Spring 2016

Ahh, Spring.
Much awaited Spring. Then, still, a wait
for consistently nice days.

Spring at Trempealau Wildlife Refuge

A couple weeks back we took a much needed road-trip to explore. It was the perfect opportunity to snap some shots. We've been to the Wildlife Refuge before, a couple times, but there's always something neat to see. This time we saw tons of  egrets, turtles and pelicans. We even saw flocks of pelicans coming in with their lunch! I wasn't prepared to snap one of those pictures. If I were a super awesome, serious wildlife photographer it'd be a great place to hang out around sunset.
Like I said in one of my previous posts, I'm a tad rusty....
I do want to enter another photo contest this year, so if you see a photo you think would be good to enter, let me know. I'm open to ideas. :D 

Cardinals in the Spring

Every year so far that I've been back in the Midwest is a reminder of just how LONG it takes for Spring and continuous nice weather to arrive. It is so aggravating. 
A couple weeks back, a beautiful cardinal pair was flying around my yard and landing on objects, making me think, "I should really get back into taking pictures."So I took out the camera for the 1st time in months (other than for Easter pics) to snap some photos. They aren't great, but I did it.

This one I was playing a little more than usual with editing.

Trilliums & A Morel

Some more photos from our camping adventure a few weeks ago.

Photo Contest

Today I entered a local photo contest; I decided to choose a picture from our camping trip at Perrot State Park. There were a few of the trillium pictures that I really liked and couldn't decide from. About a week ago, I placed my order for my contest photos, and then last night I realized that TODAY  at 4p was the deadline to have the photos in and I didn't even have my photos in my  hand yet! (some contest want a digital and a hard copy) So, after some thinking today (who am I kidding, texting a couple people), I called the place and they said that my order never went through. SO, I almost just said forget it, that maybe this was my sign from God that I shouldn't enter this contest this year. But I decided to go with it anyway, I quickly uploaded the pictures to Walgreen's 1 hour photo. They turned out decent considering where it was.  it's so hard to  have a printed picture look as nice as it does on the computer. But, I was pretty satisfied with how they looked once I got them matted
** fingers crossed!** I am kind of excited.

Here is 1 of the photos I chose that didn't print so well. I was disappointed.
( I don't want to post the actual photos I used, in case I shouldn't.)

Ontonagon River in the Spring

Whenever we head to the U.P. I make sure I have my camera, there are times it never comes out. But, the trip we made in April I made sure to snap some pictures since it was a nice Spring day and I hadn't been out in awhile.

 

Spring in Perrot State Park

Oh, it's been awhile. I really need to get back into the groove of posting regularly again. It's so easy to say, "I'll do it tomorrow"! Plus, now that we have our own home, I like to do yard work, etc. I have a few new photos to post though, so I better get to editing.
These pictures are Spring at Perrot State Park, which is by the Mississippi in Trempealau, WI.  We went there 2 years ago in the summer, and spotted a campsite we wanted. So this year I made sure to make a reservation to get the site before anyone else (it's booked all summer long usually). It was the 2nd weekend of May and surprisingly the place was pretty full.  It was a fun time and bonus, no bugs!
I didn't want to snap too many of the landscape since I did that in my last Perrot State Park entry (click here if you want to see those!)

The last photo was the view from our campsite. 

Bald Eagle viewing the River

The bald eagle is one of my favorite birds, so whenever I see any I feel I must take a picture. They also make me think of loved ones that are no longer with us, that maybe they're watching from the bird or are the bird. Hard to put what I mean into words.
Anyway, I hope you don't get sick of all the bald eagle photos!

Broken Glass

Sometimes I photograph some things that a lot of people would not see beauty in, or maybe even think I'm a little weird for taking a picture of it. This is one of those things. 

Spring!

I can FINALLY say it is Spring here in Wisconsin. I can't really complain too much though, our Winter wasn't horrible like the ones past. This is my favorite time of year. I love when the leaves start to come out, when the flowers bloom and the temps are almost perfect. 
I figured since it's been awhile (yikes), I'd start with some new stuff. These were taken TODAY. My first time just going out and shooting in awhile. I love flowers, but I find photographing them can be quite boring. Not taking the photo but once I look at it afterwards, so I try to do some different things while taking it.
I want to  enter some photo contests this year, one for a local place and I'd like to give the Lake Superior Magazine a try again. SO, if  any of my photos I post catch your eye let me know, so I can put them into my consideration of submissions. :)

Dandelion & Iris

I really, really wish I had a macro lens for my camera. I think it'd be so fun to take some awesome close up shots of things!  Till then, I work with what I have.

I edited the Dandelion & one of the iris photos with a bit of HDR