I went for a hike at Carver Park Reserve this morning and took my long lens (Canon 100-400 mm with 1.4 Telephoto Extender). In past years I had seen trumpeter swan families swimming on a small lake there. I hoped to find them today. I was lucky! As soon as I walked down to the dock of the lake, there they were on the far side of the lake, preening and watching their four cygnets.
Even with a long lens I still had to crop these images. I stood and photographed them for some time. The light was harsh and bright. It was very warm, I was sweating, and the telephoto lens was so heavy. But I’m happy I went and I’m happy I took my telephoto lens so that I could see the sweet cygnets.
For me, spending time in
Nature Heals
And after the past week I felt much in need of nature’s balm.
“A walk in nature, walks the soul back home.”
– Mary Davis
Everywhere I went today the birds were singing and calling to one another. A great blue heron flew high overhead and I managed to get a couple of shots of it that weren’t blurry.
Just where the dock by the lake met the land, there was a swallowtail butterfly sitting on a pile of goose poop. I waited and waited until it moved (thinking that I really didn’t want to photograph a pile of poop, even if there was a butterfly perched on it). And finally it moved. It was really helpful to have the telephoto lens because I could get a closeup of the butterfly while standing far enough away from it that I didn’t frighten it.
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
– John Muir
It’s true. Nature heals.
When was the last time you took a walk in nature?
May you walk in beauty.
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