Maine Nature Photos

NWF Photo Contest...

2011-11-18T19:17:00.012-05:00

I was recently a winner in the National Wildlife photo contest. Click on the link below to view the winning images.

Winners Gallery

I've Moved....!

2011-04-29T12:05:00.007-04:00

Here's where I can be found:

www.mainenatureimages.com

A Video I Made...

2011-04-06T14:27:00.000-04:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Video made based on my wildflower photos.

Trapped....?

2011-03-08T08:51:00.004-05:00

It looks stuck but it wasn't, it was just checking me out. These squirrels are beginning to be annoying, the birds don't feed when they're pigging out on the sunflower seeds.

Cardinal Visits Again...

2011-02-11T10:23:00.003-05:00

Through the window this morning, at least it was off the feeder this time. His mate was actually on the feeder when I took the photo.

Squirrel Proof....?

2011-02-06T12:13:00.002-05:00

Guess not.

Seeing Red...

2011-01-13T10:40:00.006-05:00

I know this photo isn't that great but it's the first cardinal I've ever photographed so I had to post it. I actually took it through my bedroom window this morning. I've noticed this male and a female coming to my feeder right at dusk everyday, the lighting is way too low to take photos at that time of day. We had a 16 inch snowstorm yesterday and I had just come in from snowblowing the driveway this A.M. and when I looked out of the window the male was at the feeder. The female wasn't around but one thing I've learned about these two is that they are extremely skittish so I'm glad I was able to get this picture. You can see him looking at the window, I was sticking my lens through the blinds. My goal now is to get a better shot.

Happy New Year...

2011-01-03T07:49:00.002-05:00

This guy visited the bird feeder on new years day and had some corn I put out for it. I also have a gray squirrel that visits but it never sticks around long enough to be photographed.

Autumn is Here....

2010-10-03T17:26:00.004-04:00

The leaves are changing and the birds are really visiting the feeder now that the weather is cool. I photographed this nuthatch earlier this afternoon with the colored beech leaves as a nice background. It won't be long and the leaves will be gone and the snow will be flying.

Catching Some Rays...

2010-07-31T12:28:00.002-04:00

My neighbor created a pond on his property which attracts a lot of frogs and other wildlife so I went over this morning and grabbed a few shots.

Snow Storm Visitor...

2010-01-22T20:06:00.002-05:00

I took this photo on New year's day in my backyard during a snow storm. I have three titmice coming to the feeder this year and they don't seem as skittish as the one's that visited last year.

More Ice...

2010-01-06T20:13:00.003-05:00

My computer has been out of service for a while but I finally started gettings back up and running today so I figured I'd add a new post. I took this photo the same day as the ice mass photo I posted a couple of weeks ago.

Maine State Bird...

2009-12-23T12:54:00.003-05:00

You gotta have quick reflexes to take a photo like this because the chickadees usually don't land for long. I miss the photograph more times than I get it.

Icy Mass...

2009-12-21T12:57:00.004-05:00

We've had a week of bitterly cold temparatures so I took a drive to Sabattus River yesterday. With over night temps in the negative numbers and flowing water the ice really builds up on the rocks and branches. This particular overhanging rock really had a mass of icicles built up on it, the mass is about 2 and a half to three feet from top to bottom. There was so little color in the original image I converted it to black and white. I hope we get a break from the cold teperatures soon.

Typical Maine Coastal Scene...

2009-12-14T07:49:00.001-05:00

I think I took this photo back in the late 80's or early 90's.

More Frost...

2009-12-11T10:06:00.002-05:00

Here's another photo I took the other day. I did a couple of variations of this, one with a large apeture and one with a small apeture setting. I prefer the shallow depth of field in this shot, it brings more attention to the ice crystals on the top of the seed head.

Weather Changes Fast Around Here...

2009-12-07T10:12:00.003-05:00

I took this photo about half an hour ago. It's hard to believe but just three days ago I was riding my motorcycle. This weekend we had a snow storm and this morning when I got up it was 12 degrees outside. Definitely not motorcycle riding weather. More snow is in the forecast later this week.

Chickadee...

2009-12-03T09:56:00.003-05:00

This chickadee was plucking away at the cat-o-nine tail seeds and I was only able to grab a couple of shots before it flew off.
I had to go back to word verification on leaving comments because I was getting anonymous comments left with unsavory links.

Pretty in Pinks...

2009-11-25T09:29:00.003-05:00

Here's a poster I created a few years ago. Novembers in Maine tend to be pretty drab and today it's drizzling so I wanted to post something brightly colored.

Singing Sparrow..

2009-11-24T09:54:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo I took last June and forgot to post.

Dog Days of Summer...

2009-08-16T06:48:00.003-04:00

We're having the hottest weather of the summer so far so I figured I'd post a "cool" photo. This is Mike's dog Bailey, while cross country skiing a winter or two ago.

Thyme Leaved Speedwell...

2009-08-06T09:22:00.001-04:00

I took this photo last summer while I was working on my book but I never posted it on the blog. I don't know why it's called thyme leaved because the leaves are shaped more like oregano.

Mystery Flower....

2009-07-22T08:56:00.003-04:00

This is the first new photo I've taken in over a month. Between a new job I've started, all the rain we've been having and a project I have going on (I have some chickens and I'm working on a coop for them) I haven't taken the time to photograph.

This blossom is growing in my flower garden, I planted it about 4 or 5 years ago as a rootlet but I don't remember what it is, it took this long to finally bloom.

Complimentary Colors...

2009-07-07T07:43:00.001-04:00

Here's another bird shot I took while photographing lupines last month.

Bumbling Along.....

2009-07-02T08:09:00.003-04:00

A bumble bee visiting the honeysuckle in my yard back in May. I took this picture right after the hummingbird sitting in the chokecherry tree.

Resting Hummer...

2009-06-29T08:08:00.003-04:00

This hummingbird was at the feeder but when I stepped out on the deck it flew over to the choke cherry tree and waited for me to go back in.

Lupines....

2009-06-26T08:05:00.002-04:00

Here are a couple of lupine shots, one standard and one a little more abstract.

Not Just Lupines....

2009-06-22T08:28:00.004-04:00

I photographed lupines last week but that's not the only thing I took pictures of in the area. The bird life was crazy so I'm glad I brought my long lens with me. These are the first cedar waxwings I've ever photographed and they let me get pretty close, there was a whole flock.

Chickadee....

2009-06-17T06:59:00.003-04:00

Here's a left over picture from back in May when I went to Sabattus River. It landed on the pine for a split second and I was only able to snap one photo.

Pretty in Pink...

2009-06-16T07:24:00.003-04:00

I took this photo shortly after the sunrise photo from the last post. The ragged robins were in peak bloom. Like I mentioned before, I was actually headed to photograph lupines so I wasn't really dressed for trudging through a dew laden field. I had about a quarter mile walk from the road to get to the spot where I photographed the sunrise, needless to say I got soaked. I usually wear waders when I go out at dawn. By the way I did make it to the lupine patch this past Saturday morning so I'll be posting photos from that day soon.

Sabattus River Sunrise....

2009-06-12T09:21:00.003-04:00

I took this photo last Sunday morning. I was originally headed to photograph a field of lupines and I wanted to be there at sunrise which on that particular morning was at 5 AM. It's a half hour drive to the lupine field so I left the house at 4:30 but I never made it. When I started to see the colors forming in the sky I decided to head to Sabattus River. This was the distraction I mentioned in my last post.

Dewy Daisies...

2009-06-08T07:29:00.002-04:00

I got up early yesterday to photograph lupines but I got side tracked by something else, this is one of the photos I took. Later in the week I'll post what distracted me.

Another Hummer.....

2009-06-04T07:18:00.003-04:00

I have at least four hummingbirds visiting the feeder. I've seen two males visiting and feeding at the same time but the two females I saw at the same time were battling. Maybe I have more visiting but they're so quick it's hard to tell any differences.

I've had some questions on how I took these photos so I'll share that info. I use my Canon 100-400mm IS zoom lens. With the multiplyer factor of my 40D, the lens zoomed all the way is the equivalent of 640mm. I also have my 550 EX flash on the camera. The first photo of the female in flight I had the camera set at the normal synch speed of 1/200th of a second, that's why the wings were blurry. The flash was set at -1 2/3 stops underexposure so the flash light wouldn't overpower the natural light. There was no flash used on the male sitting at the feeder. On today's photo I had the flash set on the high speed synch mode so I was able to set the shutter speed at a lot faster 1/1000th of a second, which helped freeze the wings a little more. The pic is a tad over exposed but it was my first attempt at high speed so I'll be out there practicing more as the summer progresses.

I have the feeder set on my deck rail which is about 30" high, I'm standing about ten feet away with the camera looking down. The soft green background is my out of focus lawn, I shoot wide open at f5.6 so that helps with keeping the background soft.

Quite The Ruby Throat...

2009-05-28T06:27:00.003-04:00

Here's the male hummingbird grabbing a quick snack while the female isn't around, it's easy to see how they got their name. The feeder was empty the other day so I brought it in to fill it. When I brought it back out the male was hovering around looking for it. When it spotted me it came over and landed on the feeder and started drinking while I was still holding it. It was quite something to see a hummer that close.

She's a Meany....

2009-05-26T06:40:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a hummingbird by my red tulips so I decided to put out a feeder to see if it would come to it. Within a couple of days I had a male and a female visiting. I took this photo over the weekend and it's the first time in my life I've ever tried to photograph a hummingbird. This female will come and feed then go land in a tree to keep watch. As soon as the male shows up she chases him off. I'm going to experiment with high speed flash to see if I can get some shots of the wings frozen in place, although I do like the wings being blurred in this picture.

Gray Catbirds....

2009-05-22T07:09:00.002-04:00

I took these two photos on the afternoon before the picture of the waterfall at Sabattus River. I've had gray catbirds nest in my yard before but I never got too close to them. This pair were pretty cooperative and actually landed next to me. I have no idea which is the male or which is the female.

Ferns and Flow....

2009-05-19T08:45:00.004-04:00

I don't care how many times I go back to Sabattus River I always find something new to photograph. I actually found these ferns yesterday afternoon but the lighting was not good so I went back this morning, I knew they would be in the shade.

White Throated Sparrow...

2009-05-18T09:07:00.001-04:00

One of the white throated sparrows hanging around my brush pile at sunset.

Yellow Daffodils....

2009-05-11T07:49:00.002-04:00

These are three of my daffodils that I photographed on Saturday. These are the type that are very aromatic and when I step outside the air has a sweet scent.

Turtles Everywhere.....

2009-05-01T08:19:00.003-04:00

It was an uncharacteristic 90 degrees here on Tuesday and I went kayaking on the Sabattus River again. The wildlife was really enjoyng the weather, I observed a total of 47 painted turtles

and another couple of snappers.

Grackles.....

2009-04-29T08:37:00.003-04:00

I photographed these two guys from my kayak shortly after photographing the battling snappers. Even though it was overcast the irredesent blue feathers show up nicely. There was a whole flock of them and it was interesting watching them hunt in the grass or come to the waters edge for a birdbath.

Battling or Mating...?

2009-04-27T07:14:00.004-04:00

I went kayaking on the Sabattus River yesterday and I encountered this pair. They were so involved with each other they let me paddle right up to them. At first I thought it was a pair mating but when I got home and looked at the photos one of them had quite a few wounds on it, including its eye gouged out. In the first picture you can make out the cuts on the neck, I actually have a close up of the gouged out eye but didn't post it. The third photo shows the impressive claws and it's easy to see how an eye would get gouged.

Rain Covered Pussywillow....

2009-04-24T05:58:00.003-04:00

After a heavy night of rain I went out and took this photograph. As pussywillows develope they do attain a lot of color.

A Little Distraction...

2009-04-21T07:52:00.001-04:00

I took a little break from the yardwork yesterday when this guy showed up.

Watchful Nuthatch...

2009-04-15T07:37:00.003-04:00

This is the same nuthatch that was freaked out by the hawk that passed through a few weeks ago. I saw the hawk yesterday going after a chickadee but it wasn't successful, I'm sure it must be nesting somewhere close by. My postings will be sporatic because I've been doing a lot of yard work and haven't really taken any new photos in a while. Once that's done I'll get back into the routine.

Posing Pretty....

2009-04-09T05:54:00.002-04:00

I took this photo in my yard right next to the bird feeder. When the chickadees come in groups there is a definite pecking order and they have their favorite perches while they wait their turn. This angled branch about two feet from the feeder is one of the favorite perches. All I had to do is point my lens at the branch and wait for a bird to land.

April Showers....

2009-04-06T08:06:00.003-04:00

We've been getting a lot of rain lately, the sun is out right now but more rain is on the way later today. It rained Thursday night but it had stopped by Friday morning so I went out and photographed the droplet covered pussywillows. The yellowish background is actually dead grass that was on the ground. When you enlarged the photo you'll notice a squarish, bright spot on the dark area on the underside of the pussywillow. That's a reflection of my foil fill card adding light.

White Breasted Nuthatch...

2009-04-03T08:49:00.002-04:00

Here's the best whitebreasted nuthatch photo I've gotten so far. I have a couple that come to the feeder on a regular basis but they're a lot more cautious than the red breasted.

Checking Me Out....

2009-04-02T07:14:00.001-04:00

Another one of my visitors checking me out, I thought he was gonna jump on my lap.

Glad It's Spring....

2009-04-01T08:06:00.001-04:00

Here's the chickadee I posted the other day, it decided to break out in song.

Curious Chipmunk...

2009-03-31T06:47:00.002-04:00

The melting snow exposed this log by the feeder and it's proving to be a popular spot. This chipmunk got up on the same log as yesterdays junco.

Dark Eyed Junco...

2009-03-30T08:19:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday and Friday I had tons of juncos visiting the yard. They're a little more skittish than some of the other songbirds but this one landed on the end of that log and posed nicely for me.

Spring Time Chickadee....

2009-03-27T07:30:00.003-04:00

It's nice to go outside in the morning and hear a cacophony of birds singing in the woods, it must be spring.

Mourning Dove...

2009-03-26T07:16:00.004-04:00

The mourning doves have been coming to the feeder all winter but they're very cautious. They never come around while I'm outside, I usually hear them in the fir trees waiting for me to leave. Yesterday this one flew down from the trees and landed right in an open spot about thirty feet away, it really suprised me, it was the first time all winter one has come that close. I like the way the iridescent pink patch on its neck was showing up in the sun.

Red Squirrel....

2009-03-25T08:15:00.000-04:00

The squirrel with the wound on its neck checking me out.

Frozen Nuthatch...

2009-03-24T07:49:00.003-04:00

The sharp shinned hawk made an appearance the other day and the birds scattered except for this little guy. It happened to be on that birch about six feet away from me and it just froze in place. It stayed still for about 3 or 4 minutes and I was able to get a bunch of pics. The next day the hawk showed up again and landed ten feet away from me, three feet off the ground in the bright sun. It was to the side so by the time I swung my camera around it saw me and flew off so I didn't get a photo. It was the first time I actually got a good view of it, before it was always just glimpses. One of these days I'll be successful in getting a good photo.

Chipmunk....

2009-03-23T08:07:00.001-04:00

I took this photo on Saturday, I had a little music playing so this chipmunk decided to do the limbo.

Striking A Pose.....

2009-03-20T07:54:00.001-04:00

The nuthatches are fun to watch, they remind me of hummingbirds the way they're very aggressive toward each other.

Hanging Nuthatch....

2009-03-19T06:29:00.003-04:00

The nuthatches are constantly moving and difficult to get a photo of but this guy landed right next to me in the position you see in the photograph and didn't budge for about 5 seconds. I was able to snap off three pictures before it decided to fly off. Sometimes you just get lucky. I'll be posting another nuthatch photo tomorrow that I think is better than this one, stay tuned.

Brown Creeper...

2009-03-18T06:50:00.003-04:00

I was out in the yard photographing on Monday when this guy showed up. It's a first for me, I've never seen a brown creeper before and boy was it fast, I thought the nuthatches moved quick. I was only able to take one photograph before it disappeared.

Blue Jay...

2009-03-17T08:12:00.005-04:00

When I'm out by the feeder the blue jays don't come around. They'll fly in; see that I'm there then fly off and wait for me to leave. This one stayed still just long enough for me to snap a photo before it left. They're usually loud and rautious but I took a walk the other day and there were a couple on the top of a pine tree that must've been courting because they were mewling and cooing and hopping from branch to branch. I'm so used to hearing them scream at each other it suprised me to hear them making sweet sounds.

Wounded Squirrel...

2009-03-16T07:52:00.004-04:00

Well, we've finally had a few spring like days in a row and since Friday I've spent hours by the bird feeder. At least an hour in the morning than another couple in the afternoon. When you stay still long enough even the shy critters realize you're not a threat and come closer than normal. This squirrel was feeding on the seeds and corn I put out for it when it decided to climb up on a board I have out there and relax in the sun. It actually was nodding off, that's a true sign that a wild creature is not threatened; when it goes to sleep in front of you. While it was lying there I noticed that scabbed wound on its neck. I have a few of these squirrels around and they're always chasing each other away from the food so this one must've been on the losing end of a fight.

Chickadee....

2009-03-13T07:44:00.002-04:00

Here's another photo from the other day, it's my favorite picture I've taken in 2009 so far. It's always my goal to do better.

Another Tufted Titmouse....

2009-03-12T07:44:00.003-04:00

Here's another photo I took on Tuesday, I have two titmice that visit my feeder. They are extremely shy compared to the chickadees and nuthatches but I got lucky when this one landed on the end of the broken branch within photo range. I'm hoping the two are a male and female and they'll end up nesting in the backyard, I'll have to put up more nest boxes to get them to do so.

Chipmunk....

2009-03-11T09:17:00.005-04:00

I spent a couple of hours yesterday by the bird feeder and I got a bunch of pictures I'll be posting in the next few days. This little guy was one of the visitors. When it first came out and noticed me me it dashed back into that tunnel in the snow behind it. Everytime I moved it would dart back in but once it realized I wasn't a threat it proceded to fill its cheeks with seeds and corn. The second photo shows his stuffed cheeks.

Dark Eyed Junco...

2009-03-07T14:20:00.002-05:00

I haven't taken many photos lately that's why it's been a while since I've updated the blog. I'm sick of winter. Once the weather warms up and the snow melts I'm sure I'll be reinspired and will be updating on a regular basis like in the past.

Spring....?

2009-02-20T09:36:00.001-05:00

I took this photo about an hour ago. Despite the snow and cold, it was snowing while I took this picture, these pussywillows prove that winter is slowly loosening it's grip here in Maine.

Hairy Woodpecker...

2009-02-06T07:51:00.001-05:00

Here is one of the guys that visit the suet feeder; both the downy and hairy woodpeckers visit.

Tufted Titmouse...

2009-02-05T06:19:00.003-05:00

The tufted titmouse is a lot shyer than the chickadees. Each species of bird that comes to the feeder has it's own limitations on how close they'll let me approach. With the chickadees I can get within three or feet of the feeder and they'll still go to it. The nuthatches about ten feet, the titmouse it's about twenty feet. I have my feeder on the edge of a wooded area so at twenty feet back there are a lot of branches to get in the way of getting a decent photograph. When I go out to take photos I usually stand in one spot for about an hour at a time, if you stand still long enough the birds get used to you. I finally got these two photographs when the titmouse landed in a spot that was fairly unobstructed by branches.

Red Breasted Nuthatch...

2009-02-04T06:50:00.004-05:00

Like I mentioned before, the nuthatches are a lot tougher to photograph than the chickadees because they move quicker. This guy stayed still long enough to snap a couple of photos before going to the feeder. I have a couple of different ones that visit, this particular one has a paler breast than the last nuthatch I posted.

Hanging In There.....

2009-02-03T06:24:00.000-05:00

This guy decided to hang on the branch rather than sit on top.

Red Squirrel....

2009-02-02T07:31:00.002-05:00

Another photo of one of the squirrels that comes to the backyard. This one is kind of a pain because he chases the birds away from the feeder.

Chickadee dee dee.....

2009-01-26T07:57:00.002-05:00

The most common bird visiting my feeder is the Maine state bird. They allow a pretty close approach so they're good to practice bird photography on.

What Are You Looking At....?

2009-01-23T07:25:00.002-05:00

Red Breasted Nuthatch...

2009-01-22T07:08:00.001-05:00

The nuthatches are a lot quicker than the chickadees but yesterday one stayed still long enough for me to get a decent picture.

Another Chickadee.....

2009-01-20T07:36:00.002-05:00

I took the top photograph shortly after photographing the squirrel from yesterdays post. I've included a photo I took last summer to show the comparison of how chickadees puff up their feathers when it's cold to help keep warm.

Striking a Pose....

2009-01-19T07:17:00.002-05:00

I bought some squirrel food the other day and it didn't take long to attract a couple of red squirrels once I put it out. I took this photo on Friday, the temp was a balmy 5 degrees after a low of 25 below zero. One of the squirrels wasn't as skittish as the other so it allowed me a pretty close approach and I was able to get a few pictures.

Guest Post...

2009-01-16T07:58:00.000-05:00

Photography and its Role in Environmental Awareness

Our world is beset by environmental problems because of man’s continuous quest for modernization. In our ardent zeal to do more in a shorter period of time, we’re depleting the natural resources that our planet has to offer faster than Mother Nature can replenish them, and because of this, we’re facing intense climate changes, global warming that’s melting the icebergs faster than ever before, and holes in the ozone layer that are contributing to an increase in pollution and toxicity in the places we live.

If it’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then we all must agree that a photo that captures the essence of its subject is of more use than the most loquacious of essays about the same subject. And what better use for photos than to increase awareness of the earth’s plight and get more people to realize that we have to act immediately if we wish to provide our future generations with a non-hostile planet to live on. So here goes, a list of reasons why photographs are ideal as a medium to enhance awareness about the need for eco-friendly measures:

· Photos produce a wow effect: If you’re shown a picture of whales being slaughtered, of the destruction wreaked by a typhoon that’s extremely powerful, of the ravages wrought on a rainforest by illegal loggers and poachers, or of animals driven to extinction because of the loss of their natural habitats, you’re likely to take more notice of their cause. The same effect can never be achieved with words or their equivalent.
· Photos provide lasting memories: Just as we don’t remember an earth that was teeming with wildlife and rich in natural resources, our children and their children will know how much destruction one generation can cause only when they see photographs of the earth shot a few decades ago. Photos serve to remind us of what we have destroyed and to warn future generations to preserve what they do have in a wise manner.
· Photos show us how much we stand to lose: Before and after pictures are extremely effective in educating people about the adverse effects of deforestation, global warming and other environmental dangers to our world. They’re the next best thing to actually being on location and witnessing firsthand the kind of damage we are knowingly wreaking on our planet.
· Photos are understood even by children: The future generations need to wake up to the fact that they may not have a world to live in if they’re careless and ignorant about the environment. Since photographs portray the entire story in a way that even children can understand, they realize the importance of doing all they can to protect and save what’s left of the earth’s environment.

By-line:

This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of Associate Degree in Photography. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

25 Below....

2009-01-16T07:56:00.000-05:00

The photo I took of my thermometer this morning says it all!

Downy Woodpecker...

2009-01-15T11:15:00.002-05:00

It was about 8 below zero this morning when I got up but it had warmed up to 2 degrees when I decided to go out and photograph the birds attracted to the feeder. I put out a suet block the other day and this downy woodpecker came to it while I was out photographing. I was out for about 30 minutes or so and ended up getting only four photos worth keeping, I trashed the rest. Needless to say my fingers went numb even with gloves so I had to call it quits before I got frostbite.

Red Squirrel...

2009-01-14T06:11:00.003-05:00

While I was photographing the chickadees the other day I noticed a squirrel running across the yard holding something. It climbed a short way up a tree and it turned out it had a pine cone. I was only able to snap off a couple of shots before it finished digging seeds out of the pine cone and scampered to the top of the tree.

Winter Chickadee....

2009-01-13T07:16:00.004-05:00

I took this photo this past weekend and it also happens to be the first photo I took in 2009. It's one of the chickadees attracted to my feeder.

This coming Friday I'll be having a guest post on this blog, it'll be a great article written by Sarah Scrafford entitled "Photography and its Role in Environmental Awareness" be sure to give it a read and let her know what you think.

New Year's Muskrat....

2009-01-02T06:22:00.002-05:00

I like to spend the first of January out photographing some where but yesterday it was so bitterly cold I stayed inside. This photo is from New Year's day a few years ago. I went to Sabattus River to photograph ice patterns that the flowing water creates on the rocks and I ended up photographing this muskrat, there were actually three of them hanging around that morning. This guy swam right past me about ten feet away and it looked like it was holding a rock but when it climbed up on the ice I saw it was a mussel and it proceeded to break it open and chow down. I just had my point and shoot with me at the time but I thought the photo came out pretty good.

10 Favorite Photos From 2008...

2008-12-31T06:13:00.008-05:00

Here are ten of my favorite photos I took during 2008. They are in no particular order but if I had to pick one, over all of them, it would have to be the hoverfly on the depford pink. If I had to pick my favorite photo experience from last year it would have to be when the otter popped up out of the ice about ten feet behind me. It was the first time I had seen an otter in the wild in Maine, all I did was turn around and snap away. A few months later I took the picture of the three curious whitetails a couple of hundred feet from the spot where I saw the otter.

Merry Christmas....

2008-12-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

Frosted Waves of Grass....

2008-12-05T06:33:00.002-05:00

There was very little color in this photo so I converted it to black and white.

Icy Flow....

2008-12-04T06:13:00.000-05:00

Cold temperatures and flowing water create some beautiful ice sculptures.

November Icicle....

2008-12-03T06:14:00.000-05:00

The same icicle as last week but a horizontal format.

Rain Barrel Abstract...

2008-12-02T07:51:00.003-05:00

I tipped over my rain barrel the other day and it was half frozen, I thought the patterns in the ice made for an interesting abstract so I had to take some photos.

Frosted Goldenrod...

2008-12-01T07:48:00.002-05:00

Hard to believe, not too long ago this was a nice bright yellow.

Frosty Pine.....

2008-11-28T05:57:00.001-05:00

Another frosty photo from yesterday morning.

Happy Thanksgiving....

2008-11-27T08:54:00.004-05:00

A couple of days ago we had a lot of rain and wind but last night it was clear and cold and absolutely no wind. Because there was so much moisture in the air there was a real heavy frost this morning. I went out early and roamed the neighborhood. These winterberries are everywhere this year but I took this photo right in my yard. In the next few days I'll be posting more photos from this mornings walk.

Icy Hoodoos.....?

2008-11-26T08:11:00.002-05:00

These ice formations reminded me a little bit of the Hoodoo rock formations in Bryce Canyon, Utah.

More Ice....

2008-11-25T07:03:00.002-05:00

Here's another photo I took yesterday.

Frigid Flow...

2008-11-24T07:57:00.003-05:00

It's been very cold this past week. Frigid temperatures and flowing water create some beautiful ice formations so I went to my favorite spot this morning and took this photo. When I left the house it was 7 degrees.

One Year and Counting...

2008-11-21T06:15:00.002-05:00

My internet was out all week and I just got it back, that's why I haven't updated until today. Last Monday made exactly a year since I've been doing this blog, the two photos above are the very first photos I posted so I decided to reprise them.

I've enjoyeed sharing my photos with others this past year and I've also enjoyed visiting other photo blogs and checking out the great photography. Here's to the next year.

Past Color.....

2008-11-14T06:54:00.004-05:00

I've been busy the last couple of days installing roof trusses on my addition, it's raining today so I can't be outside. November tends to be kind of a drab month for photography so I looked through my archives for some color.

Leftover Flower....

2008-11-11T07:23:00.003-05:00

Here's a photo of a bushy aster that I hadn't posted and didn't put it into my book. Most people think the white petals are the actual flower but the flower blossoms are the yellow center.

Frozen Raindrop....

2008-11-10T06:12:00.000-05:00

More November Color...

2008-11-07T08:09:00.002-05:00

The leaves on lower growing shrubs tend to stay on the plants a little longer because they're not exposed to the wind as much as a full grown tree.