Monday, May 9, 2011

The Photo Bin - April 2011

April 15th:  Tax Day on the Haw

This month’s photo bin is late, not because I'd forgotten, but because I’ve struggled for images. It’s full-out spring here in the Carolinas, perhaps the most picturesque time of the year, and I've got nothin'. Many things have kept the camera in its pack – weather, a family trip north, more weather, laziness – so I’ve scrambled for content worth posting.

I even considered skipping the month, having a photo bin gap, but realized that it would set a bad precedent, making it too easy to skip it again… and again. So, instead, I sorted through my meager April catalog and picked the three presented here. They interest me for reasons other than their visual impact, obviously, so you get a short story with each. Lucky you.

The image at the top of the post is a shot of one of my favorite stretches of the Haw, and one of my favorite trees, a towering white birch from under which I have coaxed some of my best shoals largemouths. The image is softened a bit, to present a lush, hazy, warm view of that lovely stretch of water, a stones-throw away from the house. Perhaps you can see why I love it here.

April 23rd:  Who's There?

The next image is a funny little shot, taken one evening as I prepared to document the new family of bluebirds that have arrived in our back birdhouse. When reviewing the digitals a few days later, I was surprised to see that I had been watched, from within the frame, by a wary Momma, something I totally missed during the taking.

To see a series of another brood, fledged two years earlier, check out this old post, The New Bluebirds.


April 7th:  Me, My Father

The final image comes with an apology for it is a picture of, well, me, taken by my once-again guest photographer, Mary. The picture fascinates me because it’s the spitting image of my father. The shot is rough-hewn, intentionally, both in content and finish, as that speaks of him best. He was a rough-hewn kind of guy. And, as I look at the shot, I realize that my grain is beginning to show as well.

So that’s the lot and I appreciate your patience with this month's makeshift bin. Perhaps in May I’ll get back on track and give you something more interesting to look at.

Or perhaps not.

5 comments:

e.m.b. said...

I enjoyed all these views...and loved The New Bluebirds post! Reminds me that I need to get my nectar feeders up soon for my mountain hummingbirds!

"I realize that my grain is beginning to show as well" -- ah, that's the character of the wood...the shown strength. :)

Mike Sepelak said...

Thanks Erin. We put our nectar feeders up each year on tax day as the scouts begin arriving shortly thereafter. It's a joy to have them around.

Jay said...

I enjoyed this edition as much as any of the previous Photo Bins. Glad you didn't set any skipping precedents.

cofisher said...

Good job Mike! Lovely water, cute bird shot and some grumpy looking old guy. Three of my favorite subjects.

Anonymous said...

Great pic...I know what you feel Mike...people often tell me the older I get the more I look like my father
JP