Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

 

Most of Yellowstone National Park has views such as this one. Not all of the park is covered with geysers and hot pools. This is the Madison River that runs along the highway into the park from West Yellowstone, Montana. 

Fall Canning

 When summer ends and fall begins, some of our family members take advantage of the fruits and vegetables that come from the farmers markets or from their own gardens and bottle the bounty for the winter months that are coming. This is a very old tradition that may die out in the next generation or so. This photo shows canned peaches, pears, and tomato sauce. 

Mountain Spring

 One of the most impressive outdoor experiences is visiting a spring with lots of water. To see rivers of water appearing suddenly out of the ground is almost miraculous. Cascade Springs in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah is one of those places. I have visited a few others, mainly in Arizona. One of the most impressive is Thunder River on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Another is Fossell Creek a tributary of the Verde River in central Arizona. As a desert dweller, I always appreciate water. 

Just Before Fall

 

To escape the hot early Fall weather in the valleys, we drive deep into the mountains to find a beautiful spot with running water and late summer foliage. This clear spring is a destination spot in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, but you can't drink the water due to a risk of parasites. I love the mountains, but I miss the desert. 

Up Close with a Chrysanthemum or Macrophotography with an iPhone

 

Many years ago, when I was starting to be seriously involved in photography, I was fascinated with macrophotography and photomicrography. At that time, one way to do was to use a bellows unit for microphotography and a microscope for photomicrography. I purchased bellows for my Pentax camera and got some really nice shots. But a macrophotography bellows in really not suited for spontaneous outdoor subjects. You have to have the entire bellows mechanism mounted on your camera and then have both on a sturdy tripod. Here is a link to an article on Wikipedia that explains macrophotography. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro_photography

I was always going to buy a macro lens but never got around to it. Now, I have a macro lens in my pocket on my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I am just starting to see the possibilities. 

The Heart of a Rose

 

I am fascinated by the details of the world. As John Foster Dulles, an American Diplomat is quoted as saying "A man's accomplishments in life are the cumulative effect of his attention to detail."