Nature Can be Tough

 

  Casualty - 1 by Jay Scott on 500px

Nature is not always kind. The spider, posted a few photos previously, has caught a pair of damselflies in its web that I freed but, unfortunately they both died. This dragonfly was caught, seemed in good shape, was freed by me and placed on a flower, but I'm pretty sure it died. I took the opportunity to at least keep it alive as a photo.

It was gone the next day; I could not find it below the flowers. However, I do not believe it survived. Probably a bird came down and had a meal.

 

  Casualty - 2 by Jay Scott on 500px

If Every Autumn Were Like This...

Autumn has never been my favorite season. September always feels like Sunday afternoon before going back to school for the week. The urgency to complete tasks before the ground is covered with inhospitable snow always felt like the hurry to complete homework before the new school week began. A number of good things have happened in various Septembers of my life but so have a number of terrible things and, as much as I'm pretty good at forgetting the bad, some of these have not been erased with time's selective eraser.

This September, and even this October, has flown by because of our preoccupation and enthrallment with our daughter. However, we are very happy that it has been such a nice few months, most evenings being more comfortable temperature and insect-wise outside than they were in June or July, so that we could spend as much time outside with our little family than we expected based on previous year's autumns.

Most years our late-to-bud and late-to-shed linden tree freezes then drops its leaves. This year it has been nice enough for them to go through their entire change and fall naturally. I really enjoyed watching that process in addition to the nice weather. When it does have this opportunity to go through its cycle naturally it made for quite a lovely, steady, observation. Mixed with the other colors in the backyard neighborhood the pallet is quite gentle and pleasing.

I decided it needed to be photographed in some simple shots just to be recorded and shared. The last one was made on a slightly chilly evening by the light of our patio lights and rope lights. I observed the nice falloff of light while escorting our skitter-ish little dog for her evening outing. Those rustling leaves sure are a distraction and a little bit scary to her. You can't see me rolling my eyes, but they are.

No, I'm not looking forward to winter as the first flakes fall outside today, but you deal with it as we tough/stubborn Saskatchewanians do. Hopefully the winter tires on the van this year will make a difference, now if I could just get winter tires and a power drive on my chair we'd be getting somewhere. Or, better yet, people abiding by the bylaws and shoveling their sidewalks.

Doesn't matter, I've got a head full of ideas and things I want to do this winter that should keep me going until the first signs of melting.

Paul's Odyssey

 

  Honda Odyssey WA HDR by Jay Scott on 500px

For awhile Paul and I have wanted to make a great photo of his van. Once we found a location it was a matter of finding an evening that worked for both of us, had a decent sky at sunset, and was warm enough for two quads.

  

  Honda Odyssey WA HDR 2 by Jay Scott on 500px

The wind was cool, but we were busy making photos. I likened it to ice fishing. When they're biting you don't notice the cold.

  

  Honda Odyssey HDR Telephoto by Jay Scott on 500px

I have always respected those photographers who are willing to, day after day, night after night, return to try to get the shot they want. Dedication like that is rarer and rarer, whatever the field might be. We found ourselves with the right to pat ourselves on the back for many reasons that evening.

The first was that we needed to move the van. Paul could not just hop in there and move it over in 30 seconds like an able-bodied person could. He had to get in, pull up the ramp and close the door, transfer into the seat, get positioned and then, finally, move the van. After that he had to get back out. That is dedication. Enduring the wind and cool temperatures that we did, with our reduced ability to maintain body heat was dedication. The final dedication will come when we redo the shots with the knowledge of what we gained that evening and now that I have my new camera back. Again, it's not the camera that makes a great photo but when I know I can get a better quality image why wouldn't I take the extra steps to do that, if possible.

Soon I'll have a bunch of photos that I've made from the last little while as the colours have really begun to come out. I still don't like autumn because of what follows it but these last few days of high 20° temperatures are just fine with me and I'm making the most of what's given to me right now..