Just take the picture ..

We took a car ride and then a long walk yesterday. Fall colors are gaining momentum, but it’s moving slow. Teresa took the photo above, and I took the other shot. We took these on North Rangeline Road, north of route 36 and west of Covington, Ohio. I’m sure we looked funny, stoping the car and trying to frame a good shot.

When you are trying to photograph animals, you don’t always have time to setup the perfect picture. Prior to taking these photos, while we were walking, we saw this beautiful male cardinal. Perhaps the largest one I have seen. He was  gorgeous. We tried for a long time to get a picture of him. He was not going to let that happen, so we moved on.

While taking pictures of these horses, I caught myself saying to Teresa, “Take the shot, we can fix it in post.” Driving home, then early this morning, I came back to these words. Sometime we find ourselves waiting for the ‘perfect’ time to make a change, or to take some action. We ‘waited’ and didn’t get any shots of the cardinal. Teresa took the shot and while we didn’t get a perfect picture, but we did get a meaniful, beautiful picture of the horse. There is value in patience, but sometimes you need to ‘take the shot’ and move on. 

Something to think about.

~ Rick

---

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab. 

The Monarch migration

Monarch butterfly or simply monarch (Danaus plexippus) 

The fall season has arrived, and with it comes the annual southward late-summer, autumn migration of the Monarch butterfly.

Teresa and I took a walk near the pond at the Stillwater Prairie Reserve. I took several photos like the one above, but this was my favorite. This is a female, but I saw at least one male. The difference is easily detectable by the coloring. The male has a brighter orange color, and the black is not as pronounced. 

Teresa captured several great photos as well .. this is one of her photos:  

Have a great week!  

---

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home.Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.  

Mourning doves

Mourning doves (Zenaida Macroura)

This looks like a winter shot ... without the snow. The reality is that I took this late yesterday during some light rain near Garbry Big Woods Reserve. The tree is Ash, and did not survive the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). When I walk this reserve, I normally see the EAB on the trail. I didn’t see any this time. I doubt they are gone. They have killed millions of ash trees in their path.

There is something ironic about these beautiful and peaceful creatures pearching in this ash tree, destroyed by the EAB. I don’t know how long the tree will remain, but for now, it is a place for the dove to view the rest of nature.  

Morning on the Lake

On Labor Day, Teresa and I took a few photos at sunrise at Kiser Lake, near St Paris, Ohio. This was shot just before sunrise, so you get a lot of interesting colors. That is a Blue Heron in the foreground. I saw two of them, but didn’t get many good pictures of them. 

The American Robin

The American Robin  (Turdus migratorius)

One of the most common birds in my part of the world is the Robin. I love the work ethic of the Robin. They seem to be always out collecting food or nest materials. They don’t usually let anyone get too close. This guy just kept coming toward me. I was using about 600mm, so it was a long shot and I was not a threat. 

I took this on the bike path in TIpp City, Ohio.