Royal Perch /  by Dave Hileman

This Great Blue Heron is clearly the king of all he surveys. He is atop a dead tree near Tom’s Cove at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. The sun is setting casting a warm glow over the tree.

Christmas Morning: Photo is taken near Boulder Mountain in Utah /  by Dave Hileman

To you who grace these pages with your time, I wish for each of you a Christmas morning blessing from Him to whom all glory and honor and power belong.

Open this link next, turn up the volume and enjoy four blissful minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weFJHtcxJt0

While the piece was first written with Easter in mind, it has completely captivated people around the world at Christmas time. I love to play it first thing in the morning, too loud I suspect, and just sit and let the music enrich the morning.

If you wish another piece that is a bit more mellow but no less joyous, try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw3C5EhW3Ho

A bit of an abstract view with the tiny evergreen representing hope.

Christmas in a Small Town 5 /  by Dave Hileman

This is one of the boats that sail in the floating parade in Onancock, VA. What a cool tradition. I am sorry I did not see it on the water and fully aglow. You can see the Christmas stockings on the back, it was lined with colorful lollipops and had a santa climbing the mast.

Christmas in a Small Town 4 /  by Dave Hileman

This is a beautiful church building in Onancock, Virginia. The bell tower is of particular interest. It is painted as a homage to the lighthouse that once stood nearby and the proportions are elegant. Plus it has a window in the bottom, most unusual. In the window you can view a Christmas tree decorated with Chrismons, ornaments that are symbols of Christian faith. The church was built in 1896 and has stunning stained glass windows. The 125 year-old church is worth a stop on your way to downtown.

Christmas in a Small Town 2 /  by Dave Hileman

This small structure is on the wharf in the town of Onancock, Virginia. It is associated with the building next door that was a hardware store starting in 1842 and is a restaurant today. The coffee shop bike rental is not open in the winter but even so, a smal festive wreath was added for those who venture to the end of the wharf to enjoy.

Christmas in a Small Town 1 /  by Dave Hileman

This is Jerome and he just finished the decorating of the fire equipment at the Community Volunteer Fire Company in Exmore, VA. Preparing the engines for the annual parade is something he takes pride in and, I think, does well.

Peninsula /  by Dave Hileman

I was tying to find a better place to shoot a small arch in Arches National Park this past April and I went off trail scrambling over rocks. Then I saw this rather flat area and headed for it. This is about a mile or two from the campground. Suddenly I was on a peninsula of rock with about 30 feet on one side and maybe 50 on the other and it was down to about 3 feet wide and just jutting out into space. That was enough for me, I sat down and took a photo and CAREFULLY retraced my steps.

End of the trail

Drop off on right side

Dot & Joe's Backyard /  by Dave Hileman

In the town of Exmore (oops, not Exxon -thanks DM) I spied this neat garage in the back yard of a house on the main street. Fortunately the owner, Dot, was outside and I asked if I could photograph the building. She was enthusiastic with her consent and also shared a lot of the history about the property. The red garage was built c1900 and the grey one 25 years ago to house an MG project car. Joe, her husband, came out later and added a lot of colorful background to the house which they are selling to move to a smaller one.

And on the First Afternoon! /  by Dave Hileman

Hoping to find some fun birds to see and to photograph at the Chincoteague National Wildlife refuge on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is a bit hit or miss. This afternoon about 2 hours after arrival it was a hit. This is a Harrier Hawk, or at least it used to be (Bird names are changing, Story for another time). Anyway I don’t see them often and not sure I ever got a good photo. Almost did not get this one either. Shooting a sitting duck, I know, I know - I had a relatively slow shutter speed, then the hawk appeared some distance away. I just aimed and shot, most were a bit blurry but three or four as the bird hovered a bit were OK. I hope you enjoy the Harrier “Hawking” over the marsh at CNWR.

Leaving for more Birds, maybe... /  by Dave Hileman

At Chincoteague NWR today and tomorrow with two other photographers. We hope for some birds to photograph but you never know this time of year what you might find. So it may be all old buildings and maybe a wild horse or two. We’ll see.

It will not include a oriole like this one eyeing some fruit and some bees.

And Just Like That...360! /  by Dave Hileman

So the National Park Service has added three new parks under their oversight. So we now have 428 NPS units. The three new ones are: Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the Northwoods NST both in the upper Midwest and the New England Trail which goes from Long Island Sound north to the New Hampshire southern border. There are plans to extend it. Anyway, I have been to all of these trails and walked small portions, so they count as visited. Therefore I have moved from 357 to 360 overnight, magic, just like the Grimm Fairy tale of the poor shoemaker. Best seen in the Muppet Classic theater version where a shoemaker (played by Kermit the Frog) faces ruin until his livelihood is saved by a group of philanthropic entertainers (played by The Elvises) who, naturally, make only blue suede shoes.

However, I am not sure of the photography, so they may still need a visit. I know the New England NST does not have any photos for certain but I believe I may have the other two with some shots from previous trips. I will need to check that out. By the way, the trail marker in today’s photo is unrelated to these trails but is one I captured in Acadia.

Piano Man Plus /  by Dave Hileman

I was privileged to photograph a Christmas Party on Saturday night at Marc and Myra’s impeccably decorated mid-century home in Raleigh. A highlight of the night (there were many) was the singing and playing of Casey Cotton. He can play nearly anything you ask, across genres, and is a fun entertainer for the entire evening. A tireless, energetic and talented man who is also quick with a quip! What a fun night. If you want to add a bit of pizzaz to your next shindig message Casey at (910) 670-2866‬.

Amistad National Recreation Area /  by Dave Hileman

Not all parks with lakes have tree shaded paths and hillsides covered in forests. This is Amistad on the Texas Mexico border. I did like the unusual bridge in the distance over a large portion of the lake system. That is Highway 90. In what was then the third year of drought the lake was very low.

New Web Photos /  by Dave Hileman

I was able to take some photos for the church I attend for use on their new web site. It is not active yet but I will post a note when it goes live. This is a several week project but a lot of fun to tackle dark rooms, multiple light sources, fast moving folks in low light and huge, bright windows in the foyer. But it is so rewarding to catch smiles, joys, hugs and praises lifted.

Change /  by Dave Hileman

Leaving the Académie des Beaux-Arts for the Salon des Refusés.

In 1863 the powers in charge of the most prestigious art show refused to allow impressionist painters into the show. Realism only. So a second show, for those “refused” was held and it was wildly popular. The path in the photo leads from the realistic foreground to the more mystic and ethereal forest.