Bond Falls

This was the treasure Dana discovered on the way to Lake of the Clouds. Great flow in the spring and breathtaking colors in the fall.

Lake of the Clouds

You can be the judge if this picture was worth it. After a wonderful day trip through U.P. Michigan,I arrived at the most photographed place in the U.P. at sunset. Yes Scott, I was in the right place at the right time. The Lake of the Clouds, viewed at sunset,in the fall. The problem was,I was two hours from my base at Iron Mountain. It was rut, and it was dark. I dodged 22 deer and 2 bears with great success. The 23 deer did the Cha-cha on my trunk and fertilized my hood,translated to $546.00 to hammer out the dents,and$5.00 for a carwash. A deer's sex drive is nothing to tamper with. four years later this is a wonderful memory of a delightful day with my sister. The Radiation Center and Mark are some of my most delightful memories, and Uppers are some of the most delightful people on the planet. my only regret is I haven't had the opportunity to return.

Yosemite National Park

If you risk your life, by taking the northern road to Yosemite, then you hope for fabulous pictures. It is such an icon, that few new pictures appear. i am still happy with these three. Two of them show views only seen threw a telephoto, and one is a delightful bit of graffiti. It is a place that overwhelmed Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir, and I can not hope to describe what only pictures can tell.

Raptor Rescue Alaska

It is a great pastime in Alaska to look at ancient ice, it is some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Alaskans are to be commended for their love of these magnificent birds. Wounded warriors who can no longer live in the wild. They are loved and cared for in a very special way. This is an instance where a photo says more than words. Visiting Alaska reminds me why America is such a great place to live.

Jamestown

Jamestown is a fascinating study in the first English Settlement. Greed nearly kills the community, and a proud and helpful Indian Nation is all but destroyed. The greatness comes from the factor that the American Dream began here, for the English. This was a land worth fighting for. A beautiful place that has had Europeans for 400 years. The place makes you feel American. It also shows ,what a wonderful people, our Native Americans are. A beautiful place with great pieces of craftsmanship.

The Love of a Goose

There are many birds that bring on warm fuzzy feelings, and some that represent eternal love. We get mushy over doves and swans when we think of love. Cardinals,Blue Birds,Cranes, and herons bring a splash of beauty into the world. my money goes to the Canada Goose. Yes they are noisy and messy,and that makes them bad neighbors. May I always love you Elaine as a goose loves his mate. He will offer to exchange his life for her,and if she is wounded will not leave her side. They are intensely involved with their young, and care for their neighbors. they are loyal to last, and share their burdens equally. You might pick an eagle or hawk, but for my money give me a goose. The goose is always in love with his mate, and she will have beauty eternally. may I always strive to live to the standards of a goose, and be substantially neater.

Harbor Seals

the seals reminded me of my Golden. I share my morning banana with the young lady. She calmly waits on the carpet outside the kitchen with the look. if i take too long,then quantities of drool flow from her mouth. I toss her her treat and I get the one last is that all look. I am thinking i have discovered the spot that fresh chunks of Salmon are thrown to the seals. Through the magic of the telephoto; the seals whiskers can be seen. they are the width of the seal, and allow them to go through tight spaces at an incredible speed. It is hard to believe you are looking at incredible killing machine. They are cute in the picture.

The Tiger in my House

Over 36 years ago,I fell in love with my tiger. Elaine was, and still is , sleek,beautiful,and can be a force to reckoned with. I watched the tiger, at The Houston Zoo, with an admiration only a husband could apreciate. She was taking a nap as a jerk was throughing rocks into her moat. Her only response was to raise her tail and flick it gently. On cue, the dutiful husband came to the water's edge, and stared at the inconvient human on the far side. He yawned with all the excitement of a four year old deprived of his nap. He stood sideways to reveal his massive size, and proceeded to walk slowly to the water's edge. This was the cue, Captain Jerk, used to make a graceless exit. Screaming like a baby, he declared the tiger was coming to eat him. Rocks didn't seem to be a great weapon against a thousand pound beast. I did look down to see a 15 foot water filled moat,with the most beautiful electric fence just above it. I was the loan survivor standing on the observation platform. The great beast swam to me, and swam back when he realized the offender had left. He exited the water, shook himself dry and walked pass the female. She raised her tail,flicked it, and resumed her nap. She waisted no words. The Tigress,inspired the composite Reflective. Elaine is the one, who thinks her way through life's little roadbumps. She always has a thoughtful response. I am truly blessed to be married to my tiger.

Therapy Dogs

The top picture is of my dogs and me. The big headed boy has recently departed. The sassy girl is still sassy. The other 3 dogs are part of 8 lobby therapy dogs I photographed for The Big Horn Radiation Oncology department. these dogs engage the patients and brighten their life. I treated as a Radiation Therapist for 8 weeks. They were a sheer delight to be with. They connected me with my patients as I have never been connected before. I made a point of taking each dogs picture with their owner. We have shots of our dogs,of ourselves,but way to rarely shots of our dogs with us. The Cheetah and flowers are from a local park in Palm Springs, The Living Desert. Remember a picture captures a moment in time. When you hide because it doesn't meet a particular standard, you hide the moment. A Professional could have exceeded my work,but he or she hasn't embraced the project. Now these selfless owners have the gift of memories. Each has a CD with pictures of 8 magnificent creatures. Someone can always take a better picture,but someone is not always available. Share your work, and it can bring joy to others. A Photograph doesn't have to have a price to be valuable.

Alaska Zoo

This was a delightful show. She would blow bubbles and the old male would come to the water's edge and complain. She would back away and go into a submisive mode. He would go lay down and the bubble ballet would start all over again. The key is to manually focus on bears and the glass becomes less noticeable. Reflections are possible,but you are in a zoo. It is all in the story

Matanuska Glacier

This is a perfect example of right place,wrong equipment,crummy weather,and a dozen reasons for leaving your camera in the trunk. These will never appear in a magazine,or be the NAPP photo of the week. They could have been taken with the simplest digital camera or my old rebel XT. 4 generations out of style. If I drive 3 hours and 3 miles down a dirt trail,you can bet there will be photographs. The 2 closeups were aquired by an hour hike over glacial plain with sliding rocks,mud pits that covered your ankle boots, and wading through the coldest water on the planet. Because of the cold, I didn't feel the need to hydrate, and I realised that was a mistake when i woke up to a spinning room with 2 of everything and some really thrilling leg cramps. It you slug through muck to get close to one of nature's wonders;it is reasonable to assume 50 of your friends didn't. These pictures become worth sharing. No one in their right mind would call this competitive photography.It is reasonably pleasing to the eye, and best of all it does what compelling photographs do. It tells a story. It shows what the great monster flowing through the mountain looks like. It shows, not only does this beast, from the frozen vaults of hell, slowly grind the mountain down, with a sensually compelling blue ice. It takes the rich soil and brings life into the glacial plain. All I wanted to do was take my strained ankle and bruised hamstring 3 hours home to a warm bath and a clean bed. Always take your camera with you. Eddie Tapp, a photographer i admire, took an absolutely gorgeous picture in Vegas of the Sunrise. Was it taken on some great desert plain with cactus in the foreground? It was shot from an upper story hotel hallway,with all the wrong elements in the picture, walls and window frames in the picture. What it did show was the brillant color of sunrise against the eternal neon of Vegas streets. it told a great story. It doesn't have to be staged or taken at a particular time to be a heart warming experience. I hope you enjoyed my story without words. If you run across this and want to post please do. I would love to see your photograph and hear its story. Remember my friends are artist,my sister is the writer, and God gave me Elaine.

France Park Logansport, Indiana

These images are from a hidden gem just outside Logansport,Indiana. I spent 13 delightful weeks treating patients at their radiation Therapy Center. This is dead of winter,after a 16 inch snow. It was cloudy and slippery,but fool had to take photos. No professional would have taken these photos. Cardnals have the patients of a four year old with a sugar overdose, and are small. The Goose just backed down a fox and was gloating to his mate,who is exhibiting thoughtful listening . the light was wrong,and the wildlife was sparce. The Park is an old gravel quarry that is absolutely delightful. The deer were on the slope above the frozen lake. A little time in Photoshop and my winter visit turns out to be eventful. So on cloudy 20 degree days there are pictures to be taken. Will it win NAPP's photo of the week. No. Will Collin,Al, Scott,or Dave go wild over the accidental photoshoot. no. did I get to my adventure with wife and friends. You bet. I got great practice in Photoshop. If anyone ever sees this, how about putting up your special moments. Pictures tell stories with a great passion. Right now have a horrible leg cramp and a sunburn from getting up close and personal with a glacier. there are very few photos but you can bet one or two will be published. I don't take my near death experiences lightly. From the preview National Geographic won't come calling. My sister is the family writer,my children are great artist, and I have a big heart and try. The banner photo is my wife 35 years ago, and the picture of the mother lion and cub reminded me of what a fabulos mother she is. Because, even when your children are in their 30s,they need a mother,s love. A note to Al Ward. Because of you; i get things in photoshop that would have taken me years longer to learn. Your website is the best in Photoshop, and NAPP is right there behind you.

Lion Cubs

These two delightful cubs entertained me for weeks at Hampton Roads Virginia. I was always there at the wrong time of day,because their home was closed at dawn and dusk, and they were more active during harsh daylight hours. They entertained me and I recorded their juvenile mischief. love you Scott,but I more Journalistic than Artistic. If its interesting,and i am there,I can't resist.