Lily Pad: Selective Color

While fishing Saturday morning the refection & shadows among the lily pads caught my attention. While reviewing the resulting images I hit upon the idea of giving this one a selective color treatment.

I know, I know, it’s not really my style but I do like to play around with images occasionally.

As it is the end of the month, it was also time for a new header. This evening my wife and I again visited the Haines-Seville Wetland with a focus on insects. This butterfly, understanding my need of a September header image, posed beautifully for its portrait.

On another note, many of you have been following my son Chad’s engagement over at the photog blog. If you have been enjoying his post, pop over to Ash’s Eye to read all about my niece's exciting news.

Camera Critters: Humming.......

As quickly as it arrived, a female Hummingbird prepares to leave her perch.

With my brothers family enjoying their visit to Yellowstone, I have been raiding their hummingbird feeding station for images.

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Tuscarora Sunrise

As I watched the sun rise from the top of Tuscarora Mountain looking down over the sleepy village of Ft. Loudon nestled in the shadows of both the Kittatinny and Broad Mountain in the distance, I could not help but think back to how this must have appeared at an earlier time.

The village, Fort Loudon, takes it name from an English fort constructed during the French & Indian war era. It has the distinction of being the first English fort in the New World to be attacked by colonist. Over ten years preceding the revolution James Smith and his Black Boys laid siege to the fort demanding the release of settlers imprisoned there.

For you history buffs out there a Google search will reveal a great deal of information regarding Smith and his daring forays. Although Smith was an important activist during this period, history overlooks his exploits. Smith, a very vocal detractor of General George Washington, may well have brought this oversight upon himself.

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Close-up: Grasshopper

From a distance a grasshopper really doesn’t look like much but when viewed up close the intricate detail and color scheme makes it into an object of beauty. I also liked the touch of color added by the thistle blossom in the foreground of this shot.


In an attempt to increase my capability for shooting macros, I added a Kenko 25mm extension tube to my gadget bag. It has performed flawlessly on the 100-400mm but with the 24-105mm I find that I have difficulty in achieving focus in the auto-focus mode.

Close-up: Hummingbird

Of all the bird species to photograph up close there is none easier than the hummingbird if one does some preparation. All that is needed is a feeder and a well lit perch. Capturing these birds in mid-air is another thing altogether!

Old Bedford Village: The Conclusion

With fixed bayonets the British troops swept the opposing forces from the field

A casualty lies upon the field of battle

Of course this series was that of a reenactment conducted at Old Bedford Village. The action appears much better in photographs than it did while watching it unfold for the re-enactors exercised the utmost care to prevent “real” causalities.

Reoccurring among the various comments on this series is mention of the bright uniforms and the massed formations used in the fighting of that day. One must remember that with the uses of these tactics the Great British Empire ruled much of the world. With the inaccurate and slow rate of fire of the arms of that day, the massing of men and firepower was of much more consequence than stealth. The bright uniforms and large hats made the forces appear larger than life, scaring the opposition more than if they had been concealed.

Changes in weaponry relegated these tactics to antiquity; what a shame that the same cannot be said about all war!

Old Bedford Village: The Battle

With the French troops arriving upon the field, the battle began in earnest.




With a crashing volley of small arms fire accompanied by the roar canons, the British troops returned a withering fire from the shelter of the redoubt.

Colonials assisting the British troops can be seen here manning the canon.

Wood Ducks in the Mist

A pair of immature Wood Ducks slide quietly by as the early morning mist rises from the water.

Photographing “truly wild” wildlife can be trying at times and the Wood Ducks of the Haines-Seville Wetland certainly fit the criteria. I have made a number of trips, used camouflage and the natural cover to my best advantage and have yet to be able to capture a well-lit portrait of one of these ducks. These ducks are fully aware of the danger that humans present as the area is open to public hunting.

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Seeking Shelter

As word spread that French forces were on the way, Redcoats as well as villagers sought shelter in a redoubt near the village of Raystown, later to be named Bedford.

The setting of this conflict is 1758. General Braddock’s expedition against Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburg) failed two years earlier when he and his troops were destroyed in a surprise attack. General Forbes decided to engage the French from a different direction. His troop movement across the Allegheny Mountains required the building of a new road, now known as the Forbes Road. Forbes’ plan called for a slow march with secure lines of supply protected by a string of forts along the way. Fort Bedford was one post in this string of forts.

Lt. Colonel George Washington, later President Washington, served with both Braddock and Forbes commanding a Virginia provincial regiment.

Today the Lincoln Highway (US Route 30) follows much of the path of the original Forbes Road.

We will break from the ensuing battle for Camera Critters and resume with the following post.

SkyWatch, Fluffy Clouds

Fluffy white clouds on a background of blue sky crown the colonial village. A tranquil scene, but we know with Redcoats camped behind the village and Indians slinking through town that trouble is near at hand.

More to come………..