tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28119598841730968742024-03-06T01:17:58.603-08:00A Nature Photographer's JourneyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-81200690252354417032018-01-08T10:16:00.000-08:002018-01-08T10:16:23.377-08:00Learning Curve the New Photoshop And Lightroom<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0NIlUj3Ltevpm7DHpfSNDSeWSEhQyDdX68FtaICHpob_iwrFkzcLzFH6JFVKpikZrLmdE7zWVo-Zs-fnDICnKqCFzuBoqo-V18jNfkWuaGbY4STmSSQZMG5QvWjJ2UanNVM7OKVjoxDN/s1600/20171221_135203TiltAndShiftEdit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0NIlUj3Ltevpm7DHpfSNDSeWSEhQyDdX68FtaICHpob_iwrFkzcLzFH6JFVKpikZrLmdE7zWVo-Zs-fnDICnKqCFzuBoqo-V18jNfkWuaGbY4STmSSQZMG5QvWjJ2UanNVM7OKVjoxDN/s640/20171221_135203TiltAndShiftEdit1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I finally decided to upgrade to the BIG Photoshop and Lightroom subscription. I had been using PS Elements 11 and a really old version of Lightroom (3) but a lot has been added to the new version and Photoshop really does have a lot more tools than Elements. I've been editing these photos for the past 3 days using the new programs and I really like them! It's a bit of a learning curve for me for sure but well worth the effort! It's at times been overwhelming trying to figure out all this new stuff but I've definitely learned some skills and hope to continue to learn and keep honing my skills. Here are the results from my first adventures in Lightroom and Photoshop. Click on the link to see all the photos.<a href="https://adobe.ly/2FikwG8" target="_blank">Click Here to see my first photos edited in Lightroom and Photoshop</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-84933961785422443652017-11-25T17:59:00.000-08:002017-11-25T17:59:25.095-08:00Big Life Changes & My newest CalendarI just realized how much I've been neglecting my blog today when I saw my last post was last year's calendar post and here I am posting my new calendar a year later! Thank you to any of my readers who are still hanging on and I apologize for disappearing for so long. I was seriously geting burnt out with my day job and working for someone else so last Spring I decided to take the plunge and quit my day job. I took a couple months off and in July I officially started my photography business. In addition to the nature photography I'm now offering real estate photography services & portraits and I'm learning how to do <a href="https://laraellisphotography.pixieset.com/corktobarrelproducts/corktobarrelbottlesset2/" target="_blank">product photography</a> as well. I had the pleasure of shooting an elopement wedding in the blue ridgemountains in July and I've shot a couple of rental cabins and my newest venture is the product photography as mentioned above. It's gotten off to a slow start but so far it's been enough to pay our bills, keep food in our bellies and keep a roof over our heads. My new website is <a href="https://www.laraellisphotography.com/" target="_blank">LaraEllisPhotography.com</a>. And here is the new <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/lara_ellis_photography_landscapes_calendar-158705051291257796?rf=238076782959557163" target="_blank">Calendar Link</a> if you want to purchase a calendar and help me on my new path of photography as a carreer. You can also purchase prints, canvases, cards and various other products including yoga mats <a href="https://lara-ellis.pixels.com/art" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Thank you again to any of you who still follow my blog. Hopefully in the days ayead I'll have more time to write more posts. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAuv-DJlrINS9mfIGnbz-YZVyGUr84bIPO0Nz9reDvrJKqiT7vIjp65qw64m775sC0IufLKbA-_ndelRhzNx0mGizs0y9toDL7HJHOChWjjLFSSZ_su_TFlZjsZ-KX8Mm61ja1vyxcpZc/s1600/CalandarFrontwithWires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="746" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAuv-DJlrINS9mfIGnbz-YZVyGUr84bIPO0Nz9reDvrJKqiT7vIjp65qw64m775sC0IufLKbA-_ndelRhzNx0mGizs0y9toDL7HJHOChWjjLFSSZ_su_TFlZjsZ-KX8Mm61ja1vyxcpZc/s640/CalandarFrontwithWires.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8taIOLGp5l04bAcuQlulN_DPeeOMXVptr8WfLH4qLU0d2ATzvk3SiNQwzG1kCTGhRr-8YXob_KOiconZbHUcV3-w0j1bMmkOhNP0t0h-WnAV-vRNbonpF9L6jA7A47yX-zV7PHQ95UhoT/s1600/CalandarBackPage_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="768" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8taIOLGp5l04bAcuQlulN_DPeeOMXVptr8WfLH4qLU0d2ATzvk3SiNQwzG1kCTGhRr-8YXob_KOiconZbHUcV3-w0j1bMmkOhNP0t0h-WnAV-vRNbonpF9L6jA7A47yX-zV7PHQ95UhoT/s640/CalandarBackPage_Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-43234626501560519962016-12-14T09:38:00.000-08:002016-12-15T04:40:05.019-08:00New 2017 Calendars<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />My new calendars for 2017 are out.</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/lara_ellis_gifts?qs=Calendar" target="_blank">Click Here to purchase</a> and to view larger images. Thank you for your support. 😊</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPJ0kUi52sAri4Opz5TyjACCLMoapedzY9U08_QSwsTAnA_d9zr8LdYGnv_H7vTcirzsDh6xBulcb4mblB7gHorRykHK6e5pahRLeAsoaxRtBEsZsa1WNuX2_NnRfj1v7lY_1s7jhHgcX/s1600/hummingbirds_2017_calendar-r9e71ab6205704744a98ada5793db9195_jd603_8byvr_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPJ0kUi52sAri4Opz5TyjACCLMoapedzY9U08_QSwsTAnA_d9zr8LdYGnv_H7vTcirzsDh6xBulcb4mblB7gHorRykHK6e5pahRLeAsoaxRtBEsZsa1WNuX2_NnRfj1v7lY_1s7jhHgcX/s400/hummingbirds_2017_calendar-r9e71ab6205704744a98ada5793db9195_jd603_8byvr_512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0qlAM3Xjl4lF8hr-v_LWxazkHBJ6AI1tlc1YX09VuKiEd8z_3bLccJz3UE4M8WgGX8cbAT8tiEZBjdEBW4G1bJesoXNnSEu5ihf8mPw1V45HvkMY1JrDzuZ-ARnFX8HAcnjv3yeHoCas/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0qlAM3Xjl4lF8hr-v_LWxazkHBJ6AI1tlc1YX09VuKiEd8z_3bLccJz3UE4M8WgGX8cbAT8tiEZBjdEBW4G1bJesoXNnSEu5ihf8mPw1V45HvkMY1JrDzuZ-ARnFX8HAcnjv3yeHoCas/s400/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFyp8H1GUWgtyeSZlaNgLSBg9hbupfPQubYZLn5crjzISVknVmtGlafNtGl7K59SIwzWmRWnteNp3tFwlaxHayl836ijbhTab4q5-7apXHJv6jVxWmQM0vIfdimr_3zbY1ow1p_9-QUiW/s1600/shenandoah_valley_landscapes_2017_calendar-rfd188ebf8e0d4abab29957d8f17fab31_jw7kn_8byvr_324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFyp8H1GUWgtyeSZlaNgLSBg9hbupfPQubYZLn5crjzISVknVmtGlafNtGl7K59SIwzWmRWnteNp3tFwlaxHayl836ijbhTab4q5-7apXHJv6jVxWmQM0vIfdimr_3zbY1ow1p_9-QUiW/s400/shenandoah_valley_landscapes_2017_calendar-rfd188ebf8e0d4abab29957d8f17fab31_jw7kn_8byvr_324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-0cPaO8hjVw0pnnDKZa1Osse5uGgZRC7OO-yOd71o4FqGgQZrQXhfRc1Nqk8zxqiLhEd_dShd7rlfuoQIGYyZa4CzYphl7ydt63bPt2zEMC_U3cPzJCDMbOxHAMjtsOwjOm6GR8dKsWV/s1600/ShenandoahLandscape2017BackPage_edited-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-0cPaO8hjVw0pnnDKZa1Osse5uGgZRC7OO-yOd71o4FqGgQZrQXhfRc1Nqk8zxqiLhEd_dShd7rlfuoQIGYyZa4CzYphl7ydt63bPt2zEMC_U3cPzJCDMbOxHAMjtsOwjOm6GR8dKsWV/s400/ShenandoahLandscape2017BackPage_edited-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl7WGwEqR8Bg3Bxh_NRk_12S1z7NXVMzbVQd87_Lf2xg4gANyCPnT9mGc-27cq6l8wrpweIRiBgxDJcMJnYJ8K1HHRxhPhOC1cNaMP4Ryn0ZhpmaU1Fg9VUlSrw6nnp8kp2Tv874tBIuN/s1600/2017Hummingbird+Back_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-35483476412257413292016-04-07T12:06:00.000-07:002016-04-07T12:07:21.581-07:00It's Spring In the Valley. Time for Nesting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViUSsLTPF8UuTJVjvpEAhyphenhyphenr31IKbRPKI2SLutAUbh-0q5G0aM2EPZPNxng7GxJNcyvii0Jg9QXjRXIujt3FB__RLUtDdvrvzE3V7XDu64ts34DbLDWxRD9Y_kWJ6o-fniJkJpPiVEfXRK/s1600/SpringWarbler_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViUSsLTPF8UuTJVjvpEAhyphenhyphenr31IKbRPKI2SLutAUbh-0q5G0aM2EPZPNxng7GxJNcyvii0Jg9QXjRXIujt3FB__RLUtDdvrvzE3V7XDu64ts34DbLDWxRD9Y_kWJ6o-fniJkJpPiVEfXRK/s640/SpringWarbler_Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW58PTIAzSDh_igjHxzr5UlZsPKvj4MYDEW0msZnZkiijBcRKi1J4u9IeT8qJ0H8g4y0OK-S8XjapJUN6KXsqAH6E4sVbFYsxLfqwYIgSvi0JhlQqwL3VQzgDxocjNkrSxC4cfAZehzYnF/s1600/SpringChicadee_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW58PTIAzSDh_igjHxzr5UlZsPKvj4MYDEW0msZnZkiijBcRKi1J4u9IeT8qJ0H8g4y0OK-S8XjapJUN6KXsqAH6E4sVbFYsxLfqwYIgSvi0JhlQqwL3VQzgDxocjNkrSxC4cfAZehzYnF/s640/SpringChicadee_Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTErg6w9kFKtui6sckA_ZWSvF3f5AVDTq54L2_mpjTvQxO0IE1gfN6vtzGaulJephZ3XKZ6uA1u6rQnfplz0YhJWf7U4egj4Ckcyhof7AESVzNeUkaCO798pjhvWVFnEkpPM2ftdKnAtkl/s1600/TomAndHen2016_Small_Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTErg6w9kFKtui6sckA_ZWSvF3f5AVDTq54L2_mpjTvQxO0IE1gfN6vtzGaulJephZ3XKZ6uA1u6rQnfplz0YhJWf7U4egj4Ckcyhof7AESVzNeUkaCO798pjhvWVFnEkpPM2ftdKnAtkl/s640/TomAndHen2016_Small_Blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSvXykBICML2_BpxAdLkDjI-h8N2GkXZaL7cTslbEbDX0t56KKNYfW2JgB1ohYrkcTKCZy0gZh8NAD_eeNOGDic6acupyUkPtX1TZlL42vtqoU1bvDArzHGIouER90sVwF2Q_C7Vv3Ot/s1600/TomTurkey3_2016_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSvXykBICML2_BpxAdLkDjI-h8N2GkXZaL7cTslbEbDX0t56KKNYfW2JgB1ohYrkcTKCZy0gZh8NAD_eeNOGDic6acupyUkPtX1TZlL42vtqoU1bvDArzHGIouER90sVwF2Q_C7Vv3Ot/s640/TomTurkey3_2016_Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's Spring time in the Shenandoah Valley and all the birds large and small are breeding and nesting. Spring is off to a chilly start with some night time lows in the 30's and the chance of snow this weekend but the little bursts of color from the flowering trees and the breeding wild turkeys confirm that "yes it really is Spring" even if the weather says otherwise. Happy Spring everyone! :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm a hobby photographer with professional dreams and my photography is self sustaining at this point but if you wish to contribute to funding my dreams, prints and greeting cards are available below, just click on the images below. Any little bit is much appreciated! :-) :<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/spring-pine-warbler-2016-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Photography Prints" src="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/displayartwork.html?id=17796581&width=250&height=250" style="border: none;" title="Photography Prints" /></a><a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/spring-chickadee-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Sell Art Online" src="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/displayartwork.html?id=17792773&width=250&height=196" style="border: none;" title="Sell Art Online" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/wild-tom-turkey-2016-ii-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Photography Prints" src="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/displayartwork.html?id=17807228&width=250&height=196" style="border: none;" title="Photography Prints" /></a><a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/wild-tom-turkey-and-hen-2016-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Photography Prints" src="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/displayartwork.html?id=17807106&width=250&height=196" style="border: none;" title="Photography Prints" /></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-40139202006898403112016-03-10T09:27:00.000-08:002016-03-10T09:27:10.203-08:00Birds Birds Birds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7SKbd3KlRFNrFDiug_Tvz-cqjXcBV8Qcj0bYTImvUfo7ymkrA8nZX3q5-0kUx2lZSE_uVKYVuekbGH4cn1Xe0GMQyDxqSkgfervI0kE0HnrQHK10-km7MQIIBUG_fbrZ7E6TbsaRrYJD/s1600/Warbler1_2016_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7SKbd3KlRFNrFDiug_Tvz-cqjXcBV8Qcj0bYTImvUfo7ymkrA8nZX3q5-0kUx2lZSE_uVKYVuekbGH4cn1Xe0GMQyDxqSkgfervI0kE0HnrQHK10-km7MQIIBUG_fbrZ7E6TbsaRrYJD/s640/Warbler1_2016_Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXnJfL6wzZrdam7ty_HOUy7czBle5Jnm4ZQEKb9lS5hxGV5GFu8GxO1shCBMigGBfFqiF5HmHznZYQst6fcF5XeI_dfTUyyadNerM_sWmepJ8L9zagSzrmnRvyox8HpG1Ni0PbOhzR40H/s1600/WhiteBreastedNuthatch3-8-16_OpenWide_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXnJfL6wzZrdam7ty_HOUy7czBle5Jnm4ZQEKb9lS5hxGV5GFu8GxO1shCBMigGBfFqiF5HmHznZYQst6fcF5XeI_dfTUyyadNerM_sWmepJ8L9zagSzrmnRvyox8HpG1Ni0PbOhzR40H/s640/WhiteBreastedNuthatch3-8-16_OpenWide_Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-6mmk4y51_fbaPwPlT3Vr_7p0y0apXvuPRicf98jwryhVHcQShKVpvShydPtW_8Srv7iTh61pTuAskPrEbo7_vckPPGSTmmKd89GHpBudqQVD2uqy08Bb7qiiALwLZHFsKwDO9yKYkvJ/s1600/Downy3-8-16_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-6mmk4y51_fbaPwPlT3Vr_7p0y0apXvuPRicf98jwryhVHcQShKVpvShydPtW_8Srv7iTh61pTuAskPrEbo7_vckPPGSTmmKd89GHpBudqQVD2uqy08Bb7qiiALwLZHFsKwDO9yKYkvJ/s640/Downy3-8-16_Small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I decided to spend a day with the birds a couple of days ago. The top photo is a pine warbler, the middle a white breasted nuthatch who actually picked up that chunk of suet that was the same size as him and promptly dropped it Lol! He bit off more than he could chew but I retrieved it for him so he could finish his meal. The bottom photo is a male downy woodpecker. These were shot using my Nikon 2.8 70-200 VR lens on a tripod (VR mode turned off since it was on the tripod which can actually cause blurry photos if left on while on a tripod). I hope to one day be a full time professional nature and landscape photographer but at this point in time my photo sales are just enough to sustain my photography as a hobby and pay for my website and a savings plan towards better gear. If you would like to contribute to my journey to professional photographer, my photos can be purchased as greeting cards, prints , canvases, iphone & Galaxy cases and throw pillows. Thanks for stopping by. Photo Links below if you wish to purchase anything :<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/march-2016-pine-warbler-1-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Art Prints" src="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/displayartwork.html?id=17568813&width=250&height=200" style="border: none;" title="Art Prints" /></a><a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/bit-off-more-than-he-could-chew-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Sell Art Online" src="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/displayartwork.html?id=17570194&width=250&height=184" style="border: none;" title="Sell Art Online" /></a><a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/downy-woodpecker-spring-2016-1-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Art Prints" src="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/displayartwork.html?id=17570219&width=250&height=196" style="border: none;" title="Art Prints" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-68018676508299137952016-03-07T10:05:00.000-08:002016-03-07T10:05:03.610-08:00Return To Massanutten Spring With The Big CameraAbout a week ago I found a little mountain spring that was a 2 mile day hike from our home. I only had my cell phone with at the time so I snapped a photo with my litle Galaxy. I knew I wanted to return with my "Big Camera". So I set out to return yesterday with my Nikon D300 and a 2.8 17-35 mm lens, a circular polarizer and a two neutral density filters (a 4 and a 10) and a tripod and cable release. For some reason the hike seemed sooo much harder than the first time! When I returned with an aching back and sore knee I realized once I got home and weighed my photo gear that I was toting 11 lbs! Oh well I got a good work out in and a photo I'm pretty happy with. Here is the resulting photo from my hike. I hope you enjoy it too and feel a sense of peace from it like I did when I was there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXDAWt3-m0c33PzR3NIMSUDXGgqjQpPSLMAwEcKFFLEUoGrmww8rkni6yMaN2ixDwdjjBy43-Judcs7SgnKibdmd_m9RSzuh7r6sBDW9ddFG9oraVDpYKPk4Z8nbBIvVK2Dx-_DfzpwQD/s1600/MassanuttenSpringLargeBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXDAWt3-m0c33PzR3NIMSUDXGgqjQpPSLMAwEcKFFLEUoGrmww8rkni6yMaN2ixDwdjjBy43-Judcs7SgnKibdmd_m9RSzuh7r6sBDW9ddFG9oraVDpYKPk4Z8nbBIvVK2Dx-_DfzpwQD/s1600/MassanuttenSpringLargeBlog.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Prints and greeting cards can be purchased <a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/massanutten-spring-2-lara-ellis.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you would like to support my photography endeavors. Thanks for stopping by my blog and feel free to share my blog. :-)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/massanutten-spring-2-lara-ellis.html"><img alt="Sell Art Online" src="http://fineartamerica.com/displayartwork.html?id=17548426&width=250&height=333" style="border: none;" title="Sell Art Online" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-32905021327727486022016-03-01T19:27:00.000-08:002016-03-02T08:14:46.655-08:00Beauty In Our Own Backyard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmq96KWFdedVLvlajN5dcgDnW0FTG2j1K0L0bLe2thzacM02nM2kragyChrJxDUhf8I7w4rLaM08O7peBhiUCA-SQjJBO0B26TlQVVfSvU_FVSgjR4sXSb6IbNN-VRxDysakvlKDOINuFQ/s1600/Massanutten_SpringBlog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmq96KWFdedVLvlajN5dcgDnW0FTG2j1K0L0bLe2thzacM02nM2kragyChrJxDUhf8I7w4rLaM08O7peBhiUCA-SQjJBO0B26TlQVVfSvU_FVSgjR4sXSb6IbNN-VRxDysakvlKDOINuFQ/s640/Massanutten_SpringBlog2.jpg" width="403" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sometimes you don't have to go as far as you think in search of photo inspiration. I was recently lucky enough to make a new friend who told my hiking buddy & I about a trail that we didn't even know existed that ends at this beautiful little spring. I was super excited when I first found out about it and and wanted to check it out to see if it was worth bringing my SLR camera and a tripod and it turns out it is! I shot this with my my phone but I'm definitely going to return with my big camera and tripod soon. It's a good work out too. It takes a total of about 2 hours round trip from the woods behind our house with a good deal of it going up the mountain and then down the other side so I'll be getting back in shape in my quest for beautiful photos too which is a win win! :-)</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-51261673910981002182016-02-12T05:43:00.003-08:002016-02-12T05:43:38.102-08:00Seeing A Photo's Potential<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>BEFORE:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPGdneiMoedrKRKSkuYgtaDkNISoD_SXP7MZ_vhQ7iXZVlmCNIWsRZhDKZoB1JZ15TJVZS_Uee-3vV5K9pVg-DcnwcyJWRPJ0RBhfcCqlLu7VKNy94R5HeW-e72RDfGvAHZuywXNBaGcM/s1600/PassageCreekBefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPGdneiMoedrKRKSkuYgtaDkNISoD_SXP7MZ_vhQ7iXZVlmCNIWsRZhDKZoB1JZ15TJVZS_Uee-3vV5K9pVg-DcnwcyJWRPJ0RBhfcCqlLu7VKNy94R5HeW-e72RDfGvAHZuywXNBaGcM/s1600/PassageCreekBefore.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>AFTER: </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy1Zf3JmxkOcfLlCRmCK7eAoc4w_vDFJ_J0ac_XwZS4cJlloj9X7_TTAJP59HgAp0elNdmRtcIWJWSaF4XrkwkM0qiunldLez2kxQvRxCinQ-W9RRTZGlJUOUSsPkYHtKKKG-2M-mfulq/s1600/PassageCreekBlogAfter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy1Zf3JmxkOcfLlCRmCK7eAoc4w_vDFJ_J0ac_XwZS4cJlloj9X7_TTAJP59HgAp0elNdmRtcIWJWSaF4XrkwkM0qiunldLez2kxQvRxCinQ-W9RRTZGlJUOUSsPkYHtKKKG-2M-mfulq/s1600/PassageCreekBlogAfter.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was going to scrap this photo until my husbad asked about the photos from our Passage Creek shoot. I thought that I didn't have anything worth trying to salvage after viewing the photos and I was kicking myself for shooting into the sun. I was so excited about trying my new Ice ND 10 filter and Indoro tripod legs with Benro ball head that my brain just said "shoot some moving water" and I neglected to take things into account like what happens when you shoot into the sun ie. flares and sun spots! Oopsie! So I found the one with the best exposure, edited in light room and then got to cropping and editing in PS Elements 11 to see what I could do with it. After I found a crop I liked, I cleaned up the rest with the spot healing tool and cloning tool and a little noise reduction on the water with Topaz Denoise and then some selective sharpening with Topaz Detail and a little dynamic contrast adjustment in Topaz Adjut 5 on the detailed areas like the rocks and trees. The first photo is the originial with some light room edits, the second is after PS Elements/ Topaz adjustments. Sometimes it's good to give photos a second look before "filing" in the recycle bin. :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Prints can be purchased <a href="http://lara-ellis.pixels.com/featured/passage-creek-lara-ellis.html" target="_blank">Here</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-67167130785428931762016-02-11T10:43:00.000-08:002016-02-11T10:44:24.962-08:00Shenandoah Valley Sunrise 2-11-16Good very chilly morning from the Shenandoah Valley near Luray, VA. Temp was 17 degrees this morning! I shot this on my new tripod combination this morning. Loving it so far, it's not super heavy and holds everything nice and steady and is simple to use which is good when you haven't finished your coffee yet! :-) . I got some Induro legs and a Benro ball head here: <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655218-REG/Induro_472_113_Alloy_8M_AT113_Tripod.html" target="_blank">Here</a> and <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1157922-REG/benro_ib1_triple_action_ballhead.html" target="_blank">Here</a> at B & H Photo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrOaNfJxnwi919bIzGOEqPQWxFWwBuGVUs34IsNLKhSn7cYtvKdfTpG7ICallNqqUPrdIDW8AQ7Wswf9mhJn4OHUFbGv5nvswhRbJ5JSNnXxVbBQC0knFr76GMXtw6h-xZj8vM3duYyiz/s1600/DSC_7280_Small_BlogSize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrOaNfJxnwi919bIzGOEqPQWxFWwBuGVUs34IsNLKhSn7cYtvKdfTpG7ICallNqqUPrdIDW8AQ7Wswf9mhJn4OHUFbGv5nvswhRbJ5JSNnXxVbBQC0knFr76GMXtw6h-xZj8vM3duYyiz/s1600/DSC_7280_Small_BlogSize.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-66329521319914124902016-02-07T10:45:00.001-08:002016-02-07T10:45:36.125-08:00Shenandoah Valley Sunrise 2-6-16Good Morning from the Shenandoah Valley near Luray, Virginia :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNJv_fBHwQlXn_fKALG60l6EMyaVnahcLgrhMGnnVrZSyJpazYcpdlkFVnPgluhP8h6SQ-vHIrcnIdDW4u6KuJ_4m1PmeP5OxRcq7iIm_FbESYvQk6L1f3J322ZPBvHsv18FhB3YcMn1K/s1600/Sunrise2-6-16Edited1_BlogSize_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNJv_fBHwQlXn_fKALG60l6EMyaVnahcLgrhMGnnVrZSyJpazYcpdlkFVnPgluhP8h6SQ-vHIrcnIdDW4u6KuJ_4m1PmeP5OxRcq7iIm_FbESYvQk6L1f3J322ZPBvHsv18FhB3YcMn1K/s1600/Sunrise2-6-16Edited1_BlogSize_edited-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-48119657041360576502016-02-01T07:29:00.000-08:002016-02-01T07:29:00.812-08:00Shenandoah Valley Sunrise Feb. 1, 2016Good Morning from the Shenandoah Valley. After a blizzard at the end of January, we have melted out to warmer temperatures. Today it's currently 52 degrees! A nice Spring preview for sure! :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKGYFi-rqDX3D3FiFUxXQmQAvXXC8e6dOWz_wT_QDHJ-5tQ4JL0UIhLhGYMZHvGE-po81UBU4JQNTW5kvmiFGL7celDRhB7JfTLj1GND557J9JfNmh7h6tHjNqEV_9hbiCF_047916hLq/s1600/2-1-16Sunrise1Small_edited-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKGYFi-rqDX3D3FiFUxXQmQAvXXC8e6dOWz_wT_QDHJ-5tQ4JL0UIhLhGYMZHvGE-po81UBU4JQNTW5kvmiFGL7celDRhB7JfTLj1GND557J9JfNmh7h6tHjNqEV_9hbiCF_047916hLq/s1600/2-1-16Sunrise1Small_edited-5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-87289505084244963252015-04-27T07:12:00.000-07:002015-05-03T11:56:40.856-07:00It's Not Just Luck Hummingbird Photography Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82D0tcjuvZL31njR1EXRg21ye9NEdXPm7ghXkzABoB8cUwPj4oAiVFBUOSuB5BHRD_KEzzOj7YeGvcwoGyJMMTfkvSouRJ6iKINH2i72hYy17cNZqcW2XgDrJNIZLmfyPw0FjoB0nf1iK/s1600/HummingbirdWithBleedingHearts_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82D0tcjuvZL31njR1EXRg21ye9NEdXPm7ghXkzABoB8cUwPj4oAiVFBUOSuB5BHRD_KEzzOj7YeGvcwoGyJMMTfkvSouRJ6iKINH2i72hYy17cNZqcW2XgDrJNIZLmfyPw0FjoB0nf1iK/s1600/HummingbirdWithBleedingHearts_Small.jpg" height="640" width="538" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikep8J6S27MP3E8fC6Aw71gdQUIwmMC2N5NTR7cSMlWDRFIV_Um6B1enSyJgHLIPhuCcHQRTYHorvd-3oB64qEMx_AzjtNE4pYhF-bDxqVxVimyxwFubc7d44QueI7HmlzGkguor4SqWOp/s1600/HummingbirdWithJasmine_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikep8J6S27MP3E8fC6Aw71gdQUIwmMC2N5NTR7cSMlWDRFIV_Um6B1enSyJgHLIPhuCcHQRTYHorvd-3oB64qEMx_AzjtNE4pYhF-bDxqVxVimyxwFubc7d44QueI7HmlzGkguor4SqWOp/s1600/HummingbirdWithJasmine_Small.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This photo is the result of trial and error that basically took me all day to get. I achieved part of my goal (freezing the hummingbird wings) but the other part of my goal I did not. My next goal is to figure out how to light that beautiful red gorget for maximum color. This photo was created partly from hummingbird photo tips from one of my favorite hummingbird photographers Gregory Scott and partly from lots of patience. Check out Gregory Scotts amazing work <a href="http://gregscott.artistwebsites.com/art/all/all/all/hummingbird+studio" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Not only are his photos amazing but he's a great human being as well, willing to share tips with other photographers to help them rather than keeping all of his photo secrets to himself. I wanted to pay it forward so here are some tips that will hopefully help another photographer who loves these little flying gems as much as I do. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One of the tips I learned from Gregory Scott was to use a macro lens to get great detail. Most people including myself believed that you needed a really long telephoto to get hummingbird shots but this is not always the case. For this photo I used a 105 mm 2.8 macro lens on a tripod. The reason for the macro lens is detail. You can set his to a really large f-stop number like 18- 22 and this helps a lot with your depth of field for focusing so if you prefocus the focus is a little more forgiving. The camera was set 3-4 feet away from the feeder. I prefocused in the area where I wanted the hummingbird to hover and sat in a chair with my cable release in hand and waited and shot and waited and shot until I got the right combination of the little flying gem hovering where I wanted and the light to freeze the wings. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The settings for this photo were F-stop 18, shutter speed 320, ISO 200 and 3 flahes set to manual 1/32 power including the on camera pop up flash that triggered the other two Nikon S-B800 flases. I also used a piece of foam core board that you could purchase at any craft store for the back ground. The back ground was placed about 4 or 5 feet away from the feeder where I was trying to get the hummingbirds to hover. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Most people think that hummingbird flight is frozen with a fast shutter speed but that is not the case. It's flash duration that freezes the wings. And believe it or not this is done but setting the flash to a lower power rather than higher power. Bigger isn't always better. These settings are not written in stone as far as the camera settings so put your camera on manual and just take some test shots to get the light to where you want it by adjusting the shutter speed and f stop combos until you get what you want. I also used the lowest ISO I could because these keeps the noise down. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In order to get the flahses to do what you want, you need to have control over the light which you can't do in sunlight. I shot this in the shade on a cloudy day and I had the best results around 4 pm when the sun behind the clouds went behind the house. These were all shot on our deck using the shade from eves of our house but you could do this in your yard if you have deeply shady spot. I used a sprig of flowers inserted into a hummingbird feeder port and I taped off the other 3 ports to get the hummingbird to hover where I wanted. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I photograph on a budget so I have two tripods and two off camera flashes. I used one tripod for the camera and another for one of the flashes but since I only have two tripods for my 3rd tripod I used the arm of a chair and some electrical tape to hold the flash in place. The other part of my studio was the piece of white foam core board that I used for the back ground.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope these tips are helpful to others learning their way in photography and on a budget like myself. I'd like to be able to afford more flashes but in the mean time I'll make due with what I have and continue to try to get the most of what I have. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thanks for stopping by to read my blog and for following my progress as a nature photographer. If you'd like to see more of my work, click on the photo below. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/featured/ruby-throated-hummingbird-with-jasmine-lara-ellis.html" size="20"><img alt="Photography Prints" src="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/displayartwork.html?id=14851001&width=450&height=325" height="297" style="border: none;" title="Photography Prints" width="320" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-21164784399691911472015-04-12T12:01:00.000-07:002015-04-12T12:05:10.158-07:00How To Get Nikon Optional Picture Controls Onto Your D300Sometimes it's the little things that either drive you crazy or make you happy depending on the outcome.<br />
<br />
I just spent hours and hours trying to figure out how to load the Nikon Picture control landscape setting onto my Nikon D300. I love nature, I love photographing nature but I am no programmer. All the computer jargon took my poor brain for a ride. What's a "root folder" anyways? Through trial and error I finally succeeded in getting this onto my Nikon D300 and I can now shoot using the landscape mode if I so choose. Here's one of the first photos using this mode:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_jBVvc1Nt-Ow4ywTh6qTjwCB-hIY9WJdwXGNqLPDLSPMQhNlt4AB1aDY4apuKQf2XlqFHtQTrzFdM2nVawWp-SU7l54IfMx5NcfzG6FG1zmhg-2Ayj9XsN5DuJpBqlqukcrZMr8cSgNo/s1600/SpringPlum4-12-15_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_jBVvc1Nt-Ow4ywTh6qTjwCB-hIY9WJdwXGNqLPDLSPMQhNlt4AB1aDY4apuKQf2XlqFHtQTrzFdM2nVawWp-SU7l54IfMx5NcfzG6FG1zmhg-2Ayj9XsN5DuJpBqlqukcrZMr8cSgNo/s1600/SpringPlum4-12-15_FB.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ahh greens look ...well green! And I have nice saturated color but not too saturated. I'm not exactly sure why the camera didn't come with this and also the portrait mode but it didn't. I tried following the instructions on the Nikon website but they were as clear as mud. I'm pretty sure the newer Nikon D800 and 810 comes with these already in the camera but I'm still saving for one of those. If you want to contribute to my new camera fund you can buy something <a href="http://www.lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">Here</a> or <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/lara_ellis_gifts?rf=238076782959557163" target="_blank">Here</a> :-)<br />
<br />
So for anyone else who has pulled their hair out trying to figure out how to add the Nikon optional picture control settings onto their camera, here is my non-programmer minded explanation for the rest of us.<br />
<br />
First you go to their website <a href="http://nikonimglib.com/opc/" target="_blank">Here</a><br />
<br />
Next I went onto my main drive on my computer and created a folder called PICTURECONTROL. I don't think it matters what you name the file but I put it in all caps because I read another tutorial somewhere that had it in all caps so I did this just in case it did matter. I don't think it matters what you name it either. Then I went back to the website and selected the one I wanted (landscape in my case) and then I found my camera model and operating system which was Nikon D300 and Windows and I clicked on the button to accept the download. Then I navagated to the folder that I created and clicked inside it and made sure it downloaded there. I have Windows 7 so it may be a little different on windows 8. Your computer may default to another place for downloads but you can change it to get it into the new folder you created by navagating there. Once it downloaded, I then had a file in my new folder. Next I double clicked on this and it created a Nikon folder with the picture control inside.<br />
<br />
This is where it got tricky. At frist I just put the file on a formated Nikon CF card using a card reader but my camera wouldn't recognize it. *Note I think it's important to start out with a formatted card (card that has been formatted in your Nikon camera). It said "no file on card" or something to that effect. I finally figured out that I needed to copy that whole Nikon file that contained the picture utility file. Once I copied the Nikon file with the picture control utility inside, I pasted it onto the Nikon CF card (not in the DCIM file but just on the card.<br />
<br />
Next I put the card into the camera and in the menus found the little icon that looked like a camera. Under that I went to manage picture control and then load/save and then copy to camera and OK. Wala! Now I have more options to choose from on my camera.<br />
<br />
I hope this is helpful to anyone else who was pulling their hair out trying to figure out how to add these onto their Nikon D300 or other Nikon DLSR Cameras.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-53675746071824062832015-03-19T19:49:00.000-07:002015-04-27T10:16:10.520-07:002016 Shenandoah Valley BirdsAfter the encouragement of some friends I decided to test the waters with calendars. After posting some photos of birds on Face Book a friend suggested I make a bird calendar so here is <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/lara_ellis_gifts?rf=238076782959557163" target="_blank">a link to my first calendar</a> . This calendar features a different bird for every month and each bird is a bird that can be found in the Shenandoah Valley. If you are want to get ahead on your Christmas shopping or are looking for a unique birthday gift, this would make a great gift for anyone who loves birds and finds inspiration from watching them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fiBoZq8a8allbE7tYzYAnGU4VE2F2YIyRjPBr4uURu9XOzCZgikHS4qzgFJo7SDtZfNhFm8e_adcFbRtAo5LpGUAVxC5NxJSv8AFVDCnJfQ-dL15YXBdq1ESIjqDVzPu9eon2ChO60ys/s1600/BlueJay1LargeEdit1_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fiBoZq8a8allbE7tYzYAnGU4VE2F2YIyRjPBr4uURu9XOzCZgikHS4qzgFJo7SDtZfNhFm8e_adcFbRtAo5LpGUAVxC5NxJSv8AFVDCnJfQ-dL15YXBdq1ESIjqDVzPu9eon2ChO60ys/s1600/BlueJay1LargeEdit1_edited-1.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdzzDcO82is-H_j5zvqb8LUT16DRbrkurjMLt2jhEf0e205YUzx5f8Kp8G2IgMmsyN_evEJ3sUYBGPxZZYU9pXEcw4NUDI-oA_FLaYI_idr5PjN2gVUtIaxvZ8GhEnMWZGXoX1XEKu-_t/s1600/CalendarThumbnailBacking_NewSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdzzDcO82is-H_j5zvqb8LUT16DRbrkurjMLt2jhEf0e205YUzx5f8Kp8G2IgMmsyN_evEJ3sUYBGPxZZYU9pXEcw4NUDI-oA_FLaYI_idr5PjN2gVUtIaxvZ8GhEnMWZGXoX1XEKu-_t/s1600/CalendarThumbnailBacking_NewSmall.jpg" height="325" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I may be offering other gifts as well and most likely another calendar or two will be in the works. Check back here for updates. Thanks for stopping by to read my blog. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-42116167588881071832015-03-13T09:29:00.003-07:002015-03-13T09:39:41.550-07:00My First Public Exhibition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaNbEJ2UQYX9CMOCwx2XGhF_Cy2Rcv2En_6jsQVfKZnTYuIVOOFRyDRyDpC5g3xh7rD523iQivY0E2XbtbhJck6ionKzxCrtpHNsJuQderwFqg_w8yp7S7kH6yv2n17Z6kmwp7_HrelBe/s1600/PMH_Exhibit_Small_Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaNbEJ2UQYX9CMOCwx2XGhF_Cy2Rcv2En_6jsQVfKZnTYuIVOOFRyDRyDpC5g3xh7rD523iQivY0E2XbtbhJck6ionKzxCrtpHNsJuQderwFqg_w8yp7S7kH6yv2n17Z6kmwp7_HrelBe/s1600/PMH_Exhibit_Small_Blog.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3EqhEGMkwU_mBQULz2b9xHXoFHTtKDdJ9-DsHRAr5hOO7fAvH7mW55ZTFO3KIdRwssa1UzKxX08OwmihHnYBcLd17WpGD8V0FTLaKsV4Pka-TN3S9JmWNeJSVLRtbX_4gui4s4wyvtaS/s1600/HotAirBaloon6Large_Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3EqhEGMkwU_mBQULz2b9xHXoFHTtKDdJ9-DsHRAr5hOO7fAvH7mW55ZTFO3KIdRwssa1UzKxX08OwmihHnYBcLd17WpGD8V0FTLaKsV4Pka-TN3S9JmWNeJSVLRtbX_4gui4s4wyvtaS/s1600/HotAirBaloon6Large_Blog.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm super excited! My baloon photo was chosen among the photos of Vincent Warrick & Neal Lewis to be hung in a display in the Page Memorial Hospital. The hospital recently moved into a brand new building and this display is seen as you walk in the front entrance of the hospital. The hospital wanted to showcase local photographers myself included. More photos from Vincent Warrick <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Darwinography?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">can be seen here</a> . And more phototos from Neal Lewis <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/neal-lewis/" target="_blank">can be seen here.</a> What an honor to be shown with two amazing photographers! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-75726438629313146512015-03-06T16:09:00.000-08:002015-03-06T16:09:14.555-08:00Our Feathered Friends<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D81mCRkE5YUYXyUaj97XD9XMn2G6Hredbbn5r5zUkf10ziPV8H6gK9qEmI2Wda3rmBEJ9IBVESKKw8M6Z4CLGpa-ucIkpvDaD6brN-3dkm9XTnw0RxwYigAb2wTptdvlcu8N3g0hov5W/s1600/BirdInHand1_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D81mCRkE5YUYXyUaj97XD9XMn2G6Hredbbn5r5zUkf10ziPV8H6gK9qEmI2Wda3rmBEJ9IBVESKKw8M6Z4CLGpa-ucIkpvDaD6brN-3dkm9XTnw0RxwYigAb2wTptdvlcu8N3g0hov5W/s1600/BirdInHand1_Small.jpg" height="326" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwNAyqFCP6CTg-TZtA8xFS8dsNOOFB-mLCIo9tDj-LeDJJhpCe7JS1EL-Wqvcgr-jWPAnPU9OxYx7DXMikAsUftig4oYSqV4o-lAgD0uwzGpmrfnskUJt73D7PyyH-XQr8bzhZEhVUPch/s1600/PineSiskinFriend1_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwNAyqFCP6CTg-TZtA8xFS8dsNOOFB-mLCIo9tDj-LeDJJhpCe7JS1EL-Wqvcgr-jWPAnPU9OxYx7DXMikAsUftig4oYSqV4o-lAgD0uwzGpmrfnskUJt73D7PyyH-XQr8bzhZEhVUPch/s1600/PineSiskinFriend1_Small.jpg" height="333" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_L6DvlPG4Ax1eXuPb4NKazdces9sOn8ql96q4t0aa8a7EcrzWBHuM6AdmPCesZNB3Thia5nGylwtP3C8gxG63T3J6UmlUVHQIYa_wCsJjrB-ROYpcn13sV0PaH9uXOZ3Xu-W6pri-bW_/s1600/PineSiskinFriend2_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_L6DvlPG4Ax1eXuPb4NKazdces9sOn8ql96q4t0aa8a7EcrzWBHuM6AdmPCesZNB3Thia5nGylwtP3C8gxG63T3J6UmlUVHQIYa_wCsJjrB-ROYpcn13sV0PaH9uXOZ3Xu-W6pri-bW_/s1600/PineSiskinFriend2_Small.jpg" height="350" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes when you lend a helping hand the unexpected
rewards are great. Yesterday was one of those moments. We have been feeding the
birds all winter long and recently we’ve had some record breaking cold snaps
combined with snow storms here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Every morning when
we get up we have a morning ritual…feed our cats, feed the wild birds and
lastly tend to our own needs with a cup of coffee or tea. Sometimes the cats
have to wait for the birds to be fed since they are snug and warm in the house
but the wild birds are all lined up in the tree waiting for us with
anticipation looking in the window wondering when those magic bundles of food
will be placed on the deck for their breakfast buffet. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday the snow was falling (9” total when it finished),
it was cold and the birds were hungry! After the feeders had been hung for a
while there was an enormous amount of birds at the feeders, more birds than we
could ever recall seeing at once. Since we were snowed in again and cabin fever
was beginning to set in an idea occurred to me to pass the time… why not try to
hand feed the friendly little pine siskins. I had noticed that I could get just
inches from these little birds and they showed virtually no fear of me when I
would walk by the feeder. So I filled my two outstretched hands with sunflower
seeds and patiently waited near the feeder. My hands were resting on the two
bottom rungs our finch feeder. My husband was watching from inside the house
but I didn’t know it at the time because I couldn’t turn around. To my surprise
a siskin landed on my right hand and began to feed! Then another tried to land
on the same hand and they had a little mini power struggle over my hand! The
next thing I knew there was one on each of my hands and then there were two on
one and one on the other! I remember thinking “I hope my husband is seeing this”. Well he must have been picking up on my ESP
because he not only saw but he shot photos and a video as well (See below). <o:p></o:p></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hF7HB0wa6cU" width="560"></iframe>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I decided to try it out again to see if maybe they
were just desperate yesterday because of the snow or if they really did trust
me. So under a clear blue sky with no snow falling today I was treated to the
same joy of bonding with a little bird…actually two birds! I tried something
new too. I gently put my hand under the feeder rung where a bird was already
perched and it happily hopped onto it. At one point one was hovering trying to
land on my hand from a nearby branch so I held my hand closer to the branch and
then that one landed on my other hand. It’s always nice to make friends but it
feels extra special when you make a friend who is of the feathered kind. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband got to witness some special bird behavior this
morning too when he hung our feeders. A tufted titmouse watched from high above
in a tree as he hung the feeders. Once he had hung them the titmouse called out
to all the other roosting birds and they all flew out of the trees and came to
the feeders. The little titmouse announcing that the breakfast buffet was open
didn’t fly to the feeders right away…it was almost like he or she was the bird
flock leader and was making sure its flock was OK before tending to its own
needs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-8773647915849424752015-02-25T07:54:00.002-08:002015-02-25T07:55:03.264-08:00He's Back! Male Pileated Woodpecker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWsSw0r91mi9fGmBNRY50uDPuXGfMzpdsoybnzQBs28UhDRdZOqU6-aFj7cDDSwaF-AQvlaM0fvqAhZnp-GYMxrE86L2tZo5ZIClWwLeZ0hjbBWaG9Nk4bDSTPuSi1PLzUqsDpkAOV8Un/s1600/MalePileatedWoodpecker_2015_Blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWsSw0r91mi9fGmBNRY50uDPuXGfMzpdsoybnzQBs28UhDRdZOqU6-aFj7cDDSwaF-AQvlaM0fvqAhZnp-GYMxrE86L2tZo5ZIClWwLeZ0hjbBWaG9Nk4bDSTPuSi1PLzUqsDpkAOV8Un/s1600/MalePileatedWoodpecker_2015_Blog1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And here he is! I was just writing about "Ricky" our male pileated woodpecker yesterday wondering when he was going to make an appearance when he showed up today. Perhaps he was reading my blog yesterday. :-) It really is amazing to see such a huge colorful bird at your bird feeder that usually hosts birds less than half his size! Thanks for stopping by to view the wildlife in our back yard in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-15832653007711606312015-02-24T07:47:00.001-08:002015-02-24T08:12:09.461-08:00Beauty In Winter From Colorful Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgaNEKgg2F0i9wbQLe8mmfyUnPM0DSFus4nH0ZiPCl74a5h2oDlgCXfOSxnI86u7wIPqBAVJBLmnxdpFZ8nbgnZzt1mXHjVFL7DVW8M5aMOwlccZ1P4XM8wEM5rAkR3W3z5SoqMAP2awo/s1600/CardinalFeb2015_1Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgaNEKgg2F0i9wbQLe8mmfyUnPM0DSFus4nH0ZiPCl74a5h2oDlgCXfOSxnI86u7wIPqBAVJBLmnxdpFZ8nbgnZzt1mXHjVFL7DVW8M5aMOwlccZ1P4XM8wEM5rAkR3W3z5SoqMAP2awo/s1600/CardinalFeb2015_1Small.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx0-r0VVogNiKjx0btZnzpq1kuuF_wwuQuitYkcV-BEzp0UygJ3ipGp-ukqNuXH36YWSMEefBzMNJVRYLeu5lShlnzuWhYyl2ueiJoojawMtwLrbUv63WNdZtQzw9i9bbkMObSCd7QDn-/s1600/FemalePileatedWoodpeckerCalling_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx0-r0VVogNiKjx0btZnzpq1kuuF_wwuQuitYkcV-BEzp0UygJ3ipGp-ukqNuXH36YWSMEefBzMNJVRYLeu5lShlnzuWhYyl2ueiJoojawMtwLrbUv63WNdZtQzw9i9bbkMObSCd7QDn-/s1600/FemalePileatedWoodpeckerCalling_Small.jpg" height="320" width="277" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Winter...is it the longest season or does it just seem that way to a Southern California born girl living in the rural mountains of Virginia? I know Spring is surely around the corner since the end of February is thankfully approaching. It's hard to believe though when currently the temperature is 13 degrees which is actually quite an imporovement from the -1 that the morning started with! I'm trying to stay positive though and find what beauty I can in this cold and color muted world of winter. Luckily the cold does come with a silver lining in the form of beautiful birds like this very chilly male cardinal and this hungry female pileated woodpecker who seems to be saying "More Suet Please!". If we are lucky we will get to see the male pileated this year as well. The male and female pileated woodpeckers look identical at first glance but can be told apart by what I call their mustache. The males have a red mustache (see photo below) and the females have a black mustache (see photo above). Well I'm off to make some more suet for our hungry hoards of winter birds. Thanks for stopping by to read my blog and view my photos. More of my photos can be viewed at</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
:<a href="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/index.html</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y0zGbb8Dl641MpjKurDQU4HeMQ8RI4Nit-t-TiSfMQoQGGIUl3N6BK9vLJ9BtVJ84zpMiDjcvY91Gd1VzxLAMLi-FMs5Aub4X9CW_k2hrLpZUouCHZ6zIg_rn9UtTJB5x_HwKDUdUiOi/s1600/PileatedWoodpeckerMale2Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y0zGbb8Dl641MpjKurDQU4HeMQ8RI4Nit-t-TiSfMQoQGGIUl3N6BK9vLJ9BtVJ84zpMiDjcvY91Gd1VzxLAMLi-FMs5Aub4X9CW_k2hrLpZUouCHZ6zIg_rn9UtTJB5x_HwKDUdUiOi/s1600/PileatedWoodpeckerMale2Small.jpg" height="320" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-22027495779899852102015-02-17T14:11:00.001-08:002015-02-24T05:28:59.388-08:00WHSV Photo Contest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcarvQrJQvzstV5uPu_dt-HBZCFi8OSsjZjy942NLWFSKOipwv7PyA5rj5TGSxjsqjPjhG6UrUjkEDynNvqSJ3xpO91DOPr9k8ebgyuNU3z6KYxOHNIphxa6jY36xaHyolPZi5dh2d31sX/s1600/WHSVContest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcarvQrJQvzstV5uPu_dt-HBZCFi8OSsjZjy942NLWFSKOipwv7PyA5rj5TGSxjsqjPjhG6UrUjkEDynNvqSJ3xpO91DOPr9k8ebgyuNU3z6KYxOHNIphxa6jY36xaHyolPZi5dh2d31sX/s1600/WHSVContest.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thanks to all who helped with their votes. I didn't place but I did make it to page 6 out of 200 and some entries. I entered after a friend suggested I do so, ran outsdide with my camera and literally got my entry in just minutes before the closing deadline. Thanks again for all who voted, it was much appreciated. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<script src="http://whsv.upickem.net/engine/SubmissionWidget.aspx?PageType=VOTING&ContestID=164764&SubmissionID=75042215" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-55817664492138842382015-02-15T20:35:00.000-08:002015-02-15T20:37:07.061-08:00Helping Our Feathered Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbN7FTu4H6pOYA4vhA1tSK8BMfLlv3VfUj823eve4VgO32aDfk0AH0IqiCti_uVNxJJ4wimxgpZsJGqGHqZTdq8s1k7KjsfGnuhqmllF6GpPTrDAIaEQOXxvVlCoWg6ct-Oydhj50Dvm1/s1600/BigLucyFeeding_Small_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbN7FTu4H6pOYA4vhA1tSK8BMfLlv3VfUj823eve4VgO32aDfk0AH0IqiCti_uVNxJJ4wimxgpZsJGqGHqZTdq8s1k7KjsfGnuhqmllF6GpPTrDAIaEQOXxvVlCoWg6ct-Oydhj50Dvm1/s1600/BigLucyFeeding_Small_edited-1.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
This weekend took on a sense of urgency for our feathered friends. The temperatures in the valley were ranging from 5 degrees to the teens but with the wind gusts of up to 45 miles an hour the wind chills got as low as 25 below zero! Some people don't think that we humans should interefere with nature and wildlife...but the way I look at it is that since we already have altered the balance of nature by our presence here on planet earth, it's up to us to help take care of our fellow creatures. We had a steady stream of birds at the feeder all day long today. We kept them fed with home made peanut butter suet, rose hips, black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds. We were even surprised by a visit from a rather large female pileated woopecker. We also saw cardinals, red bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, juncos, purple finches, gold finches, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches and one of my personal favorites, wrens.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_6kmamcakQvJMMyULl_by1qSkV6g4CdkK7Ww3Rl8t60iWQFf0RykS7hyAK6VEgsxperkoaB7QNUftlbUV4FcpoUs7gMNQkDiFDmNcCSJv_4URh1FrTbSo_7NVuF1WJPnc0pNOaIfSsF/s1600/CardinalOnFeeder_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_6kmamcakQvJMMyULl_by1qSkV6g4CdkK7Ww3Rl8t60iWQFf0RykS7hyAK6VEgsxperkoaB7QNUftlbUV4FcpoUs7gMNQkDiFDmNcCSJv_4URh1FrTbSo_7NVuF1WJPnc0pNOaIfSsF/s1600/CardinalOnFeeder_Small.jpg" height="320" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q5iv35vCIikMa5M2BJURvyhw66Ko1nlD0O4-K_jwOgo8U5UeLbgV7JxtfW3QcWOxWIQ6pKlvHIc5aeisgiJ7leyH4HLQqHY146c2HKH4Bp8SBJ2F4pAeRmQxufpukh6SpOVv06So4g_y/s1600/CarolinaWrenFeb2015_Small_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q5iv35vCIikMa5M2BJURvyhw66Ko1nlD0O4-K_jwOgo8U5UeLbgV7JxtfW3QcWOxWIQ6pKlvHIc5aeisgiJ7leyH4HLQqHY146c2HKH4Bp8SBJ2F4pAeRmQxufpukh6SpOVv06So4g_y/s1600/CarolinaWrenFeb2015_Small_edited-1.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z9ERx4sQWjjAyoL_qJkGF816ltWhQ32QniQzgF92k3ZxeGZmW1LiGd_EnZfKOhCOtq55pH8Swt9GcMikbyw8BPs6uXZXuu91uaAVCehLFRTMdyb1X83c13eTmWMPQD34DiJOCOPzcRKJ/s1600/FemalePileatedWoodpecker2015_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z9ERx4sQWjjAyoL_qJkGF816ltWhQ32QniQzgF92k3ZxeGZmW1LiGd_EnZfKOhCOtq55pH8Swt9GcMikbyw8BPs6uXZXuu91uaAVCehLFRTMdyb1X83c13eTmWMPQD34DiJOCOPzcRKJ/s1600/FemalePileatedWoodpecker2015_Small.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU7RXTTQNf16HYhBiyBeNw5C2tQ_bWmbXLS2YR1XGnYRuiFI3CWJEqz7A7UwFiHvqsAlsS3_iG3KrT_8AAUd6RRhpocZauf5ZfWf0VymFSGKeXP1WZ_jmu3gs76sVSxaNwrOK-GkZ0KDK/s1600/FemalePurpleFinchWithRoseHips_Small_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU7RXTTQNf16HYhBiyBeNw5C2tQ_bWmbXLS2YR1XGnYRuiFI3CWJEqz7A7UwFiHvqsAlsS3_iG3KrT_8AAUd6RRhpocZauf5ZfWf0VymFSGKeXP1WZ_jmu3gs76sVSxaNwrOK-GkZ0KDK/s1600/FemalePurpleFinchWithRoseHips_Small_edited-1.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_FItVXYlMP5hZjJtXiI4A5PXpuws8GbwC6izlwICnqy17VpeMIEOb3R8csPzsACpZ8FuJVdlaA6714mUkihfj6X_FJWou2bVe2su6B5iqmC91hKYXYTFb9xtjR1tdTrVPb_AxTFuTY0u/s1600/PurpleFinchUpsideDownFeeding_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_FItVXYlMP5hZjJtXiI4A5PXpuws8GbwC6izlwICnqy17VpeMIEOb3R8csPzsACpZ8FuJVdlaA6714mUkihfj6X_FJWou2bVe2su6B5iqmC91hKYXYTFb9xtjR1tdTrVPb_AxTFuTY0u/s1600/PurpleFinchUpsideDownFeeding_Small.jpg" height="320" width="309" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhJ37dYSylxDa01_-T-VS0BUXYT2044z0AEQhzuAh_DxEYwwMkJhbPNDkVMHwRyle40rS_DsR2uGjwZX_IvTDX8JnLS5V_N3bNo6whCf3Sl1GzpmPLKoXA1D_OoCERQJvNM1QZt4OgF19/s1600/RedBellyFeedingSmall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhJ37dYSylxDa01_-T-VS0BUXYT2044z0AEQhzuAh_DxEYwwMkJhbPNDkVMHwRyle40rS_DsR2uGjwZX_IvTDX8JnLS5V_N3bNo6whCf3Sl1GzpmPLKoXA1D_OoCERQJvNM1QZt4OgF19/s1600/RedBellyFeedingSmall1.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q5iv35vCIikMa5M2BJURvyhw66Ko1nlD0O4-K_jwOgo8U5UeLbgV7JxtfW3QcWOxWIQ6pKlvHIc5aeisgiJ7leyH4HLQqHY146c2HKH4Bp8SBJ2F4pAeRmQxufpukh6SpOVv06So4g_y/s1600/CarolinaWrenFeb2015_Small_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_FItVXYlMP5hZjJtXiI4A5PXpuws8GbwC6izlwICnqy17VpeMIEOb3R8csPzsACpZ8FuJVdlaA6714mUkihfj6X_FJWou2bVe2su6B5iqmC91hKYXYTFb9xtjR1tdTrVPb_AxTFuTY0u/s1600/PurpleFinchUpsideDownFeeding_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-82964899598130813072015-02-05T06:44:00.000-08:002015-02-05T06:44:06.777-08:00Feeding Winter Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Here are a few of my favorite winter birds in the Shenandoah Valley:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcdGGe0tYEMlFj-7qI3TeuDc9pOSDt79JPUdtAWzeiI6dr8aTTHzoojWJjCKu9lpm_nJtchln2MexaIHWjVv47s-GS_A0kVoDbwdPUcpYLNku5Eg-WGspImKU5AV7dDzvOg_-H5PmtSUv/s1600/CarolinaWren_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcdGGe0tYEMlFj-7qI3TeuDc9pOSDt79JPUdtAWzeiI6dr8aTTHzoojWJjCKu9lpm_nJtchln2MexaIHWjVv47s-GS_A0kVoDbwdPUcpYLNku5Eg-WGspImKU5AV7dDzvOg_-H5PmtSUv/s1600/CarolinaWren_Small.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIM8iGUMOzGrnziFhDvhYxbsPaVL7_G1HtOmB4W6hCWyDhc1-oMSyFmUGF8xK1WJ3a489ievMBdMftmu3-5zL9g0h6S2UW_499ZGxIiiFteQLeUCuZbIwYtNadZO4e7YcEW0P8XLnNTnu/s1600/JuncoSnowBird1_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIM8iGUMOzGrnziFhDvhYxbsPaVL7_G1HtOmB4W6hCWyDhc1-oMSyFmUGF8xK1WJ3a489ievMBdMftmu3-5zL9g0h6S2UW_499ZGxIiiFteQLeUCuZbIwYtNadZO4e7YcEW0P8XLnNTnu/s1600/JuncoSnowBird1_Small.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAre40vky2KviMu9wTxpdcohIENtx0zXqHPmD8RiXV8cxbCSVVuXbhaskcY6FWpJOhINRvCMK-pdJTS1b9zWei1-_pPB3ozYHFht2j5Dxw1fKJ79lkHQRwpwszPq9B5rJLxr4PggFSjRf/s1600/PurpleFinch2015_2_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAre40vky2KviMu9wTxpdcohIENtx0zXqHPmD8RiXV8cxbCSVVuXbhaskcY6FWpJOhINRvCMK-pdJTS1b9zWei1-_pPB3ozYHFht2j5Dxw1fKJ79lkHQRwpwszPq9B5rJLxr4PggFSjRf/s1600/PurpleFinch2015_2_Small.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
These little beauties "will work for food" and seem more than happy to pose for me when given their favorite tasty bird treats.<br />
<br />
We have three feeders in the winter months to help our little bird locals get through the winter months.<br />
<br />
We feed them home made suet, black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds. The cardinals really like the safflower seeds.<br />
<br />
<br />
My home made suet attracts a wide<br />
variety of birds ranging from<br />
woodpeckers, to wrens.<br />
<br />
Here is a loose recipe for my home made suet:<br />
<br />
I buy the store bought suet for the<br />
little plastic molds that they come in <span style="text-align: center;">and then I use those for my home made suet. The birds will eat the store bought but they devour my home made.</span><br />
<br />
Recipe:<br />
<br />
Melted Lard (not Crisco but real lard) Maybe about two or two and 1/2 cups<br />
Once melted, remove pan from heat and add about a cup of peanut butter<br />
Add about a 1/2 a small bag of cornmeal<br />
Add about 2 cups of black oil sunflower seed<br />
Add enough flour until the consistancy is about that of cookie <span style="text-align: center;">dough</span><br />
Scoop into the molds and put in the refrigerator or freezer until hard and then you can pop them right out of the mold and put them in any suet feeder.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-11735512204268391582015-01-30T11:40:00.002-08:002015-01-30T11:54:34.992-08:00Good Morning It's A Great Day to Be A Photographer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHe1plT9X7ZlPB7M7iuqjP-0U59oE7_Fn8oEX4RxYWLWdLgnveUaCz2MZpZKGKOZ7C5dLUamHDOn1ZPrT-bLlSoERhupmbtlJjLhBlOVIi8TBwQf8z1A_CGGse_ukxzTiZRoCnpKOWv_U/s1600/12-20-14_Sunrise_Small_edited-1Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHe1plT9X7ZlPB7M7iuqjP-0U59oE7_Fn8oEX4RxYWLWdLgnveUaCz2MZpZKGKOZ7C5dLUamHDOn1ZPrT-bLlSoERhupmbtlJjLhBlOVIi8TBwQf8z1A_CGGse_ukxzTiZRoCnpKOWv_U/s1600/12-20-14_Sunrise_Small_edited-1Blog.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some days are better than others. Today was certainly one of those that falls into the better category. My morning routine is to wake up in the morning, drink a nice cup of French roast coffee and check my emails and Facebook. I had been feeling a little blue about my photography lately and started wondering if I should continue to put so much energy into it since my sales had drastically dropped off. Well this morning the powers that be told me loud and clear to keep going! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I first saw a message from a friend on Facebook that said they had seen my photo on the <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/weather/stories/" target="_blank">Washington D.C.NBC 4 Weather News</a> . I submit my photos to them when I get a pretty sunrise or snow scene and sometimes I'm lucky enough to have a photo shown during the weather segment. Thank you Tom Kierein! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I got another message in Facebook from <a href="http://www.shenandoah-river.com/" target="_blank">Shenandoah River Outfitters</a> requesting to use one of my photos for thier website in exchange for two free kayak trips on the beautiful Shenandoah River! How could I refuse? The photo above is the one that <a href="http://www.shenandoah-river.com/" target="_blank">Shenandoah River Outfitters</a> wants to use on their website. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The photo below is the one that was shown on the <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/weather/stories/" target="_blank">Washington D.C.NBC 4 Weather News</a> this morning. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6a0H-63vBXZBLyesBCRYjX1fMVcWOtqUEskv2RuqzjingZkpmj0ytEyFfSLSgZcf1OegjYv-jYrIHEzDIRGyiNASAj1YZT2Ogm2eK3PwHZf0war9amxVqyoO6mQSFlJMcK9GPeiKyH2Q/s1600/GoodMorningBlueRidge1-29-15_Blog1_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6a0H-63vBXZBLyesBCRYjX1fMVcWOtqUEskv2RuqzjingZkpmj0ytEyFfSLSgZcf1OegjYv-jYrIHEzDIRGyiNASAj1YZT2Ogm2eK3PwHZf0war9amxVqyoO6mQSFlJMcK9GPeiKyH2Q/s1600/GoodMorningBlueRidge1-29-15_Blog1_edited-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To anyone reading this blog, I hope you all have a great day too! :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div a="" href="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/featured/raspberry-swirl-lara-ellis.html" size="20">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/featured/shenandoah-blues-lara-ellis.html" size="20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sell Art Online" src="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/displayartwork.html?id=13710568&width=249&height=154" style="border: none;" title="Sell Art Online" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/featured/raspberry-swirl-lara-ellis.html" size="20"><img alt="Art Prints" src="http://lara-ellis.artistwebsites.com/displayartwork.html?id=14068554&width=250&height=186" style="border: none;" title="Art Prints" /></a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-80855512038675796542015-01-19T11:17:00.002-08:002015-01-19T11:18:38.236-08:00The Reset Button<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x-RXZWYH8yDBtYrbuJZRLRM6KGTd4D5K-mPmhxaysdofCSCvu-7QxpTajF6-ARaBzc19s4zOt4OxTHWolVbu5MWKqrtkb6rj8zUDjmhdy65sHKI3iiSbMlAKtV2VAKm_xm82Eyygns3l/s1600/MountainSplendorSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x-RXZWYH8yDBtYrbuJZRLRM6KGTd4D5K-mPmhxaysdofCSCvu-7QxpTajF6-ARaBzc19s4zOt4OxTHWolVbu5MWKqrtkb6rj8zUDjmhdy65sHKI3iiSbMlAKtV2VAKm_xm82Eyygns3l/s1600/MountainSplendorSmall.jpg" height="205" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It's a new day. It's a new chance. It's a new opportunity. Yesterday didn't go like you wanted? Use this new day as an opportunity to start over and replace those negative thoughts of "I can't" and "I'll never get there" with "I will and I can!" And remember to take the time to be more giving with your loved ones, more patient, more understanding and more loving and see what happens! :-) "Give and ye shal receive!"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-60692674510323945712015-01-19T06:53:00.000-08:002015-01-19T07:29:36.454-08:00The Colors of Winter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD-_G6ktEtjpvBmSf0fNzLjJ1IV5UUXxH6F3TpB-Xu32S1Nq1uHIU0_5ypBiKpnTsr5vreZFw4lapeESx0UuxfnFH51ZBFGXRy2xZHJXeFf1i4BwIMjycn6fXibU_TFXEurh0OH1jXeZF/s1600/Rainbow1-18-15_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD-_G6ktEtjpvBmSf0fNzLjJ1IV5UUXxH6F3TpB-Xu32S1Nq1uHIU0_5ypBiKpnTsr5vreZFw4lapeESx0UuxfnFH51ZBFGXRy2xZHJXeFf1i4BwIMjycn6fXibU_TFXEurh0OH1jXeZF/s640/Rainbow1-18-15_Small.jpg" height="264" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Winter is often devoid of color here in the Shenandoah Valley when all of the deciduous trees shed their leaves and the farmer's fields turn brown... but sometimes we are blessed with vivid colors in the middle of winter like this double rainbow that graced the valley yesterday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCPcZvj07n3wCcw_gY_0YgfRNt3PwClmuni0E02sg821HmSlsMehoAFv1GcBtqU1t3SKwFUdesgMe-DSoNGhoa1T20yxoUdv2T-qCAL5us_a4fE34YXH-gyV2QaEpWApAVphEsdde_NVY/s1600/FireInTheSky_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCPcZvj07n3wCcw_gY_0YgfRNt3PwClmuni0E02sg821HmSlsMehoAFv1GcBtqU1t3SKwFUdesgMe-DSoNGhoa1T20yxoUdv2T-qCAL5us_a4fE34YXH-gyV2QaEpWApAVphEsdde_NVY/s640/FireInTheSky_Small.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
After the clouds parted we were blessed with this colorful sky. The sky appeared to be on fire with warm and welcome tangerine and orange hues. I'm so thankful for the colorful days of winter that give me hope that Spring really is just around the corner!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you would like to support my photographic endeavors, please click below to purchase greeting cards or prints. I create my photography on a shoe string budget and do not pay for any advertising, so please feel free to help spread the word about my photography and share my blog or photos! Thanks for any help in allowing me to follow my passion, it's much appreciated! :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<script src="https://fineartamerica.com/widgetshoppingcart/widgetscripts.php" type="text/javascript"></script>
<iframe scrolling="no" src="https://fineartamerica.com/widgetshoppingcart/widgets.php?memberidtype=artistid&memberid=70640&widgetid=2&domainid=0" style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 120px; overflow: hidden; width: 300px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2811959884173096874.post-89847460958385132492015-01-18T13:08:00.001-08:002015-01-18T13:33:39.890-08:00Beauty In The Ordinary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-aaBe7eh3AN0XO7OJ8_1PuXIqhSZQSkTndY9_W0bQifjX3jPgUN9wKd3WPFRs32GqhW_0ZHk7Qyk61Rp8JyoHfR4MCLWotLa4sNJytRd2bASBN4rxdxI-YaD13FuluhTCk-3UoA4AAVD/s1600/Ducky-1edited-1_edited-3Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-aaBe7eh3AN0XO7OJ8_1PuXIqhSZQSkTndY9_W0bQifjX3jPgUN9wKd3WPFRs32GqhW_0ZHk7Qyk61Rp8JyoHfR4MCLWotLa4sNJytRd2bASBN4rxdxI-YaD13FuluhTCk-3UoA4AAVD/s1600/Ducky-1edited-1_edited-3Blog.jpg" /></a>
So I went down to the Hawksbill Greenway with my big lens hoping to see a kingfisher or a great blue heron...but there were none to be seen anywhere along the Hawksbill creek. BUT there were ducks everywhere! I didn't find the flashy king fisher or the regal great blue heron but the beautfiul glint of green in the sunlight caught my eye on this ordinary mallard duck.I guess beauty is where you find it. :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<script src="https://fineartamerica.com/widgetshoppingcart/widgetscripts.php" type="text/javascript"></script><iframe scrolling="no" src="https://fineartamerica.com/widgetshoppingcart/widgets.php?memberidtype=artistid&memberid=70640&widgetid=2&domainid=0" style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 120px; overflow: hidden; width: 300px;"></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686438008917843965noreply@blogger.com0