Sometimes You're The Egret And Sometimes...

"Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, ever hundredth of a second."

~Marc Riboud

I wish I could say that this was a carefully planned photograph. I wish I could say that I labored for hours, hand stocking the lake with tiny little fish, just to get the perfect shot of my favorite bird chomping away on his meal in a very photogenic manner... yeah... I wish. LOL. But actually I have to admit that while I was out with the camera one cold, dark December day, I spotted a cute little egret, sitting still and quietly in Lake Tilden. I had been out that day looking for shadows and moody corners of Tilden park, so when I came across this bird I couldn't have been happier! I snapped off about 25 photos or so, most of which came out either overexposed or grainy. But I did get a couple of shots that looked pretty decent. The one above was a completely surprise! The bird spotted the fish in the water, and dived in so quickly to catch it, that I didn't even see it happen. I didn't see what I had captured with the camera until I got home!

That's called a lucky break! LOL. It's okay... it has inspired me many times when I have been out with the camera specifically looking for birds. I think I stop now, and consider the bigger picture surrounding the birds... not just the subject itself. Luck... it's a good thing! Don't waste the lesson it gives you! Whatever the lesson is!

Just A Couple Moments Earlier...


Mood: Happy

~Me :)

While Out For A Walk...

From For Ellipsis

"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change."

-Unknown

I went out for a walk today at Lake Anza, in Tilden Park. It's so pretty up here in the hills, and the weather the last couple days has been something else. Tonight, through the next few days, calls for possible thunderstorms. It's damp and sticky. Not at all like the usual weather we have this time of year. I am enjoying the change. There is electricity in the air, and everything smells really nice after those quick, brief rain showers. While out enjoying the feel of the air, this guy walked passed me. He didn't mind that I took his picture, in fact he kindly posed for me, then went on his way. It was a nice moment, one that I am glad I had. I am so happy that I didn't just sit at home today, I wouldn't have wanted to have missed this moment.

:)

-Carly

Like I Said... Detox

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night."

-Edgar Allan Poe

As I said in my post yesterday, I took a few days off from blogging earlier this week to detox from the Internet. I had my A1c done, and we took Elvis for his usual appointment with Dr. B and we took care of some assorted chores, but with the ample time left over I simply didn't feel like chaining myself to the computer, because nothing beats a nice walk in the sun. I had a really nice walk in the sun.

Tilden Park has become my own personal peaceful haven in the warm summer months. It's beautiful all year round, especially in December when they have the Christmas Fantasy in the Woods, but in the summer it is a dream of beauty. One of my favorite spots in the park, to take a long walk with Alan, is Lake Anza. It is a 9 acre lake in the middle of the park, and it has swimming as well as fishing available. I love walking around to the far side, away from the swimming crowds, where the dragonflies like to play. I love photographing those nimble little acrobats. I have become especially fond of the red ones, but the tiny blue ones have been catching my eye lately as well.

After we walked around the lake for a while, we spent a little time in the Botanic Garden. The garden is divided into different sections that contain different native California trees plants and shrubs. One of our favorite sections is the Redwoods, which is a beautiful grove of redwood trees that provides some peaceful shade from the sometimes overbearing summer heat. If you enjoy hunting lizards, then you will enjoy the California desert area, where dozens of lizards dart in and out among the native cactus. I am not much fond of lizards, so I always wear shorts when I go there, because they are much more likely to run up a pant leg, then a bare, white, thin uncovered leg. LOL.

We spent about 5 hours total in the park, just walking and enjoying the beauty. I did a lot of photography that day, and a lot of brain clearing. I enjoy the Internet, and you know I love Ellipsis, but to me it's a hobby, not a way of life. If the Internet died tomorrow I would miss the interaction and being able to share my photography with folks, but I wouldn't go into withdrawal over it. There is too much beauty and wonder right in my own backyard. :)

So tell me, where do you go to find beauty? Do you ever take time off from blogging to Internet detox? What is your favorite daycation? Tell me everything... I know you want to!

-OndineMonet
"Daycation Detox"
Lake Anza
Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
July 22, 2008
Afternoon

This Week's Dragonfly

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June."

-L. M. Montgomery

I was back walking along the shore of Lake Anza, in Tilden Park, yesterday. After finding so many different varieties of dragonflies on my visit last week, I knew it would be a big mistake not to bring my camera each time I plan to visit. I have set a goal for myself this summer, to photograph the tiny blue dragonfly, but yesterday, I noticed an even smaller thinner dragonfly which was almost a turquoise color. I am not sure if it is the same as the larger blue ones, but it seems like a bigger challenge to try for the tiniest ones as apposed to the easier large ones.

The dragonfly in the above photo is one of the largest ones I saw yesterday. It appears black and white in the picture, but the body of the dragonfly is actually a very pale blue color. I did a little investigation and found out from BugGuide that it is a Libellua pulchella, or the Twelve Spotted Skimmer. It is a fairly common dragonfly in the U.S., although I have never saw one before, so it was kind of fun to be able to see one. They are a summer dragonfly, so I suppose I will have lots of time to enjoy observing them. I like my summer dragonfly hunting.

:)

Note: Please click on the photo to see the picture in a larger version. The small size really doesn't do that beautiful creature justice.

-OndineMonet
"Twelve Spotted Skimmer"
Lake Anza
Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
June 17th, 2008
Afternoon

The Red Dragonfly

"When in doubt, where red."

-Bill Blass

Isn't she beautiful? I happened upon this dragonfly, well, actually, there were several of them flying about, lining the shore of Lake Anza, in Tilden Park, as I took a long walk there one day last week. I was thrilled to see them, I haven't had the chance to get in really close to them before now. It also made me happy to see about 4 or 5 varieties that day as well as the red ones. There were bright blue ones and a really interesting stripped dragonfly. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get as close to them as I did this one.

I probably could have moved a little closer to the shoreline, but I really didn't have the right shoes on for the steep, rocky climb. I was really lucky in that this one kept flying up to the top of the hill where I was sitting, and came to rest on a rock just a couple feet from me. I swear it was posing for me! The dragonfly and I had a pretty good time that day. I am going to try to get back there soon, with the proper clothing on, so I can hopefully photograph as many dragonflies as possible. I think I might make this a summer goal for this year, like the bumble bees were last year. Wish me luck.

-OndineMonet
"Red Dragonfly"
Lake Anza
Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
June 6th, 2008
Afternoon