The great snow of ten days ago is just a distant memory, as is the utter deluge of rain that followed it. We had a good several inches of rain bucket down, accompanied by stiff winds and chilly temperatures. Goodness knows we needed the moisture that both snow and rain provided, although overall at this time of year rain seems like the better option. It’s pretty rare for us to get a really good rainfall at a time of year when we really need it, so maybe we’re off to the start of a good pattern for the spring and summer.
Once it dried up, it warmed up as well, and the past few days have been about as nice as anyone could want. Guess I should really say as nice as “I” could want. I’m not a fan of hot weather, so the 18-22C (64-70F) temperatures of the last few days are pretty well ideal from my point of view. I’d be happy if it never got any hotter. Add in the refreshing breezes, blue skies, and bright sun, and things are pretty darn pleasant. I’m looking forward to the garden making big advances with the warmth and sun on top of the good rain we had. The enjoyable thing about this time of year is that the irritating biting, stinging and just plain annoying insects of summer have yet to make an appearance, although word has it that tick season has started early. I’ll have to take that into account when I’m out wandering in the country with my camera.
I’ve gone into my “summer” mode of not being able to make myself stay in the house much, even to work in the studio. I tend to log late hours in the studio over spring and summer, since I can’t settle to indoor work as long as it’s light outside. We’re lunching on our front “sidewalk cafe” area most days now, and can leave windows open by day and a little bit by night. It still gets down to single digits(C) at night so there are limits there. The houseplants that winter in the studio are heading off to the outdoors greenhouse (on a timed heater at night as required) as an intermediate stage before they get to live outdoors full-time which won’t be safe for another month or so. Still, we’re on our way and it feels great. This isn’t to say it couldn’t or won’t snow yet again, but just now it’s all good.
I’ve been more in photo mode since the weather got nicer and the fields have dried up. I got a heads up from my friend that owns the Friesian/Clydesdale/Shire herd to let me know that the first foal was on the ground, and also that her Friesian stallion had sold and would be moving along later this month. That was all I needed to want to rush right out there and get shots, which I did yesterday morning. My first photo shoot of these horses was a couple of months back, catching the last of the snow cover as a background for my shots. I was surprised at how dry things were (again) west of the city where she is located, despite all the snow and rain of the last two weeks, unlike Ebon stables east of the city where my horse lives, which is pretty much a sea of mud at the moment.
Shot one was taken en route to Ebon last week. I could see that there was something large and white in one of the water-filled dips in the fields on the east side of the road, and was thrilled to note on closer inspection that it was a small group (five in all) of wild Trumpeter swans taking a break from their migration to points north. I did the best I could for photos from the car window. I know from experience that you can’t approach these birds on foot without spooking them into the air, and I didn’t want to disturb their well-earned moments of peace and quiet in the field. It’s never a coincidence that they take their rest breaks in very open areas where they can see all around. This “pit stop” had a bit of water, enough to paddle in at any rate, and was located in a grain field with snack potential, so it filled the bill quite nicely for them.

Shot two is from yesterday’s shoot at Mythic Friesians. Here Random, the Friesian stallion, is galloping with his friend the Gypsy cob stallion, who isn’t very visible in this shot. Random (well, both boys really) obliged me with a great display of action and I got some nice shots. They could have been even nicer if I’d had the correct settings on the camera, but I didn’t pick up on that problem until after the shoot was over. I’m working with “Nikon minor” at the moment as my big Nikon, the one I know a lot better, is off for some diagnostics. Bottom line, as usual, is user/human error. Sigh. At least for the most part these days I’m generating new mistakes instead of repeating the old ones, and in my world that counts as progress.

Shot three is of the Clydesdale foal, also from yesterday’s shoot. This is a little colt, and his “first-time” mom is doing a good job with him. There will be several more babies coming along in the next weeks and it will be fun to visit with them once they are at the stage of playing and interacting with each other. I have to say this little guy is pretty different in style and shape from the Warmblood babies I am more used to photographing.

Shot four was taken at noon today as we were lunching on the front patio area. I noticed the lovely colours and shapes of the new growth on this shrub. I chose and planted everything in this area, but darned if I can remember what this is!

Shot five is also from the “lunch shoot”. We have a well-located bird bath and feeding area out front, and with my new bigger lens I can get even closer in with my shots taken from the outdoor eating area. I was expecting the usual sparrows at the birdbath when this fine American robin came by for a drink. I was hoping he’d opt for a bath as well since they are fun to photograph when they are flailing about in the water, but apparently that wasn’t on the agenda for today. Still, a very nice photo op.

©Copyright 2010 by Judy Wood. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.