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.