It’s all in the timing, my friends. Sometimes, no matter how I try, I can’t get a photo right. It might be the light, the shadow or it might be me. Then there are those times that I point my camera, in this case my iPhone camera, having no idea what the end result will be. And the end result is lovely. (No retouching here. Just added the watermark.)
I wanted some more photos of the ducks because I love watching them. I was finishing up a long walk in the afternoon and somehow it was the right time. Or, at the very least, an interesting time. The light cast a glow on some of the ducks and turned others into silhouettes. The buildings and the trees were reflected in the water. In the above photo, that building’s reflection looks like a Keith Haring drawing that could be reproduced on some fabric. If you’ve seen photographs of the architect Gaudi’s work, this is right up that particular alley.
The duck in the foreground had the most amazing markings. The blue on his feathers was a rich, iridescent blue.
I love the way the light has put a little spotlight on the two ducks in the foreground. They’re so beautiful.
My iPhone’s camera seems to work the best for me outdoors. It sure has come in handy over the past couple of weeks. I stash it in the back pocket of my jeans and off I go.
Yesterday I walked by the pond and the usual 24 or so ducks that I normally see had increased in numbers.
Questions: Where do the ducks go at night? Where do they go as winter draws near? Do they live here in this pond all the time or do they just spend the day there?
Feel free to leave an answer in the comments.
Well, I’ve officially hit the less than one week left in Hartford mark. I’m winding down. We are in previews and have reached the point where I have to stop giving so many notes to the actors. I call it weaning. In every production, there will be notes that I have given repeatedly, things that jar my professional ear, words that I miss because the actor is facing away from me or because they get too quiet in a particular moment. I give these notes over and over and then I have to come to that place where I simply leave it alone. It is what it is. The actors need to make the performance their own and I need to let them. Darko, the director, feels the same way. As of last night, the weaning has begun. I’ll keep attending previews but I will be very, very selective about my notes. It’s like sending your child off to college. You hope you’ve given that child valuable advice and a solid foundation on which to grow and flourish. And then you send them off, crossing your fingers behind your back.
In other news, the A/C repairman came yesterday and I got all excited because I thought it would finally be fixed. He left an hour later because some machinery that he uses ‘seized.’ Still no air conditioning. I tell you, it will get fixed right before I leave for home. Mark my words.
In other-other news, I mistakenly put almond milk in my coffee instead of half and half. Twice. I love almond milk, but not in my coffee. Time to go make more.
Happy Saturday.
Good morning Claudia, thank you for such lovely pictures today. The light on the pond is amazing. I know you are counting down the days until you return home. Always a good feeling to come home. Hope you have a nice weekend. Hedy
Every time I look at those photos I am amazed. Yes, soon to go home!
I am so impressed by the quality of your phone pictures! Technology has brought us so many good things. I try to keep my head in the sand about the bad! Have a good week with hopefully cooler weather. I hope Don is mowing some for you.
I think it’s supposed to get cooler tomorrow, Dottie. Don mowed the other day, bless his heart.
Those photos are fascinating.
Thank you, Tana!
I believe ducks head into the brush and low lying branches for cover at night. Don’t you love cell phone cameras. Best invention ever.
That would make sense. There are bushes all along the fence nearby. I wonder if they go there?
I love the photos of the patterns in the water. Nature’s artwork. So happy that you will be going home soon. Don and Scout will be happy to have you back. xo Laura
Nature’s artwork is the best artwork, Laura.
Oh, Claudia!! The pictures with that patterned image on the water are amazing! I think you should enter them into a photo contest if you come across one. Just beautiful! And I do think fabric made from that image would be beautiful.
I know that here in Wisconsin the ducks are floating on the Wisconsin River all winter long. We live near one of the dams on the river, so some water is always open. It amazes me that on days when the temps are below zero they still choose to spend time in the water.
Our temps are decidedly more Fall-like since yesterday, so hopefully that weather is headed your way. Counting down the days until you can go home to Don and Scout has to be fun, too.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos!
chris
Thanks, Chris. I still can’t believe those photos had that wonderful surprise in them.
The duck photos are gorgeous. I love the camera feature on my phone (galaxy s3) and have taken some pretty good shots, but I have to admit, I still much prefer my “real” camera. My son, who is a professional photographer and artist, refuses to use his phone camera except for last minute shots if he’s out with friends or something similar. He has the notion that “oh yeah, now everyone thinks they’re a photographer because they take pictures with their phone, especially with the filters on instagram.” I can understand his thinking…and I’m glad he has that “old school” thinking when it comes to photographs. Anyhoo…I laughed about the almond milk. I use almond milk in my cereal but I must have real half & half in my coffee! I can’t imagine how coffee tastes with almond milk. No, thanks. ;-)
Oh, of course I prefer my DSLR, but heck if I’m going to carry it everywhere! I don’t use filters on my iPhone. What you see is what you get – I didn’t even do any tweaking, except to add my watermark.
Good morning Claudia
I love these pictures with the swirly design. You need to enter
them into a photo contest. I have never seen any pictures like
this.
Enjoy your last few days as you prepare to go home.
Sharron
They are rather magical, aren’t they? I don’t believe I even had an inkling of the pattern those building reflections were making.
Those pictures are amazing. Our actions is out and it is miserable……and that’s only one day. Being in a high rise you have to be miserable. You must feel like you are letting the actors fly out of your nest. I imagine it takes some time to readjust when each play is over. Xo
Yes, I’m a little tired of the heat and no a/c. Today was supposed to be very warm, but it ended up being overcast, so that’s helping a little. I think tomorrow is supposed to be cooler.
Claudia, great photos, I’m a big duck fan.
I’ve heard professional photographers say that they use their Iphones more when they are out and about casually then the big DSLR’s. Easier to take with them, and can be slipped into a pocket.
Great idea.
Jen
That’s the great thing about it. I can slip my phone into my back pocket. If I’m specifically planning to take photos, I’ll often take along the DSLR, but if I’m out and about, or walking, I’ll grab my iPhone.
Ducks…beautiful ducks! And that reflection….couldn’t have done better if you’d planned it! Most of our ducks stick around here over the winter…I don’t know what they do at night though, they haven’t told me! I’m happy that you are winding down…won’t be long now! ;)
I think they drain this pond in the winter. I was here last winter and there was no water in it. I’m going to have to google this question.
The reflection in the water is amazing..maybe you will be lucky and find one of those beautiful blue feathers before you leave for home..it would be a wonderful addition to your nature collection!
Oh, wouldn’t it be?
These are awesome pictures! I think you hit it on the head about the timing being right. i take a lot of pics with my phone and I think they’re great.
I, too, wonder where the ducks on our lake go in the winter. I guess I should ask someone! lol!
XO,
Jane
Yes, because I just remembered that they drain this pond in the winter. So where do they go?
Absolutely stunning shots, Claudia! The waters are magical…:)
Thank you so much, Deb!
The reflection you captured on the water is beautiful. It looks like a melting paisley pattern to me. We’ve often wondered where the ducks go at night too. We have a lake we visit in a nearby town that always has ducks, perhaps they huddle on the ground near the lake at night? Thanks for sharing your lovely photos!
It does look like paisley, Diane!
Awesome pictures..IPads do better than some DLRs…Hope you get your coffee thing worked out :)
Oh, I just made some more. I wasn’t about to lose out on a good cup of coffee.
I love how a photo will come out as a surprise and see things we didn’t when we took the photos. These are lovely! I too enjoy the ducks! Just a week until time to go home, I know you are ready!
I am MORE than ready, Linda!
Claudia- That is an amazing picture! It captures movement which I find is always hard to do. I am so glad that your time there is winding down. You will be home in time to enjoy a bit of Fall. xo Diana
Thanks, Diana. Don says I should enter them in a contest, but I have no idea where to begin on that one!
The photos are fabulous! Funny how we can plan and adjust and try all kinds of tricks and get an awful shot and the time we just point and shoot, it’s fabulous! I love the light on the water. I like how it goes from green to silver.
The photos are wonderful. Just love them. I know you must be getting happy about your time away from home drawing to a close. Hope the time you have left there flies by for you and that they get the a.c. fixed.
Cross your fingers – hopefully a/c will be fixed tomorrow.
the photos….amazing…!
Thanks, Lori!
Beautiful images!!!!!!
Thank you, Grace.
The paterns in the water remaind me a lot of Indigenous Australian art (also known as Australian Aboriginal art)
Amazing!!!
Yes, I thought that, too, Wimmera.
Your phone photos came out wonderfully. I am always so amazed at how great these little phones do capturing images. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome!
Obviously everyone is as amazed as I am at the beautiful swirls on the water. However, what are they from? Maybe that is a stupid question. It just seems like they should be the reflection of something…maybe not tho! Nevertheless! Breathtaking!
The swirls and design are the way the reflection of a large white building with dark windows is somehow breaking up on the water.