Friday Photography - Patterns
Submitted by janis b on Fri, 05/21/2021 - 7:29pm
Evening all, and wishing you a pleasingly patterned weekend.
Check out the beautiful pattern of the Mamaku (tree fern) trunk that the Kereru sits on top of soaking up the last of the sunlight.
.
This is an ocean-washed piece of a tree fern trunk. The beautiful patterns are left as the fronds fall off.
Comments
Evening, Janis
The colors and shadow patterns on the back of the chair make it look like it's been upholstered with zebra hide.
Here's some birds to keep the Kereru company.
Crowned Eagle
Golden-Breasted Starling
Male Taveta Golden Weaver
Seychelles Blue Pigeon
Magpie Mannikin
Metallic Starling
Female Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
Common Waxbill
I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise.
But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.
Hi Social
Are you sure you haven't painted those birds. They are outstandingly unique and colourful.
I can't decide who I want for company, probably the Golden Weaver, although I considered the Andean bird.
I'm not sure the Kereru would want to sit down to dinner with the Eagle, but I'm sure it would feel comfortable with the pigeon.
Thank you, Janis.
I wish I could paint that good. It would save me a lot of money. Brushes, paint, and canvas are less expensive than camera bodies, lenses, and memory cards.
I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise.
But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.
" · · · and memory cards.",
?
I miss the film, the processing (pushing), the enlarger, the variety of papers, and the serenity of the darkroom far from the chaos of the "real world" as you burn and dodge to perfection.
I didn't start processing
and printing until the digital era, where you can still dodge and burn and there is a wide variety of paper to print on, and the best part is, there's no chemical smell.
I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise.
But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.
I hear ya
, on the chemical smell bit. Far too many photo labs were hazmat nightmares.
My dream darkroom would actually be a clean lab. Professionally, I ran a "tight ship" and whenever possible my students were (or quickly became) safety experts or they found some other line of work. I could never take credit for the good ones because they self-selected before actually joining my group. I only once made an exception to my rule to never invite a new researcher, preferring to happily accept "self-starter" members to the team.
best part?
I love a light waft of hypo myself. If I caught one today I'd get excited.
Still remember my first hit of hypo. I was 11. It was a hot summer night, it was dark, there was a red light... ooooh baby sodium thiosulphate. 
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
When I was married to the pirate, he was a tradesman who
transitioned to professional photographer, trained at Brooks with two degrees, in his thirties working three jobs.
Anyways, eventually a twelve by thirty-one foot dark room with continuous roll paper machine at our house. I was a good go fer.
I so know that hit of photo chemicals. I loved it. I really miss film.
One night on the east side of the Cascades due west of Bend or so, we were out on the side of a mountain on a logging road. A single tree on the outside edge of the road against a starlit sky. We opened the lense on a 4 x 5 bellows camera and left it open. Then we painted the conifer for say fifteen minutes with narrow beam flashlights. Lots of depth and the stars did streak a bit. But so much fun.
Very competitive group of professional and serious amateurs in those days.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Dawn, do you have a copy of that image?
I imagine an image that is very mysterious and beautifully captured on a large negative. It is amazing how light is transformed through time exposures on film.
Not sure. I have lots of slides, negatives and a few prints.
But most stayed behind. 4x5 stuff was not easy to keep.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
awesome pics SP!
Outstanding bird photos SP! Fantastic work! I presume at the zoo or animal park? Sure a great way to see lots of neat stuff. And in a big walk-in aviary one can often angle to get shots without any manmade distractions. Beautiful photos!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Thank you, dystopian.
Yes, these were taken at the zoo. Right now 4 of the 5 walk through aviaries are open. The hummingbird aviary is being remodeled right now and will open soon. I can't wait.
I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise.
But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.
a hummer aviary is great
been a long time, like decades, but I was in the S.D. Zoo hummer aviary once, it was fantastic. They usually keep lots of small tanagers which are insanely colored frugivores with them. Hope to see some pics!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Hi Social. Great photos and great birds too. I
I've had the good fortune to see several of those in the wild, the starling, weaver and waxbill in Kenya, and a cock-of-the-rock pair in Ecuador. I think Kenya is where I began divvying the world up by birds, Africa for starlings and vultures, central and south america for tanagers, toucans and parrots, and Ecuador for hummers.
thanks for those pics, brought back good memories.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
diversity epicenter hot spots
Yeah always interesting to see these epicenters of diversity, hot spots of genetic variation, for various taxa. Each has its place.
For Anoles (as the pet store 'chameleon'), it is the Caribbean. I never would have thought.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
great pics Janis
Beautiful photos Janis! Great shadows on that first one. Nice pigeon ya got there too! The tree fern trunk looks neat too. Very cool. Most excellent work J!
thanks for hosting!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
You're welcome dystopian
Sometimes I feel like I'm hosting an almost empty space, but it is still pleasure for me to post and enjoy the photos of others. Thank you for your dedicated appreciation and engaging contributions.
skimmers
How 'bout some skimmers? Most of the genus of dragonflies Libellula are various sorts of skimmers. If you traced the main veins in the wing, not the little individual cells, but the main 'feeder' veins, you can tell every genus of dragonfly apart, by that pattern. In other words with one wing of any dragonfly, you can make a correct ID to genus level, based on the pattern of the 'feeder' veins in the wing. The various white or dark areas are useful for species ID. Each genus has its own 'map' of veins in the wings.
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Widow Skimmer
Neon Skimmer
Roseate Skimmer
I still got work to do and gotta fly, sorry I can't hang...
Hope all are well, play it safe!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
So skimmers are as individually patterned as humans are,
but more easily identifiable ; ).
Great skimmer shots, dystopian
and thanks for all the useful ID information
I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise.
But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.
Wow Dysto, great pics, and good info on the
dragonflies. I think we get the neon skimmer in our yard on occasion, as well as up at Lake Chabot with regularity.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
oh lordy, you all outdo yourself. I so love this series,
regarding darkrooms ... a little side story of my life about why I love darkrooms.
Once upon a time I was a more poor (financially and academically) student. For some more fubar reasons I ended up to have to study Physical Chemistry. Total bullshit, but any bullshit has its advantages. My Prof for whom I wrote my diploma thesis and worked for as a student turor, w as a decent human being. So when I had to be at his institute and I didn't know where to put my cutesy baby boy, he said I should put him in his darkroom, which was the room right aside of my desk. So, you see me and my son all stumbled around in the dark, but my prof saw the light. I never forget that.
Always late, but hopefully this will be fun.
Mr. Meta wrote this email to a list of friends and birders.
A good Hoopoe site with calls. We played for our lonely boy and he upped his oop-oops from two to four. We hope some cute gal comes by for him.
Hoopoe Information.
Thank you Janis for the OT and everyone for fabulous photography and names of what you share. We saw a large black and yellow Damsel Fly unless it was a Dragon Fly newly out folding its wings to dry. Didn't get a snap.
ETA: It looked like this:
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
great vid DM!
very cool DM! Great story, and great vid! That is one cool bird. Thanks for sharing!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Thanks dystopian. I think this is the second time you have
seen this. Your insect photos are so good.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Hi Dawn, great video. Cool to have a hoopoe just
show up and hang out like that. Must be great to have them as natives. I saw one in Kenya, but we had to pretty much search for them. Great Damsel/Dragon fly too.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Thanks EL. It was you who saw this in another thread.
In the video he dips his head to sip air so he can vocalize. He also hisses twice near the beginning. Then he uses a gland near the top of his tail to spread something all over his feathers. Interesting how his curved long beak just fits into that spot.
He came because it was too cold and wet, more like March. Our window ledges are set just right for the morning sun. He was roosting, sleeping, and preening. Also, too, calling for a Huppe lady.
This week has been cold and rainy. He has only sounded occasionally. We have close to eight inches of rain in May. Wow.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
That gland is pretty common in birds,
it is called the uropygial gland aka preen gland or oil gland, and they use the secretions in preening their feathers. It is especially important and generally relatively larger in aquatic/marine birds because the secretions help waterproof their feathers so that they don't get waterlogged. All birds preen, to get rid of parasites and clean their feathers as well as to keep them in the proper relative positions o feathers have tiny protruding structures called barbules which interlock with those on other feathers to help maintain proper position and aerodynamic smoothness, so part of the ritual is to hook those together if they get separated or misaligned.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
great work EL!
I would only add to EL's great explanation about the preen/oil gland, that you may know a few of the birds that don't have one, like Cormorant and Anhinga, which have to hang out to dry after fishing because of the lack of oil waterproofing it provides. They do get waterlogged. Interesting for aquatic species, I suspect it gives them better control under water with less buoyancy from the oil.
I wonder what makes them (Hoopoe) stink? Is it their oil?
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
In the nest they allow them to get filthy. To repel
intruders the young turn and squirt feces at nest raiders. The adults maybe it's the gland. Need to read more.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
dragons vs. damsels
This dragon in the photo above is one I don't know. Must be from somewhere I never studied. Is it Pacific Northwest? Reminds of the Spiketails at a glance, which I only know from pics in the books.
Generally damselflies are the little pint-sized cousins to dragons. Most hold their wings along body (abdomen) instead of perpendicular to it as dragons do. They are a tenth the weight of dragons, most only 1.5-2" long. Often in vegetation at waters edge.
This is a generic damselfly, a Violet Dancer.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Burgundy, France. Near a small river. Mixed woodland,
pastures for cow/calf pairs mostly. Sheep and Chickens; horses with Donkeys. Small Ag.
This is a Google image of one we saw this week. We have lots of Damselflies, but warm weather is needed, which has not arrived. We do see a working Bat And some Swallows, which have been down in numbers. We see European Oriole pair similar to Bullock's-their silver toned song throughout the day; a breeding pair of Wagtails which really bob instead. We hear a Nightingale, but the Cuckoo has gone quiet. We see Turturelles (?)Turtle Doves. We miss Hummers but there is so much here.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
ahhhhhh...
Which explains why I did not recognize it... I skimmed through my "Dragonflies through Binoculars" which has all the U.S. species, and did not see a good match. Surely there is a French ode group online. Odonata is the order for dragonflies and damselflies, called odes by those that study them. They are fascinating beasts, living longer as aquatic larvae than as a flying adult.
Sounds like you have a great set of birds you have to watch! A biological change is great!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Thank you Dawn - birds are birds, and then there is the Hoopoe.
It’s been fascinating to watch the video and to learn more about a very unusual bird. The fact that he remained on the ledge for so long must have been a real treat for you and him. From what I’ve read they are quite solitary birds. I wonder what their attraction to humans is about, or was it the perfect stage for him to perform upon that your ledge provided?
I look forward to the next episode of your Hoopoe.
He was looking for a warm ledge to warm up.
Now that we know them a bit, we are seeing a few near farms at the roadside on the ground hunting bugs. His features seemed to fit your theme. Truly a rare event we think.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
He certainly is beautifully patterned,
and I imagine very entertaining. Enjoy.
Good morning Janis. I fully intended to drop in yesterday,
but it slipped my mind. Something about that posting time, maybe I need to set a reminder. Wonderful patterns, which is particularly a thing for me. So I got a new camera and have been trying to see what I can do with it, being not much of a photographer and thus unable to truly "see what it can do"
As part of that process, and in keeping with patterns, I took this a week or so ago:
At any rate, I took these yesterday at a distance of 10 feet from the top of the hollyhock stem and around 8 feet from the base of the closest amaryllis, the first just at the default and the rest zoomed:
I have to admit that I am surprised at how they turned out, doubly so because the amaryllis have been in bloon for over a week now
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Is that bottom flower a wild Geranium? Are you Hibiscus
outside? I can't even imagine. Such deep red on your flower photos. Nicely done.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
It is definitely a geranium, possibly wild, possibly
planted by my wife from a cutting, which may be from a wild one. That isn't a hibiscus but amaryllis, they're huge and are supposed to bloom at xmas, but ours bloom at random. We did have hibiscus when we first moved in, but one year we had a surprise snap freeze, a super hard freeze that killed a lot of stuff including the hibiscus.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Amaryllis is even more impressive. We are in the buy a
bulb and force it for Christmas latitudes.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
That's exciting el,
to have a new tool to record the wonders you see , and surprises you in its capacity.
I love the fallen branch in the strange looking grasses? I also think the Amaryllis is very seductive looking.
Thanks, that;s a bizzare happenstance;
that's a salt marsh highland, the "grasses" are pickleweed, cordgrass and alkali heath. There is also a lot of coyote bush and black mustard, but they're more shrubby. The fallen branch isn't, there are no trees and there is no canopy I think that it is the top or end of a branch of coyote bush, or maybe an entire coyote bush, that has died and been blown into the highland where it became stable in an upside down position. How it got loose is the puzzle - it almost looks like a beaver gnawed it off at the stump, now the top, but there are none out there. There are, however, these guys:
so I'm guessing that one gnawed away at it for however long it took. FWIW, that's probably a live one in the background on the right
be well and have a good one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Who is that gnawing creature?
Your interpretation of the coyote bush placement makes sense. The bare bush looks so much like a dead piece of the abundant Manuka and Kanuka trees here. They fall apart with age, branch by branch.
It is a "California Ground Squirrel" (Otospermophilus beecheyi)
It burrows and builds large tunnel systems, mostly eats "plant material like seeds,
leaves, and fruit, and sometimes small insects", so gnawing on stems seems a bit off, but I can't think of anything else out there that would decapitate coyote bush and leave a pointed end on it. In addition, the whole area is a preserve so if a human cut it it would've almost certainly also carted it off, not to mention that a saw would leave a flat cut.
be well and have a good one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
owls and ground squirrels
In some parts of CA, especially coastally like Orange and L.A. Counties, into the 1960's and 70's, there were hundreds of places where Burrowing Owls co-habitated burrows with the California Ground Squirrel. It was one of the great things to watch when I was a kid growing up. They are mostly gone now, but there are a bunch of awesome McMansionlet subdivisions and strip centers.
Great pic EL! Love yer Hollyhocks too, can't wait to see the flowers.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Rec’d!!
:-).
Question: I am not getting the smiling face emoji. I have done the steps for years. What gives?
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
These things
are "Textual smiley will be replaced with graphical ones."
You find them by scrolling below your message field and activating the "Textual smiley" link.
RIP
what did you type
to get
:-).
but not
:-).
The four as the result of copy-paste as I never remember the details so I never simply type, :-), (
)
But here it produces
as opposed to :-).
Context matters
This
does not work but this, :-), does work.
Oops apparently: This, :-), does not work but this
does work.
Gates was a failure and should have never been allowed to form Microsoft. We Had A Good Plan ! ! ! And they ruined it all ! ! !
It might be the comma (or period)
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --