Archilochus coloubris

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird. (3.2 grams, 3.25 inches in length)

We have a couple of pairs fighting for time at the feeder!

They are very territorial and the winged dog fight is rather amazing!

No camera can capture it! You must witness it to believe it!

Its also hard to believe that North and South America have all the Hummingbirds

in the world, approximately 150 species, they are found no where else.

Your loss and our gain as they are truly amazing creatures!

A Moonset in three

If you don't back up your F stops and underexpose

Your moon may resemble the sun!

These are 3 versions of the Moonset from a few nights ago

aprox. midnight

Arisaema triphylum

Jack in the Pulpit

aka... Bog Onion, Indian Turnip, & Wake Robin

Is a herbaceous perennial with 3 parted leaves and flowers

contained in a spadix that is covered by a hood.

Jack in the pulpit
Preaches today,
Under the green trees
Just over the way.
Squirrel And Song Sparrow,
High on their perch,
Hear the sweet lily bells
Ringing to the church.
Come, hear what his reverence
Rises to say,
In his low painted pulpit
This calm Sabbath day
Fair is the canopy
Over him seen,
Penciled by natures hand,
Black, brown and green.
Green is his surplice,
Green are his bands;
In his queer little pulpit
The little priest stands.
~ Clara Smith

Black with a smack in Macro

Three recent images from our spring garden.

All with a macro lens and then

photo shopped to black the background.

"The world's favorite season is the spring.
 All things seem possible in May"
          ~ Edwin Way Teale

The Magic of Photoshop

These are few Images that on their own I liked

But put through Photoshop and played with, just seemed to POP!

Hope you see what I do?

Don't forget to click on Image for a proper view!

Yoder...yes that's his name!

Sandhill Crane with almost Silhouette

Anna's Hummingbird in Neon

Still life plastic

Landscape plastic

Landscape with lens flare

Past Black eyed Susan plastic with lens flare

The Birds are Back in Town!

                                 "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,
                                      it sings because it has a song."
                                             ~ Maya Angelou

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Savannah Sparrow

Gold Finch male and Pine Siskin

Baltimore Oriole

White Breasted Nuthatch

An Old Insectual Encounter

Just a couple of my older encounters with insects.

"Walk towards the light"

"Ragged Glory"
An Admiral Butterfly in some of its last days?

Maple's Tassels

The Maples in the backyard are in full bloom...before the Leaf comes the Tassel

Leaves are not far behind.

Until that the Blue Jays and Red Squirrels are feasting!

The back light just screamed black and white to me?

These really need to be viewed in a large format...just click on the image!

Day Lilly- Black with a Smack!

 

Blue and Yellow Make?

Who said that blue and yellow make green?

Rocky Raccoon

This masked bandit was out early this evening... so I shot him!

with my camera...feel better now!

                                 Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
                                 only to find Gideon's bible.
                                 Gideon checked out and left it no doubt
                                 To help with Rocky's revival.
                                          ~ The Beatles
                                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiu1EA5jQ8c

Another Insectual Encounter

                                               Its a buggy world out there!

"Dragons Briefs"



Crab Spider

Blue Darner Dragonfly

Crab Spider

Bumble Bee

                                 Insectual
                                 it's the insects who teach us
                                 carpentry
                                 ambush
                                 and to soldier on.
                                 Insects show us to work in teams,
                                 to blend in and evade,
                                 to feed on smoulder, rot,
                                 or whatever is available.
                                 its the insects who teach us
                                 sex is worth dying for,
                                 and to hibernate through scarcity
                                     ~ The Rain In My Purse
                          http://theraininmypurse.blogspot.com/

Crescent Moon

Three images of  Crescent moon through Maple trees

No matter how I tried that moon would not focus!

I'd blame it on the trees but I think they are what makes

these interesting!

                                 Slipping softly through the sky
                                 Little horned, happy moon.
                                 Can you hear me up so high?
                                 Will you come down soon?
                                 On my nursery window-sill
                                 Will you stay your steady flight?
                                 And then float away with me
                                 Through the summer night?
                                 Brushing over tops of trees,
                                 Playing hide and seek with stars,
                                 Peeping up through shiny clouds
                                 At Jupiter and Mars.
                                 I shall fill my lap with roses
                                 Gathered in the milky way,
                                 All to carry home to mother.
                                 Oh! What will she say!
                                 Little rocking sailing moon,
                                 Do you hear me shout - Ahoy!
                                 Just a little nearer, moon,
                                 To please a little boy.
                                     ~ Amy Lowell

Faux Vintage Whiskey Jack

This is a Faux Vintage version of Whiskey Jack Camp

On Belle Island, Lake Mistinikon

In Northern Ontario

                                You can see several other old but not Images
                                         by clicking The label Faux Vintage

Curling Tradition

Tradition is a Bag Pipe procession for any major curling competition.

This was the South Muskoka Club Playoffs!

Curlers put in a full season to get to this point.

They are honoured by the Lone Piper to bring them to the ice

where their fates as slippery people will be decided!

This Piper is Peter Johnstone-Shulz

Piper for all occasions

peterpiper75@live.com

For the pros , you get this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY9JNs55q5c

2 Artists,1 Subject, 2 Views

First I'd like to introduce you to Donna Spears Lauzon...

Donna is a fledgling water colour artist. and a friend.

She has taken an interest in painting some of my Images.

Donna was not impressed with her version of this picture but I think its fantastic!

My hopes are that we can collaborate and show you many more Photographs with a Painters perspective.

Tree Swallow in an early morning mist. The photograph

Tree Swallow in early morning mist...The Painting
~ Donna Spears Lauzon

Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.
                                                     ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ps. Please don't forget to feed the fish.

Black with a smack of Daffodil

see the" labels" for more  Black with a smack specials!

Viola !!

This is what a lot of photographers describe as an oops..Wow! moment

While messing around with different speeds, apertures etc. you take an oops!

Then you notice Hey! I like that...Viola!!

In this case its totally true

These are Violas or Johnny Jump ups growing in my front walkway

My Lovely wife just strolled past and whispered "Don't like that"

What am I crazy? Thats art dude!