Nesting Sparrows

 Deborah alerted me to a really nice photo opportunity Saturday. Mom and Pop Sparrow were building a nest in  a vent in the empty house next door. The two were bringing in material one at a time. I took the 70-300 and eased out the back door. We have lots of birds around our yard, we keep our feeders full. We also are in the garden enough that the birds are kinda used to seeing us so sometimes photographing them is easier than normal.

I shot a few frames from a good distance away, then worked my way closer. We have a table with an umbrella on the patio that was the prefect place to shoot from. I sat under the umbrella and the two son ignored me completely.

I goit some nice images Saturday, will have to wait to see what happens when their young ones come along.
It is spring, get out and enjoy nature.

Pink Dogwoods

Our one Pink Dogwood is blooming now. I love our Japanese Magnolia but this is my favorite bloom in our yard. No time better to photograph it than an overcast morning like today. I saw the blooms when I was walking the dogs, and knew I couldn't wait to shoot some pictures.

I took the D200 and the 70-300Macro with me when I left for church. I shot these before I got in the car, just couldn't wait to see them in my viewfinder. I was a little late for church, but I don't think God minded.

Up The Street

The Hiway 49 Market is at the end of our block. Every night when I walk the dogs, I see this scene, and think, "That will be a neat picture."  I had left my cameras in the car Saturday, and after walking Wesley and Maggie, went back out to grab them. The 70-300 was on the D90, so I shot a couple of frames. Just bumped the ISO up to 800 and popped a couple of quick frames.

Cherry Blossoms, Etc

Its Cherry Blossom time again in Middle Georgia, and our tree is really showing off this year. I did my annual Cherry Blossom shoot yesterday, and was pretty happy with the results. I gave up trying to shoot these oh, so  light blossoms using an automatic mode a long time ago. The only success I have had in getting the image I wanted was to switch to manual.

 Otherwise, parts of the blooms were totally blown out.  Then a bit of Photoshop to even the hot spots and shadows to get a decent image. I really like this photo, probably my favorite Cherry Blossom photo. The second version, I used the Watercolor filter, just to see what it would look like.

The Iris below, I am just throwing in for free. I really like the texture. Again, shooting manual to get all the detail, then bringing it together with Photoshop.

The Beauty Of The Human Heart

Yesterday presented one of those mixed assignments that has elements that really make you feel good and then rip your heart out. I was covering the opening ceremonies at the Warner Robins American Little League. Little League is always good for happy, excited kids…lots of feel good photos like the one of three-year-old Stephen Laney in his just a bit too big baseball uniform, cap over his eyes, swinging a bat that was way too big. He wasn’t old enough to play, but he came to see his big brothers.

Also the joy, happiness and anticipation on the faces of the Red Sox players sitting with Kelly Nauss.

This was countered by a family that was experiencing a great tragedy. James and Melva Sullivent were dealing with the loss of their two daughters Bridget and Leslie. The two girls, avid softball players, were killed in an auto accident Thursday night. Had they lived, the two would have been celebrating the day with family and friends, kicking off a new softball season. Instead, their memory was honored by kind words and an outpouring of love by those in attendance

Not an easy thing for me to do, photographing folks during moments of pain and grief. Totally against my nature. I am torn between doing a job I love, and feeling a lot of guilt at my intrusion into a family’s grief.

Never has gotten any easier.

There is a beauty in all these images, although so very different. The beauty of the human heart.