spring plowing

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Belle and Duke

 

While I was out at the farm on Saturday, Lee and Luke hitched Belle and Duke to the plow. The unusually warm weather meant that it was time to start the spring plowing a little earlier than was usual.

 

Spring Plowing 1

 

There is nothing quite like the beauty of a horse team in action. The soil was wet and heavy and the horses really worked to turn it over.

 

Spring Plowing 3

 

Seeing the team pulling across the field, it was all to easy to let my mind slip 120 years into the past. Although rare today, this sight was all to common to our great grand parents.

 

spring dreams

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Spring Dreams

 

I have been dreaming of Spring all week. The dreary Winter skies are beginning to get to me. I want to see the crocus poke up out of the ground. I want to see the pussy willows appearing on bare branches. I want Spring. 

 

And so, when a co-worker recieved tulips from her daughter, I grabbed my camera and shot a few frames. I am hoping the gorgeous colors will tide me over for a few more weeks.  Maybe I am an optimist?

 

asters

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Asters

 

This is one of those grab shots that pop out at you when you don't expect it. I was wandering around the farm today when I came upon these white Asters in the rose garden. I liked the white flowers that stood out in the sea of green.

 

Exposure 0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 100

 

 

red lilly bloom

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Red Lilly Bloom

 

The lilies are beginning to bloom and this red specimen has been calling my name for a couple days now. The deep saturated color is spectacular and the shape is perfect. I think it would be impossible to take a bad image of it.

 

Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 640

 

To shoot the bloom, I waited until I could work in the morning's golden hour. I already had an early appointment today and so, I set my alarm a little early. On hands and knees (photography can get dirty if you are willing to go for the shot) I looked for a good angle and recorded several images. This is my favorite of the lot. I hope you enjoy it as well.

 

 

these roses are not so red

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Roses

 

Next to our garage, we have this huge bush of roses that towers over my head. It must be seven or eight feet tall. They are like no roses I have ever seen. There are thousands of blooms covering the entire bush. Thorns? Oh yeah, there are thousands of those too.

 

Exposure 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 26 mm
ISO Speed 100

 

 

To get the shot, I got down low and focused on the leading flowers. I then offset the camera to get the nice bokeh in the background. The round bokeh is formed by the morning light filtering through the trees behind.

 

 

cotton wood fluff

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Cotton Wood Fluff

 

Our yard looks like a five ton plush animal exploded, leaving it's stuffing behind. In actuality, the white stuff is the fluffy seeds of the humbled cotton wood tree. We have several in the area and their seeds float through the air where ever the winds take them. Unfortunately, we get much of it in our yard.

Maybe I should collect it all and make a cotton wood seed pillow. I wonder if that has ever been done?

 

Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 100

 

 

 

shorn sheep eschew shade for shoots

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Grazing Sheep

 

Yeah, say that one five times fast! I dare you, go on… try it. While you untie your tongue, I will just let you know that the sheep at Carriage hill farm are all out to pasture. If you are fast enough to dodge rain squalls, you can see them out and about chomping spring grass. Even the new born kids are getting in on the act.

How is your tongue doing? Ooooh, that doesn't look good. Let me get the WD40 for you.

 

poppy bud

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Poppy Bud

 

Soon, this bud will explode into a brilliant red bloom. I like poppies. To me, they represent history on a grand scale. From Afgani poppy fields to old paraplegic men selling paper poppies on memorial day, the poppy has witnessed and participated in much of our past & even more of our future. However, it's those men and their sacrifices that haunt my thoughts when I see poppies. I always have time and pocket change enough for those men selling paper poppies.