Penning Photography Daily

Sunrise on the beach at Hilton Head Island, in South Carolina.

Can you hear the gentle waves crashing on the shore?

Do your feet remember the feel of the cold Atlantic Ocean as you splash through the oncoming waves?

Does the memory of the salt-tinged air come to you, recalling the fresh air breezes tossing your hair about?

The squishy and crunchy way the sand feels to your feet, does that feel come back as you see this?

A photograph can do all that. It can help you recall the sense memories of the time that it freezes in shades of color and light.

Wonderful memories are held in these images. Take pictures wherever you happen to be. Bring them out and remember the beauty, recall the good times. And if you’ve never been to the beach, and might not be able to or care to visit one some day, know that for me it was a ton of fun.

Find your fun in life and live it to the fullest. Take pictures and carry the memories with you.

Getting a good photograph can sometimes be done in the blink of an eye. Other times, it takes preparation, and patience.

A fleeting moment, such as a glance between lovers, or a bird in the air, can be captured in less than a heartbeat. As long as you have a camera, have it out and at the ready, these unique moments of life’s swiftly flowing sands are a great quick capture.

Here, I went out after 10PM to get the stars. I went to the edge of town, but didn’t venture far enough out to miss the light pollution of city lights. In fact, that street lamp is providing a nice flare at the bottom of the frame. Also, the lone house that is directly across a road to the left of the frame, had lights which were illuminating the short and tall prairie grass.

It started out with some heavier cloud cover, then as I waited patiently, the clouds mostly left, with just wisps to add some interest to the star field above. I kept taking 15 second exposures, varying the aperture, ISO and composition. This one turned out nicely for ISO 3200.

Some day I’d like to take a night-long series of night sky images, and animate it into a short movie. I’d have to have lots of patience and be prepared. Taking 10-15 second images all night long would likely try my patience strongly. Then again, the result might just be something wonderful.

This unknown tree was sending out these gorgeous shoots earlier this Spring. I could not pass without taking it in and grabbing a photograph.

Notice the fine wisps of white seed strands that were blowing in the wind that day. The fine-haired leaves were catching these cottony bits and holding onto them.

Count how many leaves are sprouting from this tiny area at the end of a tree branch. Amazing how prolific life can be.

Check out the hues of color, as they morph from green to yellow to a soft mauve or purple.

The seed clumps that are this tree’s push to extend its type into the world stand as a contrast to the leaves, perhaps to attract birds.

Add the dark background, made more interesting by the shallow depth of focus, and the image captured entrances.

A couple of flower blossoms, basking in the sunshine of a cool Spring day of recent past.

The yellow centers and the magenta undersides caught my eye. The shade on the background makes the blooms pop.

Simple but gorgeous.

This member of the rodent family of animals, was very wary of me, and very protective of his surroundings.

Walking through Lincoln Memorial Garden’s many paths, I was on the lookout for animals, hoping to get a portrait if possible. I noticed this bushy-tailed squirrel ahead of me, scurrying down the path. I stopped and it stopped to see what I was up to. I stood still, and it did likewise. I started walking towards it, and it proceeded to the nearest tree, climbing just a few feet up the trunk and keeping a watchful eye on me. I moved closer to it, and it moved further up the tree.

Eventually, this bright-eyed adult squirrel ventured closer to me, but high on the tree limb. Then as I started to take it’s photograph, it turned this and that way, twitching its tail to and fro, all the while keeping me clearly in its sights. In situations like this, other squirrels have begun to chitter at me, or perhaps it’s a call of warning to its brethren of the forest, I don’t know which. This one, just kept on the alert, waiting for me to make my next move.

I bid it a good day, and moved on, having gotten my portrait. I didn’t turn around to see what the squirrel was doing as I moved away, but I imagine it kept me in its sights for a while.

Nice of it to pose for me.

On a cloudy, rain-threatening day, I decided it was a perfect day for a walk in Lincoln Memorial Garden. The paths there are nicely maintained and the variety of scenes, including bridges, lake views and all things green give my eyes a lot to look at.

Families where out in force, but there’s plenty of path to keep separated, wet able to enjoy the distant laughter and shouts of glee. I kept asking the folks who passed by, if they had seen anything of interest. “Snakes!” said one youngster, “A squirrel who was making noises like it was mad at me.” said another.

I saw one squirrel and caught the barest glimpse of a rabbit darting into the cover of brush. I heard many birds, even some geese flying overhead. Mostly it was me and the forest, with the lake waves lapping as I neared the edges of the garden.

I stopped short at this collection of leaves. They had a iridescent coating on them, reflecting multiple colors, like oil on water. I was going to try to get that patch of color, when this fly landed. My composition instantly changed, and here you are. I’m always on the lookout for something in my viewfinder that I didn’t see before it came up to my eye.

It was a great day for a walk in the garden.

Shhh, he’s sleeping.

Baby August, the latest of my great-nephews, was cradled in his mother’s arms (my niece Lisa), in restful slumber with a full tummy. The window-light was perfect. Earlier, I had asked that Lisa feed him with the knitted blanked. That made for a perfect backdrop for this capture of a sleeping baby.

Children grow up so quickly, it seems to me. Then again, I’ve got the benefit of a few years on young August here. He’s likely going to think time drags slowly for a number of years. Eventually, the sands in the hourglass seem to be speeding up.

Take your time, August. Rest while you can.