It's a Wrap: the #dailyphoto Project Comes to an End

Sometime in late December of 2015, partly motivated by the recent acquisition of my first decent camera in over twenty years, I decided that I would post an original photo on Facebook each day.

I did not fully realize how much time my little project would take, nor how much I would learn about photography in a year's time.

• I've learned about lines and angles and composition.
• I've learned many of the technical aspects of editing.
• I've learned how the right angle of sunlight can turn an ordinary scene into a magical one.
• I've learned that you like pictures of birds. And sunsets. You heard it here first.

Camper Mornings

There are many great things about camping, but one of the greatest is Camper Mornings.

Of course, Camper Sandwiches are nice as well. They are just like regular sandwiches, but made in the camper, and therefore way better. Camper Movies are awfully fun. This is when you watch a movie, in the camper. I assure you, it's fantastic. Home baked Camper Cookies are nothing short of fabulous. These are like regular home baked cookies, but, well you get the idea.

Don't even get me started on Camper Dance Parties.

I Am Not a Trophy Hunter

I have absolutely nothing against deer hunters who wait for the big buck, but I am not a trophy hunter. This season, like the four before, I sought only some meat for the freezer.

The season had gotten off to a painfully slow start. After nine hunts, I had seen a total of (wait, let me check my records) approximately one gray squirrel and zero deer. Approximately.

But this evening was different. I was in a new location, near a stream and some oak trees with a good acorn crop. As I settled into my spot, I could hear the squirrels loudly scurrying through the leaves in the woods behind me. They continued their antics for nearly an hour.

In the thick woods I hunt, I see as much with my ears as my eyes. The sights and sounds of the woods can be surprising when you let yourself settle in and become part. The wing-swoosh of a bird passing close by, the "chirp-meow" of some unseen creature. Even trees swaying in the wind take on a new tone. I was listening closely for the footfalls of a deer.

My Olympus PEN E-PL1 and the Lenses I Use

My camera is an Olympus PEN E-PL1. As if I needed to say, I am an amateur photographer. I mostly shoot pictures of nature in the woods near our house, and of places we visit on vacation trips.

When I bought my camera just over a year ago, my shopping criteria were:

Great Places for RV Camping in NC and VA

Kate and I have a small travel trailer we bought used, and have stayed in many different campgrounds. Here is a very brief review of some of our favorites, along with a link to the homepage of each. All of these have at least a few sites with electrical hookups, and some have on-site water spigots (those that don't, of course, have a place to fill your water tank). Some of these have equestrian camping and trails. I recommend making a reservation in advance. There are many campgrounds we have not visited, especially in Virginia, mostly due to distance from our home. However, I will add to this list as we visit new sites.

A July Fourth Photo

Replica of a merchant ship at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, NC

When I snapped this photo a couple of  weeks ago, I was in fact hoping it would make a good July Fourth #dailyphoto post for my Facebook page. I feel such pride and good fortune to live in the United States of America. Thirteen bars and fifty stars!

I didn't want to post it without a bit of background on the ship, and as I began to research I realized that my knowledge of the early history of our nation is cloudy and mired in myth (What year was it that Christopher Columbus landed in Jamestown with the Pilgrims?).

Fern Fascination

The purpose of this post is to document all the ways that I am fascinated by ferns, and in doing so provide some insight into the inner workings of my mind which will no doubt be of great historical interest to future generations.

Item 1: The way the fronds unfurl in the spring.

My Photography Workflow

Below is the description of my current photography workflow.

I shoot with an Olympus PEN E-PL1 micro four thirds format digital camera. I mostly use the kit lens that came with the camera, a 14-42 mm zoom. When shooting close-up/macro, I set it to manual focus. I also have a 40-150 mm zoom. Also note that my camera is set to record each image in both RAW and jpeg format. Camera is set to take three images in sequence at three different exposure settings.

Here's what happens when I return home from a shoot. Note that on a typical shoot I might create 30 to 100 images.

Almost full circle

One Sunday last April Kate and I went for a walk in the woods. I took some pictures of some of the flowers and such that we encountered, and decided to write about it (Things We Saw in the Woods Today). I didn't know it at the time, but it was the start of a project to catalog all of the native flowering plants (including shrubs and small trees) that I could find in our woods in one year. I call it my "Year in the Woods" series, and you can see all 21 posts (including this one) by clicking the label on left side of the page.

Your First Camping Trip in Your Travel Trailer

So you've bought a new or new-to-you travel trailer. The friendly seller gave you a quick rundown of all the systems, but now you're ready for your first shake-down trip. Here are some tips to help make it go more smoothly.

NOTE: I am not an expert on this subject, these are simply my personal observations based on my experience with our own travel trailer. Yours will be different. For the complete story, consult the owner's manual, dealer, manufacturer or a qualified technician.

PACKING AND LOADING
There are many items you will want to leave in the camper permanently, like dishes, pots, pans, tools, bath towels, perhaps some clothing, etc. These will be stored in cabinets and drawers and you want to be sure they are secure while moving down the road. Place pillows or towels on top of items in drawers and cabinets, and secure cabinet doors and drawers with bungee cords, paracord, etc.

Ramblings on a Mediocre Photo

One time, after posting a photo on Facebook, a friend asked me what kind of camera I have. "It takes great photos!" he said. It was an innocent comment, but it's actually the photographer who takes the photos, is it not? And in fact, a couple of my favorite all time shots were taken with cameras that are not even one-tenth as good as the one on your fancy smartphone.

Photographing Things

At the beginning of the year, I decided I would try to post a photo each day on Facebook. At the time I didn't realize what that personal challenge would mean, or how much I would learn.

It means shooting almost every day. It means editing almost every day. It means walking through the world with eyes that are constantly noticing how sun illuminates buildings and trees and sky and water. 

Impressions from the Long Drive Home

Over the past couple of decades, Kate and I have traveled a time or two or twenty to her childhood home, an old stone house by the Skunk River in the southeast corner of Iowa.