Thursday, July 17, 2008

Sky Watch Friday-Summer Brings Dramatic Scenic and Flower Photo Opportunities




Canon 30-D: 17mm-40mm F4 at 17mm ISO 200

One of my favorite summer activities is a walk in the backcountry on a clear morning. It is best to be afield before sunrise and in position to catch the sun coming over the mountains. The owner of this area does rent a portion of his farm to a commercial farmer and the foreground of the photograph above is an area that was sprayed in preparation for planting a crop, but for whatever reason, nothing was planted or if it was it did not grow.

The owner is however, a dedicated naturalist and makes certain that a significant portion of his land is undisturbed so that meadow wildflowers may be found in abundance.

I had the 100mm f2.8 macro lens along, but decided to forgo the inconvenience of changing lenses, as the wildflowers I found today were large enough to make pleasing images with the 500mm.

Both are members of the morning glory family and are considered weeds. They are undesirable when they invade ornamentals as they are vines that twist around host plants and "take over" thereby destroying the desired plants.

With that being said, both are beautiful wildflowers and are harmless in an area such as a natural meadow.

Wild Sweet Potato: Canon 30-D-500mmF4 1/400 sec f8 ISO 100

Hedge Bindweed: Canon 30-D- 500mmF4 1/125 sec f 11 ISO 100

A stunning sunset is always a fitting conclusion to a day afield!

Canon 30-D: 17mm-40mm F4 at 27mm 1/200 sec f8 ISO 200

For more sky watch photos visit Sky Watch at its' own website this week. I don't know quite how it works yet and I am posting early so nothing is up yet, but the other sky watcher's photos should be up by mid to late afternoon eastern daylight savings time.

32 comments:

Tom said...

Hi Willard...
Thank you for yet another great posting... I'm so pleased you jion in each week and I know many will visit here as much for what you write as for the pictures you take.
I thank you for mentioning the New blog and from having one of the new links here two.. I hope you have a great Sky Watch and many visitors

Tom

Louise said...

Beautiful pictures. I can smell morning in the top one!

kjpweb said...

While all the pictures are beautiful - the top one is one of a kind! Dense atmosphere and moody with a wonderful light! A Masterpiece. Lifting my hat, Willard! Cheers, Klaus

EG CameraGirl said...

Your phptos make me want to walk in this field too. Wonderful photos!

Juliana said...

great shot.

Mine in here. Thanks

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

a lovely set of pictures

Carletta said...

Beautiful photos Willard!

I like each of them on it's own merit; but the first one is stunning!

Petunia said...

Lovely series of shots!
Petunia's SWF

imac said...

Hi Willard, great photo, love it.
and the rest is so brillsuch a true photographer.

The Team thanks you for your post and making this venture a success.

bobbie said...

Marvelous sunrise - and the end of the day was also very beautiful.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Love that last photos with all those colors of reds in the distance

Rose said...

The first and last are just so beautiful!

AnneKa said...

Greate Sky Watch post.
Have a nice weekend, from AnneKa in Norway

Michele said...

I adore wildflowers. We have abundance of them growing here in the Rocky mountains with the cooler moist soils... with the wildlife bringing the seeds in, I have even trouble identifying them... your photos are wonderful.
The first sunrise is stunning... to see that in person would take my breath away! Awesome!
Mountain Retreat Photos
Fishing Fiesta

Unknown said...

Excellent! Have a great weekend!

Tom said...

Just got time tocall back and see how it was going Willard.. just as I thought.. excellent comment from some excellent bloggers..

Tom

Anonymous said...

Fantastic photos!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Willard: Very nicely done taking us through the day. Great Sky pkotos.

SandyCarlson said...

Mornings in Pennsylvania sure are stunning, Willard. Thanks for sending them our way.

Tommy said...

Hello from Colorado. Great pictures. I really enjoy your blog.

HFD60 said...

Very nice photo's. Keep them comming.

Sharon said...

I love that first one! These are all beautiful, though. I love your work.

The Birdlady said...

Just gorgeous!

Larry D said...

Great photos and post! I felt like I was there. Happy SWF!

Rune Eide said...

Impressed by both the sunrise(!) and sunsets, but especially by being able to get those flowers with a 500mm!

Catherine said...

Beautiful captures Willard!
Stunning sunset~great sky~watch capture!
Have a beautiful weekend, & happy sky~watching!
Cat

Jeanne said...

I'm not a fan of early rising but a sunrise like that would certainly make it worthwhile. Beautiful scene as is your sunset. New to SWF and in awe of the talent.

Kahshe Cottager said...

Lovely photos! I liked that you had the beginning and end of the day with time for some flowers in between!
Have a wonderful weekend!
My SkyWatch Here

Tom said...

Me again Willard.
I have just been re-reading my comments.. both my spelling and grammer are shocking.. :O) I can only put it down to tiredness and lack of schooling :O)

Tom

Kerri Farley said...

Sunrise and Sunset...my favorite times of the day! And beautiful flowers in between! A Wonderful skywatch post, Willard!!

Anna Simpson said...

It's blogs like yours Willard, where photography is at its best. I became interested in wildlife photographs a couple of years back, and I am still learning, looking at your fantastic photographs, inspires me greatly, as I admire the great work you put into them.
This is a blog I will be back to visit again for sure.
Well done.
Keep up the great work.

Anna

Gemma Wiseman said...

These pics are just glorious! There is somehow an extra sense of personality and spirit in them! And that's what makes them so magical!