sunset

Mother Nature Has A Big Canvas

September 22, 2015 — 8 Comments

clouds 1

F/4.5, 1/2500, ISO 500.

Day 265 / 365

What do you call a sheep with no legs?

A cloud.

Interesting Fact: Ancient cloud studies were not made in isolation, but were observed in combination with other weather elements and even other natural sciences. In about 340 BC the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote Meteorologica, a work which represented the sum of knowledge of the time about natural science, including weather and climate. For the first time, precipitation and the clouds from which precipitation fell were called meteors, which originate from the Greek word meteoros, meaning ‘high in the sky’. From that word came the modern term meteorology, the study of clouds and weather. Meteorologica was a work of intuitive rather than scientific study. Nevertheless, it was the first known work that attempted to treat a broad range of meteorological topics. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud )

Going Down Down Down

September 17, 2015 — 10 Comments

American Kestrel 2

F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, Photoshop CS6.

American Kestrel

Day 260 / 365

Teacher: “What is the difference between a bird and fly?”
Student:  “Well…a bird can fly…..but a fly can’t bird.”

Interesting Fact: Unlike humans, birds can see ultraviolet light. This enables kestrels to make out the trails of urine that voles, a common prey mammal, leave as they run along the ground. Like neon diner signs, these bright paths may highlight the way to a meal—as has been observed in the Eurasian Kestrel, a close relative. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/lifehistory )

 

Yellow Is Back!

September 9, 2015 — 12 Comments

Yellow Warbler 2

F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 1600.

Yellow Warbler

Day 252 / 365

Daughter: Mom, can I have a yellow bird for Christmas?
Mom: NO! You’ll have turkey like everyone else.

Interesting Fact: Yellow Warblers forage along slender branches of shrubs and small trees, picking off insect prey as they go or briefly hovering to get at prey on leaves. Singing males perch near the tops of the bushes or trees in their territory. As male Yellow Warblers are setting up territories they may perform a “circle flight” in which they fly toward a neighboring male or female in a horizontal, semicircular path. A male may also fly slowly with fast, exaggerated wingbeats away from a female he is courting or a male he is competing with. As these territorial encounters proceed, males start by singing at each other; as the dispute goes on, the songs get quieter or switch to chip notes as the males begin to chase each other. Yellow Warblers typically form monogamous pairs that sometimes last more than one breeding season and reform the next. Yellow Warblers defend their nesting territories from many species, including other warbler species, chickadees, House Wrens, blackbirds, and Eastern Kingbirds. They may even chase off other warbler species while on their wintering grounds. Common predators of Yellow Warbler nests include garter snakes, red squirrels, jays, crows, raccoons, weasels, skunks, and domestic or feral cats. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/lifehistory )

I Can See You From Here!!!

July 29, 2015 — 25 Comments

Northern Cardinal 2

F/6.0, 1/500, ISO 1400.

Northern Cardinal

Day 210 / 365

The early bird gets the worm, but of course the early worm gets eaten. So it’s kind of a mixed message.

Interesting Fact: Only a few female North American songbirds sing, but the female Northern Cardinal does, and often while sitting on the nest. This may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/lifehistory )

 

Some Days You Just Have To Get Creative

June 16, 2015 — 21 Comments

factory

F/5.6, 1/500, ISO 280, Photoshop CS6.

Day 167 / 365

Two factory workers are talking.
The woman says, “I can make the boss give me the day off.”
The man replies, “And how would you do that?”
The woman says, “Just wait and see.” She then hangs upside-down from the ceiling.
The boss comes in and says, “What are you doing?”
The woman replies, “I’m a light bulb.”
The boss then says, “You’ve been working so much that you’ve gone crazy. I think you need to take the day off.”
The man starts to follow her and the boss says, “Where are you going?”
The man says, “I’m going home, too. I can’t work in the dark.”

Interesting Fact: One of the earliest factories was John Lombe‘s water-powered silk mill at Derby, operational by 1721. By 1746, an integrated brass mill was working at Warmley near Bristol. Raw material went in at one end, was smelted into brass and was turned into pans, pins, wire, and other goods. Housing was provided for workers on site. Josiah Wedgwood in Staffordshire and Matthew Boulton at his Soho Manufactory were other prominent early industrialists, who employed the factory system. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory#History )

Guess who? Wha ha hahaha! Wha ha hahaha! Hahahahahahahaha!

April 21, 2015 — 18 Comments

Northern Flicker woodpacker

F/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 800.

Northern Flicker

Day 111 / 365

What do you call a woodpecker that lost his beak?

A Head-Banger.

Interesting Fact: Although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Ants are its main food, and the flicker digs in the dirt to find them. It uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/lifehistory )

Piano Man

April 18, 2015 — 25 Comments

piano man

F/11.0, 1/500, ISO 100.

Day 108 /365

Perfect end to a perfect day, listening to classical music as the sun is setting.

Interesting Fact: Pianos generally have 220-230 strings. The strings are made of steel and are strung tightly to create the tension needed to produce the sound. They are strung so tightly to about 168 pounds per string, the total tension can equal 18-20 tons. ( http://www.houstonpianocompany.com/20-fun-facts-about-piano/ )

I Cannot Believe Another Day Is Over!

December 9, 2014 — 24 Comments

verrazano bridge

F/11.0, 1/250, ISO 100

This guy enjoying the sunset over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is probably wondering how cold the water is and if he will ever make it across. Or he may be singing in his head a Britney Spears song “Oops!…I did it again”

 

Interesting Fact: The first driver to cross the bridge wore a rented tuxedo and piloted a “pale blue Cadillac convertible with flags flapping from the fenders,” nabbing the distinction because he had parked behind the Staten Island toll for a week, guaranteeing the position. ( http://www.bensonhurstbean.com/2014/11/25-facts-verrazano-narrows-bridge/ )

The Sun Don’t Shine Forever, But As Long As It’s Here Then We Might As Well Shine Together

September 2, 2014 — 45 Comments

sunflower sunset

F/9.0, 1/320, ISO 100, Flash.

Maybe this sunflower lost all its pedals, but the sun in this photo made it in to the real sun flower.

Interesting Fact: A well-known sunflower characteristic is that the flowering heads track the sun’s movement, a phenomenon known as heliotropism. ( http://www.amazingandweird.com/facts/26-interesting-facts-sunflower-never-knew/ )