In the spirit of the August photo contest...

[Grumpy Old Guy]

... and since I can't enter, I thought it would be okay if I shared a few pics of my own. The theme of the contest is "A Brief Moment in Time." Sometimes timing is everything. Thanks for looking. Get out there and shoot!


Ninja Squirrel



A C-130 in Star Wars Canyon



Breakfast at Bolsa Chica Wildlife Preserve



Sunset at Lake Nagawicka



A juvenile bald eagle attacking a tern. He didn't get it.



A cliff swallow approaching its nest.



Conducting the orchestra



"I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine."
(I always liked this one).



The Alaska Railroad roars past Potter Marsh.



Final Approach



Suck it up!



Coming around the bend in Turnagain Arm.
(I was waiting to catch that headlight).



Pelicans at Dusk, Asilomar Beach



Thanks for indulging me.

[Srkdqltr]

1. Spectacular!!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

9. Thank you!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Of course, it's more than OK for you to share your amazing photos, my dear Grumpy!

These are all so very good! Great colors, great compo, great DOF and all the rest.

Bravo, and thank you!





I'm beginning to think that maybe it's just as well you can't enter this contest.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

5. I would have given myself an ulcer trying to pick one.

I have more too.

[George McGovern]

3. Superb selection Grumpy Old Guy! Thank You for sharing these images.

(Since you're out of the running though, someone else stands a chance at winning! - no offense)

[Grumpy Old Guy]

10. Thank you!

Last edited Wed Aug 4, 2021, 02:21 AM - Edit history (1)

No offense taken.

[NJCher]

4. I burst out laughing at the first one

and the symphony conductor was pretty funny, too. Magestic in his conducting!

The two horses nuzzling on each other was very touching.

I had to look up where Turnagain Arms was and when I looked at the map, it was fun to imagine where you were when you took the pic.

Wow, what a life you lead doing this. You are so fortunate--and we are fortunate that you share your art with us.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

8. Thank you NJCher!

Last edited Wed Aug 4, 2021, 12:48 AM - Edit history (1)

The two horses nuzzling is very special to me. I've had a copy of that hanging in my living room since 2007.

Now that you know where Turnagain Arm is, would you believe that I drove there from Southern California?

I am indeed very fortunate.

[NJCher]

20. drove

[Grumpy Old Guy]

22. LOL! Yes, drove! 😆

My wife and I pulled our travel trailer from L.A. to Homer, Alaska and back. It was a nine thousand mile round trip, and took us two months. We followed the Alaska Highway that was built in WWII to take troops and supplies to Alaska. It's the last great North American road trip. We can't wait to do it again.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

24. About Turnagain Arm

Turnagain Arm is an inlet south of Anchorage, Alaska. The first European to explore it was Captain Cook. It's very shallow and gradually narrows. Cook had to turn his ship again and again to keep from running aground. Hence the name Turnagain Arm. 😉

[Skittles]

28. heh

that pic reminded me of this recently rescued racooon

[Grumpy Old Guy]

33. LOL! Yes! 👍😉

[elleng]

6. Thanks! Had similar thoughts:

[Grumpy Old Guy]

11. Nice! I love the osprey.

[brer cat]

7. Awesome collection of pix.

Thanks so much for sharing.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

12. Thank you!

[wyn borkins]

13. Very Nice 'Tiny Moments In Time' Indeed

Now that Ninja Squirrel is excellently magnificent; and I'm thinking you were skydiving (and just happened to have your camera handy) when that C-130 had to jog-on-by just missing you by feets?

[Grumpy Old Guy]

14. LOL!

Star Wars Canyon is in Death Valley. Military pilots come from all over the U.S., and sometimes other countries, to practice their low level and canyon flying. It's one of the few places in the world where you can look down upon jet fighters passing by.

Here is another one from that day. Needless to say, the camera is on continuous firing when they fly by.

[Duppers]

31. We had a good friend...

Now ex-friend,* a retired AF Colonel who headed up The ThunderBirds for awhile who flew practice runs through there.

For yrs I've enjoyed watching the videos...

It's weird for a gal to like these but hubby says I should've been a race-car driver.



*They're entirely RW loonies now, so we said good-bye.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

32. Yup, that's the place. 👍

Those are great videos, thanks for posting them. I have a short clip of myself out there. I'll try to post it as well. The real name of the place is Rainbow Canyon, and it's just inside the western border of Death Valley. It's about a 250 mile drive from home for me.

Sadly, a pilot lost his life there almost exactly two years ago. The official Navy report said he probably had a split second lapse in judgment.

[Duppers]

39. We drove thru there

Way back in '71.

Glad you like the videos and am looking forward to your posting the clip of yourself.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

43. Here's a link to my Star Wars Canyon video.

For Duppers, here is a link to the clip of my visit to Star Wars Canyon and the shot I captured during that video. I couldn't figure out how to embed the video, but I did manage to post the link.



https://i.imgur.com/3lB1ShM.mp4

[Duppers]

44. Wow! Thank you!

I watched the clip 3x's, with the sound turned up, & grinning each time. And I'm going to watch it again! Such lovely loud "Echoes in the Canyon," to borrow a phrase.

Plus, that's an amazing shot you posted!

Hubby had a classmate/friend, a young physician, who LOVED stock car racing. Sadly, he was killed in a motorcycle accident.
Anyway, Johnny always said that watching those races was a "such a surge." Perhaps that's the best word I could use to describe watching these aircraft - they're a surge!!

Years ago, we used to live within ~2.3 miles of Langley AFB and I often drove by just as an F-15's or an F-16's was taking off, as they often were. The runway stopped just short of the Base's fence which was within just a few yards of the street. Talk about feeling a force - it was driving by when one of those things was beginning a vertical climb within a few hundred yards above your car top! I imagine that's the same "surge" you got when photographing the flying expertise in Star Wars Canyon, Ross!

Thanks again!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

47. There is nothing like hearing that thunder up close.

My wife and I visited Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada earlier this year. On our way there we just happened to pull into a truck stop in North Las Vegas. Little did we know, we were just about a block off the end of the runway at Nellis AFB. Needless to say, we were treated to a great show that day

The western border of Death Valley runs along the Owens Valley and the Eastern Sierra. More often than not, there are jet fighters present. They often drop down to low altitude, giving us all a great show in the process. A few years ago I stopped for a few minutes at Red Rock Canyon State Park near Mojave, California. Just as I was pulling in two jet fighters passed low overhead. I grabbed my DSLR with my huge Sigma 150-600mm lens and jumped out of my truck to get the shot. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough. One of the pilots saw that I missed the shot, and circled back so I could get it. I waved as he was passing by, and he dipped his wings.

I'll be heading up to the mountains next month. Hopefully I might be able to stop and show my wife.

[Duppers]

48. They know folks love their planes...

And their flying skills.

Hope you can show her!

Cheers!

[KT2000]

38. I am a gal too

and I love aircraft videos, especially the huge military take-offs and landings.

[Duppers]

40. We're not the norm, ya know. 😉

Glad to know there's another female nut here. 😉 😁

[KT2000]

41. Yeah - but

I still think all planes - especially the big heavy ones are just a miracle - so amazing!

[Duppers]

42. I agree.

Aviation is fascinating.

[Trueblue1968]

15. OMG.... your pictures are wonderful.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

16. Thank you so much!

[UpInArms]

17. Just .... Wow

[Grumpy Old Guy]

18. Thank you!

[Blue Dawn]

19. I am running out of adjectives to tell you how I feel about your photos.

Beautiful, amazing, breathtaking, mesmerizing.....I dont know how to express adequately how I feel whenever I look at your photos. I get lost in them. They transport me to places I've never been. They pique my imagination. They inspire me. They bring me joy.

I am so very grateful that you are willing to share them. Again, thank you. I will always say thank you. Your talent humbles me.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

21. You are so very kind. Thank you! ❤❤❤

It brings me great joy that you enjoy my photos. I can't thank you enough for your kind words.

I have three principles that I try to follow in my work. First, I believe every good picture tells a story. Second, I try to show people something they may never get to see otherwise. Finally, I don't show an image unless I think it's right. It has to be perfect, or close to it. For example, I shot over a thousand frames to get that one image of the cliff swallow.

I started life out as a photographer, but I decided at a young age to pursue a career in TV or film instead, (it was a much more secure way to make a living). I directed live TV for thirty five years, more than eighteen thousand broadcasts, most of them live. Unfortunately, I doubt that anyone will remember any of them. My photos are something that I can print out and hang on a wall. They will live beyond me. My kids and grandkids can look at them many years from now. I am fortunate that my long career in broadcasting has provided me this opportunity.

Again, I can't thank you enough for your kind words.

Ross

[Blue Dawn]

34. You are most welcome!

I really like your philosophy! I am amazed that you took so many photos before you got the perfect shot of the cliff swallow. I am beyond impressed!

I would be thrilled to be in your kids' and grandkids' shoes and be left such beautiful photos someday! What a wonderful legacy.....

Take care, my friend!

[KT2000]

23. Wow - just wow!

I enjoyed all of them but the plane shot is incredible!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

25. Thank you! 😊

Are you referring to the ultralight taking off at sunset, or the military cargo aircraft flying through the canyon?

The sunset photo was an example of just being in the right place at the right time. I had no idea that ultralight was going to take off, but I was ready for the sunset.

The cargo plane was in Death Valley. I drove about 250 miles to get those shots.

[KT2000]

37. The cargo plane

I love all those work horses and seeing this one from that angle is amazing so thanks!!

[stage left]

26. Thanks

Turnagain Arm. That has to be one of the most beautiful thrilling drives on earth. I have never forgotten it.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

27. I agree, it's spectacular.

I also have some shots of the Dall Sheep that live hundreds of feet up the side of the cliffs there. It was breathtaking.

[Duppers]

29. I think these are fantastic!

Thank you for sharing.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

30. Thank you! 😊

[mnhtnbb]

35. Fabulous!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

36. Thank you mnhtnbb!

Thank you for suggesting the topic for the next contest. I think it's going to be great!

[HAB911]

45. oh man, beautiful work!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

46. Thank you! 😊

[crimycarny]

49. That photo of the squirrel is just DYING for a caption

Love all of these but the squirrel photo made me want to think of a caption!

How did you get that photo of the belly of the USAF plane? All of these are awesome, thanks for sharing.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

50. The squirrel definitely needs a caption.

There is a place in Death Valley called Star Wars Canyon. The real name is Rainbow Canyon. The military has been using it to practice low level and canyon flying since World War II. It's one of the few places in the world where you can stand at the edge of the canyon and look down upon the passing aircraft.

[elleng]

51. Friday the 13th has ARRIVED.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

52. Yes!!!