On this Mother's Day I wanted to share some nature photos. This is for moms everywhere - and for the people who love 'em.
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Jump over the orange Itzl for more...
By the time I was in junior high school I earned money mowing lawns, looking after pets for neighbors and working for my dad's painting contracting business in the summer.
I was already very interested in photography by age 12. And when I wanted to buy my first camera, mom encouraged me to spend the time to learn all I could about photography. There were no classes in photography at my school so mom pointed me to the public library. I borrowed all of the photography books from the library, even the ones that were way over my head. 'Thanks, mom!'
She worked on my dad for what seemed like many months to overcome his objection - dad said spending all that money on a camera outfit was not something he would allow. Eventually he relented. 'Dad's okay with me buying the camera? Thanks, mom!'
When I finally decided I wanted to buy a rangefinder camera I read about in a photography magazine, my mom was the one who drove me to get it. 'Wow! Thanks a lot, mom!'
I was so lucky. And even now I think of my mom often when I'm behind a camera.
'I love you, mom!'
I don't know much about the last 15 years of my mom's life. She and my dad divorced when I was in college and I was estranged from both of my parents starting in the early and mid-1980s. I forwarded my mailing address and telephone number each time I moved, but I didn't hear from mom after the mid-1980s. She passed away in early 2001.
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I hope you enjoy these photos on Mother's Day. Feel free to share your pics, too.
Heart of the Forest - Light Painting
San Bernardino National Forest, California
I made this image in the forest on a moonlit night at 8,5oo' elev.
The camera was on a tripod and set to M(anual) mode. I opened the shutter
for 25-30 seconds. I moved in front of the camera with the red LED of
my hiking lamp facing the camera. And after several tries I got this image!
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Mom is the only one who feeds hummingbird chicks.
From sunup to sundown she is hard at work finding food.
Anna's hummingbird nest - California
Mom takes the kids everywhere and teaches them
all of the things they need to be a success in life.
Grizzly bear and cubs - Yellowstone National Park
Mom is ever vigilant and will dive to safety with junior in tow.
Sea otter and her pup - Elkhorn slough, California
Mom is teacher and guardian, and mom can lead the fun, too.
Common dolphins - Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
It is hard work keeping track of lots of little quackers!
Mallard and ducklings - California
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And some more of my pictures of flora and fauna. Enjoy!
'Bambi' browsing in flowers near Sequoia National Park, California
Sand verbena - California desert
House finches, goldfinches and purple finch on a Spanish bayonet yucca - California
(h/t to tgypsy for purple finch ID)
Desert tortoise and desert dandelion - Mojave desert
Night herons and nests - Salton Sea, California
Sandhill cranes - Bosque del Apache, NM
California sea lions 'flying' for fun - Channel Islands Natl Park, CA
Heliconius butterflies - California
Roadrunner - California
Broadbill hummingbird - Arizona
Ross's geese - Salton Sea, California
Joshua Trees and California poppies - Mojave desert
Osprey - Salton Sea, California
Sea otter eating a clam - Elkhorn slough, California
Heart of the Desert - Joshua Tree
Light painting using white and red LEDs.
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I thought of kossack Julie Waters (juliewolf) when I made light some paintings
this spring. I hope you enjoy the two light paintings I posted in this diary.