Daily Image - May '21 Archive

31 May 21 Let me begin this mailing with a grateful THANK YOU to all the veterans on the list. You can never be fully repaid for all the sacrifices you have made for our country!! Another Decoration Day image to pay homage to all those who have given their all in their dedication to the country. This time around I've tried to bring into the visual message a remembrance of all those fallen individuals. I searched almost 20,000 images looking for just the right one but didn't find it so I went with the closest one I could find. Spent Sunday at a Rendezvous celebrating our country's history which could not have been held on a better weekend. Driving to and from I passed two cemeteries with military sections; only one was fully decorated with our national ensign on each tombstone. Very sad!! Maybe things will be better next year. Meanwhile, for any of you who may not be familiar with the term Decoration Day, here is a link that provides the needed history. I've added a battle scene into the tombstone image along with some text; otherwise this is what the camera captured. Some Gave All Nikon D300s; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority;ISO 640; 1/640 sec @ f /11 with the D300s.

28 May 21 Tried working up that osprey today but rapidly realized that wasn't going to happen; did a lousy job of getting the bird so what I shared yesterday will be it. This was a day of high winds, things falling off trees (TFOT), and a terrified dog thus I thought something bright and cheerful might be in order. So for this Friday's macro/close-up we'll be looking at a grouping of tulips I shot at the nursery we visited while up in LaConner attempting to shoot tulips. There were a couple three small displays in front of the nursery and I played with them a couple times during the visit with the changing light. This is one of my favorite from that small shoot. I cropped the original a little on the left, did a little burning to downplay a few bright spots, and then converted it using the Topaz plug-in Simplify. Painted Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/320 sec @ f / 9.

12 May 21 Having made a few moves during our military career with some of them having us live in govt housing, I was a bit set back at the quarters provided for the Park Ranger assigned to the Ginko Petrified State park in Vantage. The housing sits among a lovely park adjacent to the visitor center and seems to be designed to fit in with the design of the visitor center. During previous visits I really haven't taken much notice of it but on this current visit the lighting was such that the park and building just screamed take by photo so I did. I can't imagine it looking all this delightful year round but on this morning it almost had me thinking I chose the wrong service for a career. 😂 Other than a wee bit of contrast enhancement, this is what the camera saw. Quarters Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture priority; ISO 200; 1/800 sec @ f / 9.

10 May 21 Back from Yellowstone; 13 days total, 9 in the park, almost 2,800 miles of travel, and about 2K images. Many firsts, including not a single day of bad weather which turned out to be a mixed blessing. Mixed due to having every day available for shooting from dawn to dusk but with no forced (weather) down days which I learned I need. These "golden years" definitely being either badly misnamed or referring to something else. Decided not to do this trip as a travel log but to just randomly share images. I thought I'd start by sharing a view of the Columbia River, one of America's largest rivers and one with a very interesting history. Starting from Columbia Lake in British Columbia, at a height of 2,700 feet, it flows for 1240 miles before dumping in the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, OR. The river bed is such that tides flow up river for a distance of 140 miles. "It traverses east-central Washington in a sweeping curve known as the Big Bend, its prehistoric course having been disarranged first by lava flows and later by ice sheets. The ice sheets were instrumental in creating the Channelled Scablands, a series of coulees (steep-walled ravines) trending northeast-southwest in the northern part of the Columbia Plateau; Grand Coulee is the largest of these. The scablands were formed as immense torrents of water, released intermittently from ice-dammed lakes upstream, swept down-valley." Of course, when one considers how fast Mt St Helens rearrange the landscape, the possibility exists that the river was formed much quicker as is suggested by a "historical" marker in the National Bison Rage. Today we are looking at the Columbia as it courses past the community of Vantage, WA where the river divides WA state into almost equal halves. It was a very calm day as I took the shot; one can only imagine what Lewis & Clark experienced when they first encountered it. Other than some cropping off of the top, and a wee bit of contrast adjustment, this is what the camera saw. Tidal River 140 Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/1000 sec @ f / 9.

11 May 21 Vantage, the location of yesterday's submission, is also the location of an Indian tribe known as the Wanapum. It is believed that they have lived in the area since prehistory. They carved a lot of artwork into the basalt rocks found in the area. In 1953 a dam named after the tribe was placed across the Columbia River (one of many placed on that river) that caused the river to flood the area in which the artwork was located. By 1960 it was apparent that these works of art would be lost due to the rising water, much like the situation with the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. As a result, about 60 of the more than 300 carvings were removed from the basalt cliff faces and saved. A goodly amount of these carvings now form a portion of what I believe to be the south wall of the visitor center at Ginko State park. Whatever the direction, it is the side of the building pointing to the bridge. There is likely much more of the stuff in the visitor's center but it has never been open in the 8 years we've been visiting. Today's offering is from a section of that wall. Other than some mild cropping, this is what the camera captured. Petroglyphs Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/800 sec @ f / 9.

17 May 21 I mentioned in passing Friday that the city of Wallace, ID had a lot to take in, including a rich history in silver mining. You can read a bit of its history here. As you take the main exit off I-90 for the city one of the first things you will see is a statue dedicated to the miners who did all the dirty dangerous work in the mines. It sits at the beginning of a nice little park in which much of the mining equipment used is on display. If you take the time to carefully look at all that is displayed and read the numerous display signs you can easily spend a good hour or more just walking the park. In addition, there are tours available, but since they have never been open when we visited I know nothing of what they offer. The mining aspect is just one of the attractions there - all relating to the city's history - but definitely the main attraction. The Oasis (brothel) is certainly an entertaining visit if you take the paid tour and the train station well worth your time (free) but it was the silver mining that was responsible for all these other historical attractions. Do plan a visit if you are traveling along I-90 through Idaho, you won't be disappointed. This is what the camera captured save for a little selective brightening of the shadow areas. In Recognition Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/800 sec @ f / 9.

14 May 21 Wallace, ID is a place to visit if you haven't already, at least if you are traveling along I-90 passing through. It is now a tourist town, but is well known for its former mining activities as well as for its 6 brothels, one of which has been open for the last dozen or so years for historical purposes. It's currently not open due to owner illness but all are hoping for it to reopen soon. The mining aspects of the town are really the main draw as well as an old train station that alone is worth the visit. Lots to spend your $$$$$$$ on and in particular good prices on very nice silver jewelry (ask Jan.) The mining display however is an education in its own right and I would highly recommend it to you. We very quickly toured it when the kids were 6 and 2 on our first trip east, but on this last trip I spent some considerable time walking through the museum - it is outdoors - taking a lot of shots. The best one however is not about mining ore and the subject of this Friday's macro/close-up and it is just that, a close up of a small rodent, either a chipmunk or a three stripped ground squirrel. I'm not positive which it is, probably a chipmunk, but regardless it was really cute, so I took its portrait. Other than some severe cropping, this is what the camera captured. Ahhhh Cute Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/125 sec @ f / 9.

13 May 21 Running parallel - sorta - to I-90 where we stay in Haugan, Mt, the St Regis river offers some really nice spots where you can get some nice color photos in both the spring and the fall either from the side of the highway or along easily accessed side roads. This shot of a little slip stream of the river was taken from one of those side roads. The interstate is just barely visible as a thin tan diagonal line behind the aspens. The reddish plants are a form of willow and wherever you see them you can be assured of water very close. I use them as an indication of streams/ small rivers in the park. Along highway 191 on the far western edge of the park one frequently finds moose browsing on them. This shot is the location of Haugan, MT - Exit 16 in MT - which has a major botanical research center open to the public and the 50,000 Silver Dollar motel as the only two things there, period. The research center is often busy conducting outings for educational purposes although we've never been in attendance. But we do stop at the motel both ways on our travels to Yellowstone. It has nice accommodations for people and horses as well as free camping spots for those with campers or travel trailers. It also hosts a very nice bar with casino appointments for those who have a few extra coins in their pockets as well as Montana's largest trinket shop. The side road is home to several folks along with deer, elk, bear, turkeys, and a few domesticated creatures as well. It is a nice location to stop for the night. This is what the camera saw. River Side Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/640 sec @ f / 9.

25 May 21 As most of you likely know MT is known as the The Big Sky state. It doesn't take any imagination to understand why if you've ever driven across the state via I-90 or just spent some time visiting. For today's Black and White Tuesday I'm sharing a shot of how the area frequently looks about an hour west of Butte. I find the views beautiful but my bride has a decidedly different opinion. No matter when we travel through this area there is always a show of clouds overhead, much like the eastern part of WA state when traveling via I-90. We've made the journey cross country probably 6 times via this freeway and every time it has been a wonderful trip. With nice white textured clouds, grain fields of yellow, deep brownish plants lining the railroad bank, and a definitely blue sky, I felt this setting perfect to show off in monochrome. This is a 7 frame pano and other than some required cropping to correct for my not holding the camera straight, and a small amount of dodging and burning, this is what the camera captured. Approaching Adams Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/1,600 sec @ f / 9.

24 May 21 About halfway between Boseman, MT and West Yellowstone, Mt lies the community of Big Sky. While it has always been a ski resort, in the past 10 years development there has turned it into another Vail or Aspen. I was seriously considering purchasing a condo there but got talked out of it by my bride. It is so skiing oriented that there are chair lifts that connect the condos together much like bridal trails in horse communities. We should have purchased when we were looking back in 2013 as the prices have close to tripled since then. Would have been a GREAT investment!!! You drive by the area both ways when making a shopping trip to Boseman. Right alongside the road, perhaps a hundred feet from the only stop light in Big Sky on the south side of Hwy-191, there is a non-denominational memorial chapel that sits back maybe 300 feet off the road but unless you are looking for it you won't see it. It is called the Soldiers Chapel and was built as a memorial to a fallen member of the Nelson Story family. We've driven by it literally dozens of times and never seen it. Four years ago I noticed it for the first time and tried to photograph it but it was closed. This past trip I tried again and much to my delight it was open so I went inside and was blown away by its beauty. Not sure how the preacher keeps the parishioners attention with the view from the pews. When I shared this experience with our new minister who hails from MT and asked him if he was familiar with the church he just smiled and said "our two children were baptized in it." Small world. This is a two exposure shot to accommodate the different brightness's of the church interior and the outside landscape. I should have done it as an HDR and while I didn't I'm not sure, I had the equipment to do it. So the exterior shot has been scaled down to fit the church window and a mask used to bring back the candles and cross. What a Place of Worship Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/8 sec @ f / 9 for the church; forgot the exposure for the landscape (Lone Mountain.)

19 May 21 Several years back while driving in that small section of the park that hwy-191 bisects, we saw a small hillside covered in snow with a series of animal tracks leading in various directions to the river bank. Haven't seen such since until this year when I saw it again. Same hillside, same Gallatin river, and a very similar set of tracks. So for today's narrative discussing what was there it's your turn. You get to write the story. Hint, no bison in this section of the park. Other than for some cropping to remove a couple distracting elements, and a bit of contrast enhancement to make the tracks more visible, this is what the camera captured. Tracks Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/1,600 sec @ f / 9.

26 May 21 Back to the far western extremes of the park and a shot of the Gallatin River. While I believe, due to its name, that the river has its headwaters somewhere in the Gallatin Mountain range, I have no idea where but I'm thinking it must be not far from the juncture of MT 287 and 191 as one first encounters it as a small stream perhaps a half mile from that juncture. MT-191 then parallels it all the way to the outskirts of Bozeman where it and the highway diverge. The river offers many beautiful presentations from flowing through what is rather meadow-like to flowing between mountainous canyon walls. In some locations it presents as a very gentle shallow meandering stream, in other places as a great place to wet a line, and in still others as a challenging force just inviting the kayak crowd to test their skills; and most likely everything in between. Today we see it as a gentle shallow meandering stream with a bit of colorful willows, a blue color cast from the reflected sky, and a frosting of white just to constrain the eye and keep it on the river. When the traffic isn't roaring by, the babbling of the water entices one to just pull up a chair and relax or perhaps to wet a line - hook not really needed - and simply join in and become one with this fantastic creation called the Gallatin River. Should this give you any ideas, there are plenty of pull-outs where you can safely park your vehicle and just enjoy. Other than my adding in the needed clouds to fill a boring sky this is what the camera captured. River Dance Nikon D500; 18 - 200; aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/1,250 sec @ f / 9.

27 May 21 Like most things in life, photography can present one with choices, and today's submission is an example. Less than a mile downstream from the Quake Lake visitor's center the Madison river runs so close to the road that one could throw your cup of beverage - or any other analogy you may choose - out the window and it would make it into the river. At that same location there is an old dead tree roughly midstream that I have wanted to photograph for years but never have. This year as we were approaching the visitor's center we noticed an osprey sitting on a branch of that old tree and who, as we were to determine, was eating a freshly caught large trout. So we stopped and spent some time photographing the bird in that tree eating its dinner (it was almost 7 p.m.). Now comes the choice. Do I share a close up of the fish eating bird and lose all the story telling surrounds, or do I give you the full picture and just leave the bird as a small dot as a result. My decision is obviously the latter as I decided I could tell you there was the bird present a lot easier than describing the surrounds. The bird is that tiny upright spot at the very end of that branch at the top left of the tree. I know I'm gonna hear "show us the bird" from some, and perhaps I will now that you have the big picture, but for now you get to see everything we were experiencing save for the sounds of the birds and the river. I added in some clouds and gave the original a wee bit of contrast enhancement. Fishing Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/640 sec @ f / 9.

20 May 21 Following 5 hours of watching a deceased bison on the opposite side of the Madison river from which we were standing waiting uneventfully for a grizzly to show, we spent some time in the middle geyser basin before heading home. On the way we paid a visit to a parking lot which is the departure point for a lovely walk along the Madison River called Two Ribbons Trail. Evening was rapidly beginning to let us know it was time to head home but the sky was more than beckoning so we paused for a while to see what might be coming our way. It was to be a show in blue but as lovely as it was in color, I think it is even more dramatic in black and white. So that's what I'm sharing for Theatrical Thursday. Madison River in the fore, Gallatin mountains barely visible in the background. This is what the camera captured, in fact, exactly what the sensor captured sans the color info so a true RAW image. Approaching Ansel Nikon D500; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/400 sec @ f /10.

18 May 21 The first challenge on the journey to Yellowstone, excluding the local traffic, is the large body of water known as Puget Sound. It extends for roughly 100 miles N/S with an average depth of 450 feet reaching a maximum depth of 930 feet a short distance from where we live. We have to get from the west side to the east side before making our drive east. Four options are available, three requiring a boat ride of from 30 minutes to one hour, and a fourth which involves driving around the water via a bridge. Each has it advantages and disadvantages. Once on the opposite shore we connect with the Yellowstone Highway to travel east. Now some of you may not be familiar with that highway, but for those of you who have lived in CA in the past its naming may obvious. During the years when we were stationed in CA the freeways were known for the cities to which they went so we had the Ventura Freeway, the LA Freeway, the Santa Monica Freeway, the San Diego Freeway, etc. Of course each one had two names depending on which direction one was traveling. I don't know if they are still called such but it was a convenient naming for those of us new to the area in the 80s. So the Yellowstone Highway might also be recognized by another name, I-90. The longest interstate in America It starts roughly one mile from the shore of Puget Sound and travels just over 3020 miles ending in Boston. So it could also be called the Boston Highway, Seattle Highway, or any city Highway in between if one uses the CA method of naming. Of course it doesn't end in Yellowstone but it does go in that general direction. Getting to it we generally use one of the two closest ferry boat crossings which often begins the photographic aspect of the trip as the sunrise shots looking across the Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains can be spectacular as can be the evening shots on the return leg looking across to the Olympic Mountains as the sound is nestled between two large mountain ranges having supposedly been created by a 3,000 foot thick ice sheet during the Fraser Glaciation period 15,000 years ago. Today we are looking at a shot taken as we crossed that body of water a couple days ago heading in the direction of the Olympic mountains with the city of Kingston in front. This is basically what the camera captured save for a little contrast enhancement and some removal of unnecessary elements. Crossing Paths Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture priority; ISO 200; 1/2,500 sec @ f / 9.

21 May 21 A couple days back one of our neighbors and fellow congregant dropped by to get some image transfer help - iPhone to laptop - and brought along some beautiful Calla Lilies from her lovely garden. They being our eldest grand daughter's favorite flower, and one of which we are also quite fond, I thought I'd work them up for today's Friday macro/close-up offering. Before deciding on how I should do it, I came to the conclusion that I need a bit of a break in doing what I've been doing for so long and endeavor to present the flower portraits in a different manner, one of a more creative approach. The creative element isn't going to be using software to change how the flower looks, but rather the presentation of the flower. For example, emphasizing one aspect of the flower, such as its stamen which I've often done in the past, but now presenting a portion of the entire flower in a different aspect. Not sure exactly where this is going to lead, but today's group of Calla Lilies is something along the lines of what I'm thinking. This is a focus stacking of four frames - the lens is roughly 6" from the flowers so only a small portion of each frame is in focus - by which I was hoping to keep a reasonable degree of sharpness while not loosing the appreciation of the distance between each bloom. I also wanted to display the venation of each bloom as that is part of the flowers beauty in my opinion. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this approach. I've removed a couple of blemishes but otherwise this is what the camera captured. Triad + One Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/60 sec @ f / 9 on a tripod.