Al Larson Photography

When checking my “bluebird boxes” I am occasionally surprised by other things going on around me. On this occasion there happened to be a pair of Mule Deer in the area. They had been alerted by my scent, noise I may have made, or perhaps the scolding of the bluebirds that had a nest in the box I was checking. I caught the deer’s movement out of the corner of my eye, froze, then slowly got my camera out if its carrying case and started shooting. By my remaining still the deer showed no fear, just curiosity. They eventually drifted away and I resumed my work. By using telephoto I was able to get several fairly good photos. This is one of them. The locality was Hyde Saddle on the Bachman Grade southwest of Oreana, ID.

While traveling the back-country roads one never knows what may be lurking just around the corner. Imagine my surprise when I happened upon today’s subject. I caught a glimpse of something far ahead alongside the dirt road. As the distance narrowed I discovered a badger busy digging a burrow in the bank by the road. I stopped, got the camera ready and took a couple of “insurance” shots through the windshield. The badger seemed to ignore me so I let my “vehicle blind” coast quietly closer to my busy subject. It still seemed oblivious to my presence. When about twenty feet away I got out of the pickup and braced my camera over the hood of the car and fired away. The badger kept on digging casting a curious eye my way occasionally. By taking a series of shots you can use the best of the best photos to share with your friends.

It is always wise to not approach any wild animal too closely. Stay a reasonable distance away for safety’s sake and use a telephoto lens.

As I grow older my interest in cemeteries also grows. I now have many friends and acquaintances laid to rest in these gardens. My quest to find long departed ancestors has resulted in my visiting many cemeteries. Some are very formal with magnificent memorials placed at the head of each grave. Others are almost-forgotten burial sites with only slight depressions in the earth and if we’re lucky there may be bits of decayed wooden markers lying about with barely legible inscriptions.

Each cemetery has a personality of its own. I recently visited the Pioneer Cemetery near Idaho City and found many picturesque sites. Some showed evidence of love and respect but have since fallen into disrepair. The descendents having died themselves or moved away. Other graves have more permanent monuments of marble and granite. Hundred year old pines grew up near or upon some graves.

Today’s picture represents only one of the many sites located in the Idaho City Pioneer Cemetery. If you are at all interested in cemeteries this is one will whet your interest in history.

July 2005 we had this visitor to our yard. It is the common garden toad. It is the one you read about where a beautiful lonely princess kisses it and the toad turns into a handsome prince. Try it if you want, girls but I don’t think the story is based on fact.

This garden amphibian is a beneficial critter. It helps keep garden pests under control. With its long lightning-fast tongue it picks flies and other insects out of the air. It probably devours any small creature that moves. I once observed one of these guys attempting to swallow a small snake. It was to no avail, however as the snake kinked its body around the toads lower jaw. A stalemate ensued and the snake was eventually released.

Cold nights and stormy weather–is there a better time to think about more pleasant things? Here is a picture I took about a year and a half ago of a Pale Swallowtail. It reminds me of warm summer days, flower gardens and all of the wildlife that goes along with it. Butterflies seem to lead an idyllic life. They flit here and there from flower to flower searching for food and nutrients. They also search for mates. Their short life-span as adults dictates early procreation. While some species hibernate through the winter and mate in the spring, others die when cold weather sets in. Whatever their schedule, whatever their purpose, butterflies make excellent subjects for photography.

Winter is really here! Yesterday nearly 10 inches of snow fell. It was just warm enough for the snow to melt slightly on the roof. Little droplets of moisture froze when they were exposed to the open air forming icicles. The snow crept slowly toward the eaves bending over the edge. The icicles continued to form as they were being tilted out of perpendicular. This resulted in these unusual forms of the frozen ornaments.

I bracketed my camera settings and chose the best exposure. Think of the interesting highlights that would have occurred if I had had better back lighting.

On a tour of Idaho City, Idaho yesterday to see some of the new developments this pair of dogs was observed. I just had to break out the camera and capture the scene. It almost looked as though a mirror was involved somehow. With the dogs sitting in the snow you might say that this was a “cool” photo.

Here it is January 1. What better time is there to show a winter scene? Once in a while there comes an opportunity to observe icicles. I remember as a small boy seeing icicles hanging from the eaves of most buildings in our neighborhood. Not so today. Homes have flatter roofs and eave troughs to gutter moisture from melting snow to downspouts. So it is with a bit of nostalgia I post the photo today. This picture was taken just outside my bedroom window.