@Swede1952

Good goal.

You still see those sockets around, they just don’t include the lighter.

Thanks

😊

Yep

My pleasure

Thanks, Donna

"A single sweetgum leaf commands the frame—its five-pointed star shape crisp and unmistakable. The leaf is a vibrant red, saturated like a flame caught mid-flicker. Its surface is veined with delicate lines, each one a tributary of life now paused in autumn’s hush. Scattered across the leaf are dark spots—small bruises of time, hints of decay that deepen its character rather than diminish it. The edges are slightly curled, as if the leaf is exhaling its final breath before release. Behind it, the background blurs into a soft wash of green and yellow, like a watercolor memory of summer fading. The lighting is gentle but precise, illuminating the leaf’s texture and color with reverence. It’s a portrait of seasonal transition—bold, quiet, and full of grace." - Microsoft Copilot

Autumn Sweetgum Leaf

"A Downy Woodpecker clings vertically to the bark of a tree, its tiny body taut with purpose. Its plumage is a crisp contrast of black and white—checkerboard wings, snowy belly, and a bold white stripe running up its back. Atop its head, a small but vivid red patch glows like a ceremonial seal, marking this bird as male. The tree trunk is mottled with pale lichen, giving the scene a textured, almost ancient feel. Around the bird, green leaves frame the moment like nature’s own vignette, softening the edges with life and motion. In the background, a white fence slices through the scene—a quiet human presence that doesn’t disturb the bird’s focus. The Downy Woodpecker’s beak is poised, ready to tap, probe, or listen. It’s a snapshot of stillness and intent, a moment where wild instinct meets quiet observation." - Microsoft Copilot

Eternal Echo, A Woodpecker Solitude

This Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) was around a few years ago, back when the crepe myrtles still held their leaves.

osprey skimming low across a lake feels less like a literal snapshot and more like a minimalistic, pastel watercolor—an impressionist vision rendered in flight.

Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.

swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

2/2

"An osprey glides just inches above a still, glassy surface, its wings outstretched in a powerful yet graceful arc. The bird’s body is taut with motion—muscles coiled, talons tucked, eyes locked forward with predatory focus. Beneath it, the water mirrors its flight, capturing the full span of its wings in a shimmering reflection. But the mirror is imperfect: gentle ripples distort the symmetry, turning the osprey’s double into a dreamlike echo. The background is a wash of soft pastels—muted blues, blush pinks, and hints of lavender—suggesting either dawn’s first light or the hush of evening. The entire scene hums with serenity and precision, as if time paused to honor this moment of aerial mastery. The image is signed “© Swede’s Photographs” in the bottom right corner, a quiet nod to the artist’s witness." - Microsoft Copilot

Echo in Motion

An image doesn’t need perfection to be captivating. This overexposed, slightly fuzzy photograph of an ...

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #birdofprey #raptor #osprey #reflection #minimalism #abstract

"A small bird perches gracefully on a curved, dark metal rod—its delicate feet gripping the arc with quiet poise. The bird’s chest and face blaze with a brilliant yellow, like sunlight caught in feathers. Its wings are patterned in crisp black and white, forming a striking contrast that feels both bold and elegant. The belly fades to a soft, pale hue, grounding the vibrancy above. Its posture is alert yet serene, head slightly tilted as if listening to the wind or watching the world with quiet curiosity. The background is a gentle blur of muted tones, like a watercolor wash—soft greens and browns that suggest foliage without demanding attention. This subtle backdrop allows the goldfinch to shine as the undeniable focal point, its vivid plumage and fine feather detail rendered with photographic clarity. Every contour of its body, every tiny barb of its plumage, is visible—an intimate portrait of nature’s precision and beauty. In the lower left corner, the image bears the quiet signature “© Swede’s Photographs,” a respectful nod to the artist who captured this moment of avian grace." - Microsoft Copilot

Eye to Eye

The goldfinch (Spinus tristis) fixed me with a sly glimmer in his eye, as though he carried a secret only the wind could coax from him. ...

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #finch #goldfinch

Perched in Silence "A solitary black vulture perches on a rugged tree branch, its silhouette etched sharply against a pale, almost ethereal sky. The bird’s broad wings are folded with quiet authority, each feather layered like armor. Its hooked beak curves downward—a tool of survival and sovereignty—while its head, turned slightly to the side, reveals a profile both regal and watchful. The tree branch beneath it is gnarled and textured, reaching out like an ancient limb, adorned with sparse leaves and brittle twigs that whisper of wind and time. The background is a soft wash of light, devoid of clutter, allowing the dark majesty of the vulture to dominate the frame. The composition is stark yet poetic, evoking solitude, endurance, and the quiet dignity of a creature built for the margins." - Microsoft Copilot

Good morning. ☕☕☕

22 November 2025

Do you remember when all cars had ashtrays? ...

1/7

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #BlackVulture #morning #smoking #cigarettes #ashtray #car

"The heron fills the frame, caught in a powerful upstroke: wings raised high like twin sails, revealing layered, fingered primaries splayed at the tips. Its plumage reads as slate-blue and ash, with darker flight feathers and paler undersides, the textures crisp enough to feel the rib of each quill. The long neck is thrust forward and slightly curved, leading to a sharp, spear-like beak that points the way; behind, the legs stream straight and narrow, toes tucked, forming a clean line that completes its aerodynamic silhouette. Light skims the bird’s back and wing edges, giving a soft sheen that separates it from the ground below. The terrain beneath is sandy or muddy, mottled and low-contrast, blurred into a watercolor of tan and gray—suggesting shoreline or marsh flats without pulling the eye away from the subject. Motion is implied by the shallow depth of field and the heron’s posture: mid-stride in the sky, cresting the stroke that will lift it higher. The overall mood is quiet focus—no splash, no crowd—just a single, elegant traveler moving with steady intent through open air. In the top right, a discreet credit—“© Swede’s Photographs”—marks the image, balanced and unobtrusive. grace." - Microsoft Copilot

Sandy Flats Ascent

This image captures a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) lifting gracefully from the mudflats at low tide in Gulfport, Mississippi.

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#photo #photography #photographer #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #GreatBlueHeron

"Perched on a bare, angled branch, a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) commands the frame with its brilliant red plumage—so saturated it seems to glow against the soft, blurred green backdrop. The bird’s body is angled slightly forward, alert and poised, with its crest raised like a flame flickering in still air. Its black facial mask encircles the beak and eyes, adding contrast and definition, as if the cardinal wears a ceremonial veil. The branch itself is pale and weathered, angled diagonally across the image like a painter’s stroke, offering a natural pedestal for the bird’s vivid display. The background is a wash of green—out-of-focus foliage or field—that softens the scene and lets the cardinal’s color sing. Every feather is crisply rendered, from the fine contour lines along its breast to the slightly ruffled wing edges, suggesting a moment of pause between movements. The bird’s gaze is steady, its beak closed, its posture dignified. There’s no clutter, no distraction—just the cardinal, the branch, and the quiet green beyond. In the bottom left corner, a subtle signature reads “© Sanders Photography,” a respectful nod to the artist who captured this moment of avian grace." - Microsoft Copilot

Vivid Vibrance

Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are strikingly photogenic, but lately I only glimpse them at the edges of day—just before dawn and again after dusk, when the light is too dim for photographs.

"Clinging upright to the side of a pale, angled tree branch, a yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) holds a moment of stillness in a vertical pose. Its speckled plumage—brown, white, and charcoal—forms a mottled tapestry across its back and wings, blending camouflage with character. A bold red patch flares from its throat like a ceremonial badge, vivid against the otherwise earthy tones. The bird’s long, pointed beak is angled slightly upward, suggesting alertness or anticipation, as if it’s about to tap into the tree’s lifeblood. Its claws grip the bark with precision, tail feathers pressed against the trunk for balance—a classic woodpecker stance. The background is a soft blur of green, likely forest foliage, rendered in gentle gradients that cradle the bird in quiet contrast. The sapsucker’s gaze is upward, its posture taut but not tense, as if listening to the tree’s whisper or scouting its next borehole. The image is signed “© Swede's Photographs” in the bottom right corner, a subtle mark of authorship that doesn’t intrude on the scene’s natural dignity. This is not a portrait of action, but of readiness—of a bird in its element, poised between instinct and ritual." - Microsoft Copilot

Upward Gaze

This yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is gazing upward—perhaps eyeing a better spot. ...

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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woodpecker #YellowBelliedSapsucker

"A rustic wooden bird feeder stands like a tiny cabin in the green hush of morning. Its shingled roof is weathered and warm-toned, and the central panel—frosted or opaque—glows softly in the ambient light. But the real spectacle is the flurry of American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) that have claimed it as their own. Six goldfinches, bright as sunbursts, animate the scene with their lemon-yellow plumage and crisp black markings. Two perch boldly atop the roof, surveying the area like feathered sentinels. Below, four more cluster around the base, feeding or waiting their turn, their small bodies angled and alert. One bird leans in, beak poised, while another flutters just above the perch, wings blurred in motion. The birds’ black caps and wings contrast sharply with their golden bodies, and their presence turns the feeder into a living bouquet—yellow petals with wings. The background is a soft blur of green, likely trees or garden foliage, which frames the action without distraction. The composition is balanced yet lively, capturing a moment of communal urgency and cheerful takeover. Along the left edge, the image bears the signature “© Swede's Photographs,” a quiet nod to the artist who caught this burst of avian choreography." - Microsoft Copilot

Good morning. 🏨🛍️🐚

23 November 2025

We woke up this morning in a hotel on the beach in Gulfport, Mississippi. ...

1/8

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #travel #goldfinches

😊

Yes, very. 😂

And now I’m out of space. I’ll be back tomorrow to ramble some more.

At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.” – Sandy Gingras

8/8

Thankfully, the water had been shut off while we were away most of the year. On Tuesday, the wildlife division of our extermination company will come to clean up, seal the house against further invasion, and possibly add insulation to the roof. ...

7/8

This morning we’ll set out on the last leg of our trip, bound for the Albany, Georgia area. There’s plenty to do before Thanksgiving. On Monday, plumbers will install new waterlines to replace those chewed through by squirrels. ...

6/8

The alternative was the hotel room’s tiny coffee pot, which doesn’t brew enough to satisfy. I wondered if those cardboard-like cups are microwaveable; it would have kept mine warm while I got ready. I should have grabbed the Thermos cup from the car. ...

5/8

They had their person in tow, of course, strolling together along the sand.

It’s after eight now, and I need to get cleaned up. I’ll be back.

Later, I went down for coffee—two cups, overpriced but necessary. One black for me, and a caramel macchiato for my wife. ...

4/8

Instead, I’ll share an image from last fall and winter—goldfinches swarming an old birdfeeder at home.

On the beach, I crossed paths with three golden retrievers—friendly souls, their approach reminding me of the way Charlie greets new people. ...

3/8

I’d already been out with my camera, taking photographs along the shoreline until the rising sun made it impossible to continue. I didn’t bring the camera back into the room, so no show-and-tell of today’s venture. ...

2/8

"A rustic wooden bird feeder stands like a tiny cabin in the green hush of morning. Its shingled roof is weathered and warm-toned, and the central panel—frosted or opaque—glows softly in the ambient light. But the real spectacle is the flurry of American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) that have claimed it as their own. Six goldfinches, bright as sunbursts, animate the scene with their lemon-yellow plumage and crisp black markings. Two perch boldly atop the roof, surveying the area like feathered sentinels. Below, four more cluster around the base, feeding or waiting their turn, their small bodies angled and alert. One bird leans in, beak poised, while another flutters just above the perch, wings blurred in motion. The birds’ black caps and wings contrast sharply with their golden bodies, and their presence turns the feeder into a living bouquet—yellow petals with wings. The background is a soft blur of green, likely trees or garden foliage, which frames the action without distraction. The composition is balanced yet lively, capturing a moment of communal urgency and cheerful takeover. Along the left edge, the image bears the signature “© Swede's Photographs,” a quiet nod to the artist who caught this burst of avian choreography." - Microsoft Copilot

Good morning. 🏨🛍️🐚

23 November 2025

We woke up this morning in a hotel on the beach in Gulfport, Mississippi. ...

1/8

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #travel #goldfinches

👍

Thanks, Bobby!

Thanks