Painted Bunting

Yesterday (an hour ago) was a good shooting day. I captured Painted Bunting shots of both genders. I'm pretty proud of that considering I never thought I'd come across them, especially out in the wild.

I've been spreading myself too thin with my varied interests and need to learn to find balance in my life. This balance includes keeping up with my goals, as they're all equally important to me.

I guess I've just been so caught up with nature photography ... it has been all-consuming. No complaints ... just happy to have something that moves me to such an extent.

It's so late now and I have to go to work tomorrow, so I shall sign off for now.

This and That

Hi, my name is Lita, and I’m a photograph-aholic. I woke up at 5 am today and couldn’t go back to sleep because I was excited and wanted to leave early enough to get to the Wetlands again since early mornings are when the birds are most active.

This time, I saw a couple of people from the Sanibel trip. We were talking about our Flickr accounts, and I was told to post 1 or 2 pics max per day to give our contacts a chance to see them and comment. They’ll only see the last few pics uploaded at a time.

I’m torn though, because I just want to get them all uploaded so I don’t have to keep track of what still needs to be posted. I think I’ll just go on what I feel, and what I feel is to just start uploading. Ultimately, I’m doing this for my personal enjoyment. When I first uploaded pics to the Flickr account, I knew nothing of contacts or the ability to comment. I just knew it was a great place to upload my pics on the net so I could slideshow them at work. So if I get comments great; if not, well that’s ok too.

It was especially fun today because I actually interacted with fellow photographers. There was instant camaraderie among the photographers, and there were a lot. Everyone is courteous and smart … and they so know their wildlife.

When one would spot an unusual bird that came around only a few days out of the year, that person would excitedly point it out so we could all have our “shot” at it. Gotta’ appreciate that.

One accomplished photographer who’s been photographing for 40 years kept trying to talk me into making photography a profession since it’s evident I love it so much. He even encouraged me to become part of National Geographic “while you’re still young.” It made me feel like he had been lacking in his life and that someone should go for it since he couldn’t anymore, being that he was handicapped. He wore a mask over his face to keep germs away since he had a lung transplant. He talked of how so many people who have digital cameras think they’re pictures are good, when they’re not. I thought that was a rather bold statement, and he shared why. When he opened my eyes about some of the reasons, it underscored that I have a lot to learn. I applied one thing he taught me to some of my shots today, and I’m impressed and happy about it.

Pictures are the only way of stopping time – that’s the only control of time we have.

We are so at the mercy of Mother Nature when it comes to wildlife shots. The rule is you’ll never be prepared enough, and that the moment you walk away, you will likely miss a winning shot. Plus, anything can happen within a blink of an eye. God, so so true. I missed so many good shots just for blinking. I saw another Red-Shouldered Hawk today, and *yes* I got a clear picture today (yay!). But I wanted an action shot, so I stood there with my eye through the viewfinder. I got distracted for a moment, and it was at that moment he took off … naturally.

My head is so full of bird names for all the birds I shot only today – and there were a lot. Especially of the really tiny ones, including the Warbler’s … There’s such a wide array of small birds to watch and look for – just like dragonflies … and most tend to overlook both.

Anyway, I’m pretty happy with the results from my camera (and for some shots, from PSP editing). One of the Flickr pals was so impressed with the quality of the photos I shared, she had to know what type of camera I had. Although I’d love to claim a Nikon D300, it’s a D80, with a Nikor 70-300 mm VR lens. I got a Nikon over a Canon because I was already familiar with some of the dials from my Nikon point-and-shoot.

I will discuss my goals here, because I have been negligent in doing so:

• I’ve been eating nothing but raw food these last few days.
• I have been exercising and have been especially active the last few days.
• Unless it has to do with photography, I have not been reading ... or writing.
• I have developed great communication skills … with other photographers.

Since I awoke so early and have been out in the sun a great part of the day, I’m extremely tired. Hopefully, most of what I wrote made sense. I guess I’ll know when I revisit this later.

Okey dokey, I’m gonna’ upload more pics now, and will continue doing so throughout the week since I have so many pics to still go through.

G’night, sweet blog.

Wetlands

This is the edited version, where I blurred around him to try to bring his image out more, but it didn't help by much.

This is the unedited version.

Anyway ... :) I went to the wetlands this morning to go shooting. It’s about 35 miles northeast of where I live. It’s a cool place, not only because it attracts a variety of animals, but because it’s free.

Whatever I could find of interest through my viewfinder was open “game,” including dragonflies … what I saw mostly were water birds and reptiles.

I only saw one bird of prey, the Red-Shouldered Hawk (see above). Unfortunately, the only shot I got of him was his backside, as he flew away with brunch. Worse yet, the shot is blurry. He came out of nowhere, so I had little time to focus. As I stated above, I tried to blur around him, so his image would stand out more, but it didn’t help by much. I posted both versions for comparison.

Each time I stopped for dragonfly shots, I drew the attention of passers-by, as they’d ask what caught my eye. Evidently, most only want spoon-fed sights. Seeing the obtuse is just as gratifying.

Anyway, I love that place. I love how there are places we preserve just for wildlife. As Thoreau says, “We can never have enough of nature.” So true. At one time I had Henry Thoreau’s book, Walden (a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings), but never got around to reading it … and now I no longer have it. … If the library has it, I’ll check it out.

I did a cursory glance of some of the pics I took today, and I’m happy with a lot of them. I notice that in some of the shots, there are cool reflections, like in the alligator shot. Unless the alligator is doing something exciting, I normally find shots of them boring since they don’t have contrasting colors, but it’s reflection makes the picture richer.

I also got a couple of butt shots that I was thinking of turning into a graphic for fun by adding a “kiss my bum,” or the like. :)

Another picture I looked at briefly was of a momma Anhinga feeding her fledgling, and she is literally putting the entire babe’s head into her mouth and partially down her throat.

I’m learning so much, not only about photography, but of the ecosystem … and am becoming better versed on the local butterflies, dragonflies, birds and reptiles. Such fun!

I have many pictures that were taken last weekend that are ready to be uploaded to Flickr, so I may upload them tonight … or not, depending on whether I get sidetracked by my other pictures. Since I *still* have pics left from last weekend to go through, I’m torn between which ones I should work on first, cuz’ I really wanna’ play with today’s pictures too … but so little time. It’s great to feel inundated by such treasures.

Breather

I’m feeling very little zest today … It’s ennui for sure, and I don’t know why. I’m feeling disconnected for some reason. I suppose I could meditate, but I don’t even feel like doing that. I’ll chalk it up to just needing to step back and take a breather … even from my cherished photos. I’m not gonna’ work on them tonight, but I will upload at least 4 pics for now … they’ll be randomly picked … and just maybe my mood will change then.

What *was* great about today was I got a stream of appreciative comments from people around the world on some of the photos I posted on my Flickr account. Rewarding exchanges between friends and strangers who share the same love of photography ...

Zesty photography =o)

I feel like a mad scientist obsessed with her work. I don’t want to do anything else but work on my photos … or at least that’s how my life has proved this week after work. I’ve been ingesting shakes for dinner this week to maximize my time spent experimenting with PaintShopPro and my pics, my babies. Heck, I don’t even have to take time out to chew, LOL. It’s all good. I’m having fun. This is what it’s like to feel alive. It is. Doing something I love. I love to take pictures. I love coming home with a full memory card, sifting for pearls. I love how pictures color our world.

I also love to see through others’ eyes via their captures. It’s so intimate in a way -- inviting each other into our respective lives via the pictures we take.

I was speaking to a girl from the west coast about the steep price of macro lenses and she said in lieu of those, she uses “macro” filters … 1 set contains 3 of various strengths. I asked the others what they thought about them and they said it could distort things. Makes sense since it mimics a magnifying glass. I don’t care … $50 as opposed to several hundred dollars … if anything, it’s just more tools at my disposal. Macros do rock … transforming the ordinary into the jaw-dropping extraordinary. :)

I want to get a tripod; but $200 for a tripod versus other stuff I could get … I’m just so indecisive. Will I “pay the price” for trying to go the cheap route on everything? I dunno’ … I don’t want to pine for something I should’ve gotten instead, and then end up investing more than I would have had I just made the wiser purchase. I guess “wise” is subjective. It’s the way of things in the electronic age, I suppose.

I noticed that my blog is not even a blog about accountability anymore … it’s become more a blog on photography. Probably geeky-boring for some, but that’s ok; it's my thing. I’m so inspired … I am.

Sometimes I liken our viewpoint of life to a picture. Crop out the superfluous and zoom in on the beautiful. That’s why my flickr account is “lookforbeauty.”

My photo frenzy should end soon, as I’m toward the end of my pictures … and then I’ll go back to addressing my other goals.

It’s late again … so the photos I intended to upload today will just have to wait until tomorrow …

… back to the “laboratory” I go.

p.s. Stairway to Heaven is playing now ... a great laboratory tune :)

:)

Yawnnn …. I’m sitting here listening to the classic rock station and mmmm, I love this station :)

Anyway, it’s perfect for editing pictures … So many pictures I tried to “save,” but accepted as inferior and hence, tossed … Fortunately, there were also some decent ones. There were like 3 I didn’t have to edit at all. There were a couple that didn't even require cropping :) ... I love that feeling. They’re perfecto shots! They’re like puzzle pieces that click into place perfectly … mmmm. I could get used to that :)

I had such plans to blog today, as I’m feeling reflective and longwinded, but since I’m so tired now after staring at pictures and the screen all day, it will have to wait until tomorrow … Of course by tomorrow, I may be singing a different tune from the tune I intended to sing today. Live for the moment, right? :)

I’m feeling so much love at the moment … everything feels so, I dunno', but I'm not gonna' question it, I'm just gonna' smile and be happy while it lasts.

Since it’s already so late, I’m not gonna’ post the new pics until tomorrow, cuz’ I need to add my copyright text.

All my goals today -- it was like what frickin' goals? It was like "screw goals." I have such an extremist mindset and need to stop that. My all or nothing thinking is not healthy and certainly not fun -- it doesn't always serve me ... more on that later ... sleepy now ...

Stevie Nicks is on now ... will sleep with her voice in my head ...

G’night :)

Calling for Clarity

I need to live with integrity. I need to have a clear sense of purpose. I need to stop floundering around directionless. I need to meditate more. These are in fact needs. Now what the heck am I going to do about it all?

Sometimes I’m crystal clear in these areas, but at the moment I’m murky. Murky is not fun.

I started looking at and working with the pictures I took this weekend. Some made me laugh and some made me curse. There are limitations, and I need to pinpoint what they are. I know one was the overcast weather. But I think a great deal has to do with my not knowing my camera well enough. Also, I came to the regrettable conclusion that I’m just gonna’ have to consider investing more than I had intended. I strive to get the clearest, cleanest shots possible and unless I do what I just stated, I will have to live in limitation which is not an alternative. And why do I want these amazing shots? Self-satisfaction, first and foremost; to share with others who appreciate them; become adept enough to consider myself a professional. By professional, I mean being confident enough with my stuff to market it. I may never market my babies, but I want to feel that they are of marketing quality. There – I just listed a crystal clear purpose.

Now about writing ... crap; I fade in and out of it, and I don’t know why it’s so hard to stay on track. I’m serious about it, I’m just afraid of it. I need to drop the fear and just fall in love with it. I need to eradicate the critic and just write. For what purpose? Because it feeds me in intellectual and creative ways.

About meditating ... sometimes I feel like I need the perfect set of circumstances in order to sit quietly for 15 minutes. Evidently, the perfect set of circumstances are scarce. Perfectionism is a handicap. It’s another thing I need to eradicate, as it just gets in my blasted way. Why meditate? Because it calms my mind and helps me focus and stay balanced.

About my raw food path ... Well, my whole objective for that is to *feel* good, and to know it’s a way of self-loving. When I ate those cookies yesterday, it did not make me feel good, so I sabotaged my objective. I need to stop becoming my worst enemy.

I exercised last night. Exercise comes easy to me because, well, I don't know why. It just does. Thank God for the small stuff :)

I need to stop being a conflicted person, as this fritters away energy I could be directing toward my wants. I call for clear desires, laser focus and drive and inspired action. Yes. Yes, indeed.