summer

Flame On!

August 16, 2015 — 4 Comments

Zippo

F/5.6, 1/20, ISO 1600.

Day 228 / 365

It’s really difficult to find what you want on eBay. I was searching for cigarette Lighters and found over 15,000 matches.

Interesting Fact: George G. Blaisdell founded Zippo Manufacturing Company in 1932, and produced the first Zippo lighter in early 1933, being inspired by an Austrian cigarette lighter of similar design made by IMCO.[2] It got its name because Blaisdell liked the sound of the word “zipper” and “zippo” sounded more modern.[citation needed] On March 3, 1936, a patent was granted for the Zippo lighter. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zippo )

 

Like Walking On Water Only Better! 

August 15, 2015 — 6 Comments

Paddleboarding

F/6.3, 1/800, ISO 200.

Day 227 / 365

How do paddle boarders say “hello” to each other?

They wave!

Interesting Fact: Historically, Africans and indeed many other river based and coastal cultures, have stood up within their canoes and upon rafts and paddled standing for thousands of years. Conceptually therefore, the idea of standing and paddling using an extended canoe paddle is far from being a new concept. ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standup_paddleboarding )

Behind The Blue Eyes

August 14, 2015 — 4 Comments

blue eyes

F/7.1, 1/60, ISO 125.

Day 226 / 365

A guy walks past a mental hospital and hears a moaning voice “… 13 … 13 … 13 …”

The man looked over to the hospital and saw a hole in the wall, he looked through the hole and gets poked in the eye. The moaning voice then groaned “… 14 … 14 … 14 …”

Interesting Fact:  Blue eyes are more sensitive to light than darker-colored eyes since they do not have as much melanin. This sensitivity can make blue-eyed people more prone to problems like melanoma of the eyes. For this reason, they should be more vigilant about protecting their eyes against too much sun exposure by wearing sunglasses or making sure their prescription glasses include protection from ultraviolet rays. ( http://factualfacts.com/science-facts/blue-eyes/ )

 

 

 

Yeah We Lift!

August 13, 2015 — 10 Comments

cranes

F/9.0, 1/320, ISO 100.

Day 225 / 365

Crane party, they can get down and they can really raise the roof!

Interesting Fact: The crane for lifting heavy loads was invented by the Ancient Greeks in the late 6th century BC.[1] The archaeological record shows that no later than c.515 BC distinctive cuttings for both lifting tongs and lewis irons begin to appear on stone blocks of Greek temples. Since these holes point at the use of a lifting device, and since they are to be found either above the center of gravity of the block, or in pairs equidistant from a point over the center of gravity, they are regarded by archaeologists as the positive evidence required for the existence of the crane. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_(machine)#History )

And I Ran I Ran So Far Away

August 12, 2015 — 10 Comments

street art

F/4.2, 1/30, ISO 1100.

Day 224 / 365

What did the artist say to the rival?

I Challenge you a doodle!

Interesting Fact:  Artists have challenged art by situating it in non-art contexts. Street artists do not aspire to change the definition of an artwork, but rather to question the existing environment with its own language.[3] The motivations and objectives that drive street artists are as varied as the artists themselves. ‘Street’ artists attempt to have their work communicate with everyday people about socially relevant themes in ways that are informed by esthetic values without being imprisoned by them. There is a strong current of activism and subversion in urban art. Street art can be a powerful platform for reaching the public and a potent form of political expression for the oppressed, or people with little resources to create change.[5] Common variants include adbusting, subvertising and other culture jamming, the abolishment of private property and reclaiming the streets. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_art )

Families Are Like Fudge Mostly Sweet With A Few Nuts

August 11, 2015 — 16 Comments

Greater Yellowlegs 1

F/ 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640.

Greater Yellowlegs

Day 223 / 365

How do baby birds learn to fly?

They wing it!

Interesting Fact: They often feed actively, running after fish or other fast-moving aquatic prey. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/252/overview/Greater_Yellowlegs.aspx )

I Got Chills. They’re Multiplying. And I’m Losing Control ‘Cause The Power You’re Supplying. It’s Electrifying!

August 9, 2015 — 6 Comments

© Through Open lens Photography

F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400.

Great Egret

Day 221 / 365

What do you get when you kiss a diseased bird?

Cherpies

Interesting Fact: Resident to medium-distance migrant. Most Great Egrets move south for winter, traveling as far as the West Indies or southern Central America. They migrate by day in small flocks. During mild years, Great Egrets may stay as far north as Massachusetts. Individuals from the southern U.S. may not migrate at all. In late summer and fall, Great Egrets range widely over the continent. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/lifehistory )

 

I Choose To Be Happy Today!

August 8, 2015 — 8 Comments

European Starling 2

F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 200.

European Starling

Day 220 / 365

What kind of birds do you usually find locked up?

Jail-birds!

Interesting Fact: A female European Starling may try to lay an egg in the nest of another female. A female that tries this parasitic tactic often is one that could not get a mate early in the breeding season. The best females find mates and start laying early. The longer it takes to get started, the lower the probability of a nest’s success. Those parasitic females may be trying to enhance their own breeding efforts during the time that they cannot breed on their own. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/lifehistory )

 

Today I Will Be Happier Than A Seagull With A Stolen Chip!

August 7, 2015 — 11 Comments

© Through Open lens Photography

F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400.

Bonaparte’s Gull

Day 219 / 365

A man and his pet seagull walk into a bar. It’s about 5pm, but they’re ready for a good night of drinking.
They start off slowly, watching TV, drinking beer, eating peanuts. As the night goes on they move to mixed drinks, and then shooters, one after the other.
Finally, the bartender says: “Last call.”
So, the man says, “One more for me… and one more for my seagull.”
The bartender sets them up and they shoot them back. Suddenly, the seagull falls over dead.
The man throws some money on the bar, puts on his coat and starts to leave.
The bartender, yells: “Hey buddy, you can’t just leave that lyin’ there.”
To which the man replies: “That’s not a lion, that’s a seagull.”

Interesting Fact: The smallest gull seen over most of North America, it is also the only gull that regularly nests in trees. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/459/_/Bonapartes_Gull.aspx )

Watch Out, Here I Come!!!

August 6, 2015 — 9 Comments

Eastern Kingbirds

F/ 6.0, 1/500, ISO 800.

Eastern Kingbirds

Day 218 / 365

Why does the bird bring toilet paper to the party?

Because he is a party pooper.

Interesting Fact:  Kingbirds are “passerines,” a taxonomic group commonly referred to as perching birds or songbirds. But kingbirds and other flycatchers are in a different subgroup from true songbirds, and they don’t have nearly as complex voices. Rather than learning their calls they probably perform them innately. The young begin to give adult calls at about two weeks of age. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Kingbird/lifehistory )