Photography

Praying Mantis – Bravery? or Suicide Wish?

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

PrayingMantis-OnStep

This morning as I opened windows and doors for the wonderful fresh air, I noticed a small-ish bright green fellow (or lady) on the top of my side porch stairs. It was clearly a young praying mantis, so I very quietly went to check her out. She is about 3″ long, which makes her still a youngster, and in the way that only a praying mantis can do, she rotated her head, watching my every move as I viewed her from every angle without getting too close as to disturb her. Time to get the camera!

PrayingMantis-PumpkinBy the time I’d come back out, Pumpkin, the orange cat next door, was coming over to say hello and see what was happening, and was now right next to the praying mantis. I figured the mantis was a goner, but Pumpkin was totally oblivious to her presence. What was more amazing was that the mantis, while watching Pumpkin’s every move, (she’s actually looking right at him in this photo), only made one tiny move herself. It was quite easy to catch a couple photos after which I quickly lured Pumpkin to my back door and away from the mantis.

Now I know we’re not talking suicide wish here, but I have to imagine there is a sort of instinctual or inbred mantis bravery in maintaining one’s position in the face of a “monster” so much larger. I also understand the concept of camouflage in nature, but have to wonder … does a young praying mantis not yet know that they’re not exactly blending in?

So after Pumpkin had gotten bored and had exited the porch via the back steps, I switched to close-up mode and returned to snap a few more shots of my very photogenic subject.

PrayingMantis

p.s. I just checked, and sunning herself on the side of the house is the now almost glowing, bright green praying mantis . I expect looking for a more suitably sized meal than Pumpkin is on her agenda.

Winged Migration – A Spectacular Visual Treat

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

WingedMigration-flamingosThis movie, released in 2003, is one of the most spectacular I have seen. There is almost no narration, there are occasional notes on the bottom of the screen indicating the type of bird and the location and distance it flies during migration, and the most incredible music created just for the film. Not to mention breathtaking landscapes from one end of the world to the other. What is even more extraordinary, is how the birds were filmed – the view is most often from the bird’s perspective. For bird/wild bird lovers or just nature lovers, this is one to see. Available on Netflix.

Be sure to see the Special Features and you’ll be amazed at the 4 year chronicle it took to make this film and how the birds were filmed this way. I smiled in wonder all through the movie and again just watching the trailer. For a sneak peek, check out the trailer.

Liquid Fire on A Busy Day

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

applejuiceHaving a children’s book Mentoring Workshop on the horizon is both exciting and a bit stressful. There’s lots to do and prepare for — in this case a NJ SCBWI Mentoring Workshop — prepping my portfolio to the best I have it so far, getting ready my first pages, critiquing my group’s MS’s, and seeing if I can complete one more illustration for my portfolio before the big day. Of course, the daily demands of my clients do not lessen any.

With a mind charging about like a runaway train, I suddenly was stopped in my tracks and noticed something – beautiful, simple and wonderfully distracting. My glass of apple juice on the dining room oak table had become a crystal of liquid amber filled with fire.

Note to self – never get so crazed that you don’t see these amazing visual moments.

Bad Boys on the Farm

/ still a dreamer

mylesbadboys-w1

If this doesn’t look like a bunch of bad kids on the corner debating what kind of shenanigans they’re going to get into next, I don’t know what does.

As it happens, the 3 horses, Ghost, Silas and Dillon, are not bad boys at all, but were simply deciding who was going to get to play with who, and who was going to be the “odd man out.” (It was Ghost.)

These horses are among many more rescued by Mylestone Equine Rescue, a horse rescue near where I live, and whom I help with their web site, graphics and occasional photography. I had zipped over to photograph some great kids who’d raised funds for the horses, and as usual, couldn’t help myself from taking a few more shots around the farm. This one just seemed to have a story of its own going on.

If you like horses, you’ll enjoy reading about the outstanding job Mylestone Equine Rescue does in taking in and rehabilitating horses that have been starved, abused, abandoned, or were on their way to auction and most likely, slaughter.  Check out their web site. 

myleslucy-w1Did I mention some of them are just plain cute?  Here’s Lucy, inseparable friend of Peppermint Patty.

Living By Water

/ still a dreamer

How lucky am I? I live 3 houses away from a river. And walking 4 very short blocks, I can walk onto the bridge that takes me to neighboring PA.

delaware-winter

Yesterday I went out walking for my exercise and decided to take my camera. Something I don’t do often enough. I was immediately drawn to the river on this sunny day – blue sky, no clouds. I headed onto the bridge, not to go to PA, but just to see the river. Even in winter, with not a leaf in sight, it was magnificent.

delaware-winter2

I am happy when living by water. I am always happy to just be near water – the ocean, a lake, a river – there is something calming, inspiring and renewing about it. I wonder if this is universal or something belonging to just some of us. Is it because my family used to go the shore throughout my childhood and my Dad taught me to swim in the ocean? Is it because in my tween and teen years we used to vacation up at Highland Lakes every summer? Or perhaps that we used to go on a Sunday to Cooper’s Pond in the neighboring town and feed the ducks? I took some of my very first photos with my new Brownie camera there. Maybe it’s because I’m a water sign. Maybe I was once a mermaid. Maybe I am just forever enchanted by nature.

Our creativity, in whatever way we express ourselves, is influenced by all of who we are and who we have been. I believe when we reach inside ourselves and touch upon the good things, the meaningful things, in our pasts – or even find them for the first time – we are enriched in every way.  Yet we make so little time for these things … to let ourselves be with our own enchantment … to just let ourselves be. Today, for this, I thank the river.