The Zen of Creativity

duck potatoes
Duck Potato – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” Albert Einstein Just finished The Zen of Creativity by John Daido Loori, He was a Buddhist monk, photographer, and artist. Very insightful book. Great follow up study to Frederick Franck’s work. Perhaps in a couple of months if I get over the wonder of new discovery I will be able to focus more on the art side of photography. Info on John Daido Loori can bve found at http://www.mro.org/daido/ . More on Frederick Franck https://picturethisbyfrank.com/2015/01/14/more-inspiration/  and  https://picturethisbyfrank.com/2015/01/30/the-awakened-eye-by-frederick-franck/ The quote was in the book.

Chillin

Alligator
Sittin on a Log – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
“I found photography was a great way of relaxing on the set” – Jeff Bridges
I love taking photos and find it a most relaxing activity. Jeff Bridges has some great portrait work he has taken on sets over the years. Some really nice monochrome work. See it at http://www.jeffbridges.com/photomay08.html. A man with many talents.

Bird Day

glossy ibis
Glossy Ibis – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
green heron
Green Heron – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“People often say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Zigler

Love these guys. The glossy is in breeding plumage, I think that the green is somewhere in between.

Quote found at  http://www.quotegarden.com/perseverance.html

Rivals

Great Egrets
Rivals – Gatorland – March 2015
greategplume
Great Egret – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“He that falls in love with himself has no rivals.” Benjamin Franklin

Both these pictures show great egrets with some indication of breeding plumage. Note the green feathers around the face. I’m starting to see a pattern here – like the ibis it’s facial feathers that attract. Hmm, perhaps we men should be growing beards.

Quote found at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/rivals

Peek a Boo

otter
Otter – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
gator
Gator in the Grass – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness” – Allen Ginsberg

Both these pics made me think “Peek a boo, I see you” The otter was swimming and enjoying life between the cells at the park. He was diving and actually appeared to be playing peek a boo. The gator on the other hand, was simply looking and choose not to move.

Quote found at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/hide.html

Lighting – Photo 101

Before Dawn
Before Dawn Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015
Before Dawn
Lone Bird – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

My favorite time of day for light is about 30 minutes before sunrise. In this part of the world there is usually a reddish glow everywhere with a dash of clouds on the horizon enhancing the colors.

In the first pic there’s a couple of rafts of coots. In the second a lone heron roosting in the tree.

Both these shots are taken looking towards the north east away from the actual sunrise.

Springtime

breed iris
Iris in Breeding Plumage – Blanchard Park – March 2015

“Use the talents you possess – for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.” Henry van Dyke

Here’s an ibis in breeding plumage – note the red face feathers. I’ll have a couple more pics like this during the week.

Quote found at http://www.allgreatquotes.com/bird_quotes3.shtml