Photo Friday: Happy Arbor Day!Posted by drfl on April 29th, 2011

Happy Arbor Day!

A little bit about Arbor Day from Wikipedia:

Arbor Day (from the Latin arbor, meaning tree) is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day. The national holiday is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April; in Nebraska, it is a civic holiday. Each state celebrates its own state holiday. The customary observance is to plant a tree.

Arbor Day Lodge State Park is one of my favorite state parks in my home state and every fall I try to make it down to Nebraska City for Apples and to see the large variety of trees transform to their autumn dress. Today’s photograph was taken last fall at Arbor Day Lodge State Park under a beautifully changed Maple tree.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 50 CM, f/7.1, 1/100 sec.
Arbor Day Lodge State Park, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Indigo ElegancePosted by drfl on April 22nd, 2011

Another photograph from Schramm State Recreation Area in eastern Nebraska. This is a blue phlox that blossoms in early spring throughout the forest. While generally not a long-lasting bloom, the blue really pops against the green.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 50 CM + 12mm extension tube, f/4.5, 1/400 sec.
Schramm State Recreation Area, Nebraska

Photo Friday: I’m Gonna Go There FreePosted by drfl on April 15th, 2011

Three Sandhill Cranes soar through the Nebraska sky near Grand Island.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/9, 1/1250 sec.
Hall County, Nebraska

Time to Welcome Spring!Posted by drfl on April 14th, 2011

While I enjoy photographing all the seasons (and many, many people cannot understand why I love photographing winter in Nebraska), Spring is a special time of year.  A time of renewal, when the brown and gray earthy tones give way verdant greens appear and colorful flowers.  While the official start of spring was a couple of weeks ago, we are just beginning to have buds on the trees and flowers popping.  This image was taken last week at Schramm State Recreation Area, it is the stem and leaves wild lily that grows on the forest floor that has not yet bloomed.  It should be blossoming in the next week or so. 

Welcome Spring!

View More Spring Photos on Journey Of Light

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 50mm f/2.5 CM, f/3.5, .4 seconds
Schramm State Recreation Area, Nebraska

Photo Friday: Soaring Sandhill CranesPosted by drfl on April 8th, 2011

In the evenings during their migration through Nebraska, Sandhill Cranes come back from the fields to the Platte River to rest. Hundreds to thousands can be visible for miles around during this time as they land during the sunset hours.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/6.3, 1/2000 sec.
Hall County, Nebraska

Art Show Thank You (And A Red-Winged Blackbird)Posted by drfl on April 4th, 2011

I wanted to thank everyone who made it to the Mahoney Art Show this past weekend.  I really enjoyed talking with everyone who came through.  I’m planning on doing the fall show in October, so if you couldn’t make it to this one, I hope to see you there!

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/6.3, 1/1000 sec.
Hall County, Nebraska