If you like to see bird images - take a look at my larger collection of bird images at Amvona.com, photo sharing service where I occasionally post some of my work.
Here's a sample of an image you will find there. This is a little reddish-colored Eastern Screech Owl.
Beautiful Birds Collection
I sent this image to a friend, who quickly pointed out the resemblance between the fine feathers around the eyes of this barred owl - to the frost images I captured recently (see the post below).
Click on the image above to see the amazing details of the feathers. This owl in particular just has a wonderful face and I had a great opportunity to photograph it during a workshop three weeks ago.
There's another whole world right beyond our normal line of vision, and most of us would not slow down long enough to appreciate it. Although I still consider myself a student of macro photography, I'm enjoying trying new subject matter and looking at nature in a whole new way.
On a sub-zero day as I went to call my son in from sledding with his friends, I noticed some amazing ice patterns on our front storm door. It's amazing how these ice crystal resemble plant life! I'm imagining they probably "grew" into those wonderful feathery shapes?
Here's an article posted on WOOD-TV8 today that should concern EVERYONE: Dry areas eye Great Lakes water
The Department of the Interior is preparing a 10-year study to determine the nation's water use, supplies and future needs. The department said the study is necessary because of chronic water shortages, dramatic population growth and the potential for water conflicts. Water diversion is not mentioned in the Interior news release, or even the Great Lakes specifically. But there's concern the Great Lakes fresh water repository is being eyed by many.
NO ONE should tamper with the environment to this extent. Taking water away from our Great Lakes will do nothing except to disturb the natural balance, and create a chain of events that could become catastrophic!
I can certainly appreciate there are areas of our country that have water shortages, and it is a difficult situation to remedy. However - areas like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and other Southwest areas have maintain enormous golf courses, countless swimming pools, underground sprinkling for lawns, and other "recreational" uses. If you find yourself migrating to such an area for your retirement, you should not be surprised that there might be shortages of water in the desert! I hardly feel sorry for those who exploit something as precious as water.
Historically, anytime humans have diverted water in order to gain from it - it has caused more harm and grief than good. That's exactly why so many places in desert-type environments have ended up in trouble. It's termed "desertification" which is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities. Look up the Aral Sea, Lake Mead, Lake Chad and a host of others as examples to what happens to lakes when water is not managed properly.
This is an environmental issue worth taking a stand on! Do you know how LARGE of an area the Great Lakes Watershed area is? Think about what impact lower levels of water will create in this region...
In 2004, Kevin and Kyle Friar were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a fatal genetic disorder. This progressive muscle disorder causes loss of muscle function and independence. To date, there is no cure.
Please join in the battle against DMD by contributing to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) or attending this event:
Go have an evening of fun knowing you are supporting the research, education, advocacy and care of children suffering from this disease.Here's another view of the January sky over the frozen beach and shoreline at Grand Haven, Michigan.
Feel free to click on the image directly to see it a bit larger.
On Monday, February 4th, I was officially informed I was chosen for a "People's Choice Award" at the Grand Rapids First United Methodist Church Celebration of the Arts show! The FUMC congregation purchased Holy Cow to remain in their permanent art gallery.
Click on the image itself to see the detail:
In honor of the award for Holy Cow! - I'm offering prints at a reduced rate through the end of February 2008.
There was over 2 feet of snow as I watched the last bit of a large storm system break up over Lake Michigan. This is a view from in front of the BilMar Restaurant on January 25th, 2008.
Ahh!!! Grab your bikini, flip flops and a good drink and get comfy in the -15 degree wind chill!
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