14 September, 2014     Working backwards

Normally I start posts early or mid-week and build it up as the week goes on. This week had a few things pop up and I never got started. Now I’m looking at the week’s pictures – and working backwards. And of course – when in doubt – when working backwards – post dog pictures. Because now I see I only took a few pictures this week.

Mackey and Turner had their annual visit with our excellent vet Dr. Chris Scotti at their superb practice, Springfield Veterinary Center. If you’re in Ashland of course visit Dr. Campbell at Ashland Veterinary Hospital. But here in Richmond I recommend Dr. Scotti and Dr. Escobar and Dr. Kolster at Springfield.

Mackey and Turner’s personalities could not be any more different. Turner is into everything, all the time. Mackey is, as Pat once memorably described him, “not impulsive.” But when the aide took Turner back to get weighed, Mackey kept his eyes glued on the door until Turner came back through it.

Mackey awaiting Turner’s safe return 

They brought Turner back to the exam room and took Mackey back to get weighed. Turner’s turn to fixate on the door:

Turner awaiting Mackey’s safe return:

I don’t put up a lot of movies but this is a cute five second clip of Turner waiting for his buddy:

I took a picture of a Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) earlier this week as well. I’m learning something as I take more pictures: some subjects are difficult to photograph well. Or difficult to photograph in such a way that they’re visually appealing. I was bored with cormorants at first. But – this happens a lot – the more I read about them, the more interesting they become. And the more certain I am I’ll at some point take a picture I find pleasing. Cormorants are ungraceful looking birds to all except I imagine their mothers, but I’m convinced there’s an attractive cormorant picture to be had. This isn’t it, but it’s getting closer to the one I want:

Double-crested Cormorant. 

Cormorants are described as “prehistoric looking” but I haven’t learned (yet) just how old they are. When I learn more I will post it here. With that excellent picture I’m going to take. Keep your eyes peeled.

Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus) are not just described as prehistoric “looking” – they are prehistoric. The link above (should you choose to click on it) is to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Wildlife Information page. This is the first two sentences, copied directly from that page: “Living relic of prehistoric past; family dates back 245 million years. Nothing in Virginia is even remotely similar to the gar.” I like the faint shaking-my-head tone of the second sentence.

I’ve gotten a picture of a gar at Pony Pasture a time or two in the past. They’re always up at this late-summer time, lolling around in the warm shallows waiting for something to come in. Water photographs are difficult but this isn’t bad. The thing about gar is, all the ones I see are big. This guy was about a foot and a half long. Great looking fish. They sort of look like the aquatic cousin of a cormorant:

Longnose gar 

I’ll leave off here and put this post up – I’m already a day late. More next week!

All best,

Jay

PS I’m just beginning on Instagram and remain clueless. But you can follow me at NEWFAZE1 if you like. Some of these pictures (not all) will turn up there before they turn up here.

Also, I changed my mind about leaving off. A couple more quick pictures. Summer is going away fast. But look at the colors of these flowers (and this wasp) that I’ve photographed w/in the past seven days:

I’ll cease to be amazed. But not soon.

So bright! And it’s SEPTEMBER!!

Feel free to tell me the name! But what a beauty!