Tag Archives: rain

the closer you look…..

We had another gentle soaking rainstorm so things are getting greener and greener! Moss is especially interesting to check out when it’s actively growing and I spotted some beautiful specimens on a hike today. I tried my best to get an even closer look but it was on a steep crevice with crumbing rock so I didn’t risk it. However, I sure wish I had! When I zoomed in on the closest version, I saw a little green and almost transparent caterpillar!

Close

Closer

Little Glow Worm?

(REI presentation went very well, in case you wondered 🙂 )

dealing with excess water

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Before implementing my new landscaping skills, rain water would collect on one side of the house because the grading wasn’t done correctly. My solution was to create a large mound close to the house which would direct water away and then dig a long trench about two feet deep and fill it with medium sized rocks and then smaller rocks on top. The small rocks fell in all the spaces resulting in a nice path for walking. It’s working really well so far so I’m patting myself on my back. Thank you Landscaping School 🙂

landscaping

Storm update: Tornado warnings last night! Talk about rare! We made it through the night with only one tree half way down but two possible tornadoes touched down in the Valley….about 10 miles from our house. It picked up one of the tents at a popular car auction held every year at this time. Lots of car owners crying over losing million and multimillion dollar collector cars 🙁

splish splash

Rain…finally! Like the rest of the West, we’re experiencing several storms this week….one after the other. Our strongest will have high winds and is due tonight. Love the rain but the winds barreling down through the mountains around us will almost always overturn trees. I tied down all my new trees when I planted them so I think they’ll be OK.

rain splashes

Tech info: Rain splashing on my patio captured hand held through a window. Canon 7D, Canon 70-200 (non IS) at 200mm. ISO 800, 1/180th sec at f5/6. Nik and Topaz filters added to accentuate the splash.

rainy day fun

A couple of fun hours of shooting in Arches before the rain started. Afternoon in the RV enjoying
the sound of the rain and editing images. (With this connection, though, I’ll share later.)
Cloe (no H) had fun trying to figure out where the water was coming from and trying to catch it 🙂

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(captured with Lensbaby)

seeing in the rain

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It is 65 degrees at the moment and soft gentle rain has been falling steadily all night. Perfect rain because it’s not hard enough to make the washes flow but just the right kind to give the ground a good soaking.
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As I was enjoying the rain and thinking about posting a photo, I saw the reflection of the Ocotillo in the slate tiles and then the little ripples and the splashes. Here’s what I saw:

Ocotillo reflection
Ocotillo reflection

splashes
splashes

ripples
ripples

One of the very first things I learned as a photographer but something I don’t always do, is to spend LOTS of time with a subject that interests you. Try to shoot it from every possible angle, with every focal length (wide to macro) because as you’re doing that, you are bound to be inspired to see all the possibilities! A friend of mine, Carol Leigh, teaches an online photo class called Parts is Parts, in which she asks you to choose one subject and then shoot 10 photos of it. The assignment is that they must all be different. What a great way to practice “seeing”! I highly recommend any of Carol’s classes. They are 6 weeks long, inexpensive and you can participate no matter where you are. All you need is a camera and access to a computer.

weather vs geology hike

Only a small group took a chance that we might get to enjoy MSC steward Dan Gruber’s excellent geology hike but it was not to be 🙁

This shot shows why photographers love inclement weather.
This shot shows why photographers love inclement weather.

One mile in and we feel rain beginning. Should we go or not?
One mile in and we feel rain beginning. Should we go or not?

We opt to return. Dan gives a short geology lesson first.
We opt to return. Dan gives a short geology lesson first.

Heading back with conversations of a late breakfast :-)
Heading back with conversations of a late breakfast 🙂