A mighty oak

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The Stillwater River is so scenic and beautiful. This was taken on the south side of Englewood Reserve. Just to the left of this scene there is a large oak tree. It’s reported to be over 250 years old, and measures about 15 feet in circumference. Think about it ... that tree was likely a sapling when the declariaiton of independence was signed.  Several feet up the tree, there is a red maker. It indicates the water level during the 1913 flood. This tree has stood the test of time .. it stood for something. 

“Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterdays nut that held it’s ground”  ~ Rosa Parks

 ~ Rick

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2017 Rick Cartwright

My head in the clouds

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It was late February, 2016 and I’m NOT in my comfort zone. I have an intense fear of heights. I took this shot from worlds tallest building, located in Dubai. To be exact, the Burj Khalifa is 2,722 feet tall. That is a bit higher than my average walk takes me. The view from the top is amazing, and while I was not at the top, but it sure felt like it. 

Dubai is a very interesting place. It is surrounded by water and desert, mostly the latter. This view does not do the size and scale justice. It really does not cover that much square footage, but it is the largest and the most populous city in the UAE. 

Along with a few friends, we went on a desert safari. We rode camels, had some interesting foods, and surfed the dunes (well, I guess that’s what you call it).   

Have a great week!  

~ Rick

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2017 Rick Cartwright

Team ugly in a tree ...

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Vulture .. now that creates images. It was a gloomy, overcast day, and Teresa and I took a walk at Garbry Big Woods last week when we came on this cast of Turkey Vultures hanging out in this tree. I have heard a group of vultures called a ‘cast’, a ‘wake’, and even a ‘committee’. I like to call it ‘team ugly’, but I’ll just use ‘cast’.  

When we first spotted him, it was a lone vulture, but within minutes, nine of his buddy’s showed up. I have never seen so many in a tree like this before. You normally see them circling in the sky, looking for something to scavenge. I recently read that they are attracted to the smell of mercaptan (a gas produced by the beginnings of decay). Sounds disgusting, but their immune system is unique, and protects them from disease that is associated with decaying animals. 

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They are beautiful flyers, but they are ugly when they are on the ground. I guess they have their own unique beauty.

I often see them flying lower to the ground near the river. I saw the one to the left over the Stillwater river yesterday on a walk in Englewood Reserve. It was no more than 20 feet off the ground at home point.  After two quick scans of the river bed, he resumed his much higher altitude hunt. 

Shortly after I took that picture, someone stopped us and said that Eagles had been in the area earlier in the day. I am sorry we missed that. Maybe next time.  

 ~ Rick

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2017 Rick Cartwright

Stretching for the clouds

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The trees seemed to stand extra tall this week. Perhaps this is because the fall foliage is slowly giving way to a more bare, natural look. The trees appear to be reaching for the sky, and while they are rooted to the earth, they continue to stretch out to the heavens. 

I was talking to a friend about my goal of spending some time ‘living’ in Italy. Not indefinitely ... we have grandchildren here, and we love seeing them as often as possible. This would be long enough to experience the culture in a deep, meaningful way. My good friend commented that this was out of reach. I suppose the trees could feel that way too, and never reach for lofty goals in the clouds. 

I was once told that Confucius said, “If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it’s OK. But you’ve got to shoot for something. A lot of people don’t even shoot.” Think big!  


 ~ Rick

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2017 Rick Cartwright

A view out the window

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I have so many pictures that I have taken from airplane windows. I don’t usually sit in a window seat, but on this occasion, Teresa had the window and I was able to take this photo. We were landing and the view was just stunning. This shot was in Utah, as we approached Salt Lake City. I believe that is the Colorado River in the valley. 

 

~ Rick

 

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2017 Rick Cartwright