Squire’s Castle, Willoughby Hills

Spring Finally Arrived!

Back At It

It’s been almost a month since I took the camera out of the bag. The winter blahs get me every year about this time. Too cold to go out, crappy conditions to drive in, nothing to really shoot, and the whole lack-of-sunlight-depression thing. I got up Sunday morning to this beautiful world of white. My wonderful daughter, Kristen, had made sausage and pancakes for breakfast. I ate, started to shovel the driveway, then stopped to shoot. One shot after another, my spirits were lifted. I was pretty tickled by the time I got inside. Even moreso when I put the last watermark on the last photo.

Amazing how snow can be so heavy to break branches on trees yet so light to just lay delicately on the long needles of a pine tree.

Melting snow dripping into a puddle, splashed water onto my patio screen.

Difficult to tell whether these are black and white or not.

Doin’ Drops

Something about seeing the drops on the leaves of these flowers drives me nuts!! I’ve never seen the water bead up on any other plant like this. I can see it from inside the house, and I’m thinkin’,”You’ve done tons of those shots. Let it go.” So I walk away, and I look out the back window, and there’s more, glistening in the sun like little diamonds. “Don’t do it. It’s too easy. Do something else.” “Yea, but I might get a really GOOD one this time.” And I argue with myself and this time, I broke down and grabbed the camera just before the sun dried them up.

Hate This Time of Year…

I don’t like the fact that everything is dead, dormant or hibernating this year. Coupled with the weather, temperature and work schedule, I don’t head out too much. I know, whine-whine-whine, right? So, I’m digging though my folders and found this set that I took last year in March. I promise to have new stuff soon. Even if it means going outside.

Frosty Morning

Yes, I’m still here. I took the rest of my vacation over the holidays and made candy, fudge, cookies and snack mix, along with making dinner. Very busy, and not a lot of time to pick up the camera. Nor am I fond of the cold weather.

BUT! If there’s a really good photo op, then I might venture outside.

So, I woke up the morning of the 13th last month, and as I’m fixing the bed, I look outside. Frost!! And it looks COOL, even from upstairs. So I finish the bed and run outside. In shorts, flip-flops and a T-shirt.

Am I nuts or what?

Answer that after you look at the pics.

The Big Dripper

Before you even say it, I know. “He always shoots water drops.” Whatever it is about the leaves on Tiger Lilies, the water beads up like no other plants I’ve seen. Little, tiny crystal globes, shining in the light, after a rain. I can’t help NOT seeing them. These are from May 8th.

This is my favorite. I thought catching the reflection of the tree was a bonus.

I tried for a while to get a really good shot of this little bug. This was as good as I got. But I was blown away by the way he looked. Pretty vicious looking! The head reminded me of the death’s head from “The Punisher”.

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere…

Daffodils = Spring

Frozen at Mile Long Pier

A big round of applause and “Thanks!” to two local photographers for motivating me to go to Mile Long Pier to get some shots of my own. Roger Brownson and Matt Dempsey took some really great pics of all that was frozen behind the Jackalope. Wanting to check it out myself, I stopped by after work the other night. And it’s a good thing I did, because it’s been pretty warm the last few days. I’d go on about what I saw, but I think the pics speak for themselves.