Seasons Best (Favs)

Each season, I’m going to pick out a favorite photo. That very photo will go up here. I’ll also explain why it’s my favorite for that particular season.

Enjoy.

Winter 2010. Dad and Shane.

Winter 2010. Up near Detroit Dam, but right below it. Quite possibly the worst winter of my life. Each day was a practical hell in itself. Most of it dealt with work, not with my job in particular, but those surrounding me at work. Lot of nasty drama, that’s one of the reasons why I’m no longer there. One of my escapes, getting out and driving, taking my camera and my fly rod. Grabbing coffee, filling my thermos. Hitting the road, with no particular place in mind. Last winter, I spent a lot of time with my dad, in which we’d go out and shoot random stuff, random subjects. It got my mind temporarily off of the pangs back down in the valley.

In this photo, I’ve got my dad telling me that I have no idea on how to use his wide angle. This was before my 14mm, and every now and then I’d use his Sigma wide. Shane is in the process of grinning, easily amused with my dad and his camera. They were both working on his new telephoto, playing with the shutter and the this and the that, when I just happened to start snapping some shots off. I remember dad saying, “Look at that, your getting water spots on my lens.” That’s winter for you in Oregon.

Spring 2011. Female Northern Harrier.

Spring 2011. Dad and I had spent more time this last spring chasing and shooting harriers than we had spent on shooting anything else. This was out by Ray’s, maybe a mile or two from his place. I can remember taking this shot, and what I loved the most was the feeling of freedom, how grace equipped itself upon the wings, and how this female glided and cut through every oncoming gust of wind as if the wind was never there, never existed.

Summer 2011. Fan That Tale.

Summer 2011. I chased this guy around for awhile. Finally it came to a solid rest, and the preening began, and then the shutter went off thus giving birth to this pic. If you know me, and if you’ve been out with me, you know I have a soft spot for hummingbirds. They crack me up, and they are the most peculiar species that I’ve encountered with and without my camera. Solid in character, not afraid to fight and protect territory against animals one hundred times their size or better. From chasing off flocks of cedar waxwings, to bombing cats and warding off squirrels, they’re champions and deserve the “Winning” medal.

Fall 2011. Reflections.

This was one of those nights, where I was just out strolling around, and just happened upon this scene. Made for a good photo.

Winter. Noticing the unnoticed.

I’ve always wanted to capture a couple of herons in one shot. Here you have both a great blue heron and a green heron. At first glance, most would just pick up on the great blue. But if they were to pause and really take it all in, they’d notice the green heron trying to be unnoticed.