taken much of my time (more info<span style="color: yellow;"> <a href="http://www.findingthemhomes.com/" target="_blank">here</a></span>.)<br />
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And then there are those surprises that almost catch you off-guard. I discovered that a new resident had made our pond home. I thought I had caught a glimpse of him some time earlier, but when I almost decapitated him with the lawn mower (rest assured, he survived the experience with nary a scratch) I was finally able to identify him - a snapping turtle !<br />
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I quickly ran to get a shovel and pail - I remembered being warned as a youngster never to try to handle one of these ornery creatures - they have rightly earned their reputation. This one was about 8" (20cm) across and was capable of inflicting a nasty bite. In deference to his ability and potential to snap, I used a zoom lens to capture his main weapon - a sharp beak.<br />
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I released him after a short while back onto the lawn and watched as he quickly (well, for a turtle) made his way to the water. A while later as I walked past the pond I noticed some old leaves stuck near the edge. Normally I would have removed them by hand but I picked up a stick that happened to lay nearby and reached to flick them out. As I poked the leaves, a head lunged out with lightning speed from beneath them and a beak snapped hold of the stick momentarily. I quickly realized that my fingers could have been the recipient of that attack. Lesson learned - no more fingers in the pond !<br />
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Despite his nastiness, even creatures like these play an important role in God's creation, helping keep things in balance. Otherwise I'm sure that our pond would be overrun by a plague of frogs.<br />
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[I apologize if I haven't returned a visit to your blog - I shall make every attempt to do that before my next post. Please know that I read and savour every comment]<br />
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<i>the business end</i><br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-51939224554911970632015-05-05T01:11:00.000-04:002015-05-05T01:11:29.231-04:00Connections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While reading the news online this evening I saw an article about the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, in Holten, the Netherlands, paying tribute to the Canadians who paid with their lives to liberate that country 70 years ago. That reminded me of an event far back in my own history, when I was too young to realize its significance. That was the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.<br />
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I received the commemorative cup illustrated below as an innocent youngster in kindergarten. My recollection of that event is that the cup was filled with candy. Little did I know then that within 2 years I would emigrate to the country that was primarily responsible for the liberation of the Netherlands.<br />
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My mother safeguarded this cup for many years until it could be entrusted to me. Since then it has stood tucked inside a cabinet from where I would occasionally take it and ponder it in silence. It reminds me of the connection I have with these two countries - one of my birth and the second which adopted me.<br />
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Amazing the significance something of such little monetary value can hold.<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-84381209407704865522015-04-30T00:41:00.000-04:002015-04-30T00:41:09.895-04:00A Veterinarian's Friend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There's lots to be said for country living - fresh air, wide open spaces, little congestion (we occasionally experience rush minutes vs. rush hours in the nearby village), and we're surrounded by plenty of nature. The density of humans can likely be counted on 2 hands per square mile whereas the density of other living creatures would be many times that of humans.<br />
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And so we do encounter wildlife on a regular basis. Today we encountered what might be known as the bane of dog owners, or the friend of veterinarians, depending on what side of the credit card you're on. I'm talking here about your docile porcupine.<br />
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In our family we all have had experience with our dogs meeting up with one of these prickly creatures and some experiences have resulted in quite costly vet bills. You would think that after such an experience our dogs would learn to avoid porcupines ... think again - some of them have had 4 encounters and they've always ended up on the wrong side of them.<br />
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After my wife spotted this one ambling along in front of the house, I dashed after it camera in hand (to say 'ran after it' would be a stretch since they move along at a steady rate that shows complete confidence in their 'armour'). As I got closer to it you can see that its hackles were raised - not that I needed a warning. I eventually lost it in the woods.<br />
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I'm happy to report that no dogs, or porcupines, were injured in the making of these photos.<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-75833360999788370162015-03-08T20:41:00.001-04:002015-03-08T20:41:26.525-04:00Beachcombers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We recently went on a little excursion to one of the barrier islands off SW Florida's coast with visitors from 'up north'. The morning started off with somewhat unseasonably low temperatures and we tried to huddle down as the small boat whisked us across calm waters.<br />
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After taking 'the tram' (a pickup truck pulling a wagon) to a beach on the far side of the island we set up base camp for the day's stay. I'm not sure when this fellow arrived - in fact, he may have already been there when we set up - but he wasn't shy at all. I was able to walk to within a few feet of him as he posed to have his portrait taken. You might wonder how I know this was a male - any self-respecting female would have straightened her feathers before allowing a photo.<br />
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While waiting for the forecasted weather to arrive, we decided to explore a bit of the island. After following trails for some time we returned to 'camp' along the shoreline. By now the fog had crept in and covered the strait rather than giving way to the promised sunshine but we hardly noticed as we discovered some of the life forms along the shoreline and marveled at the power of the Creator.<br />
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<i>everything fits neatly inside the protective shell including the eyes</i><br />
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<i>this one looked ready for action as I stared him in the eyes</i><br />
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<i>and these sea urchins looked like they would give an inattentive beachcomber a nasty surprise</i><br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-87053273431774778962015-01-19T21:28:00.002-05:002015-01-19T21:28:16.829-05:00A fair feather friend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First I want to thank all you lovely people who came by and left words of comfort and support on my previous post - they were much appreciated. I hope you'll excuse me for not having come by lately but my motivation was lacking. I'd always considered myself a fairly strong individual but Sasha's passing struck me (and my wife) particularly hard. I'm sure (or at least I've been assured) that time softens the sharp edges but for now some of the lustre has gone from the thought of going out on a photo shoot, alone. However, I still try to follow the ABCs of photography when we go out.<br />
<br />
And so, recently we spent an afternoon on Boca Grande. The promised forecast of some sun and 'warmish' temperatures didn't materialize but I did meet an interesting fellow on the beach who had positioned himself closely behind a couple of fishermen. Unfortunately I had only taken a wide angle lens (17-40mm) vs the whole arsenal and so I had to rely on the stealth approach. You might imagine how hard that would be on a wide open beach. He seemed intent on watching the fishermen (in vain it turns out) for a scrap of fish to be thrown his way so I made it to within about 10' (3m for you metric types) of him before he decided I had encroached sufficiently on his margin of comfort. I had been taking some shots during my approach in case my next step would cause him to take flight.<br />
<br />
At the 10' mark, however, he took a step away every time I took a step closer until he ended up standing in shallow water. And that's where he drew a 'line in the sand' apparently for when I tried to narrow the gap between us one more time he decided to leave for safer ground. I did manage to get a few shots of his getaway (which I cropped due to my focal length limitations). Check him out below.<br />
<br />
<i>where the 'stand-off' took place</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="zci__def__word">arrivederci<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-57477648694341370182014-12-29T00:27:00.002-05:002014-12-29T00:27:46.060-05:00The Saddest Decision ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm writing this
early because I won't be able to later ...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After over 13 years
of love, loyalty, and companionship, the time has come for us to say
goodbye to our beloved Sasha. I've been caught in a struggle between
my head, which is telling me it's the right thing to do, and my heart
which says we can keep looking after her for a while yet. We've known
this day would be coming but I haven't been able to acknowledge it.</span></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sasha's spirit is
still willing (and her 'attitude' is as apparent as ever) but her
physical ailments have significantly impacted her quality of life.
When I see her struggle to get up or hobble along for even a short distance or
groan with pain when we have to roll her over to sleep, I know the
time has come. When she looks at me trustingly with her big soft
brown eyes or tucks her head under my chin when I sit beside her on
the floor, my conviction wavers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wheels have been
set in motion, however, and I have to keep telling myself it's the
right decision. And yet ...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Come celebrate her
life ... (I had earlier written 'commiserate with me' but I think
it's more appropriate to remember how she's enriched our lives):</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-67058690688412293492014-11-23T23:36:00.001-05:002014-11-23T23:36:39.869-05:00Juxtaposition (jŭkˌstə-pə-zĭshˈən)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I hope I can repeat after Paul (from Philippians 4:11) "...<span class="text Phil-4-11" id="en-NIV-29454">for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."</span> <br />
<br />
Our daughter's place - where we'll be in 4 weeks:<br />
<br />
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Where we currently are:<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-19708262820643960082014-10-19T20:29:00.002-04:002014-10-19T20:29:55.206-04:00Fallen Leaves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Why should I be the first to fall<br />
Of all the leaves on this old tree?<br />
Though sadly soon I know that all<br />
Will lose their hold and follow me.<br />
While my birth-brothers bravely blow,<br />
Why should I be first to go?<br />
<br />
Why should I be the last to cling<br />
Of all the leaves on this bleak bough?<br />
I've fluttered since the fire of Spring<br />
And I am worn and withered now.<br />
I would escape the Winter gale<br />
And sleep soft-silvered by a snail.<br />
<br />
When swoop the legions of the snow<br />
To pitch their tents in roaring weather<br />
We fallen leaves will lie below<br />
And rot rejoicingly together;<br />
And from our rich and dark decay<br />
Will laugh our brothers of the May.<br />
<br />
[<i>Robert William Service 1874 - 1958</i>]<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-73118991223904610452014-09-26T21:17:00.000-04:002015-01-22T23:30:25.071-05:00A return to déjà vu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been keeping an eye on this spot. I've driven by it many times over the years and this year I wanted to make sure I captured it before it faded away into the barrenness of winter. I captured this scene about 5 years ago and was fortunate to have it featured on <a href="http://www.scottlawphotography.com/2010/06/meet-rick-guest-photographer.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Scott Law's blog</span> </a>(if you haven't seen his work you should).<br />
<br />
I'm completely in agreement with Lee Maynard: "<i>I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it</i>." [Lee Maynard]<br />
<br />
And to describe this season I find it best to leave it up to the poets:<br />
<i>No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace <br />As I have seen in one Autumnal face. </i>[John Donne]<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-438685185656542172014-09-01T00:09:00.000-04:002014-09-01T00:09:00.620-04:00I've looked at clouds ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air<br />
And feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way ..."<br />
<i>Judy Collins "Both Sides Now" (1969)</i><br />
<br />
I'm a self-confessed cloud watcher - I've been known to grab the camera when interesting cloud formations appear, out of the blue so to speak. As I returned from taking my grandson on a little picnic this past week, I pulled over along the side of the highway to grab a few frames of a scene I had made a mental note of on the way out. And tonight there was an interesting lit-up formation which reminded me of the cloud that lead the Israelites through the desert.<br />
<br />
And I've looked at clouds from both sides too but it's the fascination I recall.<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-4194573068149226052014-08-08T02:03:00.000-04:002014-08-08T02:03:16.496-04:00Slipping those surly bonds ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth<br />
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;<br />
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth<br />
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things<br />
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung<br />
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,<br />
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung<br />
My eager craft through footless halls of air....<br />
<br />
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,<br />
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace<br />
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.<br />
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod<br />
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,<br />
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.<br />
<br />
<i>written by RCAF Flight-Lieutenant John Gillespie Magee Jr. (1922-1941)</i><br />
<br />
Well I may not have experienced that joy of unencumbered flight praised by Flight-Lieutenant Magee, but I did catch a glimpse of those sun-split clouds ....<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-88875962283281659242014-07-28T23:35:00.000-04:002014-07-28T23:35:32.516-04:00In the blink of an eye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And just like that another month has flown by since I was last here. Since then my (camera) sensor has been exposed to the light many times, primarily while capturing family memories - which I'm still sorting through and developing in LR.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how your summer's been going but we haven't experienced very much typical summer weather (yet). Today was literally a 'wash' along with temperatures that didn't hit 60F (14C). Yesterday afternoon we scrambled to get the bbq'ing done before we were hit with another thunderstorm. I resumed my LR editing after dinner until I suddenly noticed a bright glow out the window. In the blink of an eye the sun had burst out from behind a bank of dark clouds and cast a brilliant light on the yard. Of course yours truly rushed out to watch the spectacle (not sans camera).<br />
<br />
The brilliance lasted mere moments and then our world darkened once more. But a couple of hours later an eye in the sky opened as the sun set and the Master produced another of his master pieces for our viewing pleasure.<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-73821918800655653972014-06-28T22:52:00.000-04:002014-06-28T23:01:26.888-04:00Up for air<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Before the month of June slips quietly around the corner and into the pages of history, I had to come back here to let anyone who still comes by for a visit know that I haven't abandoned blogging.<br />
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My shutter finger has still been getting a workout although primarily for commercial photography. I finished processing the last of a series of shoots today. I went back into my archives looking for a shot to post. The one I posted was made on our trip to Calgary last summer, and it reminded me of how quickly time has flown, which in turn reminded me of this:<br />
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Time, like an ever rolling stream,<br />
Bears all its sons away;<br />
They fly, forgotten, as a dream<br />
Dies at the opening day.<br />
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I hope all of you still active in blogland are doing well, and I shall make my visitation rounds as time permits.<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474956084018858907.post-41732581505582185372014-05-23T09:24:00.000-04:002014-05-23T09:24:13.464-04:00Awe-some<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our dog Sasha, like most dogs, is fearful of thunder. In fact she knows that lightning is a precursor to thunder so when she sees it she already starts to cower. When I took her out late the other night to do her thing, unlike most evenings she wanted to go right back in - she had seen a faint flash to the west. Meanwhile I thought it would be a great opportunity to make some shots before the storm moved in.<br />
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Over the next hour I watched as the storm approached but never arrived. Although the lightning flashed and thunder rolled, the storm veered south. Several times I peered back into the house to see if Sasha had become hysterical yet, but she slept soundly through it (a blessing of old age ?).<br />
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I felt a little exposed standing out on the balcony and in the yard, but the display was both fascinating and awesome. [click on the photos for a better view]<br />
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483295526635664974noreply@blogger.com26