On This Day - May 2020
They are being accumulated by month/year simply to minimize the time needed to post them here.
For the month of May, there were 3 days for which I was unable to find an image I thought worth sharing for those days...
- May 7th
- May 8th
- May 29th
One of the more attractive wildflowers I typically find in my yard in spring. I believe this is known as 'Spiderwort'. In addition to its attractive coloration, I find the plant itself interesting as it tends to grow fairly tall for a wildflower and has a look that's not terribly dissimilar than that of a corn stalk.
The Nathan Park Bandstand in Pagoda Circle within Forest Park...the 1300 acre city park in St Louis founded in 1876 and the location of the 1904 World's Fair.
Lake Tishomingo 0306, 05/24/2020
After yesterday's storm began to exit the area, I left the house to run an errand and was delighted to spot this as I passed the lakefront. Gave a brorf thought to going back home to grab the 'real' camera, but figured the light would be gone by the time I got back, so grabbed this with the iPhone.
Captured on our 'activity' day of a conference I was attending for business. My chosen activity was sailing, and there were 10-12 of us on a 42 ft sailboat. Big fun!
It wasn't going to be much of an evening for long exposures, so I had headed out in hopes of capturing sunset. Though it was a bit early for that event when this was captured, I was attracted to the framing of the one tree out some distance in the lake still being lit by the sun while the cypress closer to shore were already falling in heavy shadow.
From my front garden.
Smelting Works Rd 002, 05/12/2006
This road runs roughly between Fairview Heights, IL and Swansea. It's one I would routinely take when going to visit my parents in Swansea. On this spring day, this field of yellow something-or-others was in full bloom.
Lake Tishomingo 003, 05/09/2010
Lake Tishomingo 003, 05/09/2010 A sunrise on the lake looking almost directely west. Add in a little mist rising off the lake and the sun *just* beginning to strafe the treetops, and you get this.
Jefferson County 025, 05/04/2007
Jefferson County 025, 05/04/2007 . #OnThisDay - 05/04 . The sunset image for this day comes from the lake community where I reside in 2007. And is pretty much 'SOOC'. Little processing done other than bringing up the shadows some and adjusting contrast. No saturation was added. The colors were just that vivid!
From a visit to my sister's house. I recall this one because, though it was cloudy and a bit threatening immediately over us at the time, this view to the north gave the impression somewhere up that way was probably getting pounded by storms.
Castor River Shut-Ins 009, 05/26/2014
The Castor River Shut-Ins are located within the Amidon Conservation Area in SE Missouri. It's one of a handful of this pinkish salmony colored granite can be found. Makes for som interesting imagery!
Just because every photographer needs a dandelion detail image in their catalog. :)
A sunrise I absolutely didn't expect to exhibit any color when I first arrived on the scene. The cloud cover was very heavy, but I got lucky when a sliver of warmth appeared on the horizon.
Jefferson County 040, 05/17/2009
The spillway for our lake creates something of a waterfall as the excess lake water goes over it. This particular section captured my attention simply because of the numerous cascades flowing in such a contained space. At most, we're looking at an area no larger than 4x6ft.
Lake Tishomingo 008, 05/14/2008
Another sunset from the lake. At least this one provides a slightly different view!
Jefferson County 016, 05/11/2007
Another from the lake's shoreline near the community house. It's always been a treat to find my way to this location during the time of year when the sun was setting directly over the opposite end of the lake.
Grocery Store Orchids, 05/06/2018
Grocery Store Orchids, 05/06/2018 . #OnThisDay for 05/06 --- Apparently. May 6 is not a date I often have the camera out capturing images as the pickings in my catalog for this day were rather slim. This particular variety of orchid readily available in just about every grocery store 'flower shop' (at least in this part of the world) I appreciate for it's overall simple gentleness while also retaining some intricate detail in its 'heart'.
A wildflower captured somewhere along the edge of my back yard. This species...whatever that may be...I've always found interesting for all the intricate little details found in its structure. The 'layers' of blooming, the 'measles' on its pedals, the fuzzy little hairs, and even the veining on the underside of each layer's bloom. It tends to remind of one of those old buildings with oodles of cornices, fenestrations, lintels, etc.
Jefferson National Barracks Cemetery 020, 05/25/2015
Though not included here, my parents' headstone can be found in this cemetery. There are too many here, just too many and we can't be thankful enough to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
One of the remaining structures from the 1904 Worlds Fair held in St. Louis, MO. For a terrific overview of the fair and some wonderful images of it, check out this article... https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/09/the-1904-st-louis-worlds-fair-photos/597658/
August A Busch Conservation Area 0007, 05/19/2019
One of those images I would categorize as an 'Oh So Close, But No Cigar' shots. While the clouds and their motion were tailor made for long exposures on this am, it was also just windy enough to be blowing the trees around a fair amount as well. And though it doesn't look too terribly bad in a web size format, blown up, the motion in the 'leaves' turns into a rather unattractive gray blob.
A relaxing walk around Forest Park in St Louis, MO. At the time, it seemed a bit unusual to find this egret lounging around in a city park.
Sandy Creek Historic Site 002, 05/13/2007
Sandy Creek Historic Site is roughly a 15 minute drive from my place. And the first few years I resided in the area, I visited the site with some regularity. But it's a difficult location to find interesting compositions. This option is ok and probably provides the best view of the bridge itself of the possibilities I've tried. But it completely ignores the stream running beneath it. If I navigate down to the water on either side, there's another 'ok' composition if I wade out into the middle of the stream. But then the viewer is just looking at a straight on view of one or the other side of the bridge...not terribly exciting either. It's a shame I've not found something more interesting. Overall, it's a pleasant site to visit. It just doesn't seem to lend itself to photogenic views. This capture from an early morning session in 2007 is probably the best I've managed at this site.
Interesting to find an image of blooming dogwoods captured on a 5/10 date. Typically, they are all bloomed out by this time.
Clingmans Dome 055, 05/05/2015
Clingmans Dome 055, 05/05/2015 . #OnThisDay for 05/05 comes from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 'The Dome' can be a crapshoot at sunrise. Wouldn't be unusual to find it covered in fog and/or low hanging clouds so thick one can barely see 100ft in any direction. Fortunately, I happened to be there on one of its more elegant mornings. :)