Can’t Be Good!!

April 13, 2019Jeff

There is no force in the universe...

Via The New Yorker Magazine

See more humor posts on JBRish HERE

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All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2019 – JBRish.com

Photography: My Shot — Elephant Mountain Cave Creek, Arizona

December 28, 2018Jeff

A couple of weeks ago, the weather was rather mild in our part of the Sonoran Desert so we decided to take a hike which was partly in the Spur Cross Recreation Area. As we hiked over a dozen miles that day, we could see Elephant Mountain from numerous vantage points.

Elephant Mountain - Cave Creek Conservation Area, Arizona

This is a well-known landmark in the area and there are several ranger-led hikes to the mountain every year. You can call for information if you like. Our hike this day took us near the mountain and around the sides, but not on to it. It was our near constant companion as we trekked along.

If you are having difficulty “seeing” the “elephantness” of the mountain, here is another copy of the photo with my interpretation.

As a bonus, I included a relevant quote. If you read my website regularly, you probably surmised that I am a collector of quotes.

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Metadata

File Name: DSC_4018.NEF
Capture time: 10:50 AM
Capture date: Dec 14, 2018
Exposure: 1/160 sec @ f/10
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 100
Camera: Nikon D3300
Lens: 18.0 – 55.0mm f/3.5-5.6
Edited in Lightroom

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See more photography posts HERE and visit Jeff’s Instagram site HERE

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All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2018 – JBRish.com

Humor by Nature and Man – Blue-Footed Booby!

November 10, 2018November 10, 2018Jeff

It is hard not to be drawn immediately to those blue feet and what a color of blue they are! As it states at the referenced link below, it is a bit of coincidental humor to be named a “booby” and have those feet!

Picture Via

See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

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©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2018 – JBRish.com

Video-Ohs – Bear Cub & Momma Try to Climb Snowy Slope

November 7, 2018Jeff

Nature shows us the very best of the struggle for life as a very small bear cub tries to follow its mother up a snowy sope. This youngster has guts and perseverance. It struggles agains the laws of physics about which it knows nothing. Mama bear stands helplessly by as the cub struggles to reach her.

NOTE – There is no accompanying sound with this video. Just sit back and watch!

Notes from the YouTube Page:

I was almost snow-go for a cute – and determined – cub which gamely tried to follow its mum up a steep and extremely slippery snow-covered slope.

Video footage of the plucky young animal shows the creature refusing to have a melt-down, despite repeatedly sliding down the powdery surface.

The clip, which has gone viral on social media, had viewers admitting they felt “stressed out” as it was “hard to watch” the cub continually slide down the mountain, towards rocks.

It starts by showing the pair clambering over a rocky patch of ground as the mum guides her young cub towards the top of the mountain.

Both animals initially slide down the slope, but the mother quickly regains her footing and makes it to the ridge, where she waits for the cub to join her.

Plenty of heart-stopping moments follow as the cub struggles to reach her, and it leaves long trails in the snow where its claws have dug in to stop it slipping too far below.

However it slides a considerable distance, ending up on a large rocky patch.

Meanwhile, its mother looks anxiously over the ridge, pacing to and fro.

At one stage, the cub is within just a few feet of its mum.

But at this precise moment, when the cub is nearly beside her, she appears to look straight ahead, and seems nervous about a drone filming her cub.

More Vide – Ohs

To See additional Interesting Videos, click HERE

Photography: My Shot — Male Elk on a Hill

October 30, 2018Jeff

We were up early and exciting about taking a hike along the Beaver Ponds Trail at Yellowstone National Park. As we began the moderate incline to start the hike, a male elk was standing watch with a doe a bit farther down the side of the hill.

As we waited a moment before proceeding, the elk sensed our presence and took a look over his shoulder. I quickly snapped a photograph with my least capable, but longest telephoto camera to grab this shot.

Looking at him in this photograph, viewers can tell that this adolescent male was very confident and proud. Shortly after capturing this picture we were called back by park rangers and headed for another access to the trail. After all, this is their home!

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Metadata

File Name: IMG_1061.CR2
Capture time: 8:16 AM
Capture date: Sept 14, 2018
Exposure: 1/200 sec @ f/8.6
Focal Length: 215mm
ISO: 100
Camera: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
Lens: 4.3-215mm
Edited in Lightroom

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See more photography posts HERE and visit Jeff’s Instagram site HERE

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Photography: My Shot — White Peacock Butterfly (Anartia jatrophae)

October 15, 2018Jeff

As readers of JBRish might recall, I volunteer at the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) in Phoenix, AZ. It is the second most visited tourist attraction in the state after the Grand Canyon. After all, what can compete with the Grand Canyon?

The DBG recently constructed a new and much improved butterfly pavilion which houses two different butterfly exhibits each year. One focuses on the Monarch butterfly while the other shows a variety of butterflies.

The picture above was taken during a recent visit to the DBG and the butterfly exhibit. These are beautiful and dainty creatures. It is always breathtaking to see so many of them up close among a captivating floral setting.

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Metadata

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Capture time: 11:18 AM
Capture date: Oct. 6, 2018
Exposure: 1/320 sec @ f/5.6
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO: 200
Camera: Fuji X-T2
Lens: XF18-55mm, F2.8-4 R LM OIS
Edited in Lightroom & Photoshop

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See more photography posts HERE and visit Jeff’s Instagram site HERE

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Photography: My Shot — a Tree with Character

July 28, 2018July 28, 2018Jeff

“A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.“

— William Blake —

A Tree with Character - Rocky Mountain National Park

While hiking along the Glacier Gorge Trail to Loch Lake, we came across an evergreen tree nestled off to the side of the trail. The photograph is not technically excellent, but I like the way it shows the character of this tree. It appears to me that this tree has been in this location for a long time and it has had to fight to survive.

Look at how the roots encircle that large rock in the middle and how the other roots are “hugging” smaller rocks at the base. The roots are running shallow along the earth which denotes how hard the ground is in that area. This tree is holding on and fighting for life.

This is survival of the fittest at work!

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Metadata

File Name: 000026_DSC_0717_r.tif
Capture time: 5:23 PM
Capture date: Sep 11, 2018
Exposure: 1/3 sec @ f/18
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 1600
Camera: Nikon D3300
Lens: 18.0 – 55.02mm f/3.5-5.6
Edited in Lightroom

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See more photography posts HERE and visit Jeff’s Instagram site HERE

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Photography: My Shot – Larnach Castle Garden, Dunedin, NZ

March 25, 2018Jeff

When we visited New Zealand in 2009, the only camera I took with me was a very small point-and-shoot Canon AS590 IS, which at that time was considered fairly good for its class. Even with this small-ish 8 megapixel count, I was able to capture some amazing pictures.

The photograph below was taken at Larnach Castle in Dunedin, New Zealand. The sky was overcast and the colors were vibrant in themselves. This photo was edited a bit in Lightroom, but trust me when I say that this was a striking picture before the editing process.

I encourage everyone to record their adventures as large or small as they may be with whatever camera or smart phone they have with them. The images will be a treasure to review and appreciate over time.

Interestingly enough, there were a number of plants in this garden that we grow in our Sonoran Desert area.

Stormy skies over Larnach Castle Garden, Dunedin, NZ

You can find more information about the Larnach Castle & Gardens HERE

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Metadata

File Name: larnach_cast_grdn_)133.jpg
Capture time: Early Afternoon
Capture date: December 17, 2009
Exposure: 1/1000 5.8mm
ISO: 80
Camera: Canon PowerShot AS590 IS
Lens: 4.3-215mm

Edited in Lightroom

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Hiking: Yellow-Throated Gilia, Sequoia National Park, CA

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018Jeff

One of the reasons I enjoy hiking is that it offers opportunities for interesting discoveries; some anticipated and others serendipitous. We were hiking along the Crescent Meadow Loop Trail in Sequoia National Park nearly a year ago when we came across a patch of wildflowers tucked away in a wooded area…

It was hard to believe that these were real. The colors were so vibrant and unusual in combination. It was an amazing sight. The next day we were on the Sunset Point Trail and there was a large swath of these wildflowers covering the entire hillside.

Love those standouts adding their all white accents in the middle of the patch!

“Nature is the art of God.” – Dante Alighieri

Read more about Yellow-Throated Gilia HERE

Read more JBRish.com posts:

Hiking/Exploring HERE, Nature HERE, Photography HERE

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Adventures in Oregon: Cascade Head and Hart’s Cove in Lincoln City

February 7, 2018February 16, 2018Jeff

We were anxious to travel to Lincoln City, OR as we had read so many intriguing reviews of the areas we chose for hiking. The Cascade Head Preserve seemed especially promising. It is a coastal headland with two trails one of which is much longer; 4.2 miles. The upper trail leads to the most scenic views and brings hikers to the top of the hills overlooking the ocean and nearby shore. This was really a no-brainer for us.

We opted for the shorter upper trail which was a relatively flat mile-long hike. We had been hiking for several days already and planned to continue hiking once we arrived at Crater Lake National Park so this seemed prudent.

It was difficult to find the correct forest road (Cascade Head Road 1861) which is more of a cut out along the highway than anything else. We persevered and finally wound up at the trailhead ready to go.

The first part of the hike looked like a pathway in Jurassic Park with the fungi and mosses covering the tree branches.

Jungle-like growth at the start of the trail

After hiking for a a bit more than twenty minutes, we reached the meadow viewpoints. The vista was stunning.

The meadow and ocean revealed themselves

As we moved closer to the descending side of the hill, we could watch hikers arriving from the lower trail.

Hikers were arriving from the lower trail

The contrast of the golden meadow, the green trees and shrubs against the blue ocean was a superb display of nature’s palette.

A contrast of colors

The craggy rock outcroppings were also very dramatic.

I couldn’t resist taking a panorama from this expansive vantage point with such a remarkable view.

A panorama taken form the top of the meadow

Feeling self-satisfied, we decided to attempt the trek to Hart’s Cove and drove to that trailhead. We were somewhat daunted by the steepness of the trail heading down as we knew it would be uphill coming back. One rule of hiking when there is no loop is that for every down, there is an up!

We asked some ascending hikers what their thoughts were and after some encouragement, we began the descent. It was indeed downhill!

The first part of the hike takes trekkers through forests of hemlock and Sitka spruce. We then arrived at the open trail to the grassy meadow with anticipation of seeing the cove.

Finally, the path to the cove

We were careful with our footing and made our way to an area where we could have lunch and enjoy the view of the cove.

A scenic backdrop

Although we couldn’t see the sea lions, we could hear them barking in the distance.

A wonderful spot to enjoy lunch

We lingered for a time taking in the view and enjoying the best this area had to offer. Although we faced a strenuous (for us) return trip, the memories will remain long after our muscles have recovered.