We have hiked past this pipe and perched stone countless times. Sometimes, when the light is right, I stop and make an image.
This is one of those images.
This Old Rock
Category: photography
Kestral
Last week The Girl and I were on daily walkies out at Silver Saddle Ranch when I saw a flutter in the sagebrush maybe 10 meters from us. That caught my attention so I watched as we advanced along the upper trail that we walk a lot.
A few more meters down the trail, I noticed a bird perched atop a sagebrush. It was an American Kestral! I know that at least one inhabits the area we often walk, but it does not show itself frequently.
Anxiously, I removed the normal lens from my X-T5 and affixed the 70-300mm zoom. I raised the camera to my face to frame the shot and the small raptor flitted away.
Disappointed, The Girl and I (she was not disappointed, I was) moved forward. However, I kept my own sharp eye open for a reappearance of the tiny raptor.
Again, a few more meters down the trail, I spotted it perched on another sagebrush. I kept another bush between us to break up my outline, found a bare spot that framed the bird, and made a few captures. I could have used the longer 100-400mm zoom in my inventory, but it is very heavy and does not get carried without intent. The 70-300mm is much lighter and more compact, so it is easier to slog around with as a maybe lens.
In any event, it will do. I got a capture of the bird.
The Girl and I continued along our hike, she sniffing and marking, looking for the odd lizard to chase. I kept her on-lead, partly for practice and partly for safety. Snakes are still active, but probably not for much longer. The days are cooling and nights are cooler. They will hibernate before long.
That will give The Girl a little more freedom, but I will remain watchful and keep her close. I will make some exception to strictly on-leash once the risk of rattlesnakes abates for the winter. But, she still has a propensity to chase coyotes. I do not need any more of that and neither does she.
Despite a few sand burrs (she is a sand burr magnet), we had a good hike. It was a good day. Life is good.
Piñon Hills and Carson River Valley
For the last week or so, The Girl and I hiked the Silver Saddle Ranch open space. While not completely out of snake season, it is safe enough with her on-lead. Her lead work needs work anyway. (She is doing much better on-lead.)
Some of the rabbitbrush has waned, but my allergies are still in full force. That is making some things a bit difficult because my eyes are subject to the allergies and watery eyes make for poorer vision.
I am working through my first mug as I write this and will want another shortly. It is much cooler here in western Nevada this morning — in the low 30ºs F. That will make The Girl frisky when we hike today. I worked all morning yesterday, so it was afternoon before we hiked. Today I think I would like to get out a bit earlier, although there is still work to do.
I had supper with my buddy Jimmy yesterday evening. It was a good visit and the food at Betsy’s Big Kitchen is decent. All in all, it was a good day.
I am grateful. Life is good.
Virginia Range
A few days ago The Girl and I used a cool morning to hike Silver Saddle Ranch. With less Sun and cooler temperatures, I figured the risk of a nope rope encounter might be reduced. In any event, I kept her on-leash for our hike, with a brief exception for her to play in the water a bit.
It was a good hike and gave the opportunity for a few images, of which a couple were actually decent enough to share. The Fujifilm X-T5 is turning out to be a great camera. As much as I liked my X-T1, the most recent body is substantially improved. I mean this not just in pixel count (which is crazy high at 40MP), but in refinement of the shooting experience.
It was a good day. Life is good.
The Work
Here is another frame of the Basque mural artist working. Again, she was unaware of my presence at this point. She was very focused on her work. It is something that I admire.
The entire shoot took me only about 15 or 20 minutes. I grabbed my Fuji X-T5 and Fujinon 70-300mm zoom and walked toward the site. I made some images as I approached. I then stepped around to the north side for some closer shots. She noticed me, and smiled. We visited for just a few minutes so I could show a few frames and ask if she wanted a copy. She did, so I got her information. I have since sent her a few frames.
It was a good day. Life is good. I am grateful.
Leaning Into It
I have an admiration for people who are good at their work. Well, really, good at anything that they do, be it work or avocation. I find it fascinating to observe and I think they make excellent photographic subjects.
I wrote about this artist a few days ago. I posted a couple of images from the set so far. Here is another of her leaning into her work, oblivious to my presence until I announcement myself a few minutes later.
It was a good day. Life is good.
Cut
We are still hiking up near Spooner Summit, on an old fire road cut by the Forest Service whenever the last fire happened on the site. (It must be several years ago, based on what I see.) We walk past this old stump nearly every day.
That will end soon enough as Fall moves into Winter. Once I am convinced the Nope Ropes have gone dormant for the season, The Girl and I will transition to hiking Silver Saddle Ranch a good part of the time. The snows will making hiking the old fire road much more difficult and the trail access is often block by a snow bank from the plows.
I have been thinking that I would like to hike Dead Truck Canyon this Winter, maybe several times. The climb will do me good and The Girl will enjoy new places to explore. I think the likelihood of a coyote encounter will be reduced (but not eliminated) because of bulk of prey is in the valley and not on the hills. At least, those are my current thoughts.
There is definitely less cover as we climb, so I should be better able to scout ahead.
An additional benefit is that the elevation provides some nice views of the surrounding valleys. Plus the Carson Range will be in plain view as well.
I am thinking that Fall/Winter hiking will be good this season. I am grateful and life is good.
The Tardis
Well, this might not be The Tardis, but it is a close-enough facsimile thereof for me. I happened to pass through the entryway at the right time with decent light. So, I decided to make the capture.
It was a good evening with a good friend. The food was good as was the fellowship.
Life is good.
Mural Painter
This shoot was a lot of fun. It did not take me very long to make the captures, but I sure enjoyed working the scene. The interaction with the Basque artists was icing on the cake.
It was a good day. Life is good.
Clouds and Sky
A few days ago I had a very busy morning. It had rained a bit and the house was cool. I thought that meant it was cool outdoors as well. So, I decided to take The Girl to Silver Saddle Ranch, thinking it was cool enough she would not overheat (and maybe the critters would be bunkered in).
Boy howdy, I was mistaken. The clouds cleared and the Son shone brightly. So, while it was not HOT, it was quite warm. We hiked the trail, nonetheless. The irrigation water is shut off from the Mexican Ditch, so we crossed the now-dry ditch and headed for the river. There is still water in the Carson River, although it is showing the late season growth of vegetation.
Again, nonetheless, The Girl jumped right in, swam a bit, got a drink, and cooled off. I took the opportunity to empty my bladder (getting old sucks in some ways).
Having turned the corner on our path, we headed back toward the ranch compound and the rig a bit farther on. I had the X-T5 bouncing on my belly and had an eye out for a possible shot. I noticed the interaction of clouds and sky over the river and paused. I set the camera to do an in-camera conversion to a favorite Tri-X film simulation and also set it to emulate a red filter to accentuate the contrast of the sky.
The capture made, we continued our hike back to the rig… and then proceeded home. It was a good day.
Life is good.