Went to the Sand Dunes the other day when I was delivering some art work to two places in the San Luis Valley. Got some late afternoon shots. It was a beautiful day, a little warm but nice nevertheless.

fawns

This evening I glanced out the door and saw the tail of a fox go by. So I grabbed my camera and sneaked outside. Didn't see the fox right away but saw a doe and her twins. So, I shot them for a while. Then I saw the fox again, then a hummingbird went by and landed in a pine tree, so I had to shoot him, then the fox was there again. Then the fawns decided to bound through the neighbors yard as if they had springs in their legs. They were playing tag, I think. They raced right by me. I grabbed a shot of one of them on the run. They were panting like little puppies when they ended the chase. But they took at least five laps around the yard while mom patiently watched.

I was in the San Luis Valley on business so after that was complete, drove to the game preserve in Monte Vista. Didn't know what I'd find but was sort of hoping for Gt. Blue Herons. Instead got a nice shot of some wading birds and this Snowy Egret.

Saw my first fawns of the season. Drove around town, near the lakes, places where I'd heard of sightings then something told me to come back toward my house. Sure enough, one street away I saw two does and a pair of twins. As I continued to watch their was one fawn with one doe and twins with the other. I got some nice shots. I smiled a lot.

Had a good weekend at the Art in the Park in La Veta. Went shooting today and found a swallowtail butterfly. It was a beautiful drive, peaceful, quiet. Just me and the butterfly for a long time.

So, I worked at the paper on Wed., did errands all day today until evening then headed to the lake to "heron hunt." I went to a place that's shallow with nice reeds and didn't see any and was thinking, hmmm, this looks like a good place for a heron to be hanging out, when one silently lifted up and glided away.

I then went over to another place, usually don't go there, it's down a long path, usually don't have good luck there and at first didn't see anything but then there was a heron just standing there. So, I took several (ok, 200) pictures. It was nice. This is one.

Haven't done too much photography lately. I did frame up some things for Art in the Park, a big celebration here on the 3rd and 4th of July. I like the four Iris prints, framed that in a 16X20, like how it came out. Hung a new show at the Pueblo gallery on Sunday. Put Flow in that show.

Getting ready to go write about bad guys in my crime column for the local weekly paper: Cops, Criminals and Courts. It's a fun thing to do, draws on my years as a prosecutor, and keeps me out of trouble for a day.

Here are some variations on a theme. Took the original picture at my daughter's house. She has some beautiful Iris in her yard.

Worked in Pueblo today at the gallery, part of my coop agreement. Didn't take any pictures but did do some journalism shots this week. Covered a preliminary hearing in an attempted murder case and got a shot of the accused as he came up the stairs in the courthouse. Not a really nice looking guy. 

Here's a nicer shot, it's called "Flow"

Have been taking photos for the paper, Mayor Hickenlooper was in town, shot him and his 7 yr-old son Teddy. Also caught an arrest going down at the side of the highway, was able to get that and identify the folks. And yes, took some landscapes too.

Went to the lake today. The air was sweet, Russian olives, I imagine. I saw several Gt. Blue Herons, not too close though. It was just nice being outside. Sad that I saw obits in the Denver Post of two people I knew. One a photographer who used to live in the San Luis Valley and the other a nationally storyteller I met while living in the Valley. Both died too young of cancer. It's a terrible disease.

Well, got my business taken care of ....tooled over to the game refuge in Monte Vista, one of my favorite places and saw lots of nice stuff. Got good shots of one of my favorite ducks, the Ruddy Duck, it has a bright blue bill and a cute little duck head. It's nearly as cute as a Bufflehead Duck, probably my favorite....but not quite. Then got some nice yellow-headed black birds to pose and saw a lesser heron. Wanted to see a Gt. Blue but that didn't happen. You know you don't always get what you want....but you always get what you need. so, it was a nice camera day.

Going to the San Luis Valley today on business. Probably won't have a chance to take pictures but will take the camera just in case. Always keep it handy. Not quite the Boy Scout motto but it works.

Worked on the newspaper today. Unfortunately we had to print my Memorial Day photos in black and white, too many good color photos this week. I went cruising for a bit after work and saw the fox kits I've been following. Got some nice shots around 4 p.m. There were three of them at the den and one stuck around. He took a little nap while I watched.

Had a good day shooting. Saw some osprey at my favorite lake, took some wildflower photos and some old signs on a barn. I will shoot anything that catches my eye....that's what did today. Nice time.

A Photographer's Notebook

This will be my first blog...just talking about taking pictures and what happens along the way.