Category Archives: Landscape

Sunset and a Shrimp Boat

December 5, 2017 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

I was searching for a spot to take the rising “super” moon on Sunday. Unfortunately along with the full moon comes high tide eliminating the best spots to get most local landmarks in the shot. I finally decided to try the road that crosses Folly Creek which would have the bonus of a good spot to see the sun go down.

Sunset with Docked Shrimp Boat – click on photo for larger view

A couple of commercial shrimp boats dock on this spit of land and make a nice addition to a sunset photo.

My moon shots were a bust due to my own failings. I thought the horizon was clouding over and that the chances the moon would be visible at the horizon were low. So I walked away from the car without my tripod. Using the bridge railing to steady my shots wasn’t enough at the required slow speeds. Maybe the weather will cooperate next month, or maybe the next, for another try.

Landscape

Pond in Fall Colors

December 2, 2017 Ellen Jennings 10 Comments

We recently toured the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, a 20,000 acre property on the coast of South Carolina that is managed by the state Department of Natural Resources. The Center is only accessible by crossing the Intracoastal Waterway by boat and only on pre-arranged tours.

The property is magnificent and includes some fresh water ponds that were glowing with reflected color and rippled by passing Alligators.

Landscape

Layers

November 25, 2017 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Layers of clouds, sand, water and color change quickly with the setting sun. I felt like I was at the end of the earth.

Click photo for larger image.

Landscape, Wading Birds

Tricolored Heron All Lined Up

November 22, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

A Tricolored Heron lined up with a few small trees and pond debris that have gotten hung up in the middle of the old rice field pond.

He looked like he might be trying to hide in plain sight. It was a drab scene with grey water and brown vegetation. I liked it better in monochrome.

Landscape

Anhinga Fishing

November 21, 2017 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I saw the Anhinga flip the fish in the air and catch it. Too far for a bird picture, but the fall colors reflecting in the pond made the photo.

Click photo for larger view.

Landscape, Nature

Sunset

November 15, 2017 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

My sunset photographs rarely do the real scene justice. Often it is because there is nothing in the foreground to make a good composition. These dead trees on a nearby beach are a little something but I didn’t get a great angle.

Knowing the right spots for the time of year is a help. So is luck. Now that we are in our second year in South Carolina I might do better with the locations. For the luck, all you can do is get out there.

This evening the sunset was spectacular. Really.

Taken 11/14/2017, Folly Beach, SC.

Landscape, Wading Birds

Racing the Rising Sun

November 8, 2017 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

Taking photographs of the rising or setting sun highlights just how quickly the earth moves. During the rest of the day you are hardly aware of this, but when working to position yourself in just the right spot at either end of daylight you feel like you are racing against the sun.

This Great Blue Heron seemed content with his chosen spot to watch the marsh start a new day. He stayed put until the sun was fully up and the glare kept me from seeing him.

Just four minutes after the first shot above, the photograph below was taken just before the sun would be blinding in my face.

Landscape

Foggy Sunrise

October 28, 2017 Ellen Jennings 11 Comments

It was perfectly still as the sun was coming up with the fog just hanging in place. A single Great Blue Heron disturbed by our passing disappeared to the other side of the pond.

As it got a little brighter hundreds of Pelicans passed over us in undulating formations. No perfect Vs like the Canada Geese on the move for them: the general direction was south but the line weaved and occasionally a group swung around in a loop.

It was well worth getting up early to see this!

Click on either photo for a larger view.

Landscape

Early Morning Pond

October 27, 2017 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

A serene morning at the pond with very few birds or alligators making an appearance. A lone Great Blue Heron glided in and a King Fisher rested in the tree.