The Lake Pump

“The Lake Pump”
Photo of the Week #57, selected in June, 2020

This photo was taken at the Butler State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area, a few dozen miles east of Wichita, Kansas.  That no fishermen were seen that cold February day was not unexpected, but seeing the decades-old cleaning table and water pump was.  I delighted in the muted color they added to an otherwise drab and dismal Midwestern winter day. I wondered aloud how many fish had been cleaned on that bench over the years, and how many grandfathers had taught their grandkids how to clean their fish there. This type of conjecture is the essence of a photo jaunt in the plains.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-the-lake-pumpp_art?IMID=f5e478e6-c2f4-4c84-86a5-25c8ccb39219

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Wild Iris in Archuleta County

“Wild Iris in Archuleta County”
Photo of the Week #56, selected in June, 2020

Archuleta County is located in South-Central Colorado and encompasses one of my favorite wilderness towns, Pagosa Springs.  A few miles north of Pagosa is a spot in the Rio Grande National Forest where I found this beautiful wild iris.  I love finding colorful irises in the countryside for a couple of reasons.  First, their blooming period is rather short, especially in a location with four distinct seasons, so it’s a matter of fortunate timing when you come across one.  Second, it’s one of the flowers you can both buy in a florist shop and find in the wild.  That always impresses me.

This particular photo is among my favorite wildflower pics.  The combination of the iris’ purple, yellow and white petals, complete with purple veins, and its green leaves, contrasted with the dry grass it is sprouting from, is a good representation of how nature populates with beauty in somewhat dubious locations.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-wild-iris-in-archuleta-countydsc_art?IMID=b6231004-6cd9-45ab-8403-a9852cbda3ce

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Caribbean Native

“Caribbean Native”
Photo of the Week #55, selected in May, 2020

When Florida had its “Falling Iguanas” crisis a few years ago, we weren’t surprised — we had already seen iguanas sitting up high in palm trees on Grand Cayman Island.  This photo of “Fred” was taken in the town of Hell, where reptiles are much more about rest and relaxation than falling off their perches.  I don’t know what this guy’s name really was, or even if it was a guy, but Fred seemed to fit.

Iguanas climb palm trees for several reasons, including protection from predators, sunbathing, feeding, and territorial behavior. They have long, sharp claws designed for climbing, and they use their tails for balance while scaling tall surfaces.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-up-up-and-awaydsc_art?IMID=48d8e1ec-9c5c-4637-8ad6-5a563942a3ee

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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Up, Up and Away!

“Up, Up and Away!”
Photo of the Week #54, selected in May, 2020

When most people think of hot air balloon rallies, they think of the big one in Albuquerque, NM.  There are many others around the country, however, that are much smaller and more intimate.  We had the pleasure of visiting a rally of thirteen balloons in Angel Fire, New Mexico, just about ten miles from our Eagle Nest campground at the time.  With so few hot air balloons and spectators, we were able to talk with balloon owners and pilots and even help with some of the setup.  That day turned out to be spectacular, with some of the bluest clear skies they could hope for.  It was an incredibly enjoyable experience.  Yes, we could have gone up for a ride in one, but our schedule didn’t allow it, so we passed.

The Angel Fire and Eagle Nest region of New Mexico’s Southern Rockies is an area mostly overlooked by tourists, who prefer to visit Taos, but keen travelers will take the time to drive the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, which roams through the entire region.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-up-up-and-awaydsc_art?IMID=48d8e1ec-9c5c-4637-8ad6-5a563942a3ee

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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Nature’s Seaside Drones

“Nature’s Seaside Drones”
Photo of the Week #53, selected in May, 2020

This shot was taken at the tip of Harker’s Island in North Carolina.  I have many pictures of pelicans from around the country, but these guys didn’t look real as they approached. I wondered aloud if they could be some new type of Navy drones, launched for surveillance of the seashore.  After I took the photo, they ambled on, wings flapping and heads moving, so I determined they were indeed natural birds.  Even the photo gives them a surreal look, making it one of my favorite seashore pics.

In case you were wondering, pelicans can have wingspans from about 8 to over 10 feet, second in average wingspan of any North American bird to the California condor. As I observed, the large wingspan allows them to easily use soaring flight for migration and food location.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-natures-seaside-dronesdsc_art?IMID=97f3a293-35f3-4a9f-8025-bf7f0c16c3f4

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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Bluer than Blue- Louise Lake

“Bluer than Blue- Louise Lake”
Photo of the Week #52, selected in May, 2020

Somewhere in between Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier in the Cascade Range of Washington State, we came across the bluest lake I had ever seen.  Located near the town of Packwood and within the Mount Rainier National Park boundaries, Louise Lake reminded me a lot of some of the beautiful ponds of the Rocky Mountains, only with a much darker hue.  Though we were in a bit of a hurry to see both National Parks in a single day, we simply had to pull over and enjoy the view.

Interestingly, and perhaps unbelievably in this day and age, the colors in this photo were not modified by Photoshop or similar software. You’ll just have to take my word for that… The location of this pond sitting in the middle of a thick green forest was also appealing to me.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-bluer-than-blue-louise-lakedsca_art?IMID=7db293e8-d011-4490-aea3-238612518fb6

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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The Fog at Weaver Ledge

“The Fog at Weaver Ledge”
Photo of the Week #51, selected in May, 2020

When I first see this photo, it takes a moment to remember whether it was taken in Oregon or Maine — such is the way of coastal zones.  There are even parts of the Rocky Mountains that this could have depicted. Weaver Ledge is actually located near a pond on Bass Harbor Head, Maine, across the point from Ship Harbor. 

Fog inundated Maine almost our entire visit, which I’m told is normal during late summer there.  Luckily, the area is so beautiful that it mostly enhanced the view. There is something about the juxtaposition of bright yellow flowers and lush green vegetation against a dull gray fog that is pleasing to the eye.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-the-fog-at-weaver-ledgedsc_art?IMID=5f519955-b72c-4485-8b12-0b72babb6e62

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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Towering Giants

“ Towering Giants”
Photo of the Week #50, selected in April, 2020

Tucked quietly away in a canyon near the Northern California shores is the Redwoods National Park, a forest of immense trees that visitors don’t soon forget.  Hundreds of years or perhaps even a millennia old, these trees have survived  everything that man and nature has thrown at them, except logging.  When the gold rush petered out mid-1800’s, miners took to harvesting the nearly 2 million acres of giant redwoods and their success nearly cleared California of them.  The Save the Redwoods League was formed in 1918 and in 1968 the Redwoods National Park was created for their protection.  The remaining redwoods have been thriving ever since.

Though photos never do these towering giants justice, they can be vivid reminders of walking the forest and the feeling of awe from even a short visit.  To paraphrase Danny Glover in Grand Canyon, “Yeah, those trees are laughing at me, I could tell.  Me and my worries.  It’s real humorous to that old forest.”  

This should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-towering-giantsdsc_art?IMID=d9c9a076-cd9b-4bd4-baa2-1f7e83084ffe

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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A Little Greece in Kansas

“A Little Greece in Kansas”
Photo of the Week #49, selected in April, 2020

Hesperis matronalis is a flowering plant native to Eurasia, with several varieties located in Greece and Turkey.  Imagine my surprise when I looked up this wildflower, which I discovered one early morning on a photo jaunt in Eastern Kansas.  It seems that they now reside, scattered, throughout the Midwest, having been included in many gardens in the area and expanded in this rich agricultural region.  The biannual flower is also known as “dame’s rocket” and, per Wikipedia, its scent “becomes more conspicuous towards evening.”

According to invasiveplantatlas.org, the dame’s rocket is, in fact, an invasive species, though somewhat benign, because it is nonnative and can displace native flowering plants. “Many people mistakenly believe Hesperis matronalis is a native wildflower. It may be included in native wildflower mix packets. Always check the list of species in wildflower mixes. Habitats invaded by this plant include open woodlands, prairies, roadsides, ditches, and other disturbed areas where native plants are crowded out.”

I love to photograph wildflowers but this was more delightful find than most.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-a-little-greece-in-kansasp_art?IMID=0ec51771-0a34-4ccf-bd76-309c76fe5b85

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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A Pacific Wave

“A Pacific Wave”
Photo of the Week #48, selected in April, 2020

The Oregon coast provided many epic shot during our journey and exploration there in 2019, so many that I had a difficult time choosing my favorites.  This photo was taken near the Sea Lion Caves off the Oregon Coast Highway (US 101).  It made the cut because of the interesting combination of a single windblown wave and a rocky cliff side sporting moss, shrubs and flowers.  That the ocean was exceptionally blue that day didn’t hurt.

Even though, in my opinion, the Oregon coast consists of the some of the best, iconic coastline views in the U.S., probably my favorite thing about it is that the Oregon Beach Bill of 1967 continues to allow free beach access to the public up and down the coast. According to Wikipedia, “In return for a pedestrian easement and relief from construction, the bill eliminates property taxes on private beach land and allows its owners to retain certain beach land rights.”

Compared to any state on the east coast, its public beach access is phenomenal. Other states should take a page from the insightful legislature of the Beaver State, which would alleviate one of my largest pet peeves while traveling- lack of public viewing and access along almost any American coastline.

Here’s my photo on Imagekind:
https://www.imagekind.com/-a-pacific-wave-dsc_art?IMID=7e63e1e0-3328-4aef-bf59-2c7da1c7ff50

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View all of my Photos of the Week here on Imagekind:
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View Weeks 1-52 of my Photos of the Week as a slideshow:
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