(Day 362) All is well

Tuesday Dec. 28, 2010

I got an invitation from one of my daughters to go with her on a trail that she frequently takes her dogs on for exercise. Given the abundance of Christmas-related goodies that have been offered me, and which I of course was too polite to refuse, I needed the exercise too. It turned out to be a beautiful area with abundant opportunities for photos. At one point, when we'd left the trail to make our own along a little creek, through all the snow, we were forced to climb a steep 50' bank. After that we stuck to the trail that ran along the ridge.

Although the sky was a dismal gray, it was a beautiful day for a hike. The water running under the ice, the snow lying thickly on fallen trees, and the peacefulness of the woods indicated that all was well. Here are just a few shots of the many I was able to make this afternoon.

(18-55mm  f8.0  1/15 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/40 sec  ISO200)

(10-22mm  f7.1  1/100 sec  ISO200)

(Day 195) Bushwhacking to babbling brook beauty

Wed. July 14, 2010

I have to thank my son for the inspiration for today’s shots. He had asked me earlier if I had seen the small brook yet, because it was quite scenic; he had seen it on one of his walks in the area and I hadn’t been out that way yet. I hadn’t had an opportunity to get the camera out today - it was guys’ day out for a round of golf which was followed by hours of fun in the water afterward. So after dinner this evening, and the ‘obligatory’ walk into town for an ice cream treat with most of the family, I grabbed the tripod and camera and made my way over to it before dusk set in.

While it was certainly scenic from the dirt road, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to make my way through the undergrowth to follow the brook downstream a little. I had been sure to ‘bathe’ myself in mosquito repellent since the welts all over my body attested to the fact that they had already feasted on me earlier in the week. And while they swarmed all around me, the repellent held them at bay. I think the views from just a little off the beaten path were worth the bushwhacking required.



(18-55mm  f8  0.6 sec  ISO400)