All The Small Things In The Fall Weather

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Here in Texas, we finally got our first real Fall weather day, yes temps have dropped from their 105 degree highs back in August. Gotta love that but I found something that doesn't seem to love it as much. However, I barely noticed him because as easy to spot as the photo would lead you to believe. This dragonfly looks as if he was trying to take refuge from the cooler temps and blustery wind by hanging onto the screen door for dear life.

About as up close as he would let me get. 

HDR Of The Day: Water Fountains

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Love the HDR effect, I took this of the water fountain and applied HDR (high dynamic range) to it. The result is very catching and so much so that I'm inspired to start a new category of posts entitled HDR Of The Day where I'll feature the best of my HDR photos. 

Photo Of The Day: Let's Roam

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This dude, Longhorn to be exact was very photogenic. Not only that but this photo looks almost like an oil painting. I love it when I can get that effect. 

Photo Of The Day: Halo Moon

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Just love it when the moon creates a halo effect in my photo. Tonight there was a beautiful crescent of a moon in the sky.

There's many a famous quote about the moon but here's one of my own. "Gazing at the moon in admiration makes us human but if you howl at it, then that's another story"!

Through The Blinds Doves Appear

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I can't really explain it but these birds, just want to be photographed apparently. The reason I say that is because I was sitting at my computer and out of nowhere this morning dove shows up outside on my balcony railing. I thought wow, a cool picture opportunity and grabbed the camera and started taking pictures and the results came out better than I ever expected. This is despite the fact that I had to take pictures through my patio blinds.  I knew there was no way I was ever going to be able to open them without making my picture fly away.

As I'm taking the third photo of the dove, I noticed that there was two. Keep in mind that I couldn't tell this before because my vision was obscured by the partially closed blinds and the narrowness of looking through a viewfinder.

Photo Of The Day: Great Blue Heron Spotting In Texas

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Welcome to Smidgen Goop. If you want to know what this blog is all about, because I'm sure you're still wondering, then look no further than this beautiful image. I hope to capture breathtaking shots of our featured friends as I did with this magnificent winged Great Blue Heron. I hope that you'll enjoy this blog as much as I take pleasure in getting great shots of birds because after all this blog was started by birds (see FAQ question 1) so we have to pay them respect every once in awhile.

I just love it when a birding photo opportunity presents itself. One day, about 3 years ago, I was walking to get the mail, and at the nearby pond something caught my eye. I looked again, and there was this majestic crane patrolling the waters. At least I thought it was a crane, until I got home and did some research on the net. Alas, it is not a crane but a heron that looks similar. Then to my further surprise and I came to find out that this was a Great Blue Heron.

Simply amazing because I wouldn't expect to find one of these majestic creatures all by itself and many miles away from it's natural habitat in a lonely pond that runs along the middle of my residential community. This was quite an afternoon treat, as I can't remember the last time I saw one of these beautiful creatures if ever in person, let alone up close. All my years of living at this residence, which was almost 3 years to be exact, I never did spot a Great Blue Heron again which I wouldn't of expected to. That makes this particular spotting a photographic moment to treasure so was very happy I was able to snap this photo!

Little Elephant Business

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Tale Of The Ol' Seaman

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There I saw the almost grey sea.
Against the backdrop of the pale blue sky.
Then I spotted you, a man stoic, savoring your cig, saving it like the last ripe fruit from an old worn out peach tree.
It almost made me cry, felt the pain of years gone by.
Where your ashen cheeks fought against the cold breeze.
Wish I could of made you my friend & heard stories of when you had that fiery glee still in your eyes.
So hearken not your heart, things will get better, rise up & foresee.