Interrupting dinner

Picture this: I’m driving across a country road. I had just finished taking several really good photos, and I was heading home. Just ahead of me, on the left side of the road I see something. I could not tell what it was right away, but it was an animal .. maybe a dog?

As I get closer, I see this very large broad-winged hawk. I could not tell what he had killed, but he was not going to fly away with it. As I slowly drive by with my window down, he looked over his back at me, then turned and continued to devour dinner. I stopped a short distance down road and took this photo. 

I am interested in some feedback on the identity of this bird. I really believe it’s a male Broad-Winged Hawk, but it has some characteristics of a female Peregrine Falcon. Thoughts? 

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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.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Ducks on cold water ...

Even the ducks looked cold on this spring morning. It was cold. The second photo was taken earlier, on the same chilly morning. They were all hunkered down, trying to get warm. 

The lighting was very different in these two photos. I shot the 1st one before the sunrise was complete, and the second shot after the lighting was better. They are very different photos. 

~ Rick  

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 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.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Stand tall, stand out, sycamore

I see these trees several times a week. They stand out .. taller, bigger, and unique. The best way to get noticed is to stand out. Do better work, unique work .. just be outstanding. 

~ Rick

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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.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Hey, where did you come from?

While not the best cardinal photo in my collection, the story is interesting. Earlier this week, I took a morning drive. I was trying to get a good sunrise photo. I was also trying to learn the hunting patterns of our local eagles. After several sunrise photos, and some time watching the eagles nest, I stopped to take a walk along the river.

After a few photos, I was getting cold so I headed back to the car. As I was just about to leave the trail, I looked up, and there he was ... just watching my every move. I had my large lens on the camera which helped me to capture this shot. I kept thinking, pleased stay there for a few more seconds. I was having focus issues with all the tree limbs. Snap ... got it. Even got two of them before he flew off.  

I am always grateful for every one of natures creatures that stops long enough for me to take a photograph. I think the tree makes the shot extra cool. A special moment with nature.  

~ Rick

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 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.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Snow happens

Black and White landscape shots of a freshly fallen snow are great. I love the detail in this photo! 

The first day of spring was beautiful, but the second day was a little different. After the beautiful sunrise photos I posted earlier this week, this was not what I expected. I think we had about four inches of snow overnight. I took this photo later in the morning. It was not a sunrise, but it was beautiful.

Freshly falling show tends to make everything look new. By this time of year, we are all ready for the snow to stop, the temperatures to start climbing, and natrue to awaking. The reality: this is how nature works. I was looking at a photo from 5 years ago today. Guess what ...  snow. We are at the time of year where we are in transition. The temperatures go up and down, and sometimes, it snows.  

That is not that much different than how life works. We have our ups and downs. We can’t control nature, but we can control our response. Walk outdoors and take a deep breath today. Enjoy what nature has to offer you, and make it the best day you can.  

~ Rick

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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.

©2018 Rick Cartwright