Tag Archives: nature

And We Are Back!


It has been a while. I believe a few years. My last post was a pretty depressing one about the death of our two local National Wildlife Refuges. It was sad… It was devastating. In the years since that post, the refuge saw years of absolutely NO water! Horrible infestations of grasshoppers, no large flocks of migrating birds.


Enter Spring of 2024. Incoming water. Both on the Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge and the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
Spring was in the air. I shed a tear when I saw the water coming into both refuges.
The nesting bald eagle pair was still there through it all. Where the Egrets and Herons last had their Rookery, the Crowned Night Herons took it over, and it was an amazing year for them! Also, for the geese and ducks!


Enter 2025. A very slow start to winter. And then WHAM! On January 31st, it began to snow, and it did not stop for a solid week. We had 3.5 feet on the mountain at home and 2.5 feet at the refuges. It was interesting. It was sad… and it was an experience I am in no hurry to go through again.

Why was it interesting? Because that is a lot of snow! That is a lot of the color white! It’s heavy to shovel, and no fun to be “snowed in”. I can only imagine what the ranchers and farmers in our area were going through! Trying to get feed to the livestock. And maintain paths for them to be able to get around as well. I heard stories of our locals having issues with chicken coops collapsing under the weight of the snow and losing some of their flock.


The sad… imagine 2.5 feet of snow everywhere. What does this do for the birds that are ground nesters? The birds that rely on foraging for food, such as mice? It wasn’t pretty. Birds were flocking to the highways and byways to just find a place to rest their weary bones for the night and forage for food. Sadly, there was no food on the roads. So, the refuges actually had to put feed out for the birds. The raptors suffered greatly, not being able to hunt for their food for 10 days. I do know there were a lot of birds that starved to death. How sad is that? While the snow has been amazing for the water tables and getting us out of a drought, it was very sad to see!


Spring forward to today. The trees are waking up, the fields are getting green, and things are coming alive. Although we still have snow in the forecast, things are finally warming up!


Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge and the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge have more water than they have seen in years. We are talking full. Thankful for the water for sure. There are no natural resources to fill our refuges, so we rely on canals to get water. With the melting snow pack and abundance of water, they didn’t have to fight for water this spring. Not to say that won’t change this summer.

Tulelake Refuge had a severe outbreak of Avian Botulism last year in July, and they lost over 100k birds. It was devastating. This is what happens when a wildlife refuge can not get Fresh water. The water received in the spring of 2024 was great! Don’t get me wrong, but botulism is in the ground. A ground that had been dry for four years. And the water was being recirculated over and over and over, and what happens? Yep… disease. Something that may or may not have finally gotten the attention it deserved. I have read many articles and social media posts blaming the Refuge for this outbreak and that it was all their fault. I know the truth, as do most level-headed people. It had nothing to do with management; it had everything to do with no fresh water! Did it get political? Yes. Were hunters and farmers, and visitors affected? Of course. We can only hope it is never that bad again.

The refuge was able to, with the sole help of an organization called Bird Ally X and many volunteers, to rehabilitate successfully 958 birds. Sadly, they could not help them all. The birds they did save were released onto the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, which did not have the Avian Botulism outbreak. Why?? Better wetlands. Not all of the refuge remained dry and desolate; there was an area that had water throughout the drought. And a cleaner water source, so to speak.


Let’s get away from the sadness and spring forward to today!
Water, Water Everywhere! It is amazing and wonderful. Our migratory numbers have dropped off due to the no-water years, but the number of migrating waterfowl was still something to see. Geese, Ducks, Tundra Swans, Hawks, Cranes. Eagles. All in abundance! It is amazing to see. I am including a clip of a video of a drive along Highway 161, also known as Stateline Highway, which is the California-Oregon border. The water is abundant and so wonderful to see.


Let’s get ready for spring. The geese are paired up and nesting usually starts around St. Paddy’s Day, so in a month we should have goslings! The Grebes will be doing their mating rituals on the waters, and the ducks will be nesting in about a month!


With water, there is life! I am hoping to capture the spirit of spring this year!

Be Nice Humans
T Lynn

Highway 161 “State Line”

Can a Wildlife Refuge Become A Ghost Town?

Drought:

noun

  1. 1. a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water

And lack of snow pack in our neck of the world.

Drought is never a good thing anytime. Not good for the mountains, not good for the farmers and ranchers, not good for the wildlife and waterfowl. It is downright depressing.

In our area, we are in an extreme drought once again. However this year, this early it seems so much different than in the past since I have lived here. Maybe I am just seeing it though the lens differently.

Water is not being released to where it normally goes in the Klamath Basin. One major downfall for this, is the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. The first migratory waterfowl refuge established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. What he must have been able to see back then I bet was amazing.

My post is just a stark look at reality. Yes politics are involved in water always. It is just not something that goes away. And that is sad. What if the Refuge really doesn’t get any more water? Will that affect the migratory route along the Pacific Flyway?

The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to overwintering sites.

We know first hand what migrates through here yearly. And we know the numbers are low. Also when water is low in the winter, if there is not enough open water for the passing through birds, that brings disease. And we know what happens with that. We lose even more birds. It’s a vicious circle.

We have seen first hand this year the difference with minimal or no water.

The Bald Eagles we used to see everywhere are decreased in numbers, there are only a few places that have water on the refuge. Fortunately those places can’t be accessed by people, it is a sanctuary area for the birds. There are still a few eagles, but not the numbers we have seen in the past. Let me be clear, I am not a biologist or an expert in any means on this subject. I am only writing what I have seen. It is just so different.

The husband and I went for our weekly drive yesterday to the refuge. I went for the sole purpose of not looking for eagles and other birds, I went to take pictures of the difference between this spring and last spring. Soon there should be goslings. This year I seriously doubt we will see many or if any at all. The canals are ghost towns, with tumbleweeds laying in the mucky water.

This is not a happy canal.

This is a very happy canal!!!

It is devastating from a photographers point of view. This refuge gets hundreds of visitors, we have still seen people out and about, but they are probably wondering where the water is.

We have our favorite place to visit. Full of water and life and sounds. Beautiful bird sounds from geese, coots, wrens, blackbirds and more. I always say I am going to get there at sunrise and film the sun coming up over the water and listen to the sounds. Below are the last few years in our favorite area.

Do I dare show you what it is like now?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like it one bit.

As you drive around we have other places to see different things. When we drive to the willows road, we shoot the eagles, herons and egrets. Across from where the eagles are there is a huge area that has a ton of water and you can get an amazing video of sounds from all the birds behind you.

Across the road from the willows in 2019
Across the road from the willows in 2021.

Quite a difference eh? Can you imagine what the birds must feel as they know they were getting close to their favorite winter resting ground? They are flying around and all of a sudden their path has been disrupted.

I totally know the feeling little buddy!!!

Deep on the south end of the refuge is an amazing area that the birds like to hang out with the view of Mount Shasta in the background. What an amazing reflection in the water as they swim eat and rest.

Beautiful Mt Shasta Reflection
Although Mt Shasta is still beautiful… We have no beautiful reflection.

I think you get the picture of what I am saying. A picture is worth a thousand words. At this point, I have no more words.

We will still go to the refuge, maybe if we get some spring rain. I know you can’t control the weather and the snow pack, but on the other side, one entity holding the strings (or water valves) isn’t right. Once again that is taking you back to politics. And I don’t want those on my page.

We will savor the pictures we have, and enjoy the time we had during spring and summer and maybe this year we will find another route to take.

I don’t know how you feel about this post, but it was just something I needed to get off my chest. I am sad. I don’t like being sad.

Get out there and shoot something new this season! Enjoy the fact that spring is around the corner!!!

Happier Times!!!

Be Nice Humans

Tracy Lynn

Happy New Year 2020

Happy New Year

Wishing all of you an amazing 2020!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

Did you make any resolutions?  Do you make resolutions? Do you follow through with those resolutions?  

Me?  No.  I don’t make resolutions so to speak, but I have a conversation with myself.  I try to remember what “didn’t work” the last 365 days.  And how can I change things to make them work for the new year.  There are those times when I need to remind myself, that what I was about to say was “so last year” and remember what I told myself.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  It’s all dependent on the situation.  Being a red head, sometimes the short fuse gets lit and I don’t stop and think before I react.

 That said, I also like to attempt to learn something new every year.  Find something in photography that I would like to learn.  Right now I need to learn to slow down.  I think I have a tendency to shoot first, so to speak.  I need to slow down when I see things that aren’t going to go away.  But sometimes I am so wanting to get “That Shot” and then I get home and become very frustrated because 95% of my shots are blurry.  Then I get discouraged and want to sell everything I own.  

What I really need to do is learn from my mistakes.  I have learned that I need to slow down and take my time.

I would love to learn something new this year, but I haven’t really figured it out yet.  I am sure it will come to me sooner or later.  In the mean time I will continue to do what I love to do.  And that is, hop in the truck with my husband with my gear and meander down the road! 

We haven’t been out yet this new year, but we did go then end of December 2019.  It did not disappoint!  

While it may seem my focus is on the eagles, this is not true because there are so many different things to see.  

The hawks were by far more in numbers than the eagles.  We saw a smaller lighter colored hawk and I thought for sure it would fly away because I was not “ready”  my lens was on manual focus and it took me a bit to realize that, so I thought for sure it would fly away never to be seen again.  Nope, not this time.  I keep forgetting to put my bird book in the truck, so of course I had to figure out what it was.  I had shot one last year, so I cheated and looked through my facebook page where I had asked someone what it was.  

So this beauty is a Roughed Legged Hawk.  I just love the lighter colors and the eyes.  Thank you hawk, for standing still for minutes on end while I tried to be organized.  

Roughed Legg Hawk

Roughed Legg Hawk 02

Then of course you have your occasional coyote.  This one was a bit far away, but I was still able to capture it.  They seem to be pretty healthy this winter.

Coyote 01

Eagles, we didn’t see a whole lot of mature bald eagles this time out, mostly the juveniles.  They are still captivating.  To me anyway. I hope you enjoy them as well.  

Eagle James E

This beautiful mature bald eagle was on “his side of the truck” so the hubby gets credit for this one!!

Eagle 01

 

Juvenile Bald Eagle 01Juvenile 03

Juvenile Eagles 03

It is very interesting to see the different stages of the juvenile bald eagle.  The one on the left looks like it just got out of a mud bath!!

We are so fortunate to live where we do and experience what we see!  I enjoy every minute we are out and about regardless if we see anything or not.

Grab your camera and go shoot up the new year!

Be Happy

Be Safe

Happy Shooting

Tracy Lynn

Too Many Cookies

You can capture winter with your mobile device.

We all know from the previous blogs that living in the Southern Pacific Northwest requires seasons.  Something we really didn’t have much of in Southern California.

Some also might remember, I am not a fan of the fluffy white stuff called snow.  Well, driving in it.  I think it’s beautiful.  And it is a much needed evil for everyone!  It allows our rivers, lakes, streams, refuges, and ground water to replenish.  As of today we are above our 100%  snow pack.   For this, I give thanks!

The pictures I will post were all taken with my smart phone. To show that you can have awesome winter photographs with your phone!

Honestly it seems that winter has been 7 months long, when in reality, it only started the end of November. The first blast of winter arrived over night on November 30. Just in time for the December 1st (and the first) craft fair of the season! 12 1 01

It wasn’t really as bad as it could have been, it snowed Friday night, and the roads to work were clear on Monday morning. Just the way I prefer.

12 01 02

The day after the snow storm is one of my favorites, if the sun comes out! 12 02 01

Off and on the month of December it wasn’t as bad as previous years.  And then someone decided to start dreaming of a White Christmas and that seems to be the beginning of the long winter! We all know that January will be colder, and then February will bring much hope for spring. Maybe an early spring if the little groundhog is correct.

01 18 01                                                                January 18, 2019

Well, the rodent lied.  Making February the snowiest on record for most of the United States.  Breaking records over and over again.

02 04 01                                                          My drive on February 4, 2019

Winter at work can be challenging, meaning the drive can just really get you down. But there is an understanding to just go slow and make it to work safely.  Thanks Boss!

The cool thing about being one of the first ones at work, is you get to hear and see pretty cool things.  Many of which won’t be found in the hustle and bustle of a city.  I for one choose nature over the city.

I was walking up the sidewalk and noticed deer tracks and…. Cat Tracks.  These cat tracks were not from your house cat!  I got into work showed the boss after she got there, and she suggested I follow them to see where they came from. So I reversed the way the cat walked across the sidewalk and found that it had come from across the street. Sat down, so it could jump a 3 foot retaining wall, and most likely headed to a den to nap the chilly snowy day away, and avoid us humans.

Snow Tracks

The other nifty thing February brought us was cold.  It was freezing fog cold, which gave us some hoar frost.  So beautiful. Even if it was cold!

The day before Valentines day however was an adventure.  It was indeed a “snow day” a good day to stay at home from work.

02 13 01

02 13 02                      2/13/2019, the hubby and his pile of plowed snow. It’s  still growing.

Dearest February just did not want to let go.   On the 26th it was an adventure driving to work.  We did not have near the snow at home as we did at work.

When snow falls _signed

Yet, two days later we had a totally different view.

02 28 1

We are now into March and yes, it still keeps snowing off and on.  I prefer the days when there are just a few random snow flakes fluttering around and accumulating into nothing.  March brings hope of spring and warmer days!  This past week it warmed up enough to rain, a lot.

When I look out the window, all I still see is white and mud.  But spring is going to be here soon, I can just feel it. Or is this wishful thinking?

At time of writing this, I have layers of clothes, socks and slippers and a blanket on me, because of the cooties the hubby brought home from where ever he was.  Do I really need to get sick on my three day weekend?  I will lay low for a couple days and hope Sunday is the better day.

I have many family and friends in the other cold tundra of America.  I wish them warmth and sunshine and blooming flowers soon.

So, March, do us a favor and LET GO…  We all know, In Like a Lion  Out Like A Lamb… Please.

Stay warm and healthy!

Blessings to you all.

Tracy Lynn

03 04 01

What Does Music Look Like

Classical, New Age, Country, Classic Rock, Rock N Roll,  Gospel, Acoustic etc…  We all know what music sounds like, but what does it look like?

One of my favorite music movies to watch is August Rush.  August talks about the music “being all around us.”  This young little musical genius (my words) creates an amazing symphony all based on what you see and hear around you.  The trees blowing in the wind, the grasses moving in the wind, the water, the sky, the sounds of a city, everything.  It is a very heartfelt movie.  

So that brings me to, what does music look like?  If you know it’s all around you.  What does that awesome blue sky with the puffy white clouds sound like?  Can you imagine it?  

I love music, I have always been around it.  I can read it, play it, and sometimes sing it. (depends on who you ask) Some of my best memories are of listening to my brothers play the guitar.  I love a good old fashioned acoustic guitar.  One of my brothers could totally rock The Ventures Pipeline, while one would nail country, and my youngest older brother would make up songs, or sing The Troggs, or Bob Dylan.  I was introduced to music at a young age.  

I would sneak into my youngest older brothers room, and grab the electric guitar and strum until I had a blister on my thumb.  (insert Beatles “I Have Blisters on my Fingers” In that wonderful english accent) I still have that guitar. It belonged to two of my brothers.  Something I will always cherish! 

My sister and I would hold concerts in our bedrooms and sing to the #1 Hits of the 60’s.  I still love to listen to her sing.  

What type of symphony would you create if you could with your pictures?  Would you choose the rush of living in the city? Or would you scale it down and choose the country?  Would you create your life as living and working on a farm? We all know what that would look like!  Putting them all together, you can see what it should sound like!  At least that’s what I think.  I could write a song about Montana with my pictures, as well as Oregon, or any other place I have visited or lived.  Where would you choose to write your song with pictures?  The beach?  The mountains? Or just spending time with family?  All of them could make a wonderful song.  Try it!  

My symphony would be titled My Montana. 

I grew up on both sides of the state. The far east side in the Badlands of Montana, then in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana.  The best of both worlds in my opinion.

As a child I really didn’t appreciate it like I do now as an adult.  There were chores to do growing up, and now that we only plan “vacations” to go “home” it’s a lot different.  As an adult I haven’t been able to see as much of Montana as I would like.  I would love for hubby and I to go back and explore Western Montana.  There is so much to see, and so much I would love to share with him.

So to sum it up. Create your symphony. 

To you, I give “My Montana”

Montana 01 copy

Glndive 02 copyGlendive 01 copyBNSF copyBlack bridge copyGlendive 03 copyKONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAGusthauf copy copyMontana sky copyKONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAIntake copyPleasant view copyRosebud copyYellowstone 01 copyKONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERARiver in Missoula copyFLorence 01 copyCarolne lane copyBitterroot valley 01 copyBitterroot River copyBitterroot Valley 03 copy

Caroline Lane 02 copy

Famiy copy

As you can see, My Montana is a symphony of beauty.  One of memories of growing up in the best of both sides of the state.  I relate Montana to always being home.  No matter where I live, it always calls to me.

Find your symphony.  Perhaps you may find it in your children, your animals, your place of worship.  It’s out there.  Its up to you to create it.

Don’t be afraid to embrace the music.  It really is “all around us”

Blessings to you all.

Tracy Lynn

 

Flag in Glendive copy

Birds Of A Feather…

You know the rest of the saying!

I never ever in my life imagined I would be so “into” photographing birds.

I am NOT a “birder“.

Not all birders are bad.

Definition of birder

1: a catcher or hunter of birds especially for market
2: a person who birds

 

I have met birders.

And I do not fit into the category of a birder.   For one I am considerate of others when driving (well, hubby is).  He goes slow, as not to raise dust, he pulls over to the shoulder as far as he can without freaking me out by thinking we’re headed into the marsh,  and we will close the dang truck door if we get out so if someone does drive by, they can get past.

Okay,  now that I have gotten that out of my system, shall we continue?

I have learned things this year while roaming the Refuge.  #1, you are never ever to old to learn! It keeps the mind growing!  I had absolutely no idea that Egrets and Herons nested in trees. Why did I think they were ground nesters? Because you always see them next to the bank of water right?  Ya, not so much!  The only thing I knew was Herons are bluish-gray and Egrets are white.  I know that both are skittish as all get out, when you try to photograph them on the bank, poof, they’re in the air.  Did you know that their wingspan can be up to 5.6 feet?  Pretty cool.  Egrets also fly at 25mph.

Egrets 09

Egret 04

Egrets nest in colonies.  The male is the nest builder, he tries to attract the female, so he builds her a nest for their young. (Pretty presumptuous I think)  Hey, wanna come to my nest?  Thats an opening line if I’ve ever heard one!  Mr. Egret likes to get to the colony first so he can get the best spot.  However, they also nest with other birds. Herons and Cormorants and more.  At this location Mr. Heron was at the top of the tree, so I think Mr. Egret wasn’t the first this year.

The colony

H 01

Egrets are monogamous during the season.  It is not known if they are for life or not.

So, here is the reason of why I know these things.  Google haha…  well, hubby and I were out taking pictures, (okay I was) and we saw a Heron in the top of the tree.  So I had to partake in the moment!  When I got home I noticed a little tiny Heron head peeking out of the nest.  I was hooked.  So, that said, it became our weekend ritual!  Since we head that way every Saturday anyway, we made it a point to go through the Refuge and see what we could find to shoot.

H 04

Yep, I was totally hooked.

Back to more fun facts.  During breeding season, long feathery plumes grow from it’s back.  They are called aigrettes, which they hold up during courtship displays.  The sad thing is, they were almost pushed to extinction because people in the “olden” days, wanted the plumes.  Boo Hiss for those people. Now I know where those feathers came from on those silly looking hats!

Egreat 03

Both parents feed their young.  The babies climb out of the nest around 3 weeks old and begin to fly at 6-7 weeks. And when this happens, I will become sad, because shortly there after I will have an empty nest until next year.  I am already sad thinking about it.

Egret baby 01

My advice for you all is this; find a road along a marsh or a wetland.  Something with some tall trees perhaps.  And visit it often.  You never know what might show up.  I really enjoyed learning about these beauties this year!  And I totally loved capturing them in their natural state!

Heron Egret Babies 01

Egret 10

Egret 01

Egrets 05

Walking on water copy

Enjoy the rest of your summer!  It’s gotten to the hot part of the year on our mountain in the Southern Pacific Northwest, and I am not a fan.  However, I have many fans going in my house!

Empty Nest

 

 

 

Be Nice Humans!!

Happy Shooting

Tracy Lynn

 

 

The Ones That Got Away

When we moved to the southern pacific northwest, never did I imagine I would start photographing birds.  Then, someone gave me a bird book, and I have been learning how to identify them.  How did this happen? This just wasn’t me.  Where we lived in the high desert of Southern California, there would be ravens, pigeons, sparrows, finches, and an occasional hawk.  It was cool when the hawk would land on the tree.  But it wasn’t often.  Nothing super exciting to take pictures of.  I did the hummingbirds and the house birds, but that was simply because there wasn’t anything else to shoot at. (with the camera)

Fast forward, moving where the Pacific Flyway is.  I remember researching what it was.  I didn’t know there was such a thing. I knew birds migrated.  I remember as a kid in Montana, being outside and hearing the Canada Geese before you could see them high in the sky heading for the warmer climate!

Geese in flight 02

Such great memories!

Now here we are,  we love to do our Saturday drives on the Refuge and Sunday drives on the side roads.  You never know what you will see.

Last week we were driving the side roads and there were hundreds of White Fronted Geese in the fields and canals.  This week, no more geese.  It’s interesting how one species leaves and another comes in.

White Fronted 02

      White Fronted Geese

The last couple weeks the White Face Ibis started coming in, and this week  by the hundreds.  A very unique bird.  They are colorful in the sunshine and have a crooked beak.   They are pretty good formation flyers too!

Ibis 01

  White Faced Ibis

As you all know, I have a great love for the eagles and hawks.  I think it’s just that they are so majestic.  We are noticing less eagles and hawks this time of year.  They are hopefully sitting on their nests!  Every now and then they can be seen sitting on the power poles, or in the fields.  Hubby will stop the truck if they are on the poles, and I will sneak out (like you can sneak up on an eagle) and then I will start photographing them, inching closer and closer.  I can shoot the same bird 20-30 times, with the chance of getting close enough to get the  detail on the beaks, talons, or feathers.  And eventually they will take flight because of the annoying red-headed lady holding up something and pointing it at them.  So I smile, thank the bird (honestly I do) and happily walk back to the truck.

But not every photo turns out.  That’s just a part of learning.  Yep, I have tried flight pictures and they aren’t pretty.  I get half of something, or the whole thing is blurry.  I am still trying to be more patient with the in flight birds.

All that said,I wanted to share with you, the get aways….  Yes they are blurry and I am not ashamed to share that with you!  It happens to all of us!  Some more than others I am sure.  Ducks 01

Ducks 02

Ducks are one of the flightiest birds I have seen.  They must still be shell shocked from hunting season.

Egret 01

Heron 01

Blue Herons and White Egrets aren’t easy either.  They can be so still, and as soon as you get up on them whoosh….  they’re gone!

Hawk 02

     Hawks are fun.  They keep me on my toes.

hawk 04

   At least the feet are in focus!

Eagle 06

   Hello Majestic Eagle

Eagle 01

    Good bye Majestic Eagle

Eagle 05

Not quite sure what this was. I think it was an eagle. but its a nice foot and wing!

eagle 03

This is by far, the stuff that bad dreams are made of!  Kind of eerie if you ask me!!!

While you are viewing these photos, you are wondering… WHY do I keep these blurry photos?  Well, of course to share with all of you!  I guess maybe someday I will go through the files and delete them.  Or Not.  What if I need that perfect get away blurry shot?  Well, it could happen!

Enjoy your day!  Go outside and enjoy spring!  Shoot some pictures, try new things and don’t be afraid of the blurry ones!  I’m not!

Happy Shooting

T Lynn

The Ends

High Dynamic Range – HDR

According to Wikipedia, “HDR is a technique used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques.  The aim is to present a similar range of luminance to be experienced through the human visual system.  

HDR images can represent a greater range of luminance levels that can be achieved using more traditional methods such as real-world scenes containing very bright, direct sunlight to extreme shade.  This is often achieved by capturing and combining several different exposures of the same subject matter.”  

In my lesser technical world,  HDR can be shot using 3 pictures on up to however many you decide.  My cameras will allow me to shoot 3 shot HDR photos.

The series is this; one at normal settings, one at a step up to capture the highlights, and one a step down to capture the shadows.  You are shooting the same photo composition 3 times.  It may sound silly, but sometimes you can get more depth, or feeling in a photo that has more shadows or detail.  IMG_5813

Normal Photo

IMG_5814

1 Stop down to capture the shadows

IMG_5815

1 Stop up to capture the light

 

Photomatix

Three shot HDR, processed using Photomatix

Aurora HDR copy

Three shot HDR, processed using Aurora HDR

Yes, you need specific software to “merge” or “layer” your images.  I use mostly a software called Photomatix.  When I first discovered it, I had a fun time learning.  Yes some of the photos were a bit over processed, but it was still fun. You can indeed take one photo (instead of 3) and run it thought the gauntlet so to speak, and make it a new image to you.  This is a photo you may have taken 10 years ago!  It’s all about learning and trying new things for your old photos, and of course your current photos.

I use two programs.  Photomatix, as stated above and Aurora HDR.  I am still learning the Aurora HDR, and I find it a bit qwerky, but I guess it’s all in the learning process.  Photomatix was my first, and I do believe it was one of the first HDR programs.  Used by many photographers,  the Aurora HDR was created by an amazing photographer Trey Ratcliff, who I learned alot from watching his Photomatix video tutorials.  I think (but don’t quote me)  Aurora HDR was first created strictly for Mac computers.

How did I get into the world of HDR?  I used to be big into digital scrapbooking, and one of the guru’s that made all kinds of neat things for that hobby, was also a photographer.  He did some awesome amazing HDR of Montana, close to where I lived in Western Montana.  I followed his processes, and bought a few books.  Then I discovered Trey and took a course of his and thats how I got hooked.

There is something in HDR that is called “Ghosting” and sometimes this gets the best of me.  If you are like me and take mostly hand held photos, there is going to be some movement.

When you take the three picture HDR, there are great chances if you are not using a tripod, you will have movement.  So when your pictures are merging they also need to line up.  So if they don’t line up properly, you get “ghost” effects on your photos, it can be pretty ugly, and no amount of adjustments, will take away the failed photo merge. I know this because I have given up on trying to merge the three photo set numerous times.

I do not claim, nor will I ever claim to be an expert on HDR photography and processing. Because once you claim you are an expert, you quit learning.  I learn something new every time I process photos.  Once I really like the outcome of the HDR process, its time to step into the studio so to speak, I will remove any unsightly power lines, or spots that are on my sensor that come through. I will also remove signs, if I find them annoying.  The bottom line digital footprint is still there, but I am merely enhancing my photo.  It’s not for everyone!  And I don’t do it to all my photos.  Most of what I post online are “SOOC”  Straight Out of the Camera.

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3 Photo HDR

In this final photograph, I removed most of the power lines, removed buckets and trash, and cleaned up any other distracting objects that I felt were not beneficial to the photo. As a side note, this particular photo I entered into the local county fair in the Digital Manipulation category, and I am happy and proud to say, that it took Best of Show!  I was/am a very happy girl!

You can indeed as stated above, turn a one photo shot, into an HDR, similar photo.  I have done it many times just to give it a “pop”.

I have friends and family that don’t like the “digital manipulation” and that’s OK!  They’re entitled to like what they like.  They like the real stuff.  So do I, but sometimes a photo straight out of the camera just needs a punch of something.

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The world of HDR isn’t just for color photos either!!!!  While you process them the same, they can really make a Black and White Photo really pop as well.

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3 Photo  HDR Black and White

If you notice the signature in the above black and white, it is my husbands signature, with my camera of course.  He loves to shoot in HDR but refuses to learn the processing part.  That’s okay.  I give him credit, but the photo belongs to Tracy Lynn Hart Photography.  In case you are wondering why he was taking these,  I have a fear of all things ticks.  AND…  this was a field, in eastern Montana, with tall weeds, so I refused to go beyond the gravel road.  He was the one that took the shots for me!  Good job honey! You had a great teacher!!!

While HDR seems to be used in mostly landscape photography, I sometimes play around and use it for flowers, still life, and whatever else I think might work. If it works great, if not, there is that lovely delete key that will move the stuff to my trash can!

My advice to anyone wanting to try HDR. DO IT! You can download free trials of the programs, that is what I did in the beginning. You will need to learn your camera settings. Most DSLR’s have a custom setting where you can program it to take the 3 shots. Or however many your camera will take.  Read your manual, google it, find out how to make it work for you.

Experiment! It’s all about finding what you as a photographer like!

Alot of your cell phones now have an HDR feature, I know mine does, and I think it works okay, but it’s not what I am used to.

I spend hours in the studio, mostly when the weather is bad or early in the morning.  I would rather be outside taking photos or just being outside, instead of being cooped up inside.
It’s all a learning process and curve. I feel fortunate to have done as well as I have with my HDR processes.  I have done alot of research, watched videos, and took a course online.  I refuse to put alot of money into something that I don’t know if I will like. That is why the trial versions of the programs are a huge help!

Try something different! Be brave! Step out of that box!!!

Most of all, Enjoy!

Be Happy!

 

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Abandoned Homestead in Eastern Montana along Highway 200

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Abandoned Homestead in Eastern Montana along Highway 200

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Historic Hotel Meade, Bannack Montana

 

Happy Shooting!

Tracy Lynn

 

12 Months 12 Photos

Season’s Greetings to you all!  I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and I wish the best for you in the coming year!

The 12th month of 2017 is nearing its end.  So hard to believe another year has gone.

What were your favorite parts of 2017?  Did you accomplish all that you set out to?  As for me, I don’t make resolutions.  Mainly because I don’t want to set myself up for failure, so to speak.  I don’t want to tell everyone my resolutions and then come February 1st I get asked about my resolutions.  I don’t need that stress! (ha) So I merely make a mental list of things I would like to accomplish in the new year.  Some I do, some I don’t.

One thing I do though, is take more pictures than the previous year.  Not sure my computer is happy with that.  Guess that is why there are two external hard drives attached plus a reliable back up system.  I am trying to teach myself that it’s okay to delete a photo that didn’t work!  It’s not an easy task!  Baby steps I guess!

I decided this month to share with you 12 months of  iPhone pictures.  I almost always have my phone with me, because you just never know when you might need it.  Besides, what if I saw someone famous and no one would believe me if I wasn’t able to get a picture right?   Doubtful there would be anyone famous where I live, but hey, one can dream!

01 Jan                                             This is January.  January wasn’t very nice.

January brought about one heck of a snow storm. I think we had more than one good storm, but this one was volumes.  We even got a snow day from work.  For which I was thankful.  I don’t remember when I last experienced the joy of a heavy snow fall like this. I am thinking 1982 or 83 in Eastern Montana.  Either way, once the skies cleared, and we were able to make paths outside, it was beautiful to photograph!  May as well turn it into a photographic event!

02 Feb                                            Something new for me to learn in February

With the first experience of seeing the bald eagles up close this year, hubby and I decided it was time for that new lens.  I was ecstatic!  I still am!  But it’s been a learning curve.  It is an amazing lens.  One that only lets you shoot manual focus if you put the doubler on it.  I learned two important things.  I need to practice patience, and I needed an eye exam.  I am still working on the patience! There are still things to learn and I need to sit down and read about the lens and let it teach me.  I’ll get back to you on that!  I am learning little things.  I know that between my lens and my camera it weighs over 10 pounds and walking over a mile hurts my arms!  And I am learning the tripod is my new best friend.

03 Mar copy                                                       A hope for spring in March!

I did’t know there was such a thing as miniature daffodils, but there is. Either that, or my soil is bad enough that they decide to stay small.  March brought about hopes of spring and warmer days.  The new beginnings after a long cold winter.  Flowers, birds, deer, bugs, all those things you love about spring.  Searching for warmer days and nights!

 

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April kind of reminded us that March was only kidding.  We had various snow storms through out April.  Winter just did not want to go away.  It actually started to get a little old.  However on the plus side, some of the spring flowers looked quite nice with snow capped buds.  But by the end of April, we were out of the snow zone.

 

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May brought about new hopes of a nice calm spring, green grass and new planters. One thing I love to do is get my hands dirty with flowers and plants.  I have learned that things don’t bloom as early on the mountain as they do on the lower lands.  The first year we moved up here, I was reminded that it still freezes at the end of April and those pretty geraniums you bought for the back deck? Ya, they would die… I should have really remembered that from growing up in Western Montana. But I didn’t.  And now I think it’s more fun to plant the seeds than it is to buy the flowers. Unless of course, it’s a basket full of petunias!  Our spring lasted maybe 3 weeks before the heat of summer began to creep in and steal the season!

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Hello June, hello summer.  Hello summer skies.  June was beautiful.  The thunderstorms, the rainbows, the beautiful clouds.  Time to plan the rest of the summer.  Plan a vacation, go fishing, take a road trip.  Of which we did one of those.  We planned our vacation.  Most of my cloud scenes were again, taken while driving to and from work.  I really need to take the good camera with me more often.  Guess I would also need to leave for work earlier and plan to get home later!  There are just so many cool things to shoot most days. From calves to birds to clouds!  The sky is literally the limit!

07 Jul copy                                                               My Montana Sky!

July brought us home.  Vacation from here to South Dakota and back.  Time to see family and friends.  Hubby and I hadn’t been on a vacation since 2013.  It was time.  We did a lot of miles in a short time and realized we didn’t give ourselves enough time to decompress after each travel day.  We were going all the time.  We were able to see a few things we wanted, but mostly we were just on the go to our next destination.  There were still many pictures taken.  Not all were out of the front windshield like the above one was!

 

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August brought about the hint that fall wasn’t  far behind.  I had some amazing sunrises on the way to work.  I wasn’t even late!  We enjoyed what summer has to bring us on the mountain.  Long evenings on the deck, BBQ’s in the front yard,  watching the baby deer run around.  And enjoying those seeds I planted that bloomed into pretty summer flowers!

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September was a busy Monarch Butterfly time at work.   We had a late start to our season this year, by about a full month. The weather wasn’t cooperating at all this spring.  Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a lot of butterfly pictures with the big camera.  Mainly because I was at work and we were moving caterpillars, and chrysalis, and observing our butterfly season.  I do love this majestic Monarch.  And we are doing our little part to help them along.  Incidentally this is a male Monarch.  And if I remember right, the day this was taken, was his birthday.

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October brought us fall, the end of our butterfly season at work, and our first snow.  At work we were able to enjoy nice fall day walks.  The days were warm enough you didn’t need  a sweater.  The deer were abundant and the way they were always bunched up you would think they really did know something we didn’t.  Like snow was on the way.   Walking at work is always a plus anyway, and the phone is most always with me.  These deer were enjoying the shade of the warm day. They didn’t want to move along to fast either!  So we slowed down and enjoyed them.

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November brought us more snow and cold weather, and awesome sunsets and sunrises.  I will admit, I was later than normal getting home a few days.  This stretch of road I travel is a straight 7 miles of agriculture fields.  Potatoes, alfalfa, wheat, and I don’t know what else they plant.  But after the harvest, the fields are flooded and the migrating water fowl start enjoying the seeds and water.  This was one of the last fields that hadn’t iced over yet.  Tundra Swan, Canada Geese and lots of ducks I couldn’t identify were taking in the last rays of Gods light!  The skies were changing so fast I couldn’t keep up.  I did safely pull over the truck to take the pictures.  If you call stopping in the middle of the road safe.  I made sure no one was around.  Remember I don’t live in a city!  Traffic is sparse on this road!

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December is always a busy month for most.  The hustle and bustle of the holidays, getting together with family and friends, and a shopping day with a friend.

Last year I had done a few craft fairs and sold mostly ornaments, centerpieces and my photo coasters.  This year I focused on my photography.  I was pleased with the success.  I met many wonderful people and heard a lot of encouraging words about my work.  I was happy.  I am still happy.  I have a great cheering section. My husband and my co-worker, who did the craft fair as well.  Between the two of them I branched out.  The greeting cards were a good fit.  My coasters sold faster than I thought, and we’ve come up with some ideas for next year.  I can’t wait to get started.  But first I must clean up all my messes from the garage so the husband can have his work bench back.  I hear rumblings.

My thoughts about next year for you.  Take pictures.  And at the end of each month, pick your favorites.  Print them out or put them in a special folder on your computer or tablet.  At the end of the year you will have a wonderful re-cap of your year.  There are so many affordable sources for photo books and memory type books that you could print a nice book out for yourself!  Of all those favorite photos, pick 12 and make a calendar for the next year!!!

Enjoy every day.  Capture it on your camera.  Don’t be upset that every picture doesn’t turn out.  And delete the bad ones!  (A note to myself)

There is something to take a picture of every day.  I would love to do a photo challenge but I am not sure I would post every day. (Just being honest)  Step out of the box!  Learn something new!

Do what makes you Happy!!

Blessings to you all in the coming new year!

Happy Shooting

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The View From Above

The last month and a half, our skies have been filled with smoke from too many forest fires.  The smoke on some days was so thick you couldn’t see down the road.  While it made for some unique sunrises and sunsets, and a few good pictures, it was sad.

The last couple weeks we’ve been feeling “fall” in the air.  This past week it was really starting to feel like fall with the change of the weather, our first freeze warnings, and a little bit of rain.

The blessing in the change of the seasons was in the higher country in the form of snow.  In my home state of Montana, they have lost over 1 million acres of beautiful forest land to forest fires.  I will not get into my opinion of why, because this is a happy blog.  They said the only thing that could help Montana put out the fires was snow.  Glorious snow.  We also got the snow in Oregon and rain in Washington state to help with the fires.

At work this past week, the clouds were just beautiful.  And we all know how I love clouds!  I thought it was a good thing I didn’t have my camera at work because I would want to be outside capturing the beauty.  So I waited.

Friday morning (my day off) the Hubby and I went into town for breakfast and it was awesome to see white puffy clouds and clear blue skies. No smoke on the horizon.  We did some shopping and while we were in the stores, we came out and our puffy white clouds were gone and our skies were filled with white and gray clouds.   I think they were calling to me.  So we drove home to grab the cameras and go above it all.

To the top of a mountain called “Hamaker”

“1958-1979 A Cold War Air Force Radar Station was first established in Keno, Klamath County Oregon.  Named Keno Air Station”

To me, the above sentence is merely a “golf ball” on the top of Hamaker that we can see from our house.  But, there is history up on that mountain top.

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Keno Air Force Station.  Established in 1958 and became operational in September 1958, manned by the 827th AC&W Squadron.  The station initially had both a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and early warning mission.  The early warning mission involved tracking and identifying all aircraft entering their airspace while the GCI mission involved guiding Air Force Interceptors to any identified enemy aircraft.  Controllers at the station vectored fighter aircraft at the correct course and speed to intercept enemy aircraft using vice commands via ground-to-air radio.

I could go on about the logistics and big words I didn’t understand in the article, but it is pretty interesting.  You can find more information here:

http://www.fortwiki.com/Keno_Air_force_Station

My story is this… It was a beautiful day in the Basin and the clouds were abundant and we were going to the top of that mounting to get some fresh air and beautiful views, and hopefully some pictures too.

It’s about and 8.5 mile drive to the top which is about 6500 feet. Don’t quote me on that, I was looking at the GPS on my phone.

We had been up here before when we first moved to the area.  I know it gets a lot of snow.  Hubby decided one day in March, to go on an adventure and travel to the top.  I am extremely glad I wasn’t with him. The last mile or so isn’t maintained.  It’s bad enough without the snow.

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He made it back slowly to tell about it!

Once on top of Hamaker, you can look to the northwest and see Mt. McLoughlin, which you can also see from Medford on the other side of the Cascades.

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You look out to the north, you see the Klamath Basin, farmland, Klamath Lake, Klamath River, and points beyond.  I truly love it up here.  Except it was 43 degrees and a light breeze.  Once the breeze quit, it was quite nice!

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There is one thing for sure, that you can’t deny.  It is beautiful here every season.  (except fire season)

My advice is this;

If it’s the beginning of fall where you are, put on that hoodie or flannel shirt, pack the camera, maybe a picnic lunch, and go find your view from the top!  You won’t be sorry.  If it’s not feeling like fall, wait a couple weeks!  It might skip fall and go right into winter.  I say this because it almost always gets really cold or snows before Halloween!

Enjoy fall.  Enjoy the Pumpkin Spice everything.  Enjoy life.

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Happy Shooting

Tracy Lynn