Day 181 > Coming Home

It was back to the lakeshore this morning to capture the boats of the Lake Michigan fishing fleet returning en masse to the Algoma Harbor presumably with their catch of the day. It can be quite fun to watch as boats repeatedly appear far out to sea speeding toward the shore, sometimes alone, but oftentimes with other vessels following right behind. As they approach, the boats fall into formation and prepare to enter the harbor single file at the little red lighthouse.

Day 180 > Under A Threatening Sky / Lake Michigan

The morning began partly sunny today but by the time I reached the lakeshore at Algoma a few hours later, heavy cloud cover hung over the lake for as far as the eye could see.
However, as I set to capturing a group of gulls waiting for breakfast to swim by in the water below the pier, a ray of sun broke through the clouds illuminating the birds and highlighting the ominous dark bands stretching across the sky.

Day 179 > Strawberry Time!

"Pick you own" strawberries in Suamico, WI.

Day 178 > Summertime In The Devil's River Gorge

I returned to the Devil's River Gorge today for the first time since Spring and am I ever glad I did. Everything was perfect. I love this place.

Day 177 . Nature Near At Hand

"The most precious things of life are near at hand, without money and without price. Each of you has the whole wealth of the universe at your very door."

- John Burroughs from his book Signs and Seasons

As a boy I was always fascinated by the mushrooms that would appear literally overnight in the yard. Without any regard for whether or not they might be unsafe to handle I would pick them and marvel at their gilled undersides.
That childhood fascination has not diminished in the least so even now each new mushroom to pop up in the lawn causes me to pause for a moment to check it out. Of course now I refrain from picking them but from time to time I can be found spawled on the ground in the backyard getting a closer look, in this case with camera in hand. I can only imagine what the neighbors think!

Day 176 > Blue Flag Iris

To the delight of the mosquitoes, I returned once more to the Baird Creek lowlands determined that today would be the day I featured the wild Blue Flag Iris. I had scouted out today's subject in advance after capturing yesterday's Water Strider image so that my time spent would be minimal and would not impact the out-of-town plans I had for later in the day.
Yesterday, while hiking into the area where the iris grow, I disturbed a Wild Turkey that had evidently chosen to bed down in the thick vegetation. I had hoped to see it again today but no luck.
Today, after capturing a satisfactory image of the iris, I followed a set of deer tracks along the little stream that led back to the trail I had come in on and I wondered where the deer had gone to. As I emerged from the forest a few minutes later my question was answered...she was standing in the tall grass on the edge of the trees looking at me. Just as I became aware of her, she was gone. Maybe on a another day she will let me have a moment longer to get the camera ready but for now here's the Blue Flag.

Day 175 > Ripple Effect / Water Strider

As I battled my way through a bug infested lowland again this morning (yes, evidently I'm a glutton for punishment!), I came upon a bend in a little seasonal stream where the water sat perfectly calm reflecting the surrounding forest.
The calm surface was disturbed suddenly by the movements of a group of water-walking insects known as Water Striders. With each new motion a ring of ripples radiated out from the insects creating an interesting effect on the mirrored surface.
In the larger image you can better see the Strider and the points where each of it's long legs sits on the water without breaking the surface .