Environmental Photographs Highlight 2015

 Themes and Issues during my photo-explorations

At the year’s end, I usually write about the highlights of my travels or adventures.  However for the finality of 2015 and following the Paris Climate Summit, I have been compelled to feature a photo for each month that has an environmental theme. These photos are from scenes that I have come across during my photo-explorations of the past year, from water issues to weather extremes and compromised ecosystems. The following photographs were taken within a 100 mile radius around Walker Lake, Nevada and in the Great Basin Desert.

Clouds form over Mono Lake, California, moving eastward from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The receding shore line and lack of snow on the mountains for the month of January are indicators of the drought that continues to plague the western U.S.

Late January and early February, a large number of waterfowl were infected with Avian cholera at Walker Lake, Nevada. 

The bodies of American Coots lay tangled in tumble weeds that were blown to the water’s edge by the wind.

A dust storm churned up by the strong winds of March on east side of Walker Lake, Nevada. 

A desolate location for Lee Hot Springs with a capped off well and volcanic rocks, however the mountains in the background show lack of snowpack after a dry winter on an early spring day in April. 

 On a hillside in the Gabbs Valley Range, in May, the top of a purple bottle stands out.  A closer look reveals a piñon pine root that has been growing through the bottle’s neck for no telling how many years.

A hot June morning and cumulonimbus clouds build over the Garfield Flats Range.  I barely made it out of the wash before the clouds produced a F1 Category Tornado that touched down in Hawthorne, Nevada. 

With the heat index reaching over the century mark in July at Walker Lake, ecosystems grow out of balance at the water’s edge as numerous damselfly larvae are caught in the huge orb-weaver spider webs that cover most of the shore.

The receding shore at Soda Lake in August, tufa mounds grow along the edge of the water.  Soda Lake was formed inside the collapsed cone of a basaltic maar volcano by irrigation for agriculture which increased the groundwater.

A tunnel by the highway to Yerington, Nevada in September.  Rainfall from fast moving summer monsoons produced flash floods that cut deep washes through the dry desert.  

An October photo-trip to the Wild Burro Range at Marietta, Nevada.  The frame of a windsock stands as a reminder of the harsh winds and extreme weather in the Great Basin Desert. 

Strong winds in November blow the thin snow pack across the peaks at Mount Grant, Nevada.  

A winter storm in December brings in much needed moisture; however it will take so much more to offset the receding north shore at Walker Lake, Nevada.  

The year of 2015 has seen interesting weather patterns with a warmer winter and rising heat index for the summer.  When El Niño comes for the winter, I will be ready with my Nikon to record any interesting trends, so follow my blog and check back often for the new posts.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Nature's Patterns in Weather Predicting

Bees, Gulls and Cows, Is it going to rain?

Weather is perhaps the most decisive factor in planning a day out with nature photography. It not only sets the stage for any wildlife being out but also is a determining factor in my safety and comfort zone.  In this modern era of scientific forecasting sometimes the weather just does not want to cooperate, so I must turn to other means in making my decision to venture out or stay home.  

The old saying "red skies at night, sailor's delight, red skies in the morning, sailor take warning” is based on the weather moving from west to east and would mean that the moisture has passed with a red sunset. 

 With a red sky in the morning, the sun shines on moisture in the atmosphere at a low angle, therefore rain is possible.  However rain actually reaching the ground and giving a good soaking occurs so infrequently out here in the high desert of the Great Basin U. S. The one factor that I can always rely on is the wind.  

Seagulls or Inland gulls are sensitive to the slightest fluctuations in air and water pressure and can therefore respond to drops in air pressure just before a storm.  Flying in tight circles, they adjust their sense of balance to the air pressure changes. 

Gulls will also remain grounded when they sense that a storm is coming. 

Flowers are known to give off stronger fragrances just before it rains due to a lowering of air pressure.   

It has been noted by beekeepers that bees return to the hives before the rain sets in.  This could be that they are also sensitive to the changes in atmospheric pressure. 

 

I've always heard that cows will sit down when it is going to rain, I am not too sure if this is true or maybe they sit down in hopes that it will rain.  One interesting theory about cows is that they can sense when there will be an earthquake which might be from their ability to hear on a much lower pitch than us.

Speaking of earthquakes, some people do confirm that dogs can predict an earthquake hours before it will strike. The incessant barking and howling of dogs in 1975 at Haicheng, China convinced the city to evacuate, saving at least 150,000 lives. 

I think my favorite of all predictions or maybe it's a superstition is the one about rain coming within the day of a cat cleaning behind its ears. 

As much as I love the rain, I sure do wish this weather forecast was more accurate.  Or maybe I'd rather it not rain so much to make up for all the times that Skip cleaned behind his ears and it didn't come true. 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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The Story behind the Camera

 

 Snow Tree at La Madre Springs

During the month of June, 2012, Reno Open Studios is featuring a preview of the 2012 visual artists with an exhibit at the Truckee Meadows Community College Main Art Gallery beginning on June 1st, through June 25th.  The art work that I selected for the exhibit is entitled "Snow Tree at La Madre Springs".  Since I have been asked many times how I got this photo, I decided to give some background information in this blog post.

The weather always seems to take a turn for the worst over Thanksgiving weekend out here in the Southwestern U.S.  And this was sure the case when I happened upon the image that I named the Snow Tree at La Madre Springs.  I was living on the west side of Las Vegas which was just a quick drive from the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area when I noticed dark, moisture laden clouds moving in over the Spring Mountains.  I grabbed my camera gear and rushed out for possible photos. 

It had been snowing at the higher elevations of Red Rock Canyon and the patterns on the cacti made for nice macro photos. I was using a Nikon 50mm macro lens when I saw the outline of the bare trunk of an old dead piñon pine in the distance.  A number of factors were involved which forced my decision to take the landscape scene with the macro lens.  Heavy, dark clouds were moving in fast, it was snowing harder and I had wandered a good distance from my other camera gear in the Jeep.  Realizing that I had just seconds to capture the image, I clicked the shutter with an aperture of f/5.6.  I was allowed just two frames before it became so dark I could hardly find my way back to the safety of my vehicle. 

When the film was processed and I saw the one frame that turned out well, I was both delighted and surprised at the outcome.  The snow was accenting the outline of the tree and the shutter speed just happened to be fast enough to freeze the action of the falling snow but also create a blurred, Monet effect. 

For more information on Reno Open Studios Preview Exhibit:

 http://bonnierannald.blogspot.com/2012/06/tmcc-main-art-gallery-reception-for.html

"Snow Tree at La Madre Springs" is available for purchase, please visit my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/CUSTOM/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10_11&products_id=85

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Mount Grant, Nevada

 One of Nevada's Tallest Peaks

Towering as a back drop to Walker Lake on the southwestern side, Mount Grant stands at an elevation of 11,270' (3435.096 m) and is one of the 25 tallest peaks in Nevada.

 

Located in west-central Nevada, the picturesque Mount Grant is the highest point on the Wassuk Range.  After 9/11, access to the public was restricted and Mount Grant has been used predominately for military operations. 

  

Standing above piñon treeline, the higher elevations of Mount Grant are covered in snow during the winter months and support various high altitude conifers.

During the short summers, native grass and wildflowers thrive in the various micro-climates along the slopes and in the meadows. 

With its abundant water sources, Mount Grant is home to a number of wildlife including the Desert Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Cougar and Black Bear.  

On a clear day at Mount Grant, you can see for approximately 130 miles.  However the weather can be subject to violent and fast changes with systems moving in from the east, north and west.  Strong winds, reaching gale force are as common as the clear blue skies.

Walker Lake lies on the lee side of Mount Grant and covers approximately 50.3 mi² (130 km²). Walker Lake is a natural high desert lake, fed by the Walker River and was once a remnant of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan that covered most of the western U.S. during the Ice Age. 

The summit of Mount Grant is a sharp ridge of 3rd. Class talus, stretching for several hundred meters.

Mount Grant with its natural streams, cottonwoods, plentiful vegetation and wildlife is a sacred area to the Walker River Paiute Tribe.    

 For additional information:

http://www.walkerlakenv.ogr

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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