Golden Cadence

Evening light, still water, and the unmistakable silhouette of avocets. 

 

The Last Light of Day

 

Two Canada geese glide in perfect rhythm across a glowing sunset sky.

Generally, life is good.

Other Reality

 

when the evening slips into another world...

Generally, life is good.

Sunset on the Bear River MBR

 

The birds soar high, their wings a song. A dance of freedom, swift and strong. A tree stands tall, reaching to the sky and softly whispering to the desert.

Generally, life is good.

Sunset

 

The sunset slips away and the tree desperately tries to hold on to the fading daylight.

Generally, life is good.

Sunset on the Bear River MBR - IV.

 

The moon, a guardian in the night,

Watches over the world in its gentle light.

The tree stands still, its roots deep and old,

Telling stories the stars have never told.

poem #1.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. Inspiration

 

Inspiration comes like a breeze. It's like a little spark of curiosity.

***

For the past few months I have been looking at the sunset photos from a local photographer with stunning and colorful sky effects. These photographs were taken on the Bear River MBR and looked more like abstractions, where the sky was a flaming "sea".

I really wanted to see this sky, but did not dare to find myself in the desert slowly sinking into darkness.

***

The most unpredictable thing happened when, having overcome my fear and finding myself in the desert before sunset, I was suddenly struck not by the colors of the blazing sky, but by the silhouettes of trees bathed in a golden glow. Their mysterious, intriguing silhouettes and their timeless beauty were indescribable.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. Sunsets on the Bear River MBR

 

Photographing sunsets on the Bear River MBR becoming a deeply introspective and meditative.

***

The sunsets are fleeting, the light and colors are changing quickly as the sun goes down and that is when I really begin to understand how to live in the present moment and appreciate it.  

 

***

Every sunset is different.  Yesterday, the clouds were heavy, but the sun still broke through them, casting the beautiful light.

***

Photographing sunsets is always a revelation. Thus, yesterday I saw a hawk sitting on the tree top, watching the world before night falls.

Generally, life is good.

Sunset on the Bear River MBR - I.

The golden sunset glows,

Geese soar high on graceful wings,

The eagle rules on high.

haiku #4.

Generally, life is good.

Just Moments

 

While waiting for a female American Coot and her babies to swim out of the thickets, I noticed how plants and grass in front of me were moving in the light breeze. They were beautifully lit and surreal.

Generally, life is good.

Disheveled Beauty in the Marsh

 

Friday evening the sky was clear with only a few clouds and I headed out to spend a few hours on the Bear River MBR with hope of getting a chance to create some bird silhouettes.  

Unfortunately, this didn't happen, but I managed a few decent backlit photos of Snowy Egret. The egret at one point looked spectacular with his disheveled standing up hair.

The Egret was kind enough to show me his disheveled appearance, which I loved seeing so much and then he took off and flew away.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. Red Barn

I took this photo out of desperation. No, this is not a joke. The spring flood cut me off from the Bear River MBR and my favorite birds.

Knowing that there was no way I could get to the Bear River, I told myself that there was a big world around me and if I tried hard to discover something interesting in it then my favorite birds could wait.

One of my little "interesting" discoveries was the red barn, very important and festive.

Actually, I like the old dilapidated barns better. There is something very touching and sad about them. Such barns have closed one of the last pages of their lives and retired with dignity. 

Unfortunately, there were no old barns around, only important and festive one and at some point it suddenly seemed not so boring, it had its own special charm.

***

Я сделал это фото от отчаяния. Нет, это не шутка. Весенний паводок отрезал меня от МБР Медвежьей реки и моих любимых птиц.

Зная, что мне никак не добраться до Медвежьей реки, я сказал себе, что вокруг меня большой мир, и если я очень постараюсь открыть для себя в нем что-то интересное, то мои любимые птицы могут и подождать. 

Oдним из моих маленьких "интересных" открытий оказался красный амбар, очень важный такой, как будто он был на шоу.

Вообще-то, мне нравятся больше старые полуразрушенные амбары. Есть в них что-то очень трогательное и грустное. Такие амбары закрыли одну из последних страниц своей жизни и ушли на пенсию с достоинством.

К сожалению, старых амбаров вокруг не было, а был важный и праздничный, и в какой-то момент он показался не таким уж скучным, в нем был свой особый шарм.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self.

 

This evening, returning home from Bear River MBR, I thought about my life which right now full of confusion and tension.  Thoughts are mostly sad, no inspiration, no new ideas.

And suddenly insight that thoughts are sad because I let them be sad, inspiration never completely goes away, it comes and goes. 

Ideas?... Everyone has ideas every day and some of them are just great.  

It was getting dark when I stopped my car and got out.  The White-faced Ibises were flying to their night roost and they were so beautiful.

Life goes on.

Evening Mood

 

A Snow Goose on the evening swim.  Alone.  The light breeze has formed  interesting, abstract patterns in the water surrounding the Goose and its reflection.  Bear River is a true artist and often creates stunning abstract patterns.

Generally, life is good!     

On Parade

 

The male Common Goldeneyes are paddling on evening parade.  Their spectators are a Herring Gull who is indifferent to what is happening in front of its eyes and I. 

Generally, life is good!

Just Experimenting

 

A wonderful late evening. The setting sun is about go over the horizon.  And Tundra Swans, so unattainable and beautiful.  

At some point, I decide that I will photograph Tundra swans no matter what. Of course, they will be tiny and ducks too but does it really matter?  Let everything be as it is!

And if everything is as it is, then let the Canada geese hide behind the tall grass.  

Generally, life is good!

Where You Are Flying, Heron?

I took this photo during freezing cold late evening, just before sunset. The sky was covered with dense clouds and light wasn't the best but surprisingly everything worked as it should have. 

Generally, life is good!

 

  

 

Bill-ringed Gulls During Sunset

Each sunset creates its own special atmosphere, painting nature in colors that never repeat themselves.  The sunset I watched a few weeks ago at Bear River MBR was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. It painted the Bear River deep blue with subtle pink reflections in the water.  I am not a big fan of deep blue but that evening I was fascinated by it.

 

Elegance and grace during preening. 

Generally, life is good!

Ring-billed Gulls are Taking Off

The Gulls always take off unexpectedly.  One moment they stand on the ice and doze, and suddenly, on someone's unspoken command, the flock is already in the air.

Generally, life is good!

The Evening Promenade

 

The Tundra Swans are on their evening promenade.  

Generally, life is good!