Category: Thoughts

My thoughts on life.

A Walk Around the Farm

by Michael

In mostly black & white

*Note: Clicking on any image will open that image in a new window, full size.

*Note 2: I don’t normally do black & white photography, but today’s weather just seemed to beg for that treatment.

Since the first of the year the weather here in East Texas has been anything but cheery. In fact, it has been downright drab and depressing. I made a promise to myself that I was going to break that chain, and even if the weather wasn’t beautiful, I was going to get outside if for no other reason than to get some exercise.

So, I log out of work a couple of hours early, clearing with my boss to log a couple of hours of vacation time of course, and head outside. Sure enough, it is still dreary and even a little misty. I grab my trusty Canon 1DX-II body, 70-200mm lens, and head outside…after bundling up a bit that is. After all, it’s not even 60 degrees out there, and I live in Texas. LOL

As I began my walk, the first thing I noticed was how moist the air was. I was thankful for the weather sealing that Canon has provided for my camera and lens. At least I don’t have to worry about my equipment.

The first place I go is the creek that borders my property. I have had quite a bit of erosion over the past few years due to flash-floods and I wanted to make sure that everything is still holding.

Convergence

Things seem to be holding, at least for now. Who knows what will happen when the spring rains come this year?

Climbing up out of the creek, I see a fallen log which has a fungus growing on it. Life passes, and gives life. The circle of life in nature.

Where the Fungus Grows

As I walk around the property, I check on my bluebird boxes and clean them out for the coming year. It looks like 4 of the 7 boxes had a happy nest in them this past year. That explains all the bluebirds I noticed all summer long. I hope even more will be used this year.

And speaking of critters that live in holes, I stop and ponder for a moment who has been taking up residence in this old tree. Perhaps someday I will find out.

Someone’s Home

I continue walking past the boundary of my property and into my neighbor’s forest. He allows me excursions into the woods with my cameras. It’s great to have friendly Texas neighbors.

Living in East Texas, it is not uncommon to find relics of the oil boom that took place here many years ago. In fact, not far from my property is the location of the Daisy-Bradford #3 well which began the boom here in East Texas. This abandoned pipeline has been lost back to nature.

Lost to Nature

Looking through the brush shows the gauge that used to measure the pressure of the valuable substance flowing through the pipes, now dormant, sitting peacefully at zero.

Measuring Zero

Continuing my trek on this drab and dismal day, a single bit of color catches my eye. The pine trees have provided a carpet for the forest floor, and some other tree has provided a pop of color. This helps me remember that even on a day like today there are still things for which to be thankful to almighty God.

A bit farther I come to the power line easement that crosses so many properties. As I look down the line I can see the mist which is starting to roll in across the pasture. I’m strangely overcome with a sense of peace at the scene.

Mist Across the Pasture

As I’m walking I realize that for the first time in several months, I’m outside and active, breathing the fresh air and making my body move. It feels good. I’ve been so tired of being tired all the time, and it’s no one’s fault but my own.

I come to a small pond of water that was uncovered during the recent tree harvest on my neighbor’s property. I sit down on a stump to rest and to just listen. Hoping to hear the sounds of nature, all I really hear is silence, which is very calming. It seems I wasn’t the only one affected by this weather. All the critters appear to be hunkered down.

Then I notice the branches of a small pine tree which had fallen near the pond with the little seeds of life still clinging to the branches. Once more, death giving way to new life.

Seeds of Life

As I head back to my own property I notice a lone, crooked tree standing in a field where all the others had been harvested. For some strange reason it made me think about how it felt to be the one left out when teams were being picked in grade school. This poor guy didn’t get picked. But in this case being picked meant going to the lumber mill, not a sports team. I wonder if it knows how lucky it was for being so malformed? I wonder if it will green up again in the spring? Or is this just another example of the cycle.

Last to be Picked

From here I head back and finish checking the bluebird houses on my own property. Now they are all nice and clean for the next generation of bluebirds this spring.

Now, what can I do next to get myself off the couch, my body moving, and shoot with my camera? We’ll see.

Until next time,
Michael

FYI: The tree harvesting on my neighbors’ property will enter the next phase this year with planting of new trees. Once more, the cycle of life in nature, of a renewable resource.

All words and photos copyright 2020 MHampton Photography
Equipment used: Canon 1DX II and Canon 70-200IS/USM/L lens

Changes Are A-Coming!

by Michael

As the saying goes, the only constant is change. That change has finally caught up with me and my photography. In fact the first change is that it has been so long since I’ve updated this website, the editor has changed and I have to learn how to use it. Shame on me!

For many years now my photography has been focused (pun intended) strictly on nature with the exception of the occasional family portrait session for my family and friends. I have resisted people photography with the excuse that it was too hard to “please everyone”. That is all about to change. No more excuses!

Now for those of you who have been following my nature/bird photography, I am not giving that up. Rather I will be adding portraits to the mix. I still love being in nature and making beautiful photographs of what I see to share. That is a big reason why Karen and I moved out here to East Texas! But the time has come to do more for others.

Thanks to an on-line satirical personality, Missy Mwac (by the way, MWAC stands for “Mom With A Camera” but Missy is MUCH more than that), I have slowly come to understand that photography is about more than just sharing a pretty picture and getting likes on social media. It is about capturing a moment that can be cherished for generations, especially if that photograph is printed! This is never more poignant than at the loss of a loved one. Many times, photos are all someone has left to remember the face that they will never see again in this life. This is brought home even more-so if you have ever seen someone suffering from dementia, clutching onto their box of photos (memories) because they physically can’t remember one day to the next. It was this thinking that made me want to get out of my comfort zone and stop being stubborn about not doing portrait work.

On top of this, I have already been doing sports work for the local paper as well, which actually came first and had a hand in planting this seed in my mind. I realized that my photography meant much more when it was preserving memories of events in the lives of people.

So, as the days proceed, look for more activity here, as well as more variety in that activity as I will be sharing more from all of these interests. Join me on this journey. If you live near me, hit me up and we’ll preserve memories for you and your family.

Michael

Yellowstone: Day Six – The Last Day

by Mike

Day six… our last day here before leaving.

The day started out by resting.  Yesterday wore us (as my daughter would say) “smooth out”.  We took our time getting up and then roamed Gardiner to do the requisite t-shirt shopping!  Gotta get the kids and grandkids all taken care of.  I wasn’t going to get one, but then I saw one that said “The mountains are calling and I must go. – John Muir” and had to have it.  It expressed my feelings very well.

So, once we got that all taken care of, and then shipped the box of t-shirts home because our bags were already full, we headed back into the park for one final day.  We decided to give the Lamar Valley one final shot before calling it a day.

As usual, we entered the park and went to Mammoth, where the elk were lounging around being the center of attention.  I love how this one was lying right next to the sign saying “Danger! Do not approach ELK” as if to say, “I dare you.”  The people were being good though and kept the distance.  No “tourons” (tourist/moron) out today.

Turning east from Mammoth, it didn’t take long for us to find yet another bison herd.  They decided they needed to cross the street in front of us, and since in the national park the wildlife has the right of way, we stopped and waited for them to pass.  Besides, they really are beautiful creatures even if they are abundant here.

Further down the road, we caught a view of a couple of them who weren’t really getting along all that well at the moment.  They were kicking up dust and pushing each other around with their heads.  We watched for a while, but then they grew tired and just walked off together.  Maybe it was just an exhibition match for our enjoyment!

As we made it to the Lamar Valley, it became very overcast and rainy.  We stopped at the footbridge pullout to watch for wildlife, and I promptly fell asleep.  It was so peaceful, and with the sound of the light rain on the hood of the car, the next thing I knew I woke myself up snoring.  I turned to Karen and ask how long I had been out.  She said, “about 20 minutes.”  That was a very peaceful 20 minutes, let me tell you.

So not seeing any wildlife, we started up the car and began to make our way back.  We saw a few wolf-watchers sitting up on the hill near the confluence, but when we looked out over the valley we couldn’t see anything.  I later read that the pack was way out in the distance feeding on a recent kill, but they were way out beyond the reach of cameras.

Continuing back, I spotted this scene off in the distance and decided to pull over.  It reminded me of an old western painting of a frontier landscape with the bison crossing the river and the others up above the cliff.  Again, a very peaceful scene to add to the day.

If nothing else, this was certainly bison day.  As I approached a blind curve, a small gathering of bison decided they needed to go around the curve in my lane.  So, I let them.  They moved very slowly with me, and now 5 other vehicles behind, followed.  Once around the curve, they turned off on another road and allowed the rest of us to continue on.

I wanted to take one more pass over the Blacktail Plateau trail, hoping for one last glimpse of something exciting.  While there were no big mammals to be seen, I did catch a glimpse of this mountain bluebird.  He caught me by surprise so much that I didn’t really get a chance to focus on him before he flew off.  But one more bird to add to my list that I have seen.

Making it back to Mammoth, the elk are still the stars of the show.  You can expect to find them pretty much any time, and they are always happy to pose for your photographs.  Nothing like shooting wildlife “in town.”

And then, the saddest shot of all.  Our last sight of the “Leaving Yellowstone” sign.  It has been a wonderful trip and one we won’t soon forget.  Especially with the abundance of photos that we took.

God created some wonderful things for us to enjoy in this world and I can’t wait to see what He shows us next!   Until then, keep the batteries in those cameras charged.  You never know when a photographic opportunity will present itself to you!