A Hot One

My Grandson James took this photo with his iPhone - makes me laugh... the squirrel found a cool place...  he looks plum tuckered out.

Birds of a Feather

How many birds can you fit on a feeder?  I love the bird on the left caught in mid-flap...

RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI stopped by overnight at our church.  We had groups from all over the U.S.

Red Glass

Bath Tub

This leaf has formed a little bath tub for bashful spiders and bugs.  Not sure what they use the brown leaf for - lunch while they bathe?

Red Headed Finch

Hello There!!

We went to Lowes today and were wondering around in the garden area and the plants were filled with butterflies.  I asked the Department Manager if it was ok to take some photos so I chased the butterflies...(actually they sat pretty still)... (shot with my Canon 100MM f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens).

When Is It My Turn?

When is it my turn?  He is waiting patiently above the feeder waiting for the crowd to clear...

Bashful Spider

I had a spit second to focus and fire - he then disappeared into the plant.  I waited - but, he didn't come back.

Safe At Home

Ity-Bity Purple Flower

I love the new macro lens...this flower is smaller than the nail on my pinky finger.

Grandma's Helpers

Grandma has a lot of help in the kitchen...

Lakeside Bird Condo

Even the birds have their condos t Clear Lake...

Macro Red Flower

A Macro red flower...

Blue Flower

I took this at a friends house in Clear Lake, Iowa.  Perhaps Mother Nature could tell me what kind of a flower it might be...

Behind the Scenes

Art in the park at the College Hill Art Festival - is that behind the scene, or behinds in the scene?

This Guy Won't Give Up

He keeps coming back - 

Calkins Nature Center

I visited Calkins Nature Center in Iowa Falls, Iowa yesterday working on an IFHS Class of 1969 Project.  I used a Neutral Density filter, really for the first time, since I was taking photographs in the middle of the day in harsh sunlight.  It softened the light a bit and kept a blue sky blue.

I didn't go inside the TeePee as it was 95 degrees outside with a humidity of at least that...  I have no idea what the heat index was but it had to be 1,000 (I exaggerate for effect).

Macro Flower

New Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro Lens

Chief Ted E. Bear

The "Chief" helped me out this evening and modeled for me while I tried out a new light meter and background.  Had a particular difficult time with skin tone and the Chief just wouldn't sit still.  Patience persevered...

Saddleback Dragonfly

My grandson James called the other day and wanted to make sure that I brought my camera when I picked him up for his week long visit.  It seems he had discovered a dragonfly in a spider's web and he wanted me to take a picture.  The above is a "painted" version of the photograph - both James I think its cool.

For the purists here is the original photo.

Young Construction Worker

This young construction worker was helping his Dad on a Habitat for Humanity Project.

Red Pepper

Back in the isle at HyVee (Grocery Store).  

Foul Ball

Unfortunately the catcher caught it and she was out - the 3rd one for the inning.

On Your Mark...Get Set...

Go...

Eyes

Eyes -

A Few Damp Moments

The Day was wet and rainy - skies cleared for the fireworks, but...it was damp now and then.

Fireworks

This year my photos are better than the last several years. I have learned a new technique or two and they seemed to work - you be the judge.

July 4th fireworks at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids. Here is a link to the other photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rallenhill/sets/72157624426418602/

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy 4th of July!!

Color Yellow

The color yellow...

Out of the Park

She packed a whollop!!!

A Near Miss

The Mouser

This Keylie (I imagine I misspelled her name) - the shop cat. She has a reputation as an avid mouser...