I had a bee problem

 

Ordinarily, I like bees. They fill an extremely important role in nature. And lately, we appear to be in a honey bee crisis. If I had property I would consider an apiary. But I don't.

My problem was that bees had taken over a small birdhouse that rests about six feet from my sit spot at my back patio. At first I thought it was interesting. I felt no threat. As the summer progressed I watched as more bees appeared and the hive started to emerge out the house opening.

Still no problem. Until one morning I went back to sit for a few moments and noticed a spider web, nicely backlit. Having only my iPhone I tried to make an interesting photo (and failed). In the course of this, I felt something on my nose, brushed at it, and it stung. On the tip of my freakin' nose. Ouch.

So, that was almost it. I was willing to forgive and forget. But a few days later I was hammering on the frame the birdhouse is attached to, attempting to fix a whirligig post and the bees started swarming out at me. I ran like I was 40.

Online research led me to believe these were not honey bees. In fact, it indicated that it could be the rogue African bees and cited several examples of such bees overtaking birdhouses.

Sadly, I chose the chemical solution. The first spraying, with "flying insect spray," was good for a few hours but the next evening I noticed they were still going in and out. I got some stuff intended for bees, the kind that sprays like Silly String for about 20 feet. It took two dosings. But the bees were gone.

The birdhouse, at this point was worthless, with a hive built inside. So the next nice evening suitable  for a fire I set the inactive house on the flames and watched it burn. As the sides fell away I could see an entire hive-like ball within it. Sigh.

I went to the County Fair

The annual Cattaraugus County Fair in my home County in Western New York has been going on since 1842. That's 171 years. My first memories are from the 1950's, when my Dad, a member of Lions, helped operate a doughnut tent, thanks to a Lion's member who owned a Spudnut shop.

Great memories, especially on the final Saturday when they held the Midget car races, on dirt, on a 1/2-mile track intended for trotter horses. The pits were behind the Lions tent. So I go back when I can and I can honestly say, it hasn't changed much. Here are some impressions.

The 4-H livestock barns are so much fun to walk through. I'm impressed by how family oriented it is.

I don't remember there being equestrian events as a kid. Maybe they were always there and I just didn't take notice. In the background is the line-up of quality trailers for those that have big investments in their horses and other livestock. They stay the week, again, a family event.

For the photographers out there, I know this is a cliche photo. I made a very similar one 40 years ago in Mississippi. But I made the photo because it is so universal, so classic.

As I went through the domestic barn I was struck by how much our society has been affected by our "everyone's a winner" mentality. My two kids have dozens of trophies from sports. Not necessarily for winning, but just for participating. So the same thing appears to have happened here. And not just the pickled goods, just about every category and sub-category entry had a ribbon. It devalues real achievement in my opinion.

This isn't the main midway, it's really behind the trees to the right. But I guess the area couldn't suport the larger rides. I do like the way the still try to separate the travelling rides/concessions from the local. So I could still get a burger from the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department and a milkshake from the Napoli Methodist Church booths. That was my Mom's church.

A travelling Lumberjack show, from the Adirondack Mtn. area of N.Y. It was entertaining but you could tell how routine the show had become for the three performers, two old, one young. The crowd enjoyed it. In the photo, the old-timer loses a log-rolling competition to the young "challenger."

This is just pure Western N.Y. My sister says the residents are "redneck" by definition. I use the phrase "hillbilly." Both politically incorrect I'm sure. But you have to have lived there.

Yes, you can meet the livestock entries up close and personal. I don't know how you judge chickens, but the girl seemed to be looking for a connection.

Red. A reminder that livestock entered in the Fair are not just a piece of meat. They are family.

A dose of my own medicine

For you techies, Nikon D7000, Nikon 300mm f2.8 with a 1.4x converter. On-camera flash for fill.In my photography class, I make it a point to tell students that if your file isn't backed up in at least two places, it doesn't exist.

I took the above photo the other night at my patio. It's a House Wren singing while perched on an old fan flash I have attached to a fence post. I'm working on an essay on my backyard, so I was very pleased to get this picture.

So I opened it on my laptop from the SD card (without importing the contents of the card), sized it and sent it to a few people to get some feedback.

The next morning I took the card and put it in my shirt pocket with the intention of taking it to the studio to save with similar photos. I also placed my iPhone, in a Speck case in the same pocket. I ran a few errands and when I got to the studio and reached for the card it was gone. Apparently the rubber edge of the phone case had grabbed it and pulled it out of my pocket at some point. D'oh!

I retraced my steps but no luck. So if you find a 16GB SD card in Westlake or Bay Village, Ohio with the intitials LTK on it, I'd appreciate it's return. I can offer a framed 8x10 of the image or cash if returned. I don't expect that to happen, but I did learn a hard lesson.

Magic doesn't always happen

Last Sunday, April 28, was Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. As a semi-avid pinhole photographer I loaded my gear and headed west into unknown territories. I was looking for some place different than the previous five years, which mostly included urban or suburban settings.

So I headed west to some wildlife areas I had never been to, the Sheldon Marsh and Old Woman's Creek Estuary, near Huron, Ohio on the Lake Erie coast to look for photos. It was a rainy, overcast day. But I'll cut to the chase. It was a dud.

I just didn't see photos for my pinhole camera. What I did take was terrible. However, with my growing interest in birding, I wish I had brought some really long glass. But I didn't. Although I did see a Bald Eagle.

So, as I was stumbling along a path at the Sheldon Marsh and and I saw a bunny. It was no bigger than my fist, and it didn't seem to afraid. I took my Nikon P7700 out and made a few images. As it turns out, it was the best the day had to offer.

But I saw a lot of nice territory, met some nice people and saw some new sights. I'll go back.

As they say in Comedy. Timing is everything.

Tasteless

When I drew the line between "real" camera photos and my iPhone photos on this blog I didn't think the line would blur so quickly.

Last weekend I was out puttering about in my manly yard duties when I saw a squirrel hustle up to a recent cut in a Maple tree. I didn't know that Red Squirrels found the sap very tasty. I learned that in my extensive Goog, err, research, it's not uncommon for them to cut the bark to feed on the sap. That also explains the various spots on my driveway. Personally, I found the sap tasteless.

So here was a virtual fountain of sap provided unwittingly by me when I trimmed the maple earlier in the season.

But that's not the point.

When I saw the squirrel the only camera equipment I had with me was my iPhone (4). So, I grabbed my cheap 8x power binoculars (always handy for birding) and tried to it steady on the phone while I braced against the garage and made a few frames. See photo above.

The squirrel didn't seem to be stopping any time soon so I went inside and grabbed by Nikon P7700 and managed to sneak to within about 10 feet at 200mm. See photo below.

So what's the difference? The tools, yes. The light, no. The time of day, not really. Focal length, OK, maybe an edge to the P7700.

The only difference is that I found the iPhone photo to be more voyeuristic, primarily because of the hard vignetting on the image.

What do you think?