Posted on

American Snapping Turtle

American Snapping Turtle mating in a once used waste water sewer pond. I repeat  “unused waste water pond”.  In this pond, “see size below” I counted at least 12 turtles. Turtles are ectothermic animals. That means they get their body heat from their surroundings–the air, water or ground. They need to be warm to move around and eat. If they get too cold, everything in the body will slow down. Then they can’t eat and digest food. The heart slows down and the lungs do too.

 

Posted on

The Aquarium

“The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he’s one who asks the right questions.”
― Claude Lévi-Strauss

Another wonderful experience at the Aquarium.  2017

 

Check this out kids

Click to enlarge images in the Gallery

 

“When kids look up to great scientists the way they do to great musicians and actors, civilization will jump to the next level” Brian Greene

Posted on

Who Cares

There’s no secret, nor do I hide the fact that some of my Images on this site have been enhanced. From basic brightness and contrast to the extreme by using filters, masks, layers and other means to get the desired look I want. Granted, some shots are great “as is”, but not all. Heck, even Ansel Adam’s photograph “Moonrise” has, to some degree been enhanced.  Do I manipulate my photos, (add eyes, wings, lightning, water, etc., sure I do on occasion, but not to deceive or mislead. I was creating double exposures to add items when I was 13 years old with a Minolta SRT101.  I make it clear up front though, as in this post. Ask me about my photo editing. I will tell you what photos are enhanced. In competition however, nature and photo-journalism, along with documentary style photograph categories, never. All else, the whole lot goes. Below, White’s Factory, Acushnet, MA. Post editing with removal of the home and automobile.

 

You do to, without realizing it.  A friend of mine had a grand image in the Berkshires, foliage.  He told me it was right out of the camera that way. Sure was too. After examining his camera, I asked if he used the “SCENE” selector mode. Of course he did, the “FOLIAGE SETTING”. By the way, he was the same guy who moved some shells, added a piece of driftwood he carries with him, and added them to the beach scene photos. So, maybe now and again the manipulation begins before the photographer releases the shutter. Thousands of words and blogs are obtainable on the web resting on this topic. If I like the result of my photos, that’s all that matters. I do what makes me content, yes; but I also make sure I can humbly stand by the merits of my work as well.  I try to capture the image with the best available light, which is only a few minutes a day, use a good lens, appropriate F-Stop, and a few different focal lengths for changing perspectives. Wide-angle lenses distort the scene, and telephoto lenses compress the view, but lets not get into photography class right now.  My favorite lens, below.  Yes, many better but great glass for an old lens for my D800, D600 (which is the best camera in the world) and some of older cameras, D2x, D200, D300, D700, which still produce great results when used properly.  Oh, did I mention I still use an F-100 on occasion. Sticky back and all. It keeps me pure in the field.

When I was developing my images in the bathroom darkroom, nobody ever questioned if I had manipulated them. But I did. My computer now makes the same tasks capable, and quicker, lots quicker. I have shown photographs with few or some light enhancements and have been questioned on the purity of the shot. “were you standing next to me when I took the picture?”  And had no one questions  me on lightning bolts flashing through the Cape Cod Canal.  All manipulated.  Oh, and what about “setup shots” I mentioned by my friend at the beach. Remember the sailor kissing the girl on a busy street in Times Square, or the famous shot of the American soldiers putting up the flag after they defeated the Japanese at Iwo Jima. Yup, set up shots.

Heck, I even manipulate some fun videos as well, as in the one below,  the intro to “Chloe Dreams”  They love this stuff

 

Digital Photography is the darkroom of today. Photoshop. If Ansel Adams was alive today, you would have to pry him away from Photoshop in his digital darkroom. Film or digital will never match the dynamic range of our eyes. Enhancement can breathe life into a photo. I will try to emphasize my images so you can see what I see. More digitally doctored images are appearing in the media these days and guess what, you can’t do anything about it, and who cares. I was at a craft fair, someone had a beautiful scarf, handmade they told me. Did they raise the alpaca from birth, feed and nurture it, then shear it and spin it into yarn. No, purchased the yarn on Ebay and used a crochet hook to create the scarf. Just saying. So enough on this. It gets wearisome and loutish to write on a subject that presently doesn’t matter.  I may not be a great photographer, but sure do have some fun with it. Don’t forget, a leopard cant change his spots,,,,,, but I can.

Posted on

Hummingbirds back in North Dighton

“The hummingbird
is not just another bird.
Its heart rate’s 1,200 beats per minute.
Its wings beat 80 times a second.
If you was to stop their wings
from beating, it would be dead
in less than 10 seconds.
This is no ordinary bird.
This is a frickin’ miracle.
They slowed down their wings
with moving pictures,
and you know what they saw?
Their wingtips are doing that.
You know what the figure eight
is the mathematical symbol for?
Infinity. Infinity!”

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

 

 

From 2019 (WATCH HERE)

 

 

Some More Images

Posted on

Great Blue Heron

“The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.” – Carl Sagan

Great blue herons are waders, typically seen along coastlines, in marshes, or near the shores of ponds or streams. Shown here at Oliver Mill Park, Nemasket St. Middleboro, Massachusetts. The herring are scarce now as the run is almost complete, but there are still enough to snack on. Click here or scroll down to see what the Heron may see.  Even the common water snake couldn’t resist the sun. (below)  click on an image to enlarge.  Or, for a different view, click HERE

 

Red Wing Black Bird Chase Heron

 

 

 

Posted on

spring has finally sprung

Unmistakable signs that spring has finally sprung. Most folks have heard the nightly chorus of spring peepers, but few ever have seen them. The one pictured here, is a wood frog I believe.

Fun Facts: Not all frogs in cold climates bury themselves deeply enough to avoid freezing temperatures in the winter. There are actually five species of frogs in North America that can freeze and survive. Two of these frogs are the spring peeper and the Western chorus frog. As temperatures dip below 32 degrees, these frogs start producing their own “antifreeze” to help preserve the most essential organs. Up to 70% of the frog’s body can freeze, to the point that the heart stops pumping and the frog appears to be dead. Scientists still aren’t sure how frozen frogs can wake up again, but once they thaw out and wake up, most frogs will go through a period of healing before they resume their normal lives.

 

 

Posted on

Backyard Favorites

There’s something stunning about a bright-red male cardinal against a snowy backdrop. Especially when they are in my yard. The cardinal is one of the most highly desirable backyard birds in North America. The northern cardinal’s strong, thick bill is perfect for large seeds, and black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds are two of their favorites. Other foods cardinals prefer include cracked corn, peanut pieces, fresh berries, apple chunks and small pieces, crumbles or shreds of suet. These foods should be offered in large, wide feeders with plenty of space for birds to perch – small tube feeders are unsuitable for cardinals unless they have a large tray at the bottom. Platform feeders and large hopper feeders are good choices, but avoid lightweight hanging feeders that may swing or sway under these birds’ weight. Ensuring feeders are filled early in the morning and late in the evening, as these birds are often the first and last to visit feeders each day. If there is no food available when the birds arrive, they may leave and not return.

 

Continue reading “Backyard Favorites”