Back in the States

So.  Research (plus a small desire to see family and friends around the holidays) brought us back to the states.  My wife needed to do some raiding of the US archives for her masters degree in Northern Ireland...It doesn't sound too legit, but it is.  really.

Friends and family...and constant travelling...sure occupy much time.  Especially when everyone wants to see you all the time...I would have thought that three months is an okay amount of time to be away, apparently parents feel otherwise.  So I've been busy.  Very.  I still got my daily photo...It's just been a long time since I last posted.  So here is all that has happened since the last post.

A trip to Central Park in New York City

I got back to Ephrata just in time to see one of the older buildings in the town being brought to its knees.

Saw a father and son doing some late night fishing at Middle Creek.

Saw the close to empty Speedwell Forge reflecting some beautiful setting sun light

Set up some Lionel trains around the Christmas tree with my brother.

Christmas!

Day after Christmas! (last day I feel like I can get away with Christmas-related photos)

In the key of T(ea)...My brother and I have spent much time jamming, passing the string, key, vocal, and now washboard duties back and forth.  Yea.  He got me a washboard for my birthday.  Best present ever.

  

My 70-200 F4 L series lens arrived today.  My Christmas/birthday present to myself.  I only had a minute to try it out, but a quick handheld shot of the moon produced this, so I am more than happy with it.  Expect a review sooner or later.

I'll Climb a Ladder to Reach the Birds

I had some time to kill when I got home from work today.  Not much, just some.  I went outside with my camera, knowing that my neighbor had been doing some house work, thinking I might get a decent photo of something tool related.  I found a pile of ladders, a decent enough subject, and composed the shot.  I then figured I could go for a quick bike ride since my daily photo had been captured fairly quickly, but I kept my camera attached to me...just in case.  I'm glad I did.  As I was riding around, I noticed some birds.  Some pigeons to be exact.  I had noticed some before, and on each occasion was awfully surprised to see them.  See, I live in Ephrata, PA, a non-urban area, surrounded by farms.  I have spent many years of my life in New York City, knowing all too well the type of environment needed for what so many call "flying rats," and Ephrata just isn't it.  But oddly enough, they keep showing up...and more frequently too.  So I decided to follow them a little.  I realized that Ephrata doesn't just have pigeons, we have a flock of pigeons...a very specific group of about ten pigeons that have a very specific area that they like to fly around, and a very specific building that they will rest on.  The flock has a single white pigeon that seems to get a lot of attention.  I don't know if the white one is female, or if it is popular due to the color difference.  Regardless, these birds provided me with a good half hour or so of birdwatching and bird-chasing by bike.  I got the feeling that I could be the new Mark Bittner, a man who spent much of his free time taking care of a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco.  This man and his parrot friends have had a documentary made about their lives.  I'd recommend that anyone who likes a good eccentric guy and some adorably friendly parrots check it out.  It is entitled The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.

Ladders

Here is that pile of ladders.  Perhaps I shall snag one in order to get closer to those pigeons.

Flock Of Pigeons

These two shots of the birds are definitely not your average "wildlife" shots.  I had no idea I'd be photographing birds, especially not ones on top of buildings.  When I go out with the intention of shooting them, I shall bring a telephoto, allowing me to get some good close ups of these birds.

They Came From the City

This is an ode to my early impression of the pigeon's habitat...the dark, metallic, and rusty city.