Glo's Glimpses

Its A New Year with New Goals.

2012-01-22T08:54:00.000-06:00

I have been working on a 365 Day Challenge for 2012. I am hoping to take and process atleast one photo a day for this entire year. Once a month or so I will share a few of those photos on here. Here are a few from January. As always you can click to see a larger view.

Fishing at Lock and Dam 14

I think this is the year round pair at Sunset Marina

One of my fun squirrels waiting for me to throw out some nuts.

My Love Bug

Dex and his favorite toy

The other thing I am hoping to do in 2012 is photograph more of the cherished pets of others in my community. Here is a collage I have made for my Vets Office. I know for the most part it will spread slowly by word of mouth, and I still need much of my time for my own "Best Buddy" The pets I photographed last year brought a smile to my heart and the hearts of those who love them as well. Its a good thing indeed :-).

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T09:56:00.001-06:00

This free digital greeting created with Smilebox

Associated Press Fun Times

2011-11-28T09:56:00.001-06:00

The API post from the double Bald eagle Release was indeed fun BUT I don't want it automatically kicking in everytime someone loads the page so I have deleted the video. I hope most of you did get to see it. I shall never forget the releases or the opportunity to have a photo included with the API presentation from the event. I found information from a friend who also saw the newspaper article in a newspaper from the Arab Times. Click here for photo and article Newspaper article.OK so on to new and exciting things in Photography :-)

Double Bald Eagle Release

2011-11-18T11:07:00.001-06:00

Nov 12, 2011 I was able to watch a double bald eagle release at Starved Rock State Park. Its been 6 days now since their release. I surely hope and pray that both Juvies have found a source of food, each other and some other Bald eagles to teach them the ropes of survival, as these 2 fell 85 feet when their nest was toppled in a storm late last spring. They were raised and cared for by Flint Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. One of the really best parts of seeing a release is when you are able to share it with loved ones. I got to do just that.

Here is a slideshow of the play by play of the action as we watched it unfold.

November Happenings 1

2011-11-03T21:48:00.000-05:00

Wow its actually been a very busy month since my last blog. I have done some pet photos, family photos and some engagement photos. As you can see I also upgraded my template for Glo's Glimpses. I am not sure if I like it or not but for now well "It is what it is".Tonight was camera club. Its one of the best days of the month for me as I get out of the house and around friends who enjoy spending time with photography. Its always time well spent. I entered 3 photos but only 2 of them actually were seen by judges tonight. The other one well it will be shown next month instead. It made it into the wrong folder. That happens occasionally. its a huge club and continues to grow. Here are the 2 photos which were scored.

The woodpecker scored about average in the nature division; . Which is fine. AND The Kitty Cat actually was high score tonight for pictoral division, and considering there were a good 40 or so entries it did very well. It was also 2nd high score overall for all photos entered in competition tonight and there were a total of like 75. My last entry would have gone into the Creative division and was from a very old historic cemetery, Here is the photo. I won't know about its score though until next month.

.ITS NOVEMBER. We are only a few weeks away from my favorite time of the year for photography. I do plan to share some of the other photos I have been working on in October, so watch for another Glo's Glimpses in the next week or so. I also have another Pet session scheduled in a couple of weeks. I love spending time capturing those special critters that add so much to the families to which they belong.

Yeah Its October

2011-09-29T10:56:00.005-05:00

The trees are starting to turn their beautiful Fall colors. The temps have cooled, but its not at all cold. And in 1 week our Camera Club will hold its first competition of this year. I am sharing the three photos I have entered. It was a busy summer with lots of opportunities to use my camera. I hope you and Camera Club Judges like my choices. I also spent some time photographing one of my friends pets. The cats eyes are from one of hers. I may share some other photos from that shoot in time.

Summer happenings at the Parks and Marina

2011-09-02T20:30:00.003-05:00

The Feature photo is from my Camera Club summer challenge. My challenge was to share a photo I took over the summer with the subject of humor. Most of you will recognize both Dexter and Holly. I have seen Holly maybe 3 times this summer. She does look somewhat more frail but owner says she is overall still doing well. I did happen to have my camera in the car when I saw them one June morning at the Marina. I had not taken any pictures of them in their strollers together so I seized the moment :-). The club did indeed seem to find humor and pleasure in these two enjoying each other after their strolls.

PLEASE take time to open the slideshow to fullscreen. This is the first time I have had access to this lens and I would love you to see what I was able to do on a mornings adventure with this lens. The slideshow can be paused and forwarded as any other photo show can be on the web.

I rented a macro lens to enjoy some of life a little closer up. Here are some photos from that week taken mostly at 2 different local parks. The deer was like 1 minute form my home. I had the wrong lens on the camera BUT had to grab the moment so that is what I got as it scurried away as I slowed to take the picture.

National Dogs Day

2011-08-26T14:33:00.001-05:00

Time to celebrate my Dog Dexter at one of his very favorite places Sunset Marina

I know He Watches Me

2011-08-05T15:50:00.007-05:00

Phew its been a long hot humid kind of summer for many of us. Here is some of how I spent July. HINT there is music for the movie :-)

Finally come August the heat and humidity have broken a little. Dex and I have gotten to the Marina a couple of times. I met a very nice lady who agreed to snap a photo of Dex and I together at one of our favorite rest spots

As we walked back to the car another site sort of just captured my heart so I stopped to capture the photo. I call it A Swing Full of Memories

Quad Cities Senior olympics 2011

2011-07-09T16:30:00.004-05:00

Feature Photo is from a visit by The Blue Angels. LOL I guess you already knew that :-)

The last weekend in June I thoroughly enjoyed photographing the Quad cities Senior Olympics. Here are several photos from that event. These folks taught me several valuable life lessons. I am blessed to have been able to do much of their photography.

Oh and I Love my Volunteer shirt too!

Just enjoying my yard

2011-06-17T18:15:00.001-05:00

FEATURE PHOTO represents my goal for the summer: Trying to get that Hummingbird photo. We have so little sunshine that in addition to their speed, light is such an issue even trying to get a decent photo. I will keep trying LOL

I hope you will enjoy the slideshow from in and around my backyard area.

CICCA Results and other glimpses too :-)

2011-06-04T16:12:00.019-05:00

New Feature Photo

Well I have Photoshop Elements 9 now and I have been playing a little. It has this Out of Bounds feature: so I took the photo where this eagle about made my eyes pop out as he flew right at me in 2009, and I ducked ;-); and made it my first Out of Bounds project. I NEED practice. But it was fun.

CICCA Central Illinois Camera Club Association results are in. I want to thank all those both here on Glo's Glimpses and on facebook who help me narrow down the choices of entries throughout the year. You are my eyes beyond the lens. I snap away and delete away and then I still need that other persons perspective on the photos that speak to them etc. There are hundreds of entries. Our club entered over 200 photos itself. CICCA is 14 or 15 clubs throughout the state. The judges award the top 30% of photos with ACCEPTED which gets a ribbon and moves up to Honors competition level. 6 of my photos made the cut and 3 went on to receive honors ribbons

Although CICCA does have a creative category for things such as my new feature photo experiment above, I did not enter any photos into that category. I really have very little software knowledge so the ribbons are NOT about photoshop skills of any kind. Next year though I might try something creative. We'll see how much practice I get LOL

Click to Enlarge all photos

HONORS RIBBONS

ACCEPTED

In other news I did happen to get a photo published as Photo of the Week in our local paper. I had seen a duck at a local Garden Center sitting under shrubs obviously an expectant Mom :-) Here is a link to that photo.

One other photo I want to share is a Hummingbird who appears to be building a nest and carrying some material home.

Mississippi Flood 2011

2011-04-25T12:11:00.009-05:00

All photos enlarge when clicked on

Dex and I miss our walks at the Marina. We should be able to go back in a couple of weeks I hope

In next photo the water has risen too far to drive in front of Overlook area BUT you can still see there is some sort of walk are or road surface. It was closed to car and foot traffic by this time.

No place to walk, drive or safely boat. BUT the water fowl were loving it. Plenty of fishing in the river and all through the park too :-)

Mid April 2011

2011-04-20T22:46:00.005-05:00

Before going to John Deer Administration area Dex and I spent some time playing at a new dog park. He so loves his time there

The feature photo is from John Deer Administration building. We had beautiful spring weather for a while last week so I got out with my camera. Except for the 2 eagle photos and the flooding Marina: all photos were taken at John Deer.

The deer snuck up on me. I was lucky to get any shot of them at all.

March 29

2011-03-30T18:07:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning I decided to try to find a new eagle's nest being webcamed out to all to see. It is located about 15 mins from my house. My timing was actually good as the utility company was there and I was able to get through a gate that is not normally open for public access. I only went in far enough to get a couple of quick shots of the nest, but did not get close at all to the nest tree. I did manage to see both adults. One on the nest and the other overseeing me and the nest area on a tree diagonal to the nest site. I am actually glad they are restricting public access to this nest as there is a road very close to the base of the tree and curiosity of lots of humans would I am afraid cause these eagles to rethink their nest site. They are in a very infrequently used part of a large facility here in the Quad Cities. This should keep them relatively secluded and able to raise their 2 eaglets in peace. It won't however lead to lots of photos from me of this nest sight. You can enjoy them online though here if you choose.

Here are the photos I did get.

After leaving the nest area I decided to go up to the Lock and Dam where I always enjoy photographing the eagles in winter to see what effect the spring thaw was having on river levels at the dam. The water is high and rising but the thing that most caught my eye during this Spring thaw/flood time was the icicles forming on the tree limbs that were now being frequently splashed with the rising water. LOL Silly weather indeed.

Norfolk Hatch March 12 and 13 2011

2011-03-13T16:47:00.005-05:00

Since I have been recuperation from a good sized cold the last several days and our weather is pretty cold for this time o f year, I used my down time to enjoy one of my favorite eagle cams and tape some of the great events involved in the hatch and first feeding of an eaglet.

I hope you will enjoy something we would never actually be able to see without such awesome technology.

Special People Times and Places

2011-03-05T16:53:00.006-06:00

The featured photo was the highest scoring entry at Camera Club last Thurs night. If you were one who encouraged me to enter it I certainly want to say thank you so very much.
I also entered the 2 above which also scored pretty well. You can click to enlarge both of them if you like.

The movie below is pretty much just Me and a Glimpse of the Loves of My Life: atleast from age 21 forward:-). So even if you don't see yourself in a photo, if we have shared time together enjoying any of these places in person or online then you are a part of this video indeed. Those who know me well will recognize many BUT NOT ALL of the photos. 98% of the photos were taken by me. A very small portion were shared with me. All the photos are loved by me :-). So if this is your First Glimpse I hope you can enjoy the photography. If this is another visit to catch a "Glimpse' I am so very glad you stop by.

Help me choose

2011-02-25T06:31:00.003-06:00

Its Camera Club Time once again. I need some help deciding which photos to enter.

The photos are in alphabetical order. So you can just give the letter of the 3 you like best. Think Which 3 would I consider hanging on my wall. You can count and give me the number of the photos too if you prefer. Make slide show fullscreen and then pause it, and look closely. Then advance 1 at a time. Thanks for your help. I so need that Objective eye. Lets just say I am expecting a large number of eagle photos to be in this months competition so eagles photos need to be really good to have any chance of a monthly high score.

Sharing Eagle Season with a friend

2011-02-17T21:39:00.001-06:00

February 3 Eagles

2011-02-06T14:48:00.001-06:00

My first time out to the dam to enjoy the eagles since my return from Georgia. It was a very cold but overall beautiufl day indeed.

Georgia Winter 2010

2011-01-25T11:50:00.003-06:00

Before leaving for home on Friday I wanted to share some of where I have been and what I have been doing the past 6 weeks. I hope you will enjoy. I thank you for the time you take to see my glimpses :-).

I have prepared a smilebox below without music that I think will work well for most of you. If you have trouble with the smilebox you can see these photos here on flickr

This free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

A visit to Tybee Island off the coast of Georgia

2011-01-06T13:03:00.025-06:00

As usual all photos are clickable to see them larger if you like.

It was a sunny cool and quite breezy afternoon last week that took me to Tybee Island. I went mainly to see the lighthouse or so I thought. The lighthouse itself has quite a story to tell. Click here if you like the history of some of the places you see or others share with you.

And of course in addition to that story is some other fascinating and somewhat incredible information about the Tybee bomb. See that story here

In spite of the above info it was obvious to me that thousands of folks enjoy this place year round. Folks Crazy about the ocean go to wade in frigid water while wearing their hooded jackets LOL. Others stand in the cold wind on the island to take their pictures LOL

Then there are the MUCH MORE adventurous types who find the wind just right for
windsurfing.

I took the above photo from the catwalk around the top of the lighthouse. A somewhat intimidating place to be if you don't like heights and are up there alone trying to get the camera to hold still in the wind and your hands to hold still too. I did manage to get a pretty good picture of him in the air a few feet though. Its small but you can click to enlarge and see he did in fact catch some wind a few times that day. I did hope he would still be doing this when I got down the 178 steps and found my way back to the beach.

Before we head to the beach though lets take a look at a few more from the lighthouse. They give you a pass and carefully monitor how many are climbing the stairs at a time. Here is my pass.

And up I went. Round and round and up and up, narrower and narrower to the top.

The idea is to turn this back in when you get back to the bottom so someone else can go up. Well I stopped briefly at the bottom before exiting to snap a photo of some of the old artifacts on display of items used in the lighthouse over the years. I carefully set the pass down and snapped a few photos to share with you actually :-).

By the time I got to the door to turn in my pass it was no where to be found. A line of folks waiting to get in are standing there as I comb through my camera case and search my pockets again and again. I said I am so sorry and I do not have the energy to go back up there to look for it BUT I did photograph it about 2 or 3 landings up. The man at the entry said well I guess we will just be one short unless someone finds it and brings it down. I walked away quickly, happy that I will never see those people again. Later that evening when I was downloading and looking at the photos I found the missing pass. Well not exactly but a photo of where I left it :-).
Next to a very old lantern on the main floor next to the artifact case. Hopefully someone else did stop to see the artifacts, found the pass and turned it in.

The ocean view was gorgeous form up there.

Once I was down and on my may to the car for "Doggie Duty" I heard a familiar voice from above and looked up in time to get a quick photo of my son on the catwalk.

A slide show full of info and photos for you to see or pause and read if you enjoy this kind of info. My guess is for many of you, some of the photos from inside the keepers house may look something like your home or someone in your family's home when you were growing up.

And then I got to the beach where the windsurfer had been in time to watch him fold up his sail BUT his friend the Ocean Kayaker appeared. :-)

Ft Stewart Museum Part 2

2010-12-31T19:24:00.002-06:00

Assortment of other items photos and activities of 3rd ID on display in Museum

Ft Stewart Museum visit Part 1

2010-12-30T21:29:00.004-06:00

FEATURE PHOTO taken at the Memorial tree of a fallen soldier. All gave some and some gave all. The Museum tells the story of the actions, but only the hearts know the real price paid by each soldier sent to war and his/her family. Freedom is so NOT FREE

So very much here to see and share. This is only part 1. More tomorrow. Take time to watch fullscreen. After hitting the start arrow: Bottom right click to enlarge. Then pause to read. Bottom left pause sign.

Dec 10 Lock and Dam 14 Good Times Indeed

2010-12-16T17:42:00.008-06:00

Dex and I will leave first thing Sat morning to spend some time in Georgia this winter. Before heading out I wanted to share some photos from a trip to Lock and Dam 14 that I took late last week. The gulls are fishing and catching lots of shad so far this year. I did get to enjoy the thrill of watching eagles fish a few times that day and got one nice capture. This will have to hold me eagle wise for a few weeks. I hope you enjoy seeing them too. Merry Christmas to all of you. I know for many folks the Holidays hold some interesting challenges. My wish for all of you and myself too is Peace on earth and Good Will towards all.

Click on photo to enlarge

I believe if you like this Bald Eagle photo you should be able to right click and save it. It is my gift to all who visit this Blog.

Merry Christmas

Glo

Dec 8 Lock and Dam 14

2010-12-09T13:31:00.003-06:00

All except for the bluejay and my resident pair of sparrows are form yesterday's trip to the Dam. Only a couple of eagles and pretty much sitting in the trees. BUT you know for me any time I see or hear an Eagle is a beautiful time. I hope to catch a fishing shot or 2 before I head to Georgia but I am happy to be able to spend time just watching them watch me if that is what they want to do while I am there . I hope you enjoy the slideshow.

The feature photo on the BLOG now is the view of my neighbors Christmas lights as I "glimpse them" out my fornt window.

Looking out my windows

2010-12-08T10:19:00.002-06:00

Today I will make my first trip to Lock and Dam 14 in hopes to enjoy some eagle activity. Dex and I will leave in 9 days to spend several weeks in GA this winter so my eagle season is cut short. I will get out a few times in the next few days and then if I get back while they are still here sometime in Feb get back out a few times again. BUT there are so many wonderful critters to enjoy just outside my window. and plans in the making for photos while in GA so stay tuned. I hope you enjoyed todays slideshow.

News News News and some more news.

2010-11-23T21:39:00.012-06:00

The eagles will slowly filter into town. I have gotten to see a couple of them already but I believe they are resident eagles in the Marina area. Feature Photo was taken Nov 22 at the Marina.

The first news has to do with a Photo of the week in my local newspaper. It is always fun to see something you captured in print for others to enjoy as well. It was taken at Sunset Marina, a place many who follow this Blog know I go to very often with Dexter for walks and strolls.

I had decided to capture a little of the signs of a changing season at the Marina

News News News

News 1
Novemeber Camera Club found me scoring one of the Best of the Best with this Seagul photo.

Link to all High Scores for Group A of Nov competition can be seen here.

Its always fun to do well at our local club meetings and enjoy learning together as we listen to the judges comments on the photos. Our Camera club actually met a second time this month. It was one of our Print Competition nights. I did not enter a print but did go to see those competing, and as it turns out the results of the CICCA "Central Illinois Camera Club" fall competition were in and the ribbons for the winners were announced and handed out that night.

News 2
Each club of which there are some 14 was allowed to choose and submit what it
considered to be the best 50 photos to compete against the other clubs in the area. As I had shared previously I actually had 6 photos chosen to go to competition.

Out of the 700 or so photos entered the top 1/3 are chosen as Accepted to compete for the Honors ribbons. I had three of my photos chosen as Accepted and therefore in the running for an Honors ribbon.

Then of those 200 plus photos now in the top third competing for Honors; 1/3 would
receive Honors ribbons. Our club would bring home 5 ribbons.

I received my first Honors Ribbon ever for this Eagle Checking out its catch.

Here is a link to the 5 honors, and 15 accepted photos from Quad Cities Photography Club
There are lots of beautiful images here that entered competition. These other Photograher members as well as judges and peers in our lcub have taught me so very much indeed. If you want to see all there are actually all 50 photos chosen to go to represent our club at this link. First 5 are honors, next 15 are accepted.

I was surprised and so glad I was there to accept my 3 ribbons, especially that
Honors ribbon.

News 3. Last but not least however most touching of all was a contest I entered on
Facebook sponsored by Photoweavers. They would award 30 of their gorgeous woven
blankets, 5 in each of 5 categories and 5 extra for the category with the most
entries. I entered a very special photo into the pets category and with the help of
146 friends voting once every 24 hours and encouraging their friends and family to
vote as well, I actually placed 4th overall and 2nd in Pets.

They are currently weaving for me a blanket that represents many wonderful times
Dex and I share with our many walks and strolls.

Also very special to me was the support of so many friends and family. I shall
cherish this blanket forever. I have so many many reason to be thankful indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

A Goose named Holly

2010-11-02T13:51:00.025-05:00

I have taken time to write Holly's story because I think she and her story are worth sharing. I hope you will go pour a cup of coffee or whatever and take time to read what the feature picture and slideshow tell us about this Goose and a somewhat rare human being who occasionally crosses the path of a needy critter at just the right time.

As many of you know there is a place close to my home called Sunset Marina. I have spent much time there enjoying the sights and sounds and beauty of the area. Come spring 2 1/2 years ago I was very surprised to see a goose swimming among the ducks and seaguls which frequent the area. I have no idea how long this goose was there before I spotted her, nor do I know how she got there. Since I frequently feed the ducks in the are I now had a new feathered friend to enjoy feeding and photographing. Here are a few of the photos of who has now come to be known as Holly Honker taken during that spring through Fall of 2008.

I became concerned though as the weather changed and cold and snow came into the Marina. Greylag Geese are grazers, and winter here frequently means a heavy snow pack for several weeks. There would soon be no where to graze. I was not at all alone in my concern as the story plays out. I made several trips in very bad weather to give Holly cracked corn and lettuce. One time after a severe winter storm I could not find her anywhere but was hoping maybe she had made her way into the bathroom for shelter so I threw food inside "both" bathroom doorways. To be honest come early December I never did see her again at the Marina and feared the worst for this beautiful goose. I did not see her as the weather warmed for 2009. Holly was gone and I missed her as did several others.

It had been a very long hot humid and also rainy severe storms kind of summer this year 2010, so Dex and I had not been to the Marina much to walk. I was scheduled to fly to AZ the end of Sept. The weather was beautiful the day before I was to leave so I decided this would be a day to just go to the Marina and enjoy walking and strolling Dex. I did not have my good camera with me. Those who know me from facebook do know I did have my cellphone camera however. And I would need it :-).

As we strolled along I saw another stroller approaching. I figured it was a child heading our way. Often we will meet another stroller and kids always think its funny when they discover that a dog is now strolling by. Dex and I always enjoy sharing a few minutes with new young friends. As the stroller came closer though it became evident there was no child in the stroller. A couple of times I have met another lady down there who actually has a stroller for her small older dog, but the person pushing this stroller was not that lady. As they got closer I was able to make out that inside that stroller was a goose.

Once we met up I saw it was a Greylag Goose. We talked briefly and then I just came out and asked if this was the Greyag who had been at the Marina 2 years ago. He said "She's mine now". I said thats great. Then that is her. He told me of her rescue. How many times he had driven the 30 miles into town from his farm to try to catch her and just take her home for the winter, but she would always head for the water
area and he could not get her. One day though as he approached she did not head away. Actually once he was very close she merely fell over. "It didn't take me longer than 2 minutes to wrap her up and get her in my truck". I took her home and put her in the bathroom. I am a farmer and had chores to do so I left a paper plate at my door to tell my wife "There is a goose in the house". She knew of the goose and that I was trying to catch her and give her a place to pass the winter.

I called the local zoo to ask for a veterinarian who would help a large bird, as she obviously was skin and bones and perhaps also had an injury. She also appeared
to have some kind of skin tumor. Well to make a long story short. Holly is now lovingly known as Holly Honker. She can not walk but is very healthy otherwise. She often gets to go to the Marina to graze in the grass and stroll through familiar sites and sounds. She lives in the house; although spends short times out in the yard when someone can watch her, to protect her from wildlife such as foxes or coyotes which would also frequent a farm area. She has a child size swimming pool in which she still enjoys paddling around. She goes to the Vet once a month for vitamin shots. You will easily tell from the following slideshow and the feature photo that Holly is very loved and one LUCKY DUCK. Hmmm I mean goose.

I am working on getting to know her a little myself. I did get her to eat from my hand yesterday, but did not try to hold her. I sort of want to eventually get there, but of course to Holly I am a stranger. She is however very unafraid in the arms of the man who rescued her.

Fall Colors 2010

2010-11-01T21:29:00.005-05:00

Feature photo is That Bridge again BUT this time I found a fairly nice place to photograph it but then drove on up the road instead of over it :-).

I love time out shairing photography with my teen friend we will call her "J". She is in a couple of photos form Blackhawk State Park. We will both be entering a photo contest there in the spring. Wish us well.

Spent the last week to 10 days of Oct out and about trying to capture some of the fall color. Its fairly muted which was a surprise, but I enjoyed getting around to enjoy these places. I hope you will enjoy too. Got to get a few pictures of Dex as he too made the different trips and stops along the way. We have a good time when the weather cools down some.

Tomorrow nights post will be of Holly the Greylag Goose and a wonderful visit I enjoyed with her today along with the man who has saved her life. If you love animals and people who love animals I think you will enjoy tomorrow nights photos lots.

Exciting news today

2010-10-22T17:28:00.004-05:00

Its Fall 2010 Central Illinois Camera Club Association contest time. In the Fall it is judges from individual clubs who enter members photos into the larger area competition between several clubs in and around Central Illinois and Eastern Iowa. Members do not have to pay any fees to have their photos considered by the club judges and perhaps chosen to represent our club in the competition. WE get to submit 50 photos total from our club. I was surprised to see that 6 of my photos have been selected to be a part of our club's entries. Those who follow Glo's Glimpses have probably seen many of these before. A couple you will recognize as high scores in last years monthly club competition. We will know probably at December's meeting; those members whose photos won ribbons at the competition which is being held in Champaign IL this year. I am honestly very surprised and excited to have these 6 photos going as part of the 50 chosen to represent our club. You can click on each photos to see a somewhat larger copy of the photos.

I have also made 2 Fall Foliage trips in the past week. Colors are muted but have some sort of fun images to share in the next Glo's Glimpses, of Farms in the Fall from a nice lookout area, "That Bridge" :-), And a hike to Wildcat Canyon at Starved Rock State Park.

Its Fall 2010 Central Illinois Camera Club Association contest time. In the Fall it is judges from individual clubs who enter members photos into competition. Members do not have to pay any fees to have their photos considered by the club judges and perhaps chosen to represent our club in the competition. WE get to submit 50 photos from our club. I was surprised to see that 6 of my photos have been selected to be a part of our club's entries. Those who follow Glo's Glimpses have probably seen many of these before. A couple you will recognize as high scores in last years monthly club competition. We will know probably at Decembers meeting those members whose photos won ribbons at the competition which is being held in Champaign IL this year. I am honeslty very surprised and excited to have these 6 photos going as part of the 50 chosen to represent our club,

Visiting with a Special Friend

2010-09-04T14:59:00.003-05:00

We had three days and I showed her all the sights and sounds of the surrounding area that we could fit in. It was great to spend time together once again. So much has never changed. It was really very easy to just pick up right where we left off. We even caught those girlish giggles that are hard to stop a couple of times. It all was just so much fun. I do hope we can share time together again fairly soon.

A Trip to Belleview IA

2010-08-25T22:46:00.002-05:00

Dex and I took our first trip to the butterfly Gardens of Belleview IA. It was a nice drive except for "that" bridge . We stopped on the way to see the replicas of the Nina and Pinta docked in Davenport. After leaving Belleview we crossed the river at Sebula and stopped at the Dutch Windmill in Fulton. It really was a very pleasant day.

Some Backyard Capers.

2010-07-23T13:16:00.004-05:00

Feature photo is my good buddy Dexter. I am enjoying the summer with him although we stay inside much more now than we do during the winter.

In addition to above slideshow there are a couple of photos I need to share with you. The hummers are always up to something and I spend lots of time with camera in hand trying to capture THAT special picture.. I surely never knew as I clicked the shutter that I would capture this.

And then there was that day last week when Dexter and I were going for our daily stroll and I looked up to see this

OK so its fairly high but I never expected an eagle to fly over my house close enough to get its picture especially in July and certainly not one that had just gone fishing. Yep still soaring high from this one :-)

Family Time

2010-06-30T13:37:00.004-05:00

Feature photo is Sunset at a place called Maranatha. A very special place to our family over the years. We enjoyed a Bar B Que with friends there.

The sun has set on our family time together for this summer. Here are some photos of time spent with Tom Jr, Ana Fran and Ale. It was great fun to have them here. The last 2 people photos are labeled incorrectly. First is Fran enjoying his video game while next photo Ale is playing Insaniquarium. The boys grew to love this game when they first came to visit 3 summers ago.

June 12 NCTC Nest Visit

2010-06-12T12:08:00.005-05:00

Momsters and Dadsters pay a visit to the sycamore tree. Home to Liberty and Belle and this year's eaglet Palmer. Today's visit has a special touch for all of us who knew Deb Palmer and she will be saluted within the video. It is meant as a celebration to ongoing life and a passion for the wildlife she and all of us love; especially these particular feathered friends, as well as the Friends of Fine Feathers who watch and enjoy this webcam. Click on the link below

NCTC Nest visit June 12, 2010

Morse Code for DEB is as follows. You will hear this in video followed by Momster cheers.

D --..

E.
B--...

A trip to Cricket Hollow

2010-05-30T23:10:00.005-05:00

My Camera Club took a trip to a Private Zoo in Northwest IA on May 23. We were given fairly close access to the animals. It was exciting and at times a little nerve wracking. I am sure I will not have the opportunity to actually be as close to many of these animals ever again.

The wolf pups here are 4 months old and playful most of the time but it was later in the afternoon for the photos I have of them. They were hot and tired. it was 90 degrees by then, Watching them spar together earlier though it was easy to see who was actually alpha pup :-).

I hope you enjoy the photos. I enjoyed the time at the zoo.

To see many more photos taken by others from the camera club in addition to some of my photos click here There are some awesome shots on the link by other club members. You can enlarge and enjoy the shots. It was an awesome time as you will see by the variety of photos and animals.

Ministries of Churches United including Winnies Place

2010-05-18T14:54:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share a nice video of the services provided by Churches United, an agency for which I work(ed) and now moslty volunteer. Of special note to me is a nice "Glimpse" of Winnie's Place which remains dear to my heart. Its nice to leave Dexter as the feature photo for this entry as the word "work" will still bring a heads up jump to the floor and prepare to go spend time with some kids or at times Moms who also seem to enjoy him. Churches United is a wonderful interfaith ministry here in the Quad Cities and Winnies Place in particular serves some very special people. I hope you will take 4 mins to watch the video and get a closer glimpse of one of 2 places, where I have devoted over 20 years of my life and some of the staff who share the passion for Women in Need.

Happy Birthday Dexter

2010-05-11T11:55:00.004-05:00

It was June 23, 1998 the day my husband and I would have celebrated our 29th Wedding Anniversary, but he had lost his battle with colon cancer the very end of 1997. I had gone to visit my daughter for a couple of days in Decatur IL and was heading back home feeling a little lonely etc. when I picked up the newspaper and well you know I just "happened to look at" the puppy ads. There it was. Shiht'zu puppies for sale. I called, I found the house and I fell in love with a little bundle of fur. His name would be Dexter. He didn't have a collar or a leash or a dog bowl YET but he did have a Mom now. We would stop in Lincoln on our way home at the Petshop and get everything else we needed. Dex and I would head for home. I have always loved animals but I still smile at stopping to get a puppy when I don't even have a collar or anything else a puppy needs as I carry him to my car. Well its 12 years later and I have shared lots of wonderful times with this still small enough to pick up and cuddle bundle of fur that I call "My Little Buddy. His eyes have gone dim now but his heart is still warm and friendly to all who will stop to say hello and offer a kind word or pat on the head. He especially loves the sound of a child. He has spent many hours and shared many hugs and tugs of war with children from the shelter where I worked and where we still go together at times. I sort of say we go for "mosies" instead of walks these days. He loves to read the local news at all the telephone poles etc etc, and often stops to leave a message of his own. Well that is what dogs do you know.:-)

His appetite is as good as ever and he came home from coffee and dog treats this morning with a special bag of treats from our friends Dave and Jean. Soon we will go to Happy Dog Bakery and buy some very special soft treats that he really loves as well. Its his day. Happy Birthday Dex YOU MAKE ME SMILE

Personalize your own free greeting card

Pow Wow Blackhawk State Park Rock Island IL

2010-05-05T16:37:00.000-05:00

April 28 Glimpses through my lenses :-)

2010-04-29T14:13:00.002-05:00

My buddy Dex who is with me when I take the photos for 90% of Glo's Glimpses. He is on the slide show but well he is my furbaby so he needed a spot of his own right here too LOL

Camera Club Year end kinds of things

2010-04-26T22:33:00.003-05:00

This will be my entry for Photo of the year. I don't think I have much chance of winning or even placing but this is my favorite photo of the Camera club year. These images will be sent off to the Peoria Camera Club to judge and they will assign First Second and 3rd place photos. We are only allowed to enter one.

The club theme for this year was Architecture. This photo is judged by all the members present at the May Camera club meeting. We all get to play judge of each other that night. We do not know whose photos we are judging we just give them a point value.

I chose a photo from my trip to Georgia of St John's Cathedral in Savannah. Some folks are worldwide travelers but for me this was the most gorgeous piece of architecture I saw this year. I went back two different days to try to get a good photo of it. It is even more beautiful inside. If you have not been there and are ever in Savannah GA you must go inside.

Visit to Mom and Dad Fulton and Family

2010-04-23T18:34:00.004-05:00

Thursday April 22 I went to lock and dam 13 to see this nest now busy with 3 eaglets ages a little over a week to 5 days. It was such an awesome time. I wish I could move the tree about 100 yards or so closer but I still loved every minute and did get some photos I think you all will enjoy seeing.

I have decided to let you choose viewing them on flick

Click here to see Fulton Eagle Nest Family

or watching the slide show from the blog.

Pelicans April 2010

2010-04-13T22:30:00.001-05:00

Its Spring Flower Show Time

2010-03-31T13:10:00.000-05:00

Spring Fling

2010-03-20T19:47:00.005-05:00

It was a strange but delightful in many ways set of circumstances that led me to crossing the bridge in the feature photo. Half of the pictures in the Smilebox show below were taken at Green Island which is located not far from the other side of this bridge. It is very narrow and has very low sides . It is not paved but rather metal grated. Motorcycles do not cross this bridge. Its even more "exciting" to meet a car coming from the other direction LOL.

This free digital greeting card customized with Smilebox

The Box Turtles in this video are threatened. They were being studied by the Univertisty of Iowa. Their nest site had been marked and a piece of wire mesh placed over the site in late August to protect them from raccoons. Sensors to monitor the temperature of the nest site which was about 6 inches below the ground were in place and also removed with the young turtles. The lowest temperature of last years nest was recorded at negative 6 degrees. The young turtles will go to the University for a week or so for study and then be returned to the area where there nest was and freed to live out their lives. Notice that eahc one of them have different design to their underside. No two are exactly alike.
Because someone on the Eagle blog I enjoy asked for more info on these turtles I will share a little more of what I heard and have since read regarding them

Pretty much I think it comes down to human needs versus wildlife needs and finding that balance. They too are losing their land areas where they can safely lay eggs hatch them out and suvive etc. They have natural predators like the raccoons I mentioned. Water conditions in our rivers effect not just fish as we saw this winter with our eagles but also other animals that use the waterways such as these turtles and the health of their eggs and shells. Ground temperatures during winter effect the survival of the eggs that are laid and of course there is the cars that travel the same roads that turtles are crossing. I did see many turtle crossing signs in the wildlife refuge I was on but never stopped to take photo of the sign as I was following the folks who were heading to the nests.

Would appreciate any ID help with the reptile/amphibian, hawk and cranes if anyone has any thoughts on what exactly they are.

Thanks. I hope you enjoyed the video and look forward to spring and a change in photos. YES I do miss the eagles, but beauty will be all in glorious sites, smells and sounds.

Norfolk Broken shell

2010-03-11T12:14:00.002-06:00

Watchignnow for the little eaglet to show us how cute they are :-)

March Camera Club results

2010-03-07T09:57:00.005-06:00

Thanks to everyone of you who helped me to narrow down the 50 or so images I had saved over a few weeks to the 3 that I would enter into our clubs monthly competition.

I am happy to say that 2 of my photos placed in the Best of the Best for the March Competition.

All three of the next sentences are links to photos.

The Eagle coming into the water tied for First Place with a score of 26 out of 27 points.

The eagle checking out his fine catch received a score of 25.

You can see the all of the photos that Placed well for March and then Feb for Group A at this link.

Lock and Dam 14 video from a friend.

2010-03-02T11:30:00.003-06:00

Member of Photography group has made a short video of the eagle activity out at the dam. Scenery should look pretty familiar. Enjoy the video.

Do you see what I see?

2010-02-28T22:06:00.005-06:00

It is absolutley amazing to me what I see in life through the lens of a camera. There is beauty lurking unnoticed by most of us every day and everywhere. I think I have managed to miss a lot of beauty but I am very fortunate to also have the opportunity to capture some of the most beautiful creatures I think God ever created.

Someone mentioned wanting to see me taking pictures so I asked a friend to snap a camera shot quickly of the spot in which I stand the majority of the time at my favorite place to capture my favorite subject. So the feature photo now is me at Lock and Dam 14 photographing the eagles. I kind of think it fits with the title of my blog so who knows it just might stay there for spring and summer too LOL. It will help us all think cool thoughts :-)

Here is another photo also showing a few of the other photographers.

And here is a short slideshow of a few of todays favorites.

Feb 24 and 25 Eagles

2010-02-26T22:00:00.003-06:00

Some of these are fairly unique captures others are of chases and ooops's :-) I will miss these beauties very soon.

If you haven't see it , see the photo just below this entry on blog with all the eagles in the tree and article about hungry eagles and missing piglets.

Several nice days in a row at the Dam with Eagles :-)

2010-02-26T06:54:00.004-06:00

The feature photo plus number 3 and 5 were sent off to Camera Cub this time. Meeting is next thurs night. Thanks for all who helped here, by email or on facebook. Will be loading photos from this week later int he weekend. Weather is very nice and Dex and I spend lots of time at the dam. The tree across from where I stand was full of eagles yesterday. It was wonderful to see them. I think some are migrating back up from the south where they ended up going to find fish and lack of snow to get into the fields and not the piglets of the farm either; see underlined link for article. It has been a tough year for sure.

Time to select this months Final Entries

2010-02-23T19:45:00.002-06:00

In addition to the feature photo shown above please help me to choose the other 2 photos which will be entered in the Camera Club Competition for March. Here are the photos you chose from the previous presets to be included in a final selection.

Choose 2 and thank you so much. I will let you know which 2 will be going. After the competition I will tell you how all 3 photos scored.

Feb set 3 the not Eagle set :-)

2010-02-21T17:26:00.003-06:00

This is the 3rd and final preview set for Feb helping me to narrow down the March cam club entries. There will be one more set in a couple of days with your top 2 choices form each of these three. It is then that we will choose the top 2 out of the total of 6 you have voted for to send for March entries along with my one choice which is currently the preview picture on Glo's Glimpses. Thank to all f you who have taken the time to help.
Please choose your 3 favorite pictures form the sideshow beow.

Feb Group B

2010-02-17T21:43:00.004-06:00

Thanks for those who gave me help via this Blog, Email or Facebook. The photos from the first group that will be seen once again in the final selection for cam club were photos 1 and 7.

Here is Group B Please choose your 3 favorites from those posted here. The feature photo above has already made its way into the March competition for sure :-) I loved it the minute I saw it. Thanks once again for your help :-)

Its decision time again.

2010-02-15T17:38:00.006-06:00

I have 2 weeks and lots of eagle photos to sort through this time for camera club. I know I need to share some different pictures as well and one of these sets over the next week or so will have something besides eagles but for this set Please tell me your favorite 3 eagle pictures. Thanks for your time and hope you enjoy seeing the photos as well.

If you haven't helped me do this before I usually settle on the 2 highest of your choices and then choose one of my own. I actually think I know what photo that will be and will post it as feature photo in a few days. Meanwhile with your help we will narrow about 30 photos down to your favorite two :-) Got lots more to share which are not in this first set.

To view photos on Flickr without the slideshow effect click here

I have NEVER seen this before

2010-02-12T22:45:00.003-06:00

Remember you can enlarge all photos by clicking on them.

The story begins with a young but very healthy and aggressive looking and acting juvie who spots and adult get a nice size fish and the chase is on.

Quick speed and the courage needed to survive is evident as the juvie very quickly approaches and challenges the adult body to body for release of the fish

The first collision and reach for the fish is not successful but this juvie is not done and a second encounter ensues.

This one works and the adult has the fish dislodged from its talons. The fish begins to fall through mid air headed for its usual return to the river to be caught again by another eagle rather quickly, But what happens next I have never seen.

The fish falls towards the water yet very near to the juvie's waiting talons.

I have zoomed in more below so you can see the look on the juvies face as he realizes he has a chance to snatch it out of mid air before it gets back to the water.

This is on very lucky and skilled juvie. He/she will do well in the world of eagles.

This was awesome to behold. A time when I wish I had had a video camera so you could see it fully played out in front of your eyes the way those of us watched did. After the typical clicker fish sound everyone roared at the thrill of what they had just seen. It is always great to see a juvie take off with a nice sizemeal :-)

Adult Bald Eagles from past weekend.

2010-02-02T22:36:00.000-06:00

Time with the juvenile eagles.

2010-02-01T21:51:00.001-06:00

Listen for the Clicker Fish

2010-02-01T09:29:00.004-06:00

Todays paper

2010-01-24T08:48:00.006-06:00

Photo can be enlarged by clicking on it.

There is a strong debate in the area about whether or not the Bald Eagle should ever have been de-listed. Click the following link starting at Folks submit several reasons, to read the article etc Folks submit several reasons in todays article about their personal theories on why the eagle counts are way down this year.

I personally think on a local level some of it has to do with the intentional fish kill of the Asian Carp before it could get to the Great Lakes. We have taken away much of their food source this winter. I agree with the kill "although carp DNA has been found in the great Lakes in spite of this forced kill. THE TIMING however I believe was very wrong. It needed to be much earlier in the spring once our migrating birds had left to go back to their nests. NOT just prior to their migrating to our local dams for food.

The powers that be need to take a good look at much of what is being suggested here. We came close to losing them once. Low juvie survival this year will effect the next few years actually as it takes 4 to 5 years for them to get to adult and mating age. It has saddened me all season. Our winter has been cold and our snow cover large but hey this is winter in this part of the country. There are always cold and snowy winters. The river is NOT frozen over. The fish are not there so where are they!!! We know don't we. YES I think we do :-(

Jan 12 and 13 Eagle Sightings

2010-01-14T13:50:00.002-06:00

If you would take the time to tell me your favorite 3 photos. It will help me lots for Feb Camera Club entries. Thanks so very much. They are actually in the correct order this time. The last 2 don't have numbers but you can either describe or tell me "next to last or last" if they are your choices. Thanks again.

Jan 5, 2010 Great day with the eagles

2010-01-06T17:38:00.000-06:00

Jan 2, 2010 A cold but Beautiful Day at the Dam

2010-01-02T21:52:00.003-06:00

Above are photos of several friends from local camera club and a group of students from a Digital Camera course from Rockford IL who met at Lock and Dam 14 today. It was extremely cold, but the sun shone brightly and at times the eagles soared on over or fished in the steam coming off the river. You know the air temperature is very cold when the river has steam and ice floating in it at the same time. Here are a few photos of those who met to enjoy the eagles and a slide show below of some of the birds we saw.

Closing out 2009 with Dex at Christmas

2009-12-31T17:28:00.003-06:00

As the year comes to an end I wanted to share just a few pictures of Christmas with Dexter this year. He is sitting under or beside my neighbors tree in most of these pictures. You will see he found his stocking with his nose as the smell of Duck chewies drew him right to it. It was just like a cat and catnip. He loves duck. Also a very special rabbit is in one of these photos. It is more well loved than the velveteen rabbit. Has one ear, many sutures and a tail that barely remains on. He plays with it every morning at the neighbors during coffee and dog treats.

The feature photo is a house right around the corner from me who does an awesome job decorating for their Christmas celebration. I wanted to share it with you.

In closing i wish all of you a very Happy New Year.

Ice Fishing Bald Eagle Style

2009-12-30T14:28:00.004-06:00

Is this a hungry eagle or has he been fishing recently? The single photo can be clicked to enlarge it. The slideshow has captions on the top. Some of you may need to hide the infomation on upper right corner "click the small x" if it is blocking you from reading the story as I tell it.

If your info bar is in the way, click the small x in upper right hand corner of your slide show. That should get rid of it. Then if you hit reply..its a short show ..you should be able to see captions from the very beginning. Good luck.

New Eagle Season 2010

2009-12-28T15:27:00.001-06:00

I hope you have all learned how to enlarge and view full size. Lower right hand corner with arrows point 4 different ways enlarges screen to full size. Got to see the eagles in all their glory :-) 3 of the photos are of juvies locking talons several times;perhaps a food fight but too far away for me to tell for sure.

Tundra Swans and First Eagle photos of season

2009-12-01T21:36:00.004-06:00

Click to enlarge photos

Dex and I took a little trip north on Monday to see a hundred or more tundra swans which were migrating through the upper Mississippi River area. Unfortunatley they take off "flap flap very loudly" into the wind. They have large amount of feathers to pull out of the water and headed into the wind which was away from me. SO we get a tail end picture but the sound was awesome as they lifted out of the water.

On the way home I did have a chance to see a couple more Bald Eagles and this time I had my camera. The juvie was fairly distant but pretty coloring and the adult was sitting in the tree above where I parked my car. I took the photo through my sunroof which was already opened before I stopped under the tree. I could tell he/she heard the click of the camera but never saw a human , just a car so sat there nicely for me. Remember good eagle etiquette is to not get close enough to cause an unnecessary flight. Eagles need to conserve their energy for fishing and food to get through the winter. We watch them soar then, we do not cause them to fly, by approaching them too closely..

Nov photos to share and choose

2009-11-21T16:51:00.003-06:00

I would be so appreciative if you would watch the slide show below. You will enjoy it more if you view on fullscreen. Click on bottom right corner once you have clicked on arrow to open slide show.. After viewing please choose 4 photos that you liked the best. Either give me the number or a good description of the photo. I will use your selections to help me narrow down the entries for my camera club in Dec. I must submit those in about 9 days so I need you to choose when you see them. Don't try to be the judge. Just choose the ones that stand out to you as GOOD photo. Thanks. Glo

Dexter goes to Georgia

2009-11-15T14:08:00.000-06:00

Veterans day 2009

2009-11-10T13:13:00.007-06:00

Feature photo and slideshow below is in memory of those who are from the 3rd Infantry out of Fort Stewart GA. Take time to enlarge the slideshow and pause it to read the sign that greets you as you enter The Warriors Walk.

It is the Soldier
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us the freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves under the flag,
And whose coffin is draped in the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

©Copyright by Charles M. Province

Thank you to all our military across the Globe. You are the reason why I live free.

Starts of Georgia Trip photos

2009-11-01T16:26:00.007-06:00

Well Camera club is Thursday night so I had several hundred photos from my trip to go through and try to choose 3 to enter as cut off was this weekend. Here are the 3 I have chosen for this month. There was no time to get them out there in time to ask for your input. I will definitely need it next month as there are many more photos I have passed over. Even with all the rain my son managed somehow to get me to Savannah GA twice when the sun actually did shine for a few hours and out to Jeckyll Island for sunrise on a Sat morning. It seemed to always still be raining in Hinesville when we returned. I am not sure the sun ever really shines there but he assures me that it does.

I want to publicly thank Tom Jr for 2 things in the order of their importance to me before showing the photos.

1. He took awesome care of Dex for me as I hopped in and out of whatever vehicle we had; to capture memories from my trip. I could never have felt free to capture so many memories had I not known my dog was in the best of hands. You will see those hands with Dex many times as I make a slideshow of Dex's trip in the near future.

2. I want to thank him for tirelessly and patiently dragging me around to many places so that I could get some photos of his part of the country. He was willing to go in sunshine or rain, during the day and at 4 am for those sunrise photos. I so enjoyed every minute I got to share with him as we travelled around.

I had a wonderful trip overall The traveling part was long and pretty much out of my comfort zone. I loved my time with Ana and the boys and have photos to share of them as well. All to come.

For now here are my entries for Nov. I have been encouraged to compete in the A category. That too is exciting and yet a challenging thought for me. Time will tell if I belong there and how my photos are measuring up LOL.

All of the photos can be clicked to enlarge.

Sunrise on Jeckyll Island..taken over a "savannah" area"

St Johns Cathedral spires as seen from a nearby park beside a gorgeous fountain. Savannah is full of beauty in buildings and park every where you look.

A gorgeous home on Jeckyll Island framed by the beauty of the trees full of spanish moss which flourishes in the south.

Also the new feature photo above was one of 40 selected by the judges of our camera club to go to CICCA Fall competition. I was thrilled that one of my photos made the cut. It was actually a kodak moment, LOL timing is everything and I am not sure we actually see this with the naked eye these pelicans fish and swallow so fast but here it is.

Camera Club Updates

2009-10-03T16:10:00.004-05:00

Camera Club was awesome again this month. I enjoy it so very much. Here is the results for my group.

I have entered 3 photos into the CICCA competition. One is this same hummingbird picture you see on the Best of the Best page linked above. . One is a somewhat cropped version of the photo of my grandaughter and Dex which is feature photo for this blog at the present time and the third one is what I consider a very rare capture of a Pelican just before the swallow ..poor fish. Reminds me of Jonah and the whale but it is this picture.

I think we find out about Oct 11 if any of our photos are selected by Club judges to be sent to CICCA, I may be gone on a 2 week trip when that info comes in. I am surely hoping at least 1 of them will be chosen.
Thanks for everyones input encouragement and support. It is so nice to have some folks to share my love of photography with. Speaking of which its only about 7 or 8 weeks til those gorgeous eagles start heading in this way. Yippee!!!

October Camera Club Entries

2009-09-20T15:56:00.003-05:00

OK here are the photos from this summer that I am considering to use for October Camera Club. I need to narrow my selections down to 3 photos.

I would love your input on your favorite 3. Thanks for all of your help. It really does help me know which ones have the largest appeal to others NOT involved in the contest.

Help me decide which one of these 2

2009-09-13T09:53:00.002-05:00

Fall Competition for 14 different camera clubs is only a couple of weeks away. Our club gets to enter a total of 50 images and has over 100 members. I have 2 photos I am going to try to enter but would also like to submit a hummingbird picture for the judges of my local club to consider. Would you help me choose which of these 2 has the best chance of being chosen by my local judges to proceed into the CICCA larger contest. Thanks. I value your opinion and if you want to say what about that photo you like best that is welcome too, but not necessary.

Old Fashioned Barn Raising

2009-08-18T17:19:00.003-05:00

About 1/2 hour east of where I live is a group of folks in the process of an Old Fashioned Barn raising. A little research soon brought me the news that I actually know the folks heading up this project from the several years I lived among them in the farm country of Loraine Township...a little bit of heaven right here on earth...yes its true but back to the barn.

You can read some about it here and follow more links for more info

A view from the air heading onto the farmland where the barn is being constructed..

My pictures from todays visit to the site.

A visit with a friend in Buda/Princeton Illinois area

2009-07-25T08:20:00.001-05:00

Niabi Zoo July 16 2009

2009-07-16T19:18:00.004-05:00

Had a chance to take a trip to the zoo today . My goal was to see a baby camel born about 1 month ago. I did stop to photograph a few of the other animals on my way to find this new little camel. I hope you enjoy the photos. Dex and I want to thank Jean and Dave for taking such good care of him so I could go to Niabi Zoo today.

Click the link to see the slide show. Remember to get it to fullscreen on bottom right side of show.

June 25 Camera Club night photography

2009-06-26T09:57:00.003-05:00

It was very hot and very humid and very buggy...but i had my well my neighbors Absorbine Jr and a wonderful time.

Here are a couple of photos of local Bridges that grace the Mississippi in my area.
The top photo is of the Skyview Bridge. The bottom one is the Centennial Bridge. Both photos can be enlarged by clicking on them

Its Family Visit time :-)

2009-06-04T20:01:00.002-05:00

Here is a link to a slideshow of some of the good times we have already shared. I will have them Fri night and Sat til late afternoon, and then up up and away.

Elia has surely grown. She talks in a very cute yet dramatic way. Some of what she says is serious but sounds funny coming out of a 3 almost 4 year old. Its been a fun time for sure.

This little one loves animals for sure as you will see in the photos.

A Brief update.

2009-05-17T21:38:00.002-05:00

My thanks to Beth who emails me with her responses to the photos on Glo's Glimpses. I have chosen to use her suggested title of Power Lunch for the photo below that needed a Title for the Figge Art Museum. I do want to thank all of you who offered suggestions. There were actually several great ones to choose from and if I were needing a caption I loved Wanda's response about being still so he thinks we are decoys. It still makes me chuckle.

The featured photo above scored a 21 and was my one ribbon from the CICCA Salon that I attended this past Saturday. They give out very few ribbons and 5 medallions for Best of Show. I was thrilled that one of my photos actually received a ribbon. 40 ribbons were given out in the digital and there were over 500 photos entered .

Well its flower and zoo season now...stay tuned :-)

I Need a Title

2009-05-08T12:35:00.004-05:00

Our Camera Club has been invited to present an exhibition of 75 photos this summer. This photo has been one of the 75 to be hung in the Figge Art Museum. I learned in photo club last night that I need to give it a title now that it has been selected.

I think a well chosen title could in fact help to sell the photo.

I am thinking something like

1. Focus Focus Focus

2. Keep Your Goal in Sight and Within Reach

3. Talented Talons

4. Bullseye

5. Center of Attention

6. Don't let a Great Catch Get Away.

7. Stealth Fishing

If you like one of these please let me know. EVEN BETTER THOUGH If you have a thought of a title for this photo please put it in the comments or send it to me.

I only have a few days to give this information.

As far as the waterscapes entry which is the swan at top of page ...we all judged and gave each other points last night. I have no idea how many points anyone received or who scored high etc at this time.

CICCA Spring Salon Entries

2009-04-23T21:26:00.006-05:00

On May 16 I will be helping to host the Central Illinois Camera Club Association's Spring Salon here in the Quad Cities. It will be a very busy but exciting day for our club as we play host to several other camera clubs from the central Illinois area.

I have chosen to enter the Digital Photography part of the competition. There are 3 categroies that comprise Digital. Here is a slide show of my 11 entries.

I hope you like the photos. If you want to help me to have some fun I think it would be very interesting to hear form you which photos you think will score the highest of the 11 entries. Maybe just your thought on the Best photo or the best 3.

For me it will be quite the learning experience I am sure. The judges will be from Iowa City. Not at all related to any of the photography competition involved in this Spring Salon.

Thanks to all of you who have supported and encouraged my joy of photography. I have learned a lot in my few months in the club. I have made some new very special friends and am being given the opportunity to see and learn many new things. Its all very exciting to me.

I have managed to embed the slide show below. Do click on the four arrows to the bottom right though so you can see the photos in full size. Hopefully this will work. Thanks

A slide show fo the entries can be seen here also but doesn't seem to be working for some.

A very special place indeed

2009-04-19T15:06:00.003-05:00

Here are 2 very special links to a place as close to heaven on earth that I have ever been. We were priviledged to call this place home for about 8 years. This small farming community and its people hold a very dear spot in my heart to this day. I expect they always will. The photo with both a church and a home in the same photo was our church and parsonage while we lived with these special folks.

If a photo jumps out at you as one I might consider sharing with my Camera Club in upcoming contests then point it out to me. Mostly though it is for your viewing pleasure. I hope I have captured for you some of what it is like to Worship, live and farm in this particular community.

Slideshow 1

Slideshow 2

Camera Club for Thurs results

2009-04-03T14:55:00.003-05:00

Well The walk in the woods photo got the lowest of my 3 scores at 21. Judge said It is a stage without a player meaning I needed someone or something walking in the path...otherwise they liked the photo really well.

The other 2 photos scored 23 each.

Now had I been in Group B as I was last month I would have had 2 of the highest scoring photos However for some reason I got entered into Group A this time. Not sure if that is a permanent change or a mistake. Many Professional and long time photographers in this group. The lowest score was 19 in this group which I did not get LOL...And the highest was a 25, and like 4 who received that score; many hovered in the 23 to 24 range with the majority at 23. So I did OK. But I feel way out of my league in this group.

I like a challenge and will accept it if it wasn't a mistake but I will be very happy to return to Group B if that is in fact where I belong LOL. MTBR

Next month is Waterscapes. At this point I think I will enter the photo of the single swan at the top of the page.

Everyone gets only one entry.

Thank you all so much for all of your help in narrowing down the photos to enter. it is also of course very nice for me to have someone to share my pictures with...lots of them while we eliminate and select those that have best chance at Cam Club.

Flowers will be blooming. Lots of colorful birds everywhere. Pelicans are in town and the zoo is open so I plan to get out plenty with my camera.

April Cam Club Entries

2009-03-30T21:03:00.004-05:00

All photos enlarge by clicking on them

Thank You to all of you who helped me choose my entries for this month. The club meets on Thursday. I will let you know how it goes LOL

April decision time

2009-03-26T14:35:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have helped me to narrow down about 40 plus photos to 10. I have 5 days now to decide on which 3 I will enter into the April contest.

Not sure if it is because I received one of the Best of the Best awards last month or if it is a mistake BUT I am being entered into the A division of the entries this month. President is out of town so we email our entries to someone else who will just place them in the Group he is told. This will effect my scores so I know I can use the highest point total possible. Remember I don't need you to be a judge...just an objective observer who say when he/she sees it "I really like that photo...or those photos."
Will you take a minute to look and tell me your favorite 1 2 or 3 choices.

Here is the link and they should be numbered in the correct order.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eaglelover2006/sets/72157615942678184/show/

Set three...almost entry time for April

2009-03-22T21:18:00.001-05:00

Set three for this months camera club contest. Thanks to all of you who are helping me to narrow down my entries. No eagles again this time sorry.... but I am sure there will be at least one in the run off from those who help me to choose for the final set. Please choose 1 2 or 3 photos you like best. Thanks again.

Slideshow entries for set three click here

March 17 more photos for you

2009-03-17T17:27:00.003-05:00

Thanks to each of you for your input on the Camera club choices for April. Here is a set of 10 without much at all in common. Thanks again for your time and honestly on these photos. Please choose your top 3. I know these aren't eagles which complicates things for me too. HELP :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eaglelover2006/sets/72157615422809563/

April photos to consider.

2009-03-11T21:15:00.003-05:00

April Camera Club is coming up in about 3 weeks now. I need to once again choose 3 photos to enter. You all did really very well last time helping me to see things through the eyes of someone else. I have about 4 eagle photos here but then have decided to find some other kinds of photos as well.

If you are willing to take a look and offer your choice of 1, 2 or 3 photos you think are best to consider it would once again be so very helpful.

Click here to see the entry options at this time.
Thanks once again.

Thanks or your help.

2009-03-05T21:59:00.003-06:00

You all did so very well. I am sure I will be turning to you again for help choosing entries for next month. Anyway.

The feature photo at the top which I chose only scored a 19..that was pretty much the average score being handed out tonight by the judges. There were 75 entries. Very few scored anywhere in the 20's But there were like 4 who scored a 23, and mine was one of them....the one with the eagle and the geese.

The one with the eagle approaching the water to catch a fish got a 22, so overall for me it was a good night and you all did very well , better than I did in choosing photos for entries.

Tonights judges were definitely rough but also very informative which is quite fun to hear what they see in the photos.

The only critique I received to improve on my highest score was to crop a little off the left and "perhaps" some off the top...but then quickly the same judge said or "maybe not"...LOL I think I will leave it as it is and probalby frame it as a memory from this eagle season.

Thanks again to each of you who offered input.

Entries for March Contest.

2009-02-23T22:26:00.003-06:00

My thanks to all of you who helped to narrow 30 photos down to 2 for entry into my Local Cam Clubs March contest.

The above 2 photos were chosen as best to enter by all of you. Photo number three that I have chosen is the Eagle with the fish at the top of the Blog as the newest feature photo.

Thanks again to each of you. Camera Club meets the first Thurs in March. I have to submit my entries by Thurs of this week. I will let you know the scores and the judges comments after the meeting.

March Finalists for Contest entries

2009-02-20T09:08:00.004-06:00

OK Here are the top 9 scoring photos by those of you who have been voting over the past 3 sets. Even if you have not voted in the past you are still very welcome to give your opinion on this set.

I now need you to choose your favorite 2 from this set. If you prefer to tell which is number 1 and which is your second choice I will score it accordinglingly, otherwise will give them each 1 check mark.

Go here to see and choose

Once again thanks. I will add a picture of my choice to the top two and post on here what 3 photos will be entered for March. Then after the judging I will post the scores and any comments left by the judges. We can all learn from what they say...it really is lots of fun as well as informative.

Set 3 and Thanks so much

2009-02-16T15:29:00.003-06:00

Here is set 3.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eaglelover2006/sets/72157613953306672/

Once again my sincere thanks to those who are offering input on their favorite 1 2 or 3 photos. Anyone is still welcome and encouraged to do this.

The next set I post will be the run off for the first 3 as I will have to submit phtos for March contest late next week.

Your Favorites Set 2

2009-02-13T15:03:00.005-06:00

Thanks to all of you who have shared your ideas and responses to the photos so far. Don't stop on me now. Here is set 2.

Be Careful...the number is on the photo...Flickr does not post it in numerical order they post by date taken.

If you hold your mouse over the photo on the small thumbnails you can see the number...oR if you look at them one at a time you will see the number diplayed above the photo.

Please click here and do the same thing ...give me your favorite 1, 2 or 3 photos.

Thank you all so very much.

Will you help me?

2009-02-11T16:14:00.004-06:00

I have 50 photos and over the next 2 months I can submit a total of 6 of them into our local camera club photo contest for points totalled at the end of the year for Camera Club awards etc. Since I joined late in the year I won't have many points but would love to do the best I can. I value your input.

I don't want you to tell me which ones you think the judge will rate the highest as they look for other things than most of us do. I want you to tell me your 3 favorites out of each set of 10 I post over the next few days as I attempt to narrow down my entries. If you only like one or two in particular that is fine also.

In the comment section you could just leave the number(s) of your favorite photo.

If you want to say more about why you like a certain photo or even something in a photo you don't like then feel free.

Here is a link to 10 numbered photos. Thanks to all of you who take the time to look and give some feedback.

Feb 3 more pictures to share

2009-02-03T14:53:00.004-06:00

"Winter is almost over I can see the deer now wandering around outback."

More photos to share with you from the past few days linked to here

Feb 2

2009-02-02T22:16:00.004-06:00

The feature photo above I would say is about a 4 year old.

The past 3 days I have had some sunshine and an opportunity to get out with my camera a few times.

Click Here for a link to some of the photos I have taken.

Jan 28 Eagle viewing

2009-01-29T13:27:00.005-06:00

Feature picture above is of an adult who hid a fish so well flying over my head, I didn't know he had it until I came home and looked at the pictures.

A little different slideshow today. Lots of action but not lots of fish. Watched for a while as a pair of adults almost did what I would call Synchronized Soaring. It was beautiful to watch them just soar quite a while together around the lock and dam.

Also a pair of juvies were either being playful or confrontational as they too spent time soaring together. At one point they did appear to lock talons and roll. Not sure if it was a steal, or practice for adult courting behavior in the future.

And of course it does appear an Eagle Convention was about to take place in a near by tree. One adult is finding it hard to get a seat at the meeting, and also you can find the "pair" that sit closely and appear to be overseeing the happenings of those in attendance.

At least they didn't waste their time going to Springfield Illinois today to attend any meetings there. Bald Eagles I am afraid would not be very pleased to be in a meeting in Springfield this week.

Here is the link I hope you enjoy the show.

Jan 22nd Photos

2009-01-25T21:27:00.002-06:00

Here is a link to the latest slideshow. All photos are downloadable

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eaglelover2006/sets/72157612992464772/show/