Wednesday is Bird Day

On February 18, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn inspiration, nature, photography2 Comments

limpkin copy — Limpkin – Mullet Lake Park – January 2015

amerbittern — American Bittern – Orlando Wetlands Park 2015

“Intelligence without ambition is like a bird without wings” – Salvador Dali

First picture is a limpkin. A bird I confused with the American Bittern which is the second pic. When I am out and about picture taking the limpkin is the most asked for bird. People stop me and ask about sightings frequently. I’m guessing that Central Florida is a known habitat for this bird.

The second is the American Bittern, one of my favorites. This bird has just come off his natural posture, which is beak in the air pretending to be a reed among the many.

Previous post with misidentified limpkin https://picturethisbyfrank.com/2015/01/20/young-ibis/ . Scroll all the way down, the first pic is indeed an ibis.

Quote seen at http://thinkexist.com/quotation/intelligence_without_ambition_is_a_bird_without/7487.html

Minor White – Photographer

On February 17, 2015February 17, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn books, inspiration, nature, photography2 Comments

moonshot — Moon at Dawn – UCF Arboretum February 2015

“I am always mentally photographing everything as practice” – Minor White While reading The Zen of Creativity by John Daido Loori I was introduced to Minor White. He was an influential American photographer who co-founded Aperture magazine in 1952. He also was a professor of photography at MIT. To see some of Minor White’s work go here http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/minor_white/ or watch this space. I will be going to the library today to see what’s available – a quick search shows 88 books by or about Minor White – I will be busy.

BWmoonshot — Photoshopped Moon Pic – February 2015

UCF Arboretum – an Oasis

On February 16, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn inspiration, nature, photography2 Comments

yellowflowers — Yellow Trumpet – UCF Arboretum February 2015

There is nothing you can see that is not a flower; there is nothing you can think that is not the moon. – Basho

greategret — Great Egret in the Sun – UCF Arboretum February 2015

There are lots of these vines along the trails at UCF Arboretum. My favorite parts are the buds – they remind me of mini aliens.

This guy had a great vantage point from high atop the pines.

Thanks to UCF for preserving this oasis. I spend countless hours here soaking up the beauty.

For my other posts on the arboretum see – https://picturethisbyfrank.com/2015/01/08/acres-of-diamonds/

Quote found at http://zenquotes.net/tag/flower

Some Birds

On February 15, 2015February 15, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn inspiration, nature, photographyLeave a comment

greenheron — Green Heron – Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, January 2015

“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” Henry David Thoreau

Fabulous day at Orlando Wetlands Park yesterday. Learned a lot – met some great folks. Looking forward to coming up to speed and being able to contribute. Saw many different birds that I hadn’t noticed before. Notable are the Cara Cara and vermillion flycatcher. Picture is a little fuzzy – but in person it was beautiful. I need to figure out if my shutter speed (1/500) was too slow, or auto focus failed.

caracara — Caracara with Food – Orlando Wetlands Park – February 2015

This morning’s walk will be at the UCF Arboretum – looking forward to enjoying the air.

Quote found on http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=22736

Orlando Wetlands Park

On February 14, 2015February 14, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn inspiration, nature, photographyLeave a comment

coot — Sun on My Back – An American Coot. Orlando Wetlands February 2015

“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it” – William Shakespeare

From the first day I found this park last fall, I fell in love with it. A 1500+ acre man made wetland which is used to filter water from a waste water treatment facility before flowing into the St Johns River. The wildlife and vistas are spectacular. That coot in the picture was one of thousands that were frequenting the park last weekend.

Today I begin my first day as a volunteer for Friends of Orlando Wetlands, hopefully there is work I can do that will be helpful. And for me the reward will be spending more time at the park.

Website – http://www.orlandowetlands.org/index.php?submenuheader=9

A Day with Albert Schweitzer

On February 13, 2015February 13, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn books, inspiration, nature, photography2 Comments

hawkish — Hawk on a Stick – Orlando Wetlands February 2015

“You shall draw everything and everyday” Frederick Franck from the Awakened Eye. (I, of course substitute draw with photograph.}

Just finished A Day with Albert Schweitzer – A Lambarenene Landscape by Frederick Franck. A wonderful book sprinkled with great drawings. Frederick Franck was a dentist and artist who spent several months at Albert Schweitzers’ hospital in Lambarene in 1959 and then wrote this travelogue with an honest portrait (written and drawn) of A. S. and late colonial Africa. You can see the early development of F. F.’s later Zen philosophies and love of all living things.

rwblack — Red Winged Blackbird – Orlando Wetlands February 2015

I was very happy to find this book in the library, yet sad that it had not seen the light of day since 1990. The book also bore the markings of F.T.U. which was renamed to UCF in 1978. It will be my last Frederick Franck book for a while as I have exhausted the local library resources.

Little Econlockhachee River

On February 12, 2015February 12, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn books, inspiration, nature, photography2 Comments

reflections — Along the Little Econ – May 2014

thistle — Thistle – Blanchard Park May 2014

“Every start upon an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer

These photos were taken at Blanchard Park in Eastern Orange County. Lovely park along the Little Econlockhatchee river aka Little Econ. http://www.ocfl.net/CultureParks/Parks.aspx?m=dtlvw&d=8#.VNyG23ba5BI

This river is a tributary of the Econlockhatchee River which is part of the St John’s river system. For more info see http://sjrwmd.com/middlestjohnsriver/econriver.html

Blogging201 – Goals for Moving Forward

On February 2, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn inspiration, nature, photographyLeave a comment

osprey — Osprey – Building for the Future. Taken: Canaveral Barge Canal January 2015

As I begin part 2 of my blogging education we are asked to set some goals. These are not new but are now chiseled in stone.

1) increase followers to 50 by mid year, by improving blog design, posting relevant writings and quality pictures 2) personally work towards improving photography and writing by taking seminars, workshops, and independent study – measured by comments. 3) touch someone spiritually – with the love of nature and it’s beauty, seeking new adventures, and further appreciation for what we have.

The Near Sighted Heron

On January 31, 2015February 1, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn nature, photographyLeave a comment

tricolor1 — Tri-colored Heron on Approach

Captured this sequence at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve, Such a beautiful spot probably saw 30-40 different species of birds. Got some great water bird shots. I noticed this fellow has red eyes. Hadn’t encountered that before, but did twice today.

tricolor2 — Tri-collored Heron – Slight Miscalculation

Now I’m just having fun with these 4 pics. I’m sure this all went according to the heron’s plan.

But this guy showed true determination. That post was the prime hunting spot in that particular canal.

tricolor3 — Tri-Colored Heron – Almost There

tricolor4 — Tri-colored Heron – Made It!

Lantana – A Beautiful Weed

On January 30, 2015January 30, 2015 By Picture This by FrankIn nature, photography2 Comments

I was going over some pictures from late spring last year and rediscovered my love of Lantana. This is a prolific plant considered an invasive species here in the southeast and I think in Australia too. i am not familiar with all the problems it causes but it can be found just about anywhere in central Florida.

The pictures are of the variety I love the most. There are more than 70 different species but the ones pictured here are most prolific where I live. Although I have seen the plants with all yellow flowers too.

I haven’t decided whether it is the multiple colors or shapes of the flowers that fascinate me most. Or perhaps the water resistance that causes the water to bead.

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