A Bloy and his Blog » Thoughts

Cattail sunset

Jonathan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:57:14 +0000

I can finally tell the sun is setting just a little later every day. For me, the darkness of winter is worse than the cold. I’m glad the light is moving in the right direction again.

Trusting the wind

Jonathan — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 17:07:54 +0000

If the milkweed plant were human, would it let the wind carry away all of its hopes and dreams so easily?

A cool place to sit

Jonathan — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:57:25 +0000

The warmest heatwave of the summer so far has just begun. Rather than get all sweaty by shooting some pictures outside, I decided to keep cool by staying in and looking though some winter photos. Wouldn’t a seat on this bench feel good right now?

The driftwood’s journey

Jonathan — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:24:29 +0000

While I was along the Mississippi River, I noticed a very large piece of driftwood passing by.

I wondered how far north it was when it fell into the river. Where is it now?

When I last saw it, the current was carrying the driftwood downstream at a pretty good pace. I like to think that someone in New Orleans saw the same driftwood float by, and wondered the same thing I did.

Reaching for the sun

Jonathan — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:16:08 +0000

Some trees always seem to be reaching higher. Over the years they continue to strive for heights not yet attained. They wait patiently through cold winters, and resume their hard work again in spring — always keeping their focus on that goal of growing bigger.

The next time I think giving up would be easy but not the best choice, I’m going to remember this tree.

Tracks to far off places

Jonathan — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:40:51 +0000

What is it about trains that we find so fascinating? Even when I see empty tracks I’m compelled to wonder (and take a photo). Where to they lead? What’s around the bend?

Cold thoughts

Jonathan — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:44:45 +0000

A few random thoughts inspired by the brutally cold weather we’ve been having…

1. I saw a few finches hanging out and chirping in a tree outside the building at work this morning. When I see small creatures like that surviving in sub-zero temperatures, I’m just amazed. How does such a little, warm blooded animal generate enough heat to keep from freezing to death?

2. Do you ever wonder about the Native peoples that populated this area hundreds and thousands of years ago? How on Earth did they get along in their wigwams during bitter cold spells? Makes it hard to complain when you imagine what they had to deal with, doesn’t it?

3. Often during bad winter storms, or below zero temps, some people invariably proclaim they’re ready to move south. When I hear that I think, “no thank you.” Moving in that direction means more heat and humidity in the summer. As bad as winter can get in Wisconsin, I’d rather deal with extreme cold and snow than extreme heat and humidity.

On taking great photographs

Jonathan — Tue, 30 May 2006 00:40:02 +0000

I’ve had a few compliments on some of the photographs I post here, and I know there are a few people who read this blog who like to play with their cameras too. With that in mind, here’s an interesting read I stumbled across, How to make great photographs.

The following point struck a nerve with me:

Photography is the art of communicating passion. You need to be passionate about whatever it is that you photograph. If you are passionate you’ll get great results, if you don’t care, you won’t.

Maybe that’s why I like to take outdoor photographs so much (and why those are the ones I get compliments on).

A good read for those of you interested in photography. Check it out.