033020: Staying Home

It’s hard to be enthusiastic these days about most things, at least that is what I’m often  finding. Fortunately, though, a rare glimpse of sunlight broke through the dreariness the other day, enough to get me out the door with my camera. Doing was what was important, not so much results.

So, today a mix of things out my studio door – fossils (of course), rocks, etc. Just some things I decided to focus on, to find some solace in such a strange time. Best wishes and stay well!

Mollusc With Brachiopod Tiara

Brachiopods with Lichen

Cephalopod

Rock Flame

Brachiopods

Another Brachiopod

Yet Another Brachiopod

Brachiopod Potpourri

( A note regarding brachiopods. There are over 12,000 fossil species recognized. These marine invertebrates have existed on this planet for roughly 550 million years. The ones seen here are 385-387 million years old)

Shale

Gnarled Wood

 Rough Skin

Grate

Industry

Thanks for the visit. Be well.

101719: Revisit

I had such a good, productive time last week visiting my local quarry that I decided to give it another shot. All it took was a couple of hours poking through the loose rock to come up with this week’s post.

So today is something of a continuation of last week’s post – an even mix of fossils (brachiopods, mollusc, gastropods) and brilliant color (thanks to oxidization).

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I’ll close today with a simple image of the fading colors of mid Autumn.

Thanks for the visit.

101316: Creekside

Last week I mentioned the “low water” conditions we have been experiencing in the Northeast (nothing compared to the severe drought conditions out west). Close to home, Kaaterskill Creek is at a severe low point, which makes it a fine place to explore. Much that is never accessible now is. What is usually underwater now is either above water or just below, making parts of the creek bed more plainly visible.

So, above and below the water line, here is some of what I found over several days of exploration.

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There are always fossils to be found down there as well. Above is a mollusk. Below are a couple of brachiopods. All were found in rocks in the creek bed.

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I couldn’t resist adding this one from the side of the creek – tree roots dropping down a rock wall into the ground. This particular portion of root is taller than I am!

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Wrapping up this week’s selection are a pair of images that reflect the transition into Autumn.

Thanks for the visit.

072816: Abbreviated

July heat, way too much time spent watching the conventions, and a new project all have played a role in this being a shortened, somewhat abbreviated post this week.The new project, a drawing/mixed media effort, has me pretty excited over possibilities. The opening image, which I have titled “Galileo’s Dream,” builds upon my recent drawing efforts over the past few years. More to come as time goes by.

I have a handful of new fossil images to fill things out today and start with two versions of a mollusk fossil I found in central New York last year.

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Coral

Two brachiopod images.

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And last for today, a pair of crinoid stems from my favorite neighborhood quarry.

Posts might be spotty for the next month or so, what with vacation and drawing competing for my time with the fossil process (finding and photographing). I am most fortunate to have these as my daily options.

Thanks for the visit.

060916: Testing Equipment

That’s a partial crinoid ossicle sitting on a lichen covered rock that starts off this week’s selection of images. All the images today are the result of testing some new equipment. It used to be that all you needed to know was aperture and shutter speed on a mechanical device. Everything today calls for maneuvering digital menus – all of which vary from system to system. It’s not rocket science. It just takes a bit more time to become familiar. And so I immediately began shooting all that was handy.

One of the first subjects I approached was my newest collection – gnarled old trunks and knotty boughs that I drag out of the woods.

Seems the more I wander through nature the more I find objects that both fascinate and intrigue me.

Of course, the piles of fossil laden rocks that surround my studio provided me with endless opportunities to test out my new camera as well as a new lens for one of my other cameras.

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Even without fossils, some rocks prove to be worthy subjects on their own.

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I even had a good bit of luck as a luna moth made its annual appearance amid my testing. I think I’m getting a handle on this new equipment!

Thanks for the visit.