A passage can be moving from one state to the next. Clouds provide us many passages, including the textures of light and moisture in the sky as well as land. I found this skyscape striking in textures, light, depth and shape.
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # IM7_9891aencbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
"Graceful Flight"
As most of you know one of my favorite subjects are birds of prey. I've studied them deeply for most of my life. This is a photograph of a Turkey Vulture in flight. I photographed this raptor at Petit Jean State Park in the winter of 2005.
What I like most about this photograph is that it represents the graceful flight of these vultures. They are masters of manuevering thermals, allowing effortless, endless flight time. These birds of prey aren't often appreciated for all the benefit they provide to nature, which among many, includes removing dead animals (carrion) before they can spread disease. Their highly acidic stomach acid allows them to eat carcasses without getting sick. They have a keen sense of smell, among the best in the bird world, and incredible vision. This species is the largest vulture in Arkansas, with a wingspan of 6-feet, standing about 30-inches tall.
One of the easiest distinguishing marks of this bird is the beautiful silver lining of the underside of the primary feathers, extending most of the length of each wing. Another mark is the red head. In flight, they are easily identifiable from their V-shaped wings in flight.
Comments welcome.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas 2005.
Photo # set4_DSC_0174hdr
"Homesteads of Madison County"
I enjoy visiting Madison County and photographing its many stories.
This is a cool home built around 1900. It's a home where Walter Elmer Starnes (1878-1943) and wife Ethel (1883-1962) lived when they married in 1901.
Huntsville, Arkansas (Madison County)
Photo # IM7_9844-51abw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
"Natural Light"
This is another from my series of this abandoned school.
Built in the 1930's, an old sofa from a later period is all that remains in this old schoolroom at Carden Bottom school. The corner of the room, near the outside doors, was the first to become victim to the weather and erosion, causing a natural skylight.
Sadly what was left of this abandoned school has burned since my photographs.
Location: Carden Bottom, Arkansas.
Photo # IMG_6332-37hdr2bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp
"Celebrating Life"
Trees are fascinating. This tree always captures my attention on my hikes. You can see it has certainly had it's challenges over it's life, yet is still celebrating life. It looks like it is twisting and reaching out at the same time. I waited for the sun to be at good place. Hope you enjoy.
Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # IM6_9482bw2.
"Two of a Kind"
Not unlike humans, trees have a unique life, each with challenges and seasons of their own. It is interesting, that trees that grow up together can yet still be so different and yet so alike. Nature has such an entertaining yet reliable symmetry.
Photo # IM6_9757-64lmbw2
If you visit a place often enough, you have opportunities to photograph special moments. This was one of those moments of patience as a storm began to clear near sunset. The light was changing dramatically fast, so I had to think how I wanted to frame the clouds and sunlight while thinking about the exposures. These are the moments I really enjoy nature photography.
Near Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas, 2008.
Photo # 8302_KS20064-76bw.
Posts
