Category Archives: Nature Photography

CARLSBAD, CA — Patch reader Lauren Messinger captured this photo of Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad while walking along Highway 101 toward Oceanside.

Thanks for sharing!

If you have an awesome picture of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution, horizontal images that reflect the beauty that is San Diego County, and that show off your unique talents.

Send your photos to [email protected]. Be sure to include photo credit information, when and where the shot was taken, and any other details about what was going on.

MADISON, CT – In 1986, Madison resident Frank Bartlett was painting his home when the ladder slipped from under him, and he dropped straight down, crushing his L1 Vertebrae and compressing his spinal cord.

After his injury, doctors told Bartlett he wouldn’t walk again.

“My first thought was that I’d never be able to pitch a baseball to my young son or dance the first dance at my daughter’s wedding someday,” he said.

However, Bartlett never gave up hope, and several months later after his accident, he was able to go home. Bartlett said it was Christmas Eve when he took his first steps.

“My parents said it was the best gift they ever received. It was mine also,” Bartlett said. “I’m walking further now than I have since 1986.”

Many people might have seen Bartlett’s photographs on their Facebook feed when scrolling through the social media app. (Click here to see Bartlett’s Facebook photography page).

“The vast majority are shot in Guilford and Madison. We live on the line between the two towns, but I get more opportunities in Guilford. We are so fortunate to live where we do,” he said.

Bartlett said he loves to share the photographs he takes because he wants to share the beauty of nature with those who may be in the same situation as he was and aren’t able to go out and walk in nature.

“My grandmother piqued my interest in nature at a very young age,” he said. “When I was younger, I wanted to capture interesting things I’d see in nature on film, not caring about the quality of the photo. In the last several years, I’ve concentrated on improving my photography. It’s truly a challenge and thrilling when all the stars align for you, which is rare for me.”

Bartlett said getting a good photo opportunity takes many hours of sitting in uncomfortable positions in poor weather.

“One winter, I sat in my car behind some abandoned buildings quite a ways from the nearby house for many hours, days and weeks,” he said. “It was where I had seen a bobcat passing in the past.”

Bartlett said he’s always loved to walk in the woods, but in his journey, he’s learned to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature.

“I’ve noticed that most people go through life with blinders on when it comes to the amazing things around us. Most people are focused on getting from one place to another,” he said. “People don’t see things because animals and even birds go quiet when a human or possible predator approaches or passes by. If you go into any place with cover for the animals or birds and sit quietly without moving, within a very short time, you will be shocked at how much wildlife is around you. I’ve had mice walk across my shoe. I’ve had chickadees sit on my lens. Now that’s cool.”

While on a photo shoot, Bartlett said he’s had many memorable moments, from photographing foxes in their den in South Guilford to taking photographs of Ducklings.

However, his most exciting moment was taking a photo of a bobcat.

“As many know, I’ve spent countless hours searching for a better picture of these beautiful creatures. I drove to Southbury countless times; I went to Derby daily for two weeks because people said a pair walked past them while they sat on a park bench. I went in the dark of night in deep snow before the plows came to track a bobcat in Clinton. I found the tracks in the new snow but not the cat. So I tracked one from the center of Guilford to Madison without seeing it,” he said.

One day Bartlett got a call that someone had seen a bobcat in his neighborhood while he was in Glastonbury with two snake experts looking for rattlesnakes. On his way home, he saw a small deer cross the back road in front of his car, but as he got close, he noticed it was a big bobcat.

“I pulled over and took many shots. Years ago, I was given a tip: “ If an animal is walking away, make a kissing sound, and it will stop and look right at you,” he said. “I did it, and it worked. I was so excited when I saw that the picture on the back of the camera came out okay. The photo is now on our wall as you enter our home.”

As Bartlett continues to share his photography through social media, he’s received many comments, but one stands out.

“One fellow in Guilford was so kind to give me the location where a bobcat has been spotted, and While I was slowly driving through the area the gentleman gave me, I met the extraordinary man; he was in a wheelchair,” he said. “The comment that touched my heart later came from him. “you’re my view into a world that is impossible for me ever to see.” That deeply touched me. How close I was to being right next to him in a wheelchair. It’s comments like that that get me up before dawn to try to get a better photo almost daily.”

© Photo by Steve Miller
Photo taken April 28 from the “umbrella tree” on Sonoma Mountain.

ROHNERT PARK, CA — Patch reader Steve Miller shared this photo he took of Rohnert Park from the “Umbrella Tree” on the north side of Sonoma Mountain on April 28, 2023.

“You can see all of RP, the casino, and the Laguna beyond,” he wrote in an email to Patch. “I like it because it shows ‘the lay of the land’ and now when I pass that flat square north of Keiser between Snyder Lane and Petaluma Hill Road, I look up to see the Umbrella Tree.”

Very cool, Steve! Thanks so much for sharing.

It’s Your Shot: Pictures You Take and We Share

Have you got the next incredible photo? If you have an awesome photo of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to catch, we’d love to feature it on Patch. We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty that is Rohnert Park and Cotati, and that show off your unique talents.

So, bring ’em on. No selfies. Not here.

Send your photos to [email protected]. In your email, please be sure to include information about when and where the shot was taken and any other details about what was going on.

The article View From The ‘Umbrella Tree’: Rohnert Park Photo Of The Day appeared first on Rohnert Park-Cotati Patch.

© Miyo Burnett
Backyard flowers in San Leandro, Calif.

SAN LEANDRO, CA — A bearded iris nestles amidst roses in this bouquet picked Saturday by Miyo Burnett.

Thank you for sharing your photo, Miyo!

If you have an awesome photo of nature, breath-taking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Northern California, and that show off your unique talents.

Email it to [email protected].

Also See:

The article Fresh From The Garden: Photo Of The Day appeared first on San Leandro Patch.

© Jon Miller
Two standard poodles outside Baywood Court Senior Living Facility in Castro Valley.

CASTRO VALLEY, CA — Miss Parti and Samson visited Baywood Court Senior Living Facility in Castro Valley recently, posing outside at sunset as flags flutter in the breeze.

Thank you for sharing your photo, Jon Miller.

If you have an awesome photo of nature, breath-taking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Northern California, and that show off your unique talents.

Email it to [email protected].

Also See:

The article Poodles Pause At Sunset: Photo Of The Day appeared first on Castro Valley Patch.

We feel truly blessed to live in Tiberias. From our balcony, we look out over the lake, the Kinneret (also known as the Sea of Galilee), and on a clear day we see Mount Hermon, snow-capped in the winter. From our kitchen window we look up to the residential areas of Upper Tiberias and to the Switzerland Forest beyond. Tiberias is a town full of history. It was established more than 2,000 years ago, and was the final home of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court in the days of the Talmud. It is the ultimate resting place of Rabbi Akiva and Maimonides (RAMBAM), as well as a host of other sages. In Tiberias, the Mishna and the Jerusalem Talmud were written, and a thousand years ago the Masoretes of Tiberias devised the system of vowelizing Hebrew words.

Tiberias – The Kinneret [JA]

Tiberias is a wonderful base from which to explore Northern Israel’s beauty spots and major tourist attractions. Within an hour or so, by car, we can reach Banias waterfall and Tel Dan, the Hula Valley nature reserves, Safed, Gamla, Ramat Hanadiv nature park and gardens at Zichron Yaakov and the archaeological site at Caesarea, to name but a few. And from our home it’s just a few minutes’ drive to the lake, the Arbel[1] and to the Switzerland Forest, all of which we can reach on foot too, as we discovered during Covid lockdowns.

Starting above where Tiberias ends and continuing southwards for much of the length of the Kinneret, the Switzerland Forest is one of our favourite haunts. From its name one might infer that the scenery resembles Swiss mountain forests with their magnificent views. But that isn’t why this forest gets its name. Rather, its name marks the contribution made by the Swiss Jewish Community, to fund its landscaping.

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest [JA]

During rainy seasons there were, in times gone by, many instances of mud slides down the mountains here, the worst of which was in 1934 sadly causing the death of twenty-five people in Tiberias itself. Planting the mountain slopes with trees and bushes to prevent erosion, has ensured that no such disasters have happened since.

On early morning walks we have seen hyraxes and jackals. Woodpeckers, jays, sunbirds, parakeets and cattle egrets are just a few of the multitude of birds that we see, as well as lizards, chameleons[2] and the occasional snake.

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest – Golden Skink [JA]

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest – Chameleon [JA]

Some months ago, in the Switzerland Forest towards evening we encountered a ‘little’ (1.3 meters long) snake. I’m not sure why we weren’t afraid to approach, but for some reason it didn’t seem dangerous. I was just about two meters away when I photographed it. Thinking about it afterwards, I decided that I was really very foolish – it could have been deadly poisonous. We had seen black whip snakes in the forest – they are two meters long or more. They’re not poisonous but could nevertheless give a nasty bite. But what sort of snake was this before us? It turned out not to be a snake at all, but a legless lizard. It looks like a snake, to ward off predators. How sneaky to look so snaky![3]

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest – Legless Lizard [JA]

The lake is like a magnet for those who enjoy water sports, boating and swimming, but for someone like me, who doesn’t like getting wet (apart from in the shower), it’s the nature around the lake that is the draw. I particularly enjoy watching the egrets, the herons and the kingfishers that can frequently be seen in abundance. When I lived in England, to see a blue flash as a kingfisher flew by was a once in a blue moon occasion. Here in Israel, we see three different kinds of kingfishers – the common kingfisher (as I would very occasionally see in England), its larger ‘cousin’ the white-throated kingfisher, and the pied kingfisher. The common kingfisher is as majestic as its name implies; it has a vivid blue back and head and pinky-orange breast and is clearly distinguishable from all other birds. It’s a small bird, barely bigger than a sparrow, and since each day it needs to eat about sixty percent of its body weight, it’s constantly on the lookout for a nice fish or crab for breakfast, lunch and supper. The white-throated kingfisher unsurprisingly has a white throat, and it has a brown front with blue back. It’s more than one and a half times the length of the common kingfisher, which makes photographing it a wee bit easier. The pied kingfisher, similar in size to the white-throated kingfisher, is clearly identified with its distinctive black and white plumage. It can often be seen hovering twenty feet or more above the water surface waiting to dive on its prey.

Tiberias – The Kinneret – Night Heron [JA]

I love to watch little egrets – beautiful and graceful white birds in the heron family. They wade in the shallow waters at the edge of the lake on the lookout for fish. And master fishers they are – they patiently wait in the lake stalking their prey and with one quick swoop of the head, a fish is plucked from the water soon to be consumed whole[4].

Tiberias – The Kinneret – Little Egret [JA]

With such beautiful nature on our doorstep, you can probably now understand why we find living here in Tiberias is such a wonderful blessing.

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest [JA]

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest – Syrian Woodpecker [JA]

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest – Roughtail Rock Agama [JA]

Tiberias – Switzerland Forest – Syrian Rock Hyrax [JA]

Tiberias – The Kinneret [JA]

Tiberias – The Kinneret – Crab [JA]

Tiberias – The Kinneret – Little Egret [JA]

Tiberias – The Kinneret – Pygmy Cormorant drying its wings [JA]

—

[1] See photo essay – Nature of Arbel – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/photo-essay-nature-of-arbel/

[2] See photo essay – Chameleons – The Art of Change – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/photo-essay-chameleons-the-art-of-change/

[3] See poem – Snaky – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/poem-snaky/

[4] See photo essay – Little Egrets – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/nature-of-israel-photo-essay-little-egrets/

I am an Amateur Photographer living in Tiberias, having made Aliyah from Manchester, UK. When not out and about with my camera I work as a Hi Tech Consultant. This is my website – https://natureofisrael.blogspot.com/.
You can see my contributions to Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:JulianAlper.
And this is my YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/JulianAlper1