Feathers: Sneak Peek

I'm taking a little break from my August Break today because I wanted to show you these... the start of a new series, "Feather".

From the Past - Posies and Politics

While watching/listening to the presidential debate this evening, I worked on some photos. OK, so most of my attention was taken up by the debate and I only managed to crank out one photo, but that's not really a bad thing.

Tonight's subject is another botanical specimen - collected in June of 1888. This lovely orchid is a yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum).


(Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

I think it's interesting that this specimen happens to be from 1888 - another election year. According to Wikipedia, 120 years ago President Grover Cleveland was campaigning against Benjamin Harrison, looking to secure a second term in office. President Cleveland won the popular vote, but lost the election by 65 electoral votes. Apparently, dividing up the Dakota territories into states was the big issue of the day.

And now you have some more useless trivia clattering around in your brain! :-)

Curiosities

Here are some more images from today's session at the Natural History Museum. I think "Curiosities" - the last image in this post - would make a great Halloween card, do you?

Tropic Bird


Distilled Water


Bird in the Bell Jar


Curiosities


(Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

Botanical Bliss

It was my second to last trip to the Natural History Museum at Roger Williams Park today. My next visit there will be to photograph the displays upstairs, and then my time will be used up. I've had a wonderful time exploring the archives and capturing the specimens there. In a year or so I may go back - with fresh perspectives and ideas. I'm like a kid in a candy store there at the museum, so it can be exhausting to try and photograph everything I'm interested in.

Today the curator, Marylin, suggested I take a look at some of the botanical specimens. I'm so glad she did, they were beautiful!

Orchid Specimens 1 through 4



Cypripedium spectabile (collected in 1889)


After I finished, I took some photos of the space, in case you're curious about the environment that I was working in. It's an enchanting mix of history and technology. One room sports an eclectic mix of shelves, skulls, and primitive spears. The next houses a crisp, clean, state of the art preservation system.



I hope you've enjoyed your sneak peek! More photographs from today's session will follow, I'm sure.

(Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

Playing with Pixels

Cyanocitta cristata


(Photograph taken courtesy of of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

More, More, More

Magic Eye


Albino Blue Jay


Isn't that albino blue jay the coolest thing ever? Apparently the museum has several albino specimens, including one other that I took photos of. I'll leave you in suspense as to what type of bird it is :-)

(Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

Birds of a Feather

More images from today's session, enjoy! And, as always, please leave your comments, vote for your favorite, or just say hello! I love to hear from you folks out there in cyberland.

Accipiter striatus (Through the Viewfinder)


His Domain (Through the Viewfinder)


Menagerie! (Through the Viewfinder)




Parrot


(Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

The Last from Day 1

My summer got a bit busy there for a while, but I've finally had the chance to sit down and finish working on the photos from my first session at the Museum of Natural History. Enjoy!

Waiting Patiently


The Flamingo


Graceful Stilt


(Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.)

Fun with Nature

I do have some plans in the works for new Natural History series pieces. I've been coordinating with local museums and trying to arrange appointments to photograph their collections. Sorting through the logistics takes a while. In the meantime, I revisited some of my photographs from the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center... I had some fun combining the photo with a digital "printing" technique. Enjoy!

Screech Owl


A close up so you can better see the "printing"


EDIT:

Here's another "new" Natural History Series photo for you to enjoy!

Common Merganser

Creative Juices Flowing

I've been pretty darn productive for the last two days! Well, not productive in getting ready for my show on Saturday, but hey, I won't complain about generating so many photos in 48 hours. So yeah, the show is the SWAN Day festival at the Artists' Exchange in Cranston, RI. It's going to be a great mix of art and music and all sorts of goodies. Click the poster for details:



Back to photography... I worked on more Ocean series images today, here they are, Enjoy!

Skinny Sea Star I


Skinny Sea Star II