Porte Photos’ Daily Quote: August 7th

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Marriage may often be a stormy lake,
but celibacy is almost always a muddy horse pond.

~ Thomas Love Peacock
English – Author October 18, 1785 – January 23, 1866

Porte Ponderings:

Lake Erie can be a powerful lake with crashing waves or a calm still clear lake, just like a marriage. Sometimes a marriage can be peaceful, loving and secure. While at other times there can be extreme anger, desire and passion.

Yesterday my walk along the shore of Lake Erie was filled with powerful winds and crashing waves. Today it is just a memory, a picture framed to remember the strength of the exploding waves against the rocks. Just like a wedding photo taken to remember the peaceful love of a couple.

August is the closing month of summer and although September is the official end of summer, we see the end approaching and try to hang on as long as possible.

Today is the August holiday Monday, a civic holiday so some things are open and some are closed. Some are lucky enough to have a long weekend in the middle of summer and others have to work.

Porte Photos’ Daily Quote: August 5th

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There just isn’t any pleasing some people.
The trick is to stop trying.

~ Robert Mitchum
American – Actor August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997

Porte Ponderings:

Robert Mitchum may have had it right when he said. “There just isn’t pleasing some people”.

Even when trying to please yourself you may not be able to “hit the mark”.

This weekend is the 2023 Big Backyard BioBlitz (August 3, 2023 – August 7, 2023), created by Nature Conservancy Canada. Everyone is encouraged to get outside and take pictures of the wildlife, flora and fauna in their neigbourhoods across Canada; and post the pictures into the Project on iNaturalist. This is one project I enjoy being part of. I’ve submitted 107 observations/88 species so far.

Not all submissions are exciting as the hummingbird at my feeder, nor as difficult to photograph. For this shot I used my tripod, the WIFI function on my Nikon D750, live view to my cell phone, and using my cell phone as a remote to capture the hummingbird. The shutter speed is very important to capture a good image with a bit of motion blur, but a clear body. I think the shot turned out well but, I’m certain there is still room for improvement.

Here’s my favorite 6 photos from yesterday’s observations:

  • A Sandpiper near the beach.
  • Black-eyed Susans
  • Crocus Geometer Moth – a surprise in the Ladies’ Room
  • Eight-spotted Forester Moth – a little gem.
  • Bright colours – Eastern Yellowjacket
  • Ruby-throated humming bird

Sometimes the photos for this project turnout amazingly well. Other times the photos are just good enough to identify the species. Finding different species to photograph for the project can be quite a challenge. I try to take photos of everything I see, but sometimes the usual birds/wildlife just aren’t around on the specific dates. So, I’ll just do my best, and leave the rest, because there’s just no pleasing some people. This is one project I encourage others to contribute to and beat the number of observations I submit. ❤

Porte Photos’ Daily Quote: July 27, 2023

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Technology has eliminated the basement darkroom
and the whole notion of photography as an intense labor of love for obsessives
and replaced them with a sense of immediacy and instant gratification.

~ Joe McNally
American – Photographer Born: July 27, 1952

Porte Ponderings:

Technology is evolving so fast. Now everyone has a camera in their pocket that is so easy to use we’ve all become photographers. I do have to admit that this quick shot of Rickie at the beach was much easier to take with my cell phone than with a full sized camera.

Porte Photos’ Daily Quote: July 26, 2023

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Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

~ Mick Jagger
English – Singer Born: July 26, 1943 

Porte Ponderings:

Always the opportunist House Sparrows have taken over the Purple Martin House at the trailer park. And why not? If the purple martins aren’t enjoying the lavish accommodations why should they be left empty?

Porte Photos’ Daily Quote: July 21, 2023

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Music is part of God’s universe.

~ Cat Stevens
British – Musician Born: July 21, 1948

Porte Ponderings:

Happy Birthday Cat Stevens.

Yesterday’s weather didn’t permit us to swim in the lake. With a storm approaching the water was just too rough and dangerous. While we were playing in the sand a tornado alarm sounded on my cell phone so we packed up quickly and went back to the trailer. For 2 hours the rain poured down and the lightening and thunder danced around. After the rain the hummingbird came to visit my feeder.