Ducks in our "Front Yard"

... and this is how you walk ...




Merganzer

A drippy duck

We have many mallard ducks in our area, and often see them with their small ducklings. I took the top picture several years ago, and was pleasantly surprised to see the duckling looking like it was copying its mother. I realize the duckling is not in focus, but I don't think it detracts from the picture.

The merganzer mother was difficult to catch with the camera. She had her ducklings with her and was anxious to get down the lake, and around the dock where I was sitting. At this point you see her when she's fairly calm, but later she speeds up and has her ducklings "running" on  the water behind her. You can see this picture at the top of my blog.


The third photo shows the water coming off of a duck just after it had dipped its head underwater. In looking through some of my older pictures, I can see that I've been able to get sharper pictures as I've gained experience. It's hard to focus on a bird's eye, but it makes such a difference when you do.

No matter where we are, we can look around and see the evidence of God in His creation. There are so many opportunities to take photos. One of the ways to make sure you get to capture pictures of wildlife is to have your camera with you as much as possible. You never know when an opportunity will arise. As the Christmas season is coming, remember that God is the One who made the wildlife and us ... and He loves us. He sent His Son here to this earth ... for you and me.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

The Elusive Loon

I think I had a gremlin in my computer. I was working on this page, and somehow it disappeared. I wasn't aware that it uploaded to my blog, so it went out before I was finished. Working with computers can be such a treat sometimes.

We have a couple of loons on our lake so it's common for us to see them. But it's much more difficult to take their pictures. I often get pictures of  them from a distance, but not close enough to get a clear, sharp photo. The best way for me to get pictures is to go out in the canoe in the early morning as the fog is rising. They seem much more willing to have me come around them, and will sometimes circle the canoe. When we are out in  the boat, it's too difficult. We can still go by fairly close, but if we slow down, or turn the motor off ... they move on. 


This is one challenge I enjoy. There are others in our lives that are not so enjoyable, but we can rest assured that we don't face these challenges on our own if we have put our trust in the Lord. He is always there for us.

He promises ... I will never leave you nor forsake you.

A Visit with a Great Blue Heron

For the month of December, I plan to upload some of my favourite bird pictures I've taken in previous years. I've been going back to see if some of the things I've learned about editing can be used for working with the photos. Some of these were taken with the first camera I had, which was a Fuji FinePix - 3 mp. Digital cameras have come a long way since then.

I also thought it would be good to have these on my blog so that I can look back at them in the future ... part of improving my work. 

I had quite an experience with this Great Blue Heron. It was standing on the end of our dock, and it let me get up to about 8 feet from it. It wasn't in a hurry to leave, and I was able to get into the boat beside the dock and take pictures of it. It let me stay there for quite awhile before it decided to fly away. I didn't realize until I saw the pictures later that it showed his tongue ... quite a long tongue.  


It was an amazing experience - a once in a lifetime moment. We have several great blue herons around here, but I've never had such a close up experience before or since.

God provides so many different kinds of animals and birds for us to look at and enjoy. We have so much to be thankful for. As we approach the busy-ness of Christmas, let us take time to enjoy God's creation and remember the true reason for Christmas.

... let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.

Genesis 1:21

Bubbles and Water Drops

I'm having some trouble with my blog, so this may end up getting posted twice.
The last set of pictures I thought I'd show this month is of water drops within soap bubbles, and one milk drop within a soap bubble. You would think that a water drop landing on a soap bubble would make the soap bubble break, but it very rarely does that. Normally the drop goes through the bubble with no trouble at all, and does its usual crowns and posts. You can see in the bottom picture how the post that comes up actually pushes up the bubble, but neither the bubble or the post breaks. Amazing! 

Many things happen in this world that we aren't even aware of. Before I started taking the water drop pictures, I had no idea that they have a process they go through when they drop into a liquid. I don't believe this happens by chance. God is in control of even the smallest things in life.

God's handiwork ... seen in small things

Milk Drops

Milk drops ... wow! What a difference in the look compared to water drops. I moved the light around a bit to get a different look, which is what you see when you compare the first 2 pictures with the third. I especially like the one with the two drops. They look like little pearls to me.

My husband put a cupboard and counter top into my office, so it is nice to be able to set the equipment up and leave it up for awhile. I'm still using a plastic bag to hold the liquid and have the drip come from a hole in the bottom. I'm looking for another way to do it (without costing a lot of money). One of these days, I'm hoping to manage to have the two drops collide.

I think it's wonderful that God has given us the ability to take photos of such small objects. He is interested in the little things, which reminds me that He's interested in the little things in our lives, as well as the big things. Nothing is too small for us to go to Him about. He loves us!

For by Him (God) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.

Colossians 1:16

Reflections

I've been enjoying taking the water drop pictures. Each time I set up for taking the photos, the set up gets easier. And the more I do, the more I realize that there is so much more to learn ... I'd really like to try getting the two drops crashing together. So far I have not used any special equipment: camera, lens, flash off of the camera, bag of water dripping into a container, and my own timing. The timing can be fun as you  try to "capture" the picture you want.

Each water drop is different, and looks different depending on the background it is reflecting or refracting. The flash is aimed at the background, which makes the surface of the water reflect the background, and the drop shows the background (upside down). If we are Christians, we should have Christ shining through us. All of us look different, but He should still be shining through us. Others should see Him in us. Do people see Him in me? Do people see Him in you?

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 2:20 



Liquid Crowns

During November, I thought I would show some of my water drop pictures again. I had a chance to do these in October, and had some fun getting pictures of crowns and water drops. I used different backdrops to make the different colours and designs. It takes awhile to catch the pictures of the crowns. Timing is not always easy. The last one was a milk drop ... interesting difference. I think it looks like a bowl.

There will be a time when we will meet our Creator and Lord. If we are Christians, we can receive crowns when we go to heaven, and we will present these to Him ... These water drop and milk crowns may be interesting to look at, but they are nothing compared to the heavenly crowns.  

 

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 

 will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

~  2 Timothy 4:8