Photography – Steve Grundy Photography

Second Chances

Yesterday, I posted a capture that I was afraid would be my only sighting of a Baltimore Oriole in my yard. Fortunately, a got a second chance since they seem to like the feeders we have out. I am happy to have gotten a nice bird portrait. This was the result of two things, luck and patience.

Patience is a virtue. It is however, one that is learned and not one that just happens. Those who have no patience are often disappointed, angry or sad. To gain patience requires dealing with the same situations which annoy the impatient without getting bent out of shape.

Patience comes from exercise and anyone who works out alot knows that excercise is sometimes unpleasant or painful. Yet, no pain, no gain. So, I will continue to do my patience exercises. Going back to the window over and over, in hope that I will see something interesting. Many people would think this foolish behavior but I think the results are worth the effort.

Baltimore Oriole
Roswell, Georgia

Nikon D500
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
600mm @ f/7.1 – 1/400 sec – ISO 320

#BirdWatching #birds #BaltimoreOriole #Roswell #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Surprise!

As I said in yesterday’s post, this seems to be the time for changes in the bird population. We spotted an unusual visitor to the suet feeders and couldn’t tell what it was. A yellowish bird but larger than any of the ones we normally see. This was a particular challenge to try to identify for a couple of reasons. First, we don’t normally see this bird around here. Second, the coloring is not what you typically think of for this bird.

Unless, I’m totally mistaken (which is a distinct possibility) this is a Baltimore Oriole. I’m not sure if it is a female or if this is a male in winter color. Normally, you would expect the bright black and orange colors but in the winter, they are more muted.

If anyone can confirm or correct my identification, I would appreciate the help.

Baltimore Oriole
Roswell, Georgia

Nikon D500
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
500mm @ f/6.3 – 1/250 sec – ISO 1250

#BirdWatching #birds #BaltimoreOriole #Roswell #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Just hanging out

It’s great to just watch birds in the yard and not worry about anything else. I like to see new visitors but when the common residents appear, it’s kind of comforting. To see the cardinals and sparrrows and finches always there makes me feel at home. It’s nice to just hang out and enjoy nature sometimes.

House Finch
Roswell, Georgia

Nikon D500
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
600mm @ f/6.3 – 1/500 sec – ISO 1250

#BirdWatching #birds #HouseFinch #Roswell #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Are you Nuts?

My favorite little bird to chase is the Nuthatch. In this case a white-breasted variety. They are so energetic, it’s next to impossible to get them when they aren’t moving. Even when they perch for a while, their heads are constantly twisting from one position to another. I have quite a collection of blurred nuthatch pictures. Every once in a while, I get one that comes out OK. Hope you enjoy them as well.

Nikon D500
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
600mm @ f/6.3 – 1/40 sec – ISO 800

#BirdWatching #birds #Nuthatch #Roswell #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Ready to Go

Carolina Wrens are lots of fun to watch. Not so easy to capture in images since they’re almost always in motion, but lots of fun. I got this one enjoying a bit of sunshine. Looks like a pose that says, this is MY stick and nobody’s going to make me move. Of course, two seconds later, off he went…

It is really looking like spring is right around the corner. Daffodils are blooming and some of the trees are as well. I feel sad for the parts of the country where winter is at it’s peak. This is when I remember very much how it was to live in cold country and why I’m happy to live in the south now.

Nikon D500
Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
600mm @ f/6.3 – 1/40 sec – ISO 800

#BirdWatching #birds #CarolinaWren #Roswell #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Atkinson-Eakes Cottage

Continuing with my tour of Madison, Georgia – this is one of the historic cottages just a couple of blocks off of Main Street. Although it isn’t one of the antebellum homes that Madison is famous for, the historic home was built around 1911.

It would have been great to see the inside. The realtor’s information says it has heartwood pine floors, 12 foot celings and is built in the traditional “shotgun” style with front and back doors in a straight line to allow breezes to flow through and cool the home.

Atkinson-Eakes Cottage (ca 1911)
506 Plum Street
Madison, Georgia

Nikon D500
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
22mm @ f/8.0 – 1/640 sec – ISO 400

#architecture #AtkinsonEakesCottage #Madison #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Jessup-Atkinson House

Well, eventhough I was looking for more off-the-beat homes in Madison, I couldn’t pass up some of the more famous ones. The Jessup-Atkinson House, built in 1820, is one of the stately antebellum homes on Madison’s Main Street. It is certainly a fantastic example of a southern mansion of the day. I love the wrap-around porch and the white columns surrounding the entrance. Definitely, one of the most beautiful here.

Nikon D500
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
220mm @ f/5.6 – 1/125 sec – ISO 400

#architecture #JessupMadisonHouse #antebellum #Madison #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Another view from the street

Just down the street from the shop I posted yesterday was the Antique store. I loved the bright yellow sign and the statue in front of it made an interesting composition. I’m not sure I’d buy anything with fabric on it from a store named for fleas and ticks but, it is a memorable name anyway.

Nikon D500
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
220mm @ f/5.6 – 1/125 sec – ISO 400

#architecture #FleasAnTiques #Madison #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Barkin’ Dogs

Sometimes, to get a good image, you have to look down! In this case, we were walkinig through the shopping district of South Main Street in Madison, Georgia when I did just that. The stores in the quaint little town are cute but what caught my eye were the shoes left on the steps of this shop. Being just south of Athens, Georgia, the reference to your feet (dogs) and bulldogs (dawgs) fit in nicely.

There are multiple things that made this a good choice for me. The sign and cute reference was first and the shoes were second. The architecture of the buildings is nice to look at and the leading lines of the brick sidewalk walk your eyes from front to rear of the image. It isn’t all that complex but I thought it worked for a nice atmosphere shot.

Nikon D500
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
46mm @ f/5.6 – 1/125 sec – ISO 400

#architecture #BarkinDogsShoeCo #Madison #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Madison-Morgan Cultural Center

Although it’s hard to miss, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center may not be on everyone’s top architectural sites in Historic Madison. The building, originally a public school constructed just 30 years after the Civil War, was a groundbreaking idea at the time.

Over the entrance to the main building, are the words “Graded School”. My first thought was – You mean there were schools where they didn’t grade the work? But, it actually refers to the fact that most schools of the time were single room structures with all ages in the same class area. This was an innovative structure where the different age groups were in separate classrooms. It was also unique in being brick, where most schools of the day were simper, wooden structures.

The building is in the Romanesque Revival style, popular at the end of the eighteenth century. There are a mix of interesting elements all over the building but especially along the roofline. This was used as a public school up until 1957 when new facilities were constructed. Saved from demolition in the early 1960’s by a local group called the Morgan County Foundation, it was re-purposed for use as the Public Library headquarters. In the 1970’s when the library outgrew the space, it was renovated and converted to it’s current function as the area’s Performing and Visual Arts center.