Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you and your family!  Wishing you good health and happiness.  

This photo was taken around 2014 at Longwood Gardens before they totally renovated the fountain area.

We sat out on the patio deck and watched the spectacular show enfold.  There were many colors, a photographer’s delight. If I remember right, it was set to music and well choreographed.

Bald Eagles were Visiting

When a pair of bald eagles came to visit, they separated and one sat on the post while the other used the osprey nest.  To try to turn the photo into one subject, I waited till they were looking at each other, or at least showed some animation.

Oops, careful there.  Don’t fall off!

That’s better.

Pelicans in St.Mary’s County

Just to be different, we visited Piney Point Lighthouse to see the pelicans.  They are fairly far away.  We visited the beach and saw the lighthouse outside too.  After 2 visits, I finally managed to get one fairly decent photo with blurry wingtips.  They were fun to watch since I haven’t seen any in a long time.  

Autumn in St. Mary's 5 Greenwell State Park

Just a few more photos from Greenwell State Park in the fall.

The lovely beach in Autumn

Kayaks in Autumn

Beautiful coloring

Autumn in St. Mary's 4 Sotterley Plantation

 

Sotterley Manor House

Welcome gate, I liked the way the gates pointed to the colorful tree.

The expansive fields

Manor porch

Entrance Drive

Autumn in St. Mary’s 3 Greenwell

Beach at Greenwell

Duck Blind

Grass Tastes Better With Crossed Legs

Noooooo!


Foundation Building
 

Autumn in St. Mary's 2

Backlighting

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home Gazebo

Lake in Mechanicsville

                    

Photos from driving around beautiful St. Mary's County, MD

 

Camera Club Theme Winners for the End of the Year 2021

I had 2 winning photos in the End of Year Competition, consisting of winners from the previous competitions throughout the year.  You may have seen them before.  I was happy to have any winning photos this year, since it took extra effort to even stand long enough to photograph anything.  It is slowly getting a little easier, 16 months after my broken heel.  Other winners included 1st and 2nd by Leon Smith in the Advanced competition for Grandchildren and I'll Get a Hit, 3rd place by Eric Wilcox for Old House.  Leon Smith won Third place theme for Chincoteague Storm.  

Old Book Still Life from the Still Life themed competition was 1st place.

White Flower from the Three Colors or Less themed competition was 2nd place.  This was  cell phone photo, using my sweater for a background.  The flower is a Royal Star Magnolia.

Autumn is Finally Here in St. Mary's County!

I loved this red tree with a reflection in the water.  The light was really nice between the clouds.

Lovely reflection.

I played with the zoom on this one for an interesting shape.

 

Fun with Peppers!

 I wanted to try a still life of peppers, but I don't even like to eat them!  I gave a few away afterwards. They have such bold colors and fun shapes.

                       This LaRouge pepper looked like a little family at the right angle.

Same pepper, different angle.

                                      I used a light box for this one, shot from above.

                    I shook the camera a little for this one to make the glow.

Happy Halloween 2021!

 Here are a few Halloween pictures taken on my recent walks in the neighborhood.

A Great Blue Heron Housecleaning

This looks better over there.

All good now.

Recent Local Animal Visitors in St. Mary's County

Bald Eagle

Great Blue Heron Scratching

Red Fox from a great distance

Squirrel

 

Squirrel eating