Little guys and little inspiration

This spring has been weird. At least for me, photography-wise. I haven’t been shooting much and that’s different from most other years. Maybe it’s because we had such a blah winter of non-winteryness, but I just couldn’t make myself be interested in spring ephemerals this year other than being happy to see them when they arrived. Oh sure, I took a few shots, but nothing great and that’s probably because it was a half-hearted attempt. Like this –

Yeah. I’ve done better, but honestly I’ve let it go. Actually it’s been a long process of not blaming myself for not doing photography. We all get like that with our hobbies and passions and I’ve written about it before. Being “on” and firing on all cylinders with regard to creative outlets has a cycle of ebb and flow and that’s totally normal and natural. This spring has been an ebb time for me with photography. Even out on the water in the kayak at a favorite place didn’t result in any great photos.

That little Eastern Kingbird on her nest is the ONE shot I processed from a 5-hour paddle. One. And it’s ok. I had a great time on the water as I always do at Nixon Creek and that was enough. I think some of it is because if it’s a repeat visit, I don’t want to take the same photos and if the light isn’t great, I don’t even bother. In less-than-favorable conditions, I don’t want to take worse photos just for the sake of doing it. Plus no herons came to give me such great poses. There were swans, and one gently and politely drove me from their territory, but the light was so harsh that even underexposing by a stop or so left the whites without much detail, so the shots aren’t something to be proud of. Watching them though was a treat. There were three adults and no cygnets to be seen. Not sure what their relationship was, but I suspect an adult breeding pair and last year’s kid. A little family that maybe didn’t grow this year due to predation or some other problem, but I hope new cygnets were just hiding and keeping cool in the shade. Still, it was a nice moment and I’m glad I had it. All alone on the water without a single other human presence, either in my sight or hearing. What’s not to love about that?

Another thing that has kept me less-than-enthusiastic about being outside is the overwhelming hoards of mosquitos this year. It’s been so wet and without a harsh winter to kill them off as larvae, the swarms of them are unbearable. Even coated in Deet and wearing layers doesn’t keep them from buzzing around you in a maddening cloud. On the deck we usually have one ThermaCell gasser to keep them away, but this year we needed two. Here are a couple of critters who came calling –

That critter is very flat and is in the Crab spider family – smallish at about 1/2 inch with the legs. This beetle is about the same size and is part of the Click beetle family (there’s another further down, different type that I couldn’t ID). Both of these are 2-image blends.

So when I do get out into the yard, it’s mostly miserable and I don’t stay long. But a few little critters popped up and my instinct to shoot is still there, so –

Another reason I haven’t been out in the yard much is that the dock isn’t in. That will change in mid-June with the arrival of a new one, but the old one is still in piles and so the refuge of being away from the shoreline just isn’t an option. I missed the dragonfly hatch and some of the joy of early mornings out there with a cup of coffee. Hopefully I can enjoy the new one soon (delivery scheduled for June 17). It should be MUCH easier to put in and take out so maybe we can leave it in a bit longer this year. Usually it comes out when the water temps dip back to winter levels since my husband has to be in the river to get the floats out from under the frame, and even with chest waders, it’s cold.

So more Norway next time and I did get out for another paddle and went back to shooting more landscapes now that I’ve dialed in my two-body technique. Yay!