Spring's First Knockout Rose in Morning Light

The thing about getting a new macro lens, in my case the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens, is it causes you to want to photograph everything up close, really close. In this case, here's the first Knockout Rose of the Spring, pictured in early morning light.

Wisps of Color on a Winter Landscape, Alabama

With a conflicted state of mind as to whether actually to stop and photograph on this miserably cold winter morning, I was rewarded with this pre-dawn landscape of two weathering the dreary months in solitude. Here seen as colors were just beginning to decorate the surface and sky.

Recently, I have been told that this somewhat looks like a momma tree and a baby tree growing alongside one another, and I rather like the thought of that.

Wisps of Color on Barren Trees in a Winter Landscape in Montgomery County, Alabama

Pre-Dawn Landscape of Barren Winter Trees, Alabama

On a recent trek across the state, when I had to set out before anything else was stirring, I came across this scene on a bleak winter morning. The sun was just about to break the eastern horizon, and I drove past thinking: (1) there might be something there, and (2) it's cold and I'd really rather not get out of the car. So after a half-mile's worth of deliberation, I turned around, and I'm retroactively grateful to myself for doing so.

Winter Landscape of Lonely Trees near Red Level, Montgomery County, Alabama

This and other scenes from about the state can be found at the "Alabama the Beautiful" gallery.

Heavy Morning Mist at the Swamp at Shady Grove

Heavy Morning Mist at the Swamp at Shady Grove

on Newfound Creek in Gardendale, Alabama

Family Outing on a Hazy Morning, Rails-to-Trails

Family Outing in the Cool, Hazy Light of an Early, Autumn Morning

at the Rails-to-Trails at Black Creek Park, Fultondale, Alabama

Hazy Mid-Morning Hike at the Cahaba River

A Hazy Mid-Morning Hike on the Trail at the Cahaba River in Birmingham, Alabama

Monochrome Morning over Birmingham, Alabama

Monochrome Morning over Birmingham, Alabama

Black Creek Park :: Soaking up the Early Morning Sun

This stand of trees is eagerly soaking up some early morning sunlight at the outset of a hazy summer day. With Black Creek at their feet and sunshine streaming through their leaves, it seems like there is little more a tree could ask for. Perhaps a songbird or two, rather than the mimicking squawk of a mockingbird.

Copse of Trees at Black Creek Park, Fultondale, Alabama

Misty Morning in a Fultondale Wood

On a misty, rainy morning in June, a neighbor allowed me access to the woods behind his home for the purpose of photographing this scene. On most days, it's a nice enough scene, but on this day, the climactic conditions come together to make it particularly appreciable. My favorite part of this photograph is its low-key nature that perfectly reflects the mood of the morning.

When I walked out my front door to walk up the street to the neighbor's house, there was a light drizzle, but little more. But as soon as I set up my tripod and got everything ready, the bottom seemed to fall out of the clouds. I wasn't worried about the lens as much, because the EF 24-105mm f/4 L is largely weather-sealed, but the camera, a mere Rebel T2i, is not. Nor is most of the other equipment that was in the bag (also not weather-proof). But I kept shooting nonetheless, because the lighting was just right, and in the end, everything turned out alright - particularly the photograph. 

The Heavens are Ablaze

The heavens are ablaze with amber light

The morning star has ruptured

Its embers setting fire

to kindling clouds

A rampant conflagration that abates

only as flaming fingers

reach the western horizon

Rolling Hills on a Misty Summer Morning

Misty Morning in Fultondale, Alabama