Sunrise, Sand Beach, Acadia National Park.
Walking into the sunrise.
As the 52 Week Photo Theme Challenge comes to an end, so does our time in Maine. When you read this, we will be on our road journey back to Sarasota for the winter … and warm weather! Thank you to all who have followed my travels and photos for the past year. It’s been fun! Maybe I’ll just continue with my own themes.
Port Clyde Harbor, Maine.
Fall is in full force in Maine, with temps hoovering in the mid-50’s and 60’s lately which means …. I am ready to head back to Florida for the winter! October is a beautiful time in Maine, with leaf-bearing trees showing off their melting hues of yellow, orange and red. Even the rocky coastlines take on fall’s copper colors. Maybe one of these years I’ll stick around until the end of October … until then, I’ll view with envy my photographer friends’ images of Maine’s spectacular fall showcase.
Rockport Harbor, Maine.
As the summer season draws to a close, a few sailors have been enjoying some evening sails in our harbor. Many of the larger sailboats have been coming into the docks, unloading and preparing their boats to be hauled out. Soon, the harbor will only be speckled with mooring balls, like the Ralston one in the image, and a few lobster boats that remain throughout the winter.
The Olson House, Cushing, Maine.
The Olson House was the subject of many of Andrew Wyeth’s paintings and drawings and made famous from his painting, Christina’s World, now owned by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. I love this area of Maine and one can easily see how Wyeth was inspired by the surroundings. Every summer when in Maine, we visit the Olson House and I never tire finding new ways to capture its essence. On this particular day, it was not open and I had to be satisfied photographing through the windows. I particularly liked this image. If you look closely under the window, you can see my husband’s reflection patiently waiting on the bench in the yard.
The King, Richard’s River Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya.
Although our wonderful safaris were back in February, I still enjoy reviewing my images, and editing them at my leisure. This handsome fellow was relaxing in an open field as we drove by. We stopped and watched him for a bit, taking dozens of photos and interrupting his siesta. (Male lions spend about 18-20 hours a day snoozing!) He sat up, looked at us with disinterest and turned away sniffing at the air. Soon he laid back down and continued his nap.
Nikon d810, Tamron 150-600mm, 460mm, f/6
Scotland ewes.
On our recent Scotland trip, there were a number of iconic shots I wanted to get and one was of sheep. More specifically, a herd of sheep blocking a roadway. In the Scottish highlands, we only encountered that scene once, and it was only a few sheep that made us slow down to pass. So unfortunately, that image never materialized but along the way, I did happen to capture a variety of sheep and their lambs. In this image, the ewes were along the roadside and several cars had stopped to photograph them. They were quite curious of all the attention but soon went back to their grazing.
Cape Buffalo, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya
On one of our evening drives in Kenya looking for wildlife, we came upon this old Cape Buffalo, lying in the open, alone. He looked tired and lethargic and took no heed of our jeep as we pulled near … just calmly chewing his cud and watching us unalarmed. No other buffalo was around which seemed unusual, since they tend to stay in herds. Our Masai Mara guide explained to us that old bulls, like him, have been kicked out of the herd by younger, more virile males and lead a solitary existence. Unfortunately, without the protection of a herd, old bulls commonly fall prey to lions. I wonder if this ended up being his fate.
Fiscal Shrike in Tanzania Bush
There were so many beautiful birds we spotted on our recent Africa trip and … so many that I didn’t capture on camera. The ones I was able to capture, were not always photo sharp, to my dismay. But still, they provide wonderful memories. I so love birds and hope to get better at capturing their distinct beauty.
“Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?”
Nature historian David Attenborough
Vultures in Serengeti Sunrise, Tanzania.
When on safari, one doesn’t consider African vultures worthy of photographing when there are more beautiful creatures to capture. But one early morning at our mobile campsite on the Serengeti, there were a number sitting up in the trees, resting before the day began. They were a beautiful sight against the sunrise. I learned to appreciate these barbaric looking birds for their importance on the plains of Africa. Their ability to fly over 60 miles a day patrolling the plains plays a vital role in keeping the wild areas free of disease and rotting carcasses. They are incredibly efficient scavengers, leaving just bones, providing yet another meal for their competitors – the jackals, hyenas and feral dogs who will remove any remaining evidence of death.
Reena Walkling 