Miyajima Autumn '07

A park attendant said the lack of rain cause most of the Japanese maple leaves to dry before their lovely reds came in. Still it was a fun morning at Miyajima's "Momijidani Park".










In His Grip,

Kevin

The Ducks are Back!

I love ducks. Glad they've migrated back. Can't wait for my blind to arrive.

In His Grip,
Kevin

European Widgeons

European Widgeons Arguing

A Spotbill Hen

Herons and More Herons!

My son told me the picts are nice, but then added, "that is a strange bird!".

I know, I know, but their flight is pretty majestic, I think. All were shot with the 40D and EF 135 F2L & 1.4 II TC.

Recent Picts, October 3rd Post

A favorite spot up the Nishiki River where Jazz and I
hung out for a couple of hours on Monday.
Canon 40D w/Tokina 12-24

Jazz cooling down and quenching his
thirst after lots of "hide and seek".
Canon 40D w/EF 135 F2L & 1.4x TC

The only tree in our neighborhood
showing signs of Autumn.
Canon 40D w/EFS 60 F2.8

This morning's sunrise over Kurogamijima...
(Too bad there some sort of ship in the foreground!)
Canon 40D w/EFS 60 F2.8

A cormorant "running" on the Imazu River. ;)
Canon 40D w/EF 135 F2L & 1.4x TC

Castin' for Seabass on the Imazu River
Canon 40D w/EF 135 F2L & 1.4x TC

In His Grip,
Kevin

Truth

Recent Shots

I walk with Jazz, or let him run beside my bicycle as I get in some prayer, and stimulate the mind with attempts at capturing moments of the world around me.

These were shot with the 40D and the EF-S 60 F2.8.

In His Grip,
Kevin

9/20/2007

9/20/2007

9/21/2007

Waves on a Sandbar

A large sandbar forms at lowest tide in the Imazu River. I shot this from the bridge over the river, yesterday morning, 9/14/2007.

Gripped,
Kevin

Canon EOS 40D w/ EF-S 60 F/2.8

Gray Heron (ardea cinerea)

I have taken many pictures of this interesting bird over the last couple of years. These picts are recent ones, of what looks like a very young bird.

All were shot with my 40D and EF 135 F2L w/1.4X II TC.

Please click to see each picture in it's large view.

Gripped,
Kevin

How Wonderful!

It was actually nice and cool when I woke up this morning. So Jazz and I went for a bike ride, and I actually didn't sweat for the first time in a very long time. And while the clouds hid the spectacular sunrise from us, the gray sky over the river and the gray, misty island in the distance made me pause and give thanks for the wonders of His creation. Yes, even His grays are beautiful!

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.

Psalm 145:4-6 NIV

Hopefully, some morning soon, I'll catch that sun coming up from behind that isle, as it only does about this time each year.

Until then, here are a few shots of some other bits of His creation, taken during the last week.

In His Grip,
Kevin

Fritillary
(Canon EF-S 60 F2.8 Macro)

Hummingbird Hawk Moth
(Canon EF-S 60 F2.8 Macro)

House Sparrow

(EF 135 F2L w/1.4x II TC)

Dragonfly

(EF 135 F2L w/1.4x II TC)

Little Red Flower

(EF 135 F2L w/1.4x II TC)

Cosmos

(EF 135 F2L w/1.4x II TC)

First Few Picts w/ the Canon 40D

Well, I took the plunge. It was a bit of a tough choice between a new lense and the 40D. My Digital Rebel XT has taken 22,000 picts. I wanted to be able to take bugs and birds at more than 3 FPS, and I wanted the sensor cleaning feature. The 40D is quite a camera. I am trying a lot of shots and different exposures, different ISO setting, and just trying to get used to the new toy.

In His Grip,
Kevin

Canon EFS 60mm F2.8 Macro

Canon EFS 60mm F2.8 Macro

Canon EF 135 F2L w/1.4x II TC

Canon EF 135 F2L w/ 1.4x II TC

Canon EF 135 F2L w/ 1.4x II TC

Tokina AF Pro DX 12-24 F4

Canon EFS 60mm F2.8 Macro

Cormorant Fishing

Next year, I'll make a point to get some more action pictures. It happens really quickly, so I have to be better prepared...a strobe, other than the internal one, might help...

Gripped,
Kevin

The Master Fisherman


Done for the Night


Waiting to Go Home for the Night

Sure You're Focused, But on WHAT?

Focus. It will make a huge difference in the results we get. My son is in University in San Diego. Thankfully his focus has been on his studies and his church life, and not solely on San Diego's beautiful beaches. Great grades, a closer walk with His Lord, new Christian friends, and happy parents are just part of the result.

How true this in our Christian life, too. If our focus is on the minor "stuff", rather than the major, critical things, it can impact us and others in a very negative way. The Body could very well be discouraged rather than built up, and joy will not abound, as God would like to see.

Working for the Lord in Japan, and in a part of the Body where so many cultures and sub-cultures are represented, I'm still learning to focus on what is truly important, rather than "majoring on the minors", as someone has very appropriately phrased it.

Here are some words of wisdom from the closing verses of Romans 14, The Message. Read the whole chapter when you get a chance.

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

In His Grip,
Kevin