lloydslensphotographyllc

First Light &Simple Blessings

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “First Light 41620a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

I stepped out beneath the mountain earlier than has become normal in the past few weeks. Somewhere in the forest the laughing call of a woodpecker echoes across the hills. I have struggled to actually spot some of the bird species on my property but the morning chorus is in full concert. As my avian friends greet the morning light I noticed that my azalea has opened. The new white flowers seem to be waiting for the sun to fully spill over the ridge. Even now they eagerly catch the slightest trickle of light and convert it to a sweet aroma.

There must be some kind of magic infused into the first light. It makes the the birds sing and flowers open. The air is full of insects and the whole world is in contentment. It’s a perfect day to not just count my blessings but to embrace and enjoy them. Oftentimes we “count our blessings” like an old mother hen taking a head count to see if anyone is missing. But what good are blessings tucked away in box gathering dust? We need to realize that the simple blessings of this world are just as miraculous as anything described in the bible. Take a few minutes to enjoy them every day. I have said of foraging that God loves us so much that he’s given his providence in such a way that what is most important is found in the greatest abundance. Why should we think that mundane occurrence of singing birds and opening flowers is any less important than the miracle we ask for when a loved one is sick? So take a little time to breath the fresh air and have some quiet time. It’s like vitamins for the spirit.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

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Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

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Red-winged Blackbirds Of April 2020

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Male Red-winged Blackbird 41120”. All of the photos are my original work and are available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article

The bright Spring sun fills the Marsh and I bring the big blue truck to a halt on the edge of the single lane road. The windows hum as they slide down into the doors. I have come specially for the Red-winged Blackbirds and I have a secret weapon to bring them in. A digital recording of a male singing. With the windows down and the volume on 10 I start the playback and quietly sip my coffee. It’s not long before there’s a rustling sound in the cattails to my left.

Image Titled “Female Red-winged Blackbird 4420a

The marsh is full of Red-winged Blackbirds and I’ve gotten the attention of a female. Like most birds the females color scheme is all about camouflage. Her reply to the song is few chirps followed by a high pitched cackle. She stays low in the reeds for most of encounter. Meanwhile, her boyfriend is not happy about a new singer on his stage and he isn’t shy about challenging the unseen newcomer.

Image Titled “Male Red-winged Blackbird Territorial Display 41120”.

He stays on the tops of the cattails showing his red and calling his long trilling song.

Image Titled “Shy Female Red-winged Blackbird 4420”.

The Female, sensing how close her boyfriend was to ritual combat moved a little deeper into the cattails.

The the male finally zeroed in on source of the strange voice in his marsh. He came in like a fighter jet. He was so quick and agile that I couldn’t get him in frame. At one point I thought that he was coming in the window. But he pulled up short deftly landed on the cattail that was only a few feet from my window.

Male Red-winged Blackbird 41120b

He took several hard looks into the cab of the truck from his perch.

Image Titled Male Red-winged Blackbird 41120c.

I suppose that he couldn’t figure out if I was a really big bird or something else.

Image Titled “Male Red-winged Blackbird 41120cd

Eventually I turned the soundtrack off and that’s when he turned back to his love. In his mind he’d vanquished his rival.

Image Titled “She Waits”

It was only after the male returned to her side that she moved out of the hiding place and back to top of the cattails.

With the lovers reunited it was time for the big blue truck to move on. As I pulled out a final glance into the rearview mirror revealed that the two birds were perched together.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Renewal In The Forest

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Box Elder In Macro 4220” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

My little forest sanctuary is rapidly changing as days grow longer. It’s said that Nature can’t tolerate a vacuum and Box Elder that is the shade tree in my yard is her accomplice. Every open spot where I don’t really mow now has a new Box Elder growing. Most are seedlings like the one in tonight’s feature image. As the master of my property I have some choices. I can remove the seedlings in an effort to maintain the open space or I could let nature take course and see what happens. The young seedlings have a market value and I have them in abundance. I could probably donate a few to a group that is interested reforesting waste areas. I’m sure that if I wanted to put the time and effort into it that there’s at least a dozen options.

I have the distinct impression that this spot was once as thick as the rest of mountain but at some point in the past something disrupted the status quo. Who knows what ancient tree was removed from the spot in the past? The only constant thing in this world is chang. Whatever changed in the past before I acquired the property removed the things of the past but also made it possible for new beginnings.

Our world is the precipice of major disruption but be encouraged. The vacuum left in the wake of change is our chance to shape the future. All it takes is for us to look at the options and set a course.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Tranquility Under The Dogwood Trees

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Dogwood 41320” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

A breeze sweeps across the New River as the climbs ever skyward.
Behind me the geese are honking in the Gauley River as they Approach the Kanawha River. It’s a great morning in the three rivers area in spite of previous night’s storm and the loss of grid power. The open invitation to slow the pace of life cannot be denied so after learning that the grid would be down most of the day I spent some time with the little Dogwood trees on the Midland Trail.

The Dogwood trees are among the true pleasures of life in the Appalachian Mountains. The simple cross pattern of four pedals and little cluster in the center is one of the hallmarks of springtime. I have some of the best childhood memories of playing under a Dogwood tree. Now that I’m a little older I feel very at peace just taking in the atmosphere around them. No agenda, just tranquility in all of its beautiful simplicity.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Forage Friday #54 Speedwell

Color Photography, Forage Friday

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Speedwell 32420a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Tiny purple flowers have just about taken over my whole yard. I have noticed them every spring and always associated them with a change in the climate from cold and snowy to warm and sunny. Give or take a few weeks. What I didn’t know was that they’re a forage plant with ancient origins.

They go by several names. Brookline, Gypsyweed, Birdseye and Speedwell. Overall, there’s over 500 varieties of this little flower. All are listed under the genus Veronica. I have chosen to refer to them as Speedwell.

Image Titled “Speedwell 32420b”.

As you can see by the oak leaf in the lower left foreground in Image “Speedwell 32420b” the plant is quite small but it’s also very plentiful. Almost as plentiful as the small white Chickweed that accompanies it. Everything that I’ve read about Speedwell makes mention of “several varieties” being used for one thing or another. In one culture it’s referred to as a weed another culture uses it for ground cover and in a mixture of both it’s revered as medicine. It is a living example of beauty being in the eye of the beholder.

In full disclosure, this is one of many plants that I have studied but never sampled. So as far as the flavor is concerned I’m taking other people’s word. And as one might expect, individual experiences seem to vary. But with 500 types of Speedwell it’s expected that different varieties would be more palatable than others. Some plants change their chemistry with stages of development and soil conditions so it’s likely that would effect flavors.

The species I believe that I have is Veronica americana. Which is said to have a flavor similar to watercress.

Speedwell seems to have a worldwide reputation as an expectorant. It does seem to emerge at the right time to be handy for use as a remedy for respiratory complaints. Some references say that it’s used to sooth the nervous system and just about all of them recommend that an ointment of Speedwell is good for skin problems.

Please remember that I’m not an expert on herbs and I’m definitely not a doctor. I’m just sharing what others have said. Further research is recommended.

The preferred time to gather Speedwell seems to when it’s in bloom. The most popular form of using it seems to be as a tea. The tea is said to be a little on the bitter side and is astringent. It’s probably the astringent qualities that make it useful topically for skin conditions.

The season is just about over by the time this article was written but I do want to try this one. If anyone has used Speedwell I’d love to hear about your experience. Please let me know in the comments.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤