foggy sky – A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens

a second look, boats, Florida landmarks, foggy sky, life goes on, memories, moments, perseverance, photography, sky, sunset, weather

Old photos…

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 naturecoastimagesblog

I missed the announcement that the photo shoot for the evening had been cancelled. I figured it out while waiting for the ferry without another photographer in sight. I went ahead and rode the ferry anyway, and also rode the sunset cruise out of Clearwater beach. The sliver of sky at the horizon provided enough sunset color to make me happy that day, and happy with my pictures, but they look different to me now, two years later. Now I’m reviewing pictures from that day and I find myself wondering about all the people who were there, all the dramas going on behind the windows that I photographed that day. Were people enjoying a longed-for vacation? Were there reunions of old friends happening anywhere out there? Engagements? Happy news? Sad news? I was enjoying my day that day even if it hadn’t turned out exactly as I’d expected. But today I know that those hotels and condos are still there, but they may be empty, or nearly so. There may be people enjoying the sunset from home even as I write this. I hope so. The hotels are man made, but the sunset is a gift. It’s still there to be enjoyed.

I don’t know why I never went back and rode the ferry again. My friend just visited me recently and I wish I’d thought to do this with her. Right now I feel like I just can’t wait to go out and do things like this again. I hope I remember to make the most of my opportunities when that day comes.

'scene' along the way, finding my way, foggy sky, life goes on, live and learn, nature, perseverance, photography, sunrise

Rhythms….

March 30, 2020 naturecoastimagesblog

When you wake up at 3:30 AM, and I mean WiDE awake, then you might find yourself bored before the sun comes up. Lots of times that’s how I wind up out for the sunrise. A different bridge on Sunday, and the only heron to be seen was the one in the tree in the distance. And as the sun came up the birds started flying over, and landing in unison on the wire. It’s a bit of a ritual it seems. That the natural world is proceeding as usual, following its rhythm, is comforting while we are adapting to this new normal.

'scene' along the way, a second look, birds, Florida wildlife, foggy sky, making memories, nature, on closer examination, perseverance, photography, sunrise, technology

The Lurker…

March 29, 2020 naturecoastimagesblog

She arrived in the dark. “No, not just dark,” she thought, “The fog is rolling in.” “At least I’m alone,” another thought, and then she laughed at herself because there were plenty of no-see-ums arriving to keep her company. Or drive her crazy. She opened the back of the van and rummaged for the can of OFF that she kept there, and doused herself. There was a slight glow in the sky as she took a couple of pictures at the first bridge, her first stop, and then, anxious to get to the second bridge, her favorite, she moved on, .

It was darker there, foggier, even though she had driven only a minute up the road. She got out of the van and set up her camera. As she glanced around she looked to her left and caught a hint of a shape in the murk. Was it him, she wondered, hoped? She always looked for him when she came to this place. She used to see him every time she was here, but then he was gone, just gone. If she saw a fisherman she always asked if they had seen him, but they didn’t seem to know what happened to him either. She didn’t come as often as she used to, but still she always looked, and she was always disappointed. She aimed her camera in that direction, hurrying in case he disappeared into the gloom. “Of all days to come out without the zoom lens,” she lamented, mad at herself for choosing to grab the little camera only in her haste to get out the door. “Wait,” she thought, she could zoom with her phone, even if it didn’t take a sharp photo she’d be able to know for sure if it was him. She clicked a picture, but still wasn’t sure, she needed to put the photo into her computer when she got home. She crossed the road for a better angle, afraid she’d spook him, but he didn’t move as she took a few more pictures.

Then there was a voice, calling, “Hey Fred,” it said. He turned his head instantly, and then quickly moved toward the sound. “Hi Fred,” a man’s voice. She saw him in a pool of light from the street lamp, smiling as he tossed something to Fred. And now she was sure it was him. One-foot Fred was alive and well, she now knew for sure. The sunrise hadn’t been much, but she drove home smiling, happy that she had come out that morning after all. The iPhone shot…

a second look, birds, Florida wildlife, foggy sky, fun, learning, life, nature, nesting, Owls, perseverance, photography, safety Harbor

Simple things…

February 2, 2020January 31, 2020 naturecoastimagesblog

Can you see the Daddy Owl up there? Camouflage is the name of the game with these two owls, owls in general based on how hard it usually is to see them. Without other photographers there to point them out I would never have spotted these two. There is a debate as to whether this is the same pair who have nested in the area in the past. This is a different nest though, but in the same tree as the one I’ve seen in the past. And the female spent the whole time down in the nest. We could see that she rearranged herself a bit, but a peek out at us was the most we saw of her. She is busy sitting on eggs, that much seems to be a given. I’ll be back soon, hoping for more action when their chicks hatch. I don’t quite understand how I’ve gotten so invested in watching Mother Nature in action. Eagles and owls, and my former neighbors have promised to let me know when/if the Sandhill cranes that I used to watch out my kitchen window begin their housekeeping. It bothers me that all of this, the sunrises and sunsets, and nature going about her business, was going on my whole life and I failed to pay attention. It seems that the simple things in life are all that matters at these days. If only I would have figured that out sooner…

'scene' along the way, foggy sky, friends, fun, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, safety Harbor, sky, sunrise

Shooting with friends…

February 1, 2020January 31, 2020 naturecoastimagesblog

It turned out to be a nice sunrise, nicer than I had a right to expect as I drove the 45 minutes to meet a group for a sunrise shoot. I was pretty sure the cloudy sky would keep everyone else home and I wondered what I’d do instead, but I didn’t need to worry. The sky and the clouds were surprisingly pretty, and the crew showed up. Fun people to spend time with, and there may have been a nice breakfast in the scenario also. An altogether nice day. I’m glad I took the opportunity to go out because as I’ve looked at my photos and written this post it’s been pouring down rain.

'scene' along the way, a second look, eagles, Florida wildlife, foggy sky, live and learn, making memories, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography, technology

Eagle watch…

January 30, 2020January 29, 2020 naturecoastimagesblog

The thing of it is, when you know of an eagle nest that you can visit you have a short window of watching the eaglets as they are being raised. So after my errands I went to check the nest yesterday and then had to delete all my photos. Late in the day the light is behind them leaving them in silhouette, which meant that today I would be sure to go early. There were a few photographers watching this morning, all of us arriving by 8 AM, and then we waited. One eagle was in the tree above the nest and we were anticipating the second eagle arriving with breakfast. Eventually an osprey started the action.

Not this one, this one showed up later and tempted fate by flying over the nest with it’s fish in it’s talons. No, the first one perched up the street on a snag and the eagle in the tree took off to chase it off. But the eagle didn’t give chase, he/she perched in a tree that gave us a nice view of him as well as the nest. And we waited.

Even the eagle was bored enough to yawn. Finally this eagle took off and we all were excited for when it would return and we would see the babies. So we waited some more and sure enough, he/she eventually returned.

Even the elusive second chick put in an appearance. But the two of them are like whack a mole, when one’s head is up the other one is down. But we saw them both stretching their wings. Way more wing spread than I would have assumed.

Here they are, both in the same shot, even if the eaglet who is usually much more visible took this moment to be looking the other way. The clouds rolled in the longer we waited. A far cry from the nice blue sky and puffy clouds when we first arrived. Photography may get me out of the house, but it doesn’t offer much exercise when you spend a couple of hours standing in one place waiting for something to happen. Not that I’m complaining. And I have to admit that I have learned to stop expecting a bird that I see in the sky, soaring on the wind currents, to be an eagle. Whenever I do see an eagle in flight it seems that the are focused on someone, flying with a purpose in mind.

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