The Crocus Shoot, Risks & Rewards

New blog rules:
More pictures, less words. No one has time to read anyway.

Set the scene..... early morning...  shoot begins....

When capturing crocus, fresh out of the frozen ground, beware of the following risks:

1) No matter how much gear you pack and carry, no matter how much forethought and planning you invest before departure.... you WILL forget something. Here is what I brought on that chilly morning at sunrise:



And here is what I forgot: a spare battery!! (no picture available.)

First event of photo shoot - battery died. While I walked all the way home for another battery, the sun rose and the light grew harsh.. (very annoying!)

2) While lying flat on the ground with camera at ground level, keep in mind that the only position possible for the neck is something very close to a 90 degree angle. If you maintain this position for slightly more than 2 hours, your neck muscles will remain in that position for approximately 2 - 3 days, while your head will try to return to it's normal location, without much success. Also keep in mind that the older those neck muscles are, the longer it will take for them to return to a more normal, less painful condition.

3) Too much coffee, first thing in the morning, in the middle of an open field, a quarter mile from home, is always high risk. Especially for women. If you don't understand that, well.... never mind.

'Nuff said about the risks. I managed to survive them all, although not without some pain that lingers on ...

Here's a sample of the 'rewards'.... although I was not too happy with the shots I got that morning (missed the best light....!!), I did get a couple that prove the hardiness and determination of the little crocus ... these little babies are covered with frost...




This is another baby, taken the week before, less than 24 hours after it was fully out of the frozen ground...




These were taken during the past week:







Hope you are finding some lovely shots of spring as it unfolds in your part of the world.... just remember to be careful around those Crafty Crocus, they can be dangerous!

Walking With My Human

"My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am."
                                                           - Author Unknown

Our walk in pictures .......  my perspective.

Next week, I hope to have our walk from Bruno's perspective, if the weather co-operates and the mud dries up.

"Let's get the show on the road, I'm good to go!"
(This where he notices I've brought my camera and is hoping I don't bother to use it!)



"Starting out. Territory looking good."




"Something big happening here ......... hang on a minute!"



"Ya comin'???"
(I've stopped to take pictures. He can feel things slowing down a bit, trying to keep the momentum going....)



"What the ...... ?????"
(Back to business.)



"I'm kinda busy here!"
(This is me waiting for him now.)



"Geez, what are you doing now????"
(Taking pictures!)



"It's not like I have all day, you know."
(More pictures.)



"How long IS this going to take, do you think?"



"Actually getting bored now."



"Well, that's it then, we're done.... I'm heading home....."




"A watchdog is a dog kept to guard your home, usually by sleeping where a burglar would awaken the house by falling over him."
            - Another by Unknown

The walk is over and that's it for another week.... have a happy Easter weekend....!

Did you miss the celebrations?

      "Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush."
                                                                  - Doug Larson

As part of the human family on this planet, we've just shared two of the most important occasions of the year during this past week - I hope you made the most of both of them by cracking open a bottle of champagne or, at the very least, lighting a candle and pausing for a second or two before rushing on to the next thing on the list. In spite of big plans, I have to admit, my celebration was much more the latter than the former. But that's ok, it's the thought that counts, right? (People always say that when they're feeling guilty, have you noticed?)

Here's the quiz part of the blog.... do you know what the two celebrations are? There's no prizes or penalties, so try not to worry.....the first one is easy .... March 20 was the Vernal Equinox  aka:  Spring!!  The second one was March 22, and I bet you didn't know that was 'World Day for Water' or 'World Water Day'. I didn't either, but since then, I've done some research and it's truly a day worth celebrating, right there along with Earth Day on April 22.

On the morning of the Spring Equinox, I set out with camera and all the 50 pounds of gear I thought I might need, to capture the essence of this day. A day that was such an important event for humanity for thousands of years, and is now pretty much.... disregarded ....along with all other earth based celebrations. (Don't get me going on that!!) Disregard it, I would NOT!

The day didn't go all that well, probably because I didn't have a hot clue as to what I was looking for. I ended up just shooting here and there, loosing hope and getting into some really heavy negative self talk. After uploading my shots, guess what I found?  Surprise! The image I wanted was right there, under my nose, (literally!) and I hadn't even recognized it. Funny how the subconscious takes care of things, even when we are busy thinking about other stuff. Here is my Spring Equinox image, hope you like it.... it has an 'equine' flavour....



I was looking for an image that would express the balance of the Equinox... dark & light, resting & standing, and the peaceful nature of these beautiful souls seemed perfect for a celebration of the Earth.

Moving on to Celebration Two .....World Water Day is an 'official' day as declared by the UN in 1992. Who knew? Not exactly promoted a lot, I'd say! But that is, thankfully, changing very rapidly with the work of Masaru Emoto, Missionary of Water, as he calls himself. If you haven't heard of his work, it'll blow you away... guaranteed! Years ago he began photographing water at the moment of freezing and he has shown visually, and without doubt, how our thoughts influence water. This revelation has profound implications for ourselves, our health, our planet and all Life on Earth. His work is absolutely amazing and can change how you think about thought, Life and water. His books are best sellers and available everywhere....
The Hidden Messages in Water
The Healing Power of Water

Here is a link to his website for lots more information:
http://www.hado.net/

"Water is a mirror reflecting our mind." - Masaru Emoto

Masaru is combining his work with that of Lynn McTaggart who wrote
The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World an equally amazing book, also a best seller. Together they are healing water all over the planet, and if you want to get involved, it's free and it's easy, and here's the place to go for more info:
http://www.theintentionexperiment.com/

Although I went searching for water images on the 22nd, the only water I could find was either ice or really yukky looking brown stuff, that was probably desperately in need of healing. Instead, I went back into my photo archives and found some images I shot at Hecla  Island, on Lake Winnipeg, last summer. My intention was to find something that honoured the power, the beauty and the magic of water. This is as close as I came...



That's it for another week. They sure rush by in a hurry, don't they? Thanks for tuning in, and don't be afraid to leave a comment or two. If you do, you never know... it might make both of us feel better....

And BTW, expect more quotations in the future! Starting now:

"Do what you can with what you have, where you are."   -  Roosevelt

Spring ..... Are you crazy?

Such a strange winter in Manitoba, and now an even stranger spring. We had very little extremely cold weather (cause for celebration!!!) and very little snow. I'm not complaining (although the snowmobilers in the family would totally disagree!)  it was a truly wonderful winter for most of us. However..... one has to wonder about the weirdness of it all.

And here's more weirdness.... it appears that spring has arrived!! Note that I said 'appears', I am aware that I may be forced to eat those words, but even if the weather returns to a normal March (cold, stormy and very unpredictable) no one can take back these super gorgeous days we are now enjoying. And enjoying them - are we EVER!!!  After spending the last few hours 'out & about', I gotta say....There is nothing but smiles out there!! Every single person I met was covered in smiles and good cheer from top to bottom. Not a frown to be found! Honestly... it's true!!

I realize that you ex-Manitobans will probably require some proof of this crazy story, so I'm providing a couple of photos taken yesterday morning. While I was taking these pictures, here's what I was wearing, well, not wearing I guess would be more appropriate:
I was NOT wearing mitts, boots, long underwear, ski pants, a hat, hood or parka. My jacket was not zipped up and for the first time in months, I was able to manage all the bells and whistles on my camera in a completely glove-free mode! My jacket was hanging open, the sun was shining in and warming my pasty white skin, and my hair was set free to blow in the wind, leaving my ears exposed and slightly surprised, but eventually warmed as well.

It was miraculous!!

And the reason it is nothing short of a miracle is because the date was MARCH 16. Not April 16, or May 16, either date would have been no cause for concern or alarm. Last year, I am sure I was still winter-clothed on June 16..... and no! Not kidding!!

To sum up... I have just returned from a 3 hour discourse on the weather with numerous local folks. (See previous posting on our Favourite Prairie Passtime if you are wondering why that would take 3 hours.) It's vital that we determine why this is happening and the conclusion seems to be a split decision:

Half of the population believes we will have to "Pay For This",  translated that means: a storm of  Terrible Proportions (records will be broken) will unleash it's wrath on those of us who are presently enjoying this weather blessing so we had better watch our backs and hunker down.

The other half, of which I am proudly a member, believes that we have earned this wonderful warm, early, beautiful spring by suffering through previous years when it would have been impossible to even determine that spring happened! How many times have we endured a 'winter slowdown', instead of spring, followed by immediate and unrelenting boiling hot summer days? Well ....I wouldn't try to count, even if I could remember!

So this year, we're lovin' the weirdness, and thank you very much! We'll take it!

Oh and one more happy thought... the GEESE ARE BACK....!!!  I  spotted 2 small flocks of the Greater Canada geese on Monday, March 15. You might be thinking that's early too, but not really.... Last year, they arrived on March 16 and in 2008 it was March 20. Amazing how close they are, isn't it? Do you think it would be remotely possible for any of us humans to calculate a trip like that and arrive within a week of the previous year - without a watch or a calender? I think not!

Here's the fabulous photo I took as the first flock flew over ....



Yeah... no picture. What sort of photographer doesn't always carry her camera with her??? The sort that I am, I guess....

Anyway, thanks for checking in for this week, here's my pics:



Which tool to use? Shovel or rake? Too soon to put away the shovel? Too early to take out the rake?



Such a gorgeous day!!




Tried to catch the look on Bruno's face as he sunk through the ice when he wasn't expecting it. Big tough boy, doesn't like cold feet!

Our Favourite Prairie Passtime

In a little over 24 hours, we went from this:

To this:

In case you missed that, it's from this:

To this:

Is it any wonder that our favourite prairie passtime is ... Talking About the Weather!

There's a saying around these parts, "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute. It'll change." I'm convinced that's why prairie folks are obsessed with the weather, and why no real conversation can continue long without sharing your own daily personal assessment, which usually includes a concise prediction for the immediate future.

Those of us who live in this particular climate are so influenced by the changes in our weather and how extreme and immediate those changes can be, that it has become a cultural habit to deal with it by continually sharing out views about it. If an uncomfortable pause threatens to occur in a prairie conversation, it is immediately averted by tossing in  'Have you heard the forecast for tonight? or  'What's happening with that Colorado low?'  Works every time!

Here in the Prairies 'what you see is what you get'. And what we see in the sky is what we will be getting very soon and requires constant attention. Every day, all day, the sky is a never ending palate of eternal change, from horizon to horizon, and what comes out of the sky is always of interest to the residents of prairie lands. There's little doubt that we actually thrive on our temperature extremes and love to brag about our ability to adapt .... ergo another joke... "How often do we switch from heat to air conditioning then back to heat... in the same day!!" And yes.. for those who are not from the Prairies ... this happens a whole lot more often than you'd think!
The last few days here have been wonderful examples of prairie weather. I thought I'd share them with you...

This was shot on Sunday, March 7: (cold, crisp morning, fingers feeling icy on camera)



Camera battery starting to fade in the cold:



This was shot a day later: (in the rain! Camera and fingers all wet and sticky)



Here's another one, just turned and pointed the lens in the other direction on the road outside our house:

Changing Faces of Nature

More about my Body of Work....

Here are the 2 locations I've chosen for my personal study of the changing faces of Nature. My Oak Tree is right outside my back door, therefore, tends to get a whole lot more attention than the Hillside location. The Hillside is only a 10 minute walk from my house, but I have noticed that I have a considerably less shots of that scene than I do of the Oak. I'm sure that's because sometimes it just seems like too much trouble to get there, especially when it's bitterly cold outside and the fire is really warm and inviting inside, but I'm beginning to think it's also because I don't really like that location all that much.

This is rather a disturbing realization, because we went to a lot of effort to choose it and then set it all up, and so I'm pretty much committed to continuing with the project right there where it is. I guess, at this point, I'm just hoping it'll grow on me and we will form a happier relationship as time passes and the seasons unfold.

Here are 2 of my favourite shots so far. I'll be updating as the seasons change.....

My Little Oak Tree:



Peaceful Hillside



And here's another lovely face of my beautiful little Oak tree as she greets the sunrise...

My 'Body of Work'

 J. McQueen Photo.com

Awhile ago, I read that every serious photographer needs to have a 'Body of Work'. Because that's what I want to be, I decided that I had better figure out exactly what a Body of Work is, and then get busy creating one.

As far as I understand it, a Body of Work is built around one general theme, and as we focus upon that one idea, we can watch it unfold in it's own way, as well as watching our own skills and preferences unfold. For me, it's also about the discipline of 'showing up'! And honouring a personal commitment ... an aspect of Self that can still use some work....

Life on the Canadian Prairies, in winter, always creates a challenge for the photographer... mostly just overcoming the instinctive urge to stay warm and stay inside. Consequently... the act of 'showing up' means at least a half hour of preparation time. First, I have to convince myself I am going outside, no matter what the conditions are. That usually takes awhile. Then all the appropriate camera gear and necessary elements to battle the 'quick freeze-up' have to be organized and assembled. As time has passed, and I have (remarkably!) remained committed to my B.O.W., I've developed a nice little system for getting out the door, usually without forgetting a whole lot of really important stuff.

I wanted my B.O.W. to be outside.... and I wanted it to be close, so that I would be more likely to 'show up'. And I wanted it to be something interesting and not particularly challenging, so that I would show up on days that I didn't feel like being challenged. 

So, in November, I chose 2 locations, both close to home, and with the help of my helpful and capable man, who created permanent containers for each of my tripod legs, using metal tubes in the ground, for one, and for the hillside setup, he attached tin cans to plywood, so it can easily be re-located in the future, if necessary.

Now here's the meat of the story... the main idea of my Body of Work is to photograph these 2 locations on a regular basis, and at least, once a week, more often when the weather changes or the light is really lovely. And I'll be doing this for a year.

What I hope to create is a sense of the flow of the changes that happen, every day, actually... as Nature moves through her cycles. Every shot is taken from the exact same place, with exactly the same settings and focal range. All of them are being shot in a series, so they can be High Dynamic Range if they look better that way.

By next fall, I hope to create a simple slide show with the best of the shots... and with any luck at all.... we will be able to witness an entire year in my back yard, and on a nearby hill, as it sleeps, stirs in the spring, wakes and reaches it's summer glory, then slips back into rest again beneath the snow.

Doesn't that sound cool??? 

I would love to hear what you have to say about my Body of Work....there must be someone out there who has an opinion they want to share....

The photos above and below were both taken (by my trusty assistant) at my hillside location.

www.jmcqueenphoto.com/