The first week of September brought a variety of photographic opportunities and emotions. I’ll let the week’s activities play out in the photos and captions. © Bruce Stambaugh 2024 ..read more

I sat beneath a spreading canopy of an ornamental tree at my favorite cafe, waiting for my celebratory lunch. It was my reward for a spontaneous decision I wished I hadn’t made. Early in the late August morning coolness, I had already walked my usual mile in our suburban neighborhood. The humidity neutralized the refreshing ..read more

We had a lovely and much-needed inch of rain yesterday and overnight. Much of the lawn greened up right away. This morning, I was fortunate to catch this female Ruby-throated Hummingbird resting on a shepherd’s hook. The hook holds the hummingbird feeder below the ant mote at the center bottom of the photo. As I ..read more

It’s been a long, hot, dry summer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Even after Tropical Storm Debby dropped over five inches of rain, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration kept the valley in the extreme drought category. Each summer has become hotter and dryer in the seven years we have lived in Virginia. This summer has ..read more

When I spotted this booth at a Farmers Market in Rochester, New York, I had to take a photo. The friendly merchant’s smile showed he gladly approved. And why shouldn’t he? The business name’s double entendre pitched both the product and its purpose. Undoubtedly, “The Fun Guys” owners are as mellow as their mushrooms ..read more

On our morning walk, my wife and I spotted an unusual cloud formation, as seen in the photo above. We first noticed the large hole in the formation of altocumulus clouds. Then, my wife spotted a second one while I focused on the knife blade-looking break to the right of the holes. Airliners caused all ..read more

I visit Shenandoah National Park whenever I can. Being retired has its advantages. I usually go to the park with a purpose in mind. Recently, I drove the 45 miles from my home in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to the Big Meadows area of the popular national park for several reasons. I like to capture butterflies ..read more

My older brother and I hauled in the walleye. Photo by Bruce Stambaugh I fondly remember my family vacations in the 1950s and ’60s. I vividly recall them because we didn’t take many. We were a lower-middle-class family from a blue-collar city in northeast Ohio. My folks didn’t have the money to travel around the country too often, especially with five active and vocal children. My most memorable trip as a youngster was a week on Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada, in Lake Erie. It was the middle of summer, sunny, hot, and humid. As a 10-year-old, I was excited about our trip for multiple reasons. F ..read more

A female American Goldfinch plucks a seed from a sunflower head. Photo by Bruce Stambaugh Can you eat upside down? American Goldfinches sure can! In the summertime, the acrobatic little birds put on a show around sunflowers. Often, they hint at their arrival at a sunflower patch with a distinctive, cheery call. Soon, they land atop a flower and begin their feeding. The lively and colorful birds use their short, sharp beaks to pry the juicy new seeds from the flower head. Their sturdy pinkish bill effortlessly cracks open the seed, and the birds devour their reward. The American Gold ..read more

Thistle blossoms ready to flower. Photo by Bruce Stambaugh When I awoke, I noticed the ripples of the morning’s mackerel clouds glowed pink. I headed for a location with an open view to the east. Arriving a few minutes later, the colors had dimmed but were still lovely. I hustled to a high point on a paved trail that separates a golf course and an overgrown field. I snapped several shots of the sunrise but quickly became distracted by all the bird calls. When I turned to find the Indigo Bunting, this stand of ready-to-bloom thistles caught my focus. I was struck by the faint kiss of the day’s ..read more