Father's Day Morning

Father's Day Sunrise

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

What a drop dead Father's Day morning it was!  Really beginning to actually feel like June now...about time - the month's half over!  

I originally went out to photograph the Little Sioux River Valley in the fog that lays over the river like a thick blanket this time of the year, but it stayed socked-in for a good 2 hours as the sun rose and I could not find openings for shooting.

After photographing the sun breaking through the horizon (image above), I walked over to the hilltop at the Prairie Heritage Center and checked out the small Bison herd there to see if there were any photo opportunities there.  The Bison were pretty obscured too but I kept waiting to see if they'd ever emerge.  

Breaking Sky On The Tallgrass

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

Eventually the sky did open above the Bison, and even though there was a patchy haze over the ground, I decided to give it a try and made  a series of images that worked fairly well...the Bison were still a bit hazed over but the feel of the ground and background fog with the great swirling sky cloud pattern had a nice feel to it.  I think the only thing that'd make this a "dream" image would have been about 50-60 more Bison!

A nicer day couldn't have been asked for...well, the mosquitoes were rather ravenous but nothing good bug netting and gloves and hooded sweatshirt couldn't cure :)   OK, things could always be better but I'm not complaining, looking back on the morning.

Hope your day was good...here's to our Fathers...still with us and departed.  God Bless 'em! 

Late Spring

 "Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)" - photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

Spring is nearing its end and the work is mounting here! I am always pulled in many directions at this time of the year; need to get out and photograph the landscape, need to stay in and finish artwork on the easel, need to pick up work from a closing exhibit and take work to a new one, need to get work framed for customers, get new prints processed and hung in the studio...even finish patching the barn roof! The list goes on; like all of us - too much to do after that long winter and wet/cold spring!
 

The photograph above is part of another exhibit I'm participating in at the moment. This new art exhibit is at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, Iowa and runs through most of the month of June.
 

This exhibit is the first Artisans Road Trip showing for the 2013 season - the tenth year of the Artisans Road Trip in NW Iowa! You may recognize the A.R.T. open studio tour held each fall during the first weekend in October; the Artisans Road Trip also puts on exhibits during the year with current artist members and the Witter Gallery showing is the first of the 2013 A.R.T. season!

I have 4 pieces in the exhibit - 3 photographs and 1 oil pastel. But there is so much more to see as well. There will be an artist's reception Thursday - June 13th, from 5 - 7p.m. Hope to see you there!

"June Morning Music" - Nature Audio - © Bruce A. Morrison

Here's a playful respite for all of you out there under the pressure of work that is never quite finished or caught up. The Image above is from the house here and our kitchen home entry and garden...it is from a color pencil drawing done a year or so ago. I have used it here as artwork to go with some of nature's music here on the acreage.
 

I do occasional video and audio work for my own use and for some natural resources client projects on contract. This short "get away" is just for myself and my friends. Just click HERE or on the image above and listen to late spring out on the prairie. Enjoy!  

Hope you enjoy the rest of spring!

Out Again

 Photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(Lots of Wild Turkey "gobbling in the distant landscape as I was photographing this scene.) 

click on images for a larger view

Out again, walking the hillsides and valleys south of the studio with the cameras; it feels good!  Its too bad spring and early summer are so fleeting; I love the subtle colors that later turn a full blown summer green.  You'll get chartreuses, yellows, ochres, rusts, siennas, and many unexpected in-betweens with the buds swelling and the emerging foliage.

 

"Ground Plum (Astragalus crassicarpus) 

Photograph © Bruce A. Morrison 

click on images for a larger view

I walked a new place and was pleasantly surprised to find some scattered patches of Ground Plum (Astragalus-crassicarpus) on some prairie remnant slopes.  I have found them on the Waterman Prairie near there but hadn't yet on private property.  Many times you'll still find "plums" from the previous year or remains of them but didn't this time...it made me pause and doubt the find but later verified the plants.  There is a large deer population here and I found a large nest of a Wild Turkey very close to some plants, so suspect they're being utilized as soon as they're available.

 

 Photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(Wonderful woodland understory and early morning light!)

 click on images for a larger view

There were many Wild Plums in bloom - very late this year due to the extended winter hanging on...most were less than dramatic however; I suspect from the heavy flush last year followed by hard drought.  Even the plums on our acreage have filled out to a more noticeably smaller degree.

The biggest surprise to me was the nice open woodland edges over a small ravine, very pleasant with the morning sun just breaking through the forms of Bur Oaks.

More walks...must have more walks this spring and summer!!!  Its nice to get out again.

 

  

Iowa's Natural Heritage

Baltimore Oriole (male)

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

They're baaaack!  Just moments ago I had 6 males and 1 female Baltimore Orioles out side the studio window, not over four feet away, fighting over the Humming Bird feeder - so good to have them home once more!  These are drop dead gorgeous/bright voiced birds...such a joy to have all spring and summer long.  

The photograph above was actually taken out the very same window here at the studio, and is part of an exhibit I'm participating in at the moment - "Iowa's Natural Heritage".  This new art exhibit will be starting at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa on Thursday, May 9th, and continuing through June 1st.

This is a "juried" show, meaning the artworks and photography went through a jury process to be voted in for inclusion in this show.  There are around 20 different artists participating and the show celebrates the "natural" heritage of Iowa!

I have 5 pieces in the exhibit - 1 photograph, 1 drawing, and 3 oil paintings.  But the exhibit also includes mixed media, ceramic, and other works including interpretive pieces...promises to be an excellent show!  There will be an artist's reception Thursday - May 9th, from 5 - 7p.m.  Hope to see you there!

Take in Iowa's Natural Heritage this month if you can!

 

Third Month of Spring?

May 1st at the Studio?

This is so weird its almost funny...well not quite, but weird for certain.  Here it is May 2nd and we're just shaking off a snow storm from yesterday!  Not a bad storm as winter goes, but its the third month of spring now!!!  I think we're lucky though; our storm ended before nightfall and the rest of the state got theirs during the night.  Ours has all but melted now and they just woke up to twice or more of the snow than we did!  We've been so dry the past 9-10 months that I'll accept it just the same!

 Moon over Waterman Prairie

photo © Bruce A. Morrison

I had gotten used to the idea that it was "finally" spring here.  Last Saturday I went for a good walk in a couple areas south of here on Waterman Prairie looking for Pasque Flowers.  Had a nice big waning moon setting in the west while I was up on one of the many ridges and tried photographing the moment.  I think this would have been more interesting/spectacular if it had been "really" spring, or even summer , fall or winter...this time of year is too dull!  Wait for some green I guess?  By the way, the Pasque Flowers were up this morning but "just" up...I was going to give them some time but now the weather's put things off again.  Maybe I'll still see them before they're done.

 Northern Leopard Frog

photo © Bruce A. Morrison

A couple days before our May snow, Georgie and I went out to drive around and listen to the frogs.  They had been singing with great gusto for about three days prior to our outing and did not disappoint us when we went on our excursion...we LOVE to listen to them!  We'd even been sleeping with the windows open to listen to them each of those nights...they just lull you to sleep.  Wonderful music!!!

The shot above was a Northern Leopard Frog who was playing the "If I don't move - he won't see me game" on Monday night when Georgie and I were out and about.  I think they're likely "hung over" now from what the weather has unloaded on them!!!  I wonder if this weather event has messed up what they were working so hard to do the past week?  Maybe they'll have to start over?  Haven't the foggiest.  Would like to hear more singing up the hill here from the backwater of Waterman Creek down below us though!

And the Great Blue Heron Rookery across the valley from us has been hit 4 weeks in a row now, by ice, snow and freezing rain storms!  I wouldn't blame them if they packed up and went back to the Gulf of Mexico!  But I hope they persevere too. 

Life is interesting on this little blue ball we live on!

 

Earth Day...It "IS" Important!

Its entering spring-time on the Tallgrass Prairie - 

celebrate Earth Day with a sense of careful consideration

for the legacy of life you are leaving to your children's children!

photo © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

Tomorrow is Earth Day...every year on April 22 since 1970.  The earth day web site - http://www.earthday.org gives a good overview of the history of this one day event each year.  It really started, not as a celebration, but as a cry for "consciousness" of what was amiss!  

I usually try to keep this blog on a high positive note - no one likes a downer.  But this day...this time in our planet's life, has entered a new phase environmentally and our collective interest in its well being (our well being!) is, in my opinion - muddied.  

Please use this day to reflect on how you see the bigger picture of our "Home's" health.  How can you better make wise decisions in your daily activities...how do your actions affect this Earth?  Do you read about environmental issues as they affect the Earth?  Do you read beyond issues in your own backyard?  Are you keeping in touch with those whom represent you in the local, state and national government?  Do you know how your political representatives are voting?  Please be aware. 

It isn't as easy as it should be to stay on top of what is happening with our "Home".  This requires a real effort on everyone's part.  Most really serious health issues for our planet are not in the quick 60 second spot on national television news.  If they are, they are usually simplified or glossed over, we are just not made truly "fully" aware.

I could go into many details of examples to illustrate what I mean but I don't want to tell people how to think - I would just ask that people really do think!  Read about the environmental issues, go to more than one news source, find out who is behind bad decisions that affect our planet's health; make them know how you feel about their decisions or bad behavior.  Take a real proactive position; write "letters", not just fast and easy e-mails, Likes or Tweets.  If you feel you can speak to an issue which is important to you - please do so!

Tomorrow is EARTH DAY.  Keep it (our Earth) and hold it tight as you would anyone you love.  It gives you life and will cradle your children's children, and theirs.  It is too important!

Please pay attention on this day and every day forward...to what is happening to your "Home", our Earth.

New Color Out There...

American Robins were having a feeding

frenzy around the studio and yard this morning!

(Click on image for a larger view)

What a busy last couple days here!  Our fist good rain sine June of last year!  We got 2.5" on Tuesday through yesterday, then 4 inches of snow this morning...we were lucky here as we didn't get very much ice.  Those further north and west are really cleaning out of a mess, lots of trees and limbs and power lines down.  We did get covered with pea size hail on Tuesday afternoon, but it melts down to usable moisture just the same!

Even the House Finches are gettin' drop dead gorgeous!

(Click on image for a larger view)

I haven't gotten much done this day except take bird pictures!  Leave it to a snow storm in the spring to bring the hoards in to the feeders!  It is fun to watch and the snow will be gone in a couple days...its spring as usual around here!

Enjoy, it'll soon be hot and humid in the shade!