Take a Break!

Sometimes as photographers we get so tied up into creating images that we don't stop and take the time to thank God for all he has given us. Today when I got up it was about to rain. I immediately thought about all the images I had lined up that I planned to photograph today. Instead I took a long walk and had a good talk with God. When I got home the rain was just beginning to start and the wind started gusting. I decided to go into the kitchen and whip up a batch of Peppermint Toffee. After all it is the Christmas season. What better way to show God's love than by giving of oneself to others. Well at least in a round about way in the form of toffee!

For unto us a child is born and he shall be called ,Jesus.
Merry Christmas and God bless,

chris

Final Touches to Photo Blinds

Greetings Image Makers,

I just got back from a very productive photo shoot in the photography blind at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. Every winter I make a a couple of trips over to California's Central Valley to photograph waterfowl. It is an experience I always cherish. Each year in August the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex has a lottery for spots in the photography blinds at the Sacramento, Colusa and Delevan refuges. When I first started shooting there in the dark ages it wasn't that way. You can check out how to apply here.

http://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefuges/pdf/Photography/Photographer's%20Guidelines%202008.pdf

Anyway there weren't too many birds but I did mange to get some superb Mallard shots and later on the auto route I took some nice snow geese shots. overall it was a superb experience.

When I returned from my trip I set to work on completing the two photo blinds I was building. I painted the insides of the blinds a battleship black. Next I installed the window coverings. I used landscape fabric which is both waterproof and mildew proof. It has the advantage of being see through but is still opaque enough to hide your movements from outside the blind. the last step was to paint the outside with a mix of black and white for a camo sort of look. i'm reall happy with how the blinds finished up and i am looking forward to some great shooting days ahead with them.

God's light and love to all,

chris