A very cold morning after a lovely snowfall. Winter photography has its charms, but it is certainly a challenge to keep the fingers warm. The temperatures were way below freezing on this particular morning. Because I have all my gear from the trek to Everest that Steve and I did in 2009, I was comfortable except for my fingers....
Friday, January 17, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
China - transportation is interesting there
I was at the Forestry Institute near Cypress City when this interesting farm rig rolled by on the road where we were parked. What struck me, aside from the contraption, was how comfortable the driver appear there on that box...
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Dintong Lake is a busy place
There is a lot of barge and commerce traffice on Dintong Lake. We were visiting Yueyang Tower during the late afternoon. With all the smog in the sky, the lake was a rather mystical place.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Sand pattern
Back to South Africa for my photo today. I made this photo of beach grass on a sand dune at DeHoop Nature Reserve. I spend a lot of time in sand dune systems during my field seasons to study a parasitic plant (Hyobanche). I've come to appreciate the stark beauty of this landscape, the wind and rain patterns on the dunes, and the attempts of vegetation to reclaim the space.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Yuelu Academy
A visit to Yuelu Academy October 24, 2013: This is a beautiful place to visit. The site has been an academic institution for more than 1000 years. The architecture is stunning, and the courtyards are charming.
My group from the International Wood Culture Society symposium on Taxodiaceae was primarily interested in the use of wood at this site.
I enjoyed exploring the architectural details, and it was nice to see Ginkgo trees in their native land.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Foresty Institute - Hunan Province, China
During a visit to the Forestry Institute near Cypress City, China, we walked through one of their forest plots. This abandoned house was a long a stream.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Street scenes in China
Cypress City, China. This mountain town in Hunan Province is a bustling place. After touring the nearby Forestry Institute, we had lunch at a restaurant adjacent to many shops along the main street.
In China, one can always see people using storefronts and sidewalks as extensions of their living space. I was impressed by the social cohesion present in every community I visited, even if it was just a brief stop. I also got a kick out of the motorcycles that were topped with an elongated umbrella - not very aerodynamic, but it seems to do the trick to keep the rain at bay, or, more likely, the sun.
In China, one can always see people using storefronts and sidewalks as extensions of their living space. I was impressed by the social cohesion present in every community I visited, even if it was just a brief stop. I also got a kick out of the motorcycles that were topped with an elongated umbrella - not very aerodynamic, but it seems to do the trick to keep the rain at bay, or, more likely, the sun.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Yueyang tourist market
Every tourist site in China has a market for trinkets and souvenirs. This one was adjacent to Yueyang Tower (Changhsha, Hunan Province).
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Chinese swap meet
One of the sites I visited in Changsha, China, was the Bamboo Scripts Museum. An antiquities market was going on, in the form of a swap meet, in the plaza adjacent to the museum. The artifacts for sale were intriguing. If I had had any cash, I would have been purchasing some of these items. I was restricted to feasting on the visual splendors of jewelry, ceramics, wood carvings, etc. People watching was also a good option here.
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Eastern White Pine
Another winter photo from Inniswood Metro Park. The back lighting on the cones and needles caught my eye.
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Eastern White Pine
Inniswood Metro Park - usually the park is a highlight of spring and summer. However, it is also very beautiful in autumn and winter.
Monday, January 06, 2014
Architectural detail
One of the doors at a building at the Yueyang Tower site in Hunan Province, China. I loved the play of light and shadow on this carved panel.
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Sunrise at Waterman Farm - 01/04/14
The Buckeyes may have lost the Orange Bowl last night, but the sunrise over campus was pretty spectacular this morning....
Friday, January 03, 2014
Hyobanche
I spent three weeks in South Africa for my field work on Hyobanche. This is a lovely species that I will describe this coming year. Tentative name is Hyobanche laidleri, named after my good friends Dennis, Gigi, Nicholas, and Chris Laidler. This family has been my family away from home while in South Africa since 1999, when we first met. All have been with me in the field, and they all have enthusiasm for my research project.
Two notable field seasons with the Laidlers: 2003 when I had Nick and Chris along for a trip to Lesotho and the Drakensberg highlands, and this year for a three week trip to work in several national parks: West Coast, Namaqua, Richtersveld, and Agulhas. This year was truly the best ever!
Thursday, January 02, 2014
Grey heron
Another beautiful bird spotted at DeHoop Nature Reserve September 13, 2013. This species looks very similar to our North American blue heron.
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