Eastern Bluebird

I spotted these lovebirds while hiking around on a brisk spring morning. They are not actually ‘lovebirds’. They are just a couple of Eastern Bluebirds that happen to a ‘happy couple’. The male is very colorful, and they are both beautiful. 

Teresa and I were actually setting in her SUV, when I spotted him. At fist, I thought it was a sparrow, until I focused my camera on him. The photo is slightly out of focus. In fact, every shot I took of him was slightly out of focus. Not far from that spot, I took the photo of his mate (my assumption since the are monogamous). 

I read that the Eastern Birdbird Numbers are declining due to competition for nesting sites from field sparrows and starlings (iBird Pro). I love it. 

 ~ Rick

A Female Eastern Bluebird

The other half .. mail Eastern Bludbird 

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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

Hungry, hungry squirrels

Spring has arrived and the squarrels are very active. I was in my Mini, driving across this narrow bridge at Garbry Big Woods when I saw something moving in what was otherwise a barren tree. Normally, the squirrels take off before I can take a photo. This guy was more interested in the nuts or whatever he was chewing on. He ignored me and my car, so I sit there taking several photos, and then drove off. 

The second squirrel was at Yosemite where we saw him on a hike. Teresa snapped this photo before my eyes could even locate him. He was less forgiving of our intrusion, and hopped, skipped and just flat out ran to the nearest tree.  

I see a squirrel almost every day. They are very common. I love their curiosity. They are fun to watch.  

~ 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

Natures lighting

It was cloudy and Teresa was driving the rental car. We were in Nevada and at places, the clouds allows rays of sun to create some interesting shadows across the mountains. This shot captured that well. I love the highlights on the top of the mountain, as well as across the valley floor . 

Some of the best photos are simply a matter of using nature’s lighting (and shadows) to create awesome effects on the landscape. 

~ 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

A big rock with a view

El Capitan ... over 3000 vertical feet of solid rock. Most of the photos you see of El Cap do not include this road, the cars, or the people. I love this photo because of the road, cars and the people. They brings context to the image. I normally don’t like to include ‘man-made stuff’ in my nature landscape photos, but in this case, I think it makes for a better photo. 

What you don’t see is the view behind me. Bridalveil Falls is a short hike away, and not far from here you can see Half Dome, another amazing ‘rock’.

These three natural monuments are most frequently mentioned when someone talks about Yosemite National Park, and perhaps are the most photographed. It’s an amazing place. 

~ 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

Eastern Phoebe, maybe?

Identifying birds is difficult. Some species look like others, and lighting can make it more confusing. This photo is an example. I believe this is a Eastern Phoebe. It has a green tent to it’s belly, and all the right colors. That said, it’s feathers don’t look right, and maybe it’s a too big. When I first saw her, I thought it was a sparrow .. until I got home and looked at the photos. For now, it’s a Phoebe.  

~ 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