Archive for ‘April 22nd, 2009’

Wayfarer’s on a Spring day

Looking from the west end of the “beach”, the location of the boat ramp, back towards Bigfork Bay (under the Bridge).

No snow, no ice, low water, beautiful day.

Handy to have a lake for a warm dog to get a drink.

I so missed my chance. This eagle was sitting quietly in a tree near where I was standing. I had been watching as I see a young eagle here fairly often and have a photo from last year: On Eagle’s Wings

I happened to look up. But I didn’t have my camera out. I tried for the in-flight but I was hurried. You can tell it is a Bald Eagle and it is in the process of maturing – more white than last year, though.

Gear down!

Flathead Lake, Wayfarer’s State Park – April 22, 2009.

A closer look at Spring

Brand new larch needles up close. I wish they were sharper…this macro stuff is tricky. The macro converter and a long lens turn the camera into a microscope. And if you remember from biology class, a microscope has dials for very small adjustments to bring what you are looking at into focus. Therein lies the challenge for me with macro photography. They make special tripods and/or tripod adapters that put the camera on “rails” for very small adjustments. The difference between sharp focus and blur is minute. Great light is a help. I was trying to work with this stuff where it grew but the slightest – and I do mean slightest – movement of me or the branch…

I cheated and cut. I did stay outside but that is as close to “capturing it live” as I got.

The new larch needles come in in clusters, looking like miniature paint brushes. From a distance, the trees start showing a neon green glow as needles become more prominent.

The other sprouting I’ve been keeping an eye on is my lilac bushes. I laughed with amazement when I saw the bud up close through the camera…

The purple! – the beginnings of the purple blossom are already evident, but not to the naked eye.

What fun to have a closer look at Spring.