ElevenTwentySix

Red-tailed hawk

ElevenTwentySix — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:44:48 +0000

While visiting Caesar Creek State Park for the Maple Syrup weekend, spotted this Red-tailed hawk feasting on a raccoon by the side of the road as we left the park. Not too pleased with my interrupting the meal, it flew off into a nearby tree where another hawk was sitting. Not wanting to become dessert, snapped a few shots and got back in the car to leave them to their lunch. The Red-tailed Hawk has significance in Native American culture. Its feathers are considered sacred by some tribes, and are used in religious ceremonies. It is commonly known as the “chickenhawk,” though it rarely preys on chickens.

Escalante colors

ElevenTwentySix — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:20:17 +0000

Driving along the Cottonwood Canyon Road through Utah along the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Park is a trip everybody should make in their lifetime. It is amazing to see so many different colors in the rock formations. This particular display of colors was taken close to the end of the road heading east.

The science of icicles

ElevenTwentySix — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:09:01 +0000

When droplets of melted snow drip down an icicle, they release small amounts of heat as they freeze. Heated air travels upwards and helps slow down the growth of the icicle’s top, while the tip is growing rapidly. Icicles can be dangerous and deadly, yet they can create some of the most amazing winter scenes. And for scientists, those winter scenes are playgrounds for discovery. We all know icicles form when melting snow begins dripping down a surface. But what scientists didn’t know is how their shape is formed. What makes each icicle different?

Icicles have a certain mathematical shape, and this mathematical shape is universal among icicles. So what is the math behind an icicle? The height is proportional to the radius to the four-thirds. What does the formula have to do with an icicle’s shape? It kind of looks like a carrot, it starts out flat and then goes up as you go.

As water drips onto an icicle and freezes, it releases heat. The warm air rises up the sides of the icicle. That warm air layer acts like a blanket that’s an insulator, and so the blanket is very thin near the tip and thick at the top. That allows the top to grow very slowly and the tip to grow rapidly — creating a long, thin icicle.

Have you ever…

ElevenTwentySix — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:13:16 +0000

Have you ever taken a photo but don’t remember where you took it? Thinking somewhere in Michigan, will have to go back through my credit card receipts to see what I was doing on the date this was taken. Nice looking building though!

Winter Robin

ElevenTwentySix — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:53:39 +0000

Another extreme cold wintry day in Ohio. It is not unusual to see the American Robin stay throughout the Winter these days. Although, after this Winter season, more may make the decision to fly South next year. Shot handheld with the Tamron 500mm lens in 2007.

Cold sunrise

ElevenTwentySix — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:34:56 +0000

Isabella woke up early this morning, which means I woke up early. The only benefit was that it was early enough to catch this beautiful sunrise out our back door. Weather is still very cold in the morning, so just a quick pop outside to shoot some photos and then back in to have breakfast. On a side note, I am now using WordPress for the photoblog. This will allow me more flexibility in doing more with it than using the old PixelPost software.

Basilica of St. Louis, King of France

ElevenTwentySix — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:59:03 +0000

The Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States. The first church on the site was built in 1718. The third church, built in 1789, was raised to cathedral rank in 1793. It is in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Located next to Jackson Square and facing the Mississippi River, the St. Louis Cathedral is at the heart of New Orleans and is one of its most recognizable landmarks.

Golden Autumn

ElevenTwentySix — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:34:01 +0000

The leaves are changing quickly here in Ohio. This was taken at Slate Run Farm and Park outside of Columbus.

Old farm windmill

ElevenTwentySix — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:42:50 +0000

Besides the ubiquitous red barn, nothing conjures up memories of a farm than the windmill. Used primarily to pump water for livestock, it was also a good indicator of approaching weather storms. These days, windmills are used to generate electricity. Harnessing the wind is cheap and green. The farmer of times gone by knew the importance of the wind to the survival of his farm. Maybe the world needs to step back in time and realize that our ancestors may have been smarter then we are today.

Wooly Isabella

ElevenTwentySix — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:13:54 +0000

Using wooly worms (Pyrrharctia isabella) to predict Winter is old American folklore that traces its history back to early Americana. Supposedly, Native Americans taught the pioneers to read wooly worms to predict Winter weather. Wooly worm is the common name for the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth. They are also called wooly bears.

Wooly worm forecasters say that the size of the brown band of color will tell you what kind of Winter is coming. Legend says that the thinner the brownish red bands, the harsher the Winter will be. If the wooly worm is mostly brownish red in the middle, Winter will be mild.

Based on the wooly worm above, I am predicting a mild to normal snowfall this Winter. And no, I did not name my daughter after this wooly worm!

Santa Maria

ElevenTwentySix — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:53:48 +0000

The world was forever changed when, in 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail searching for a direct trade route to the Indies. Carrying him was the Santa Maria, a 98-foot wooden “nao”, or typical cargo ship.

More than 500 years later, you can tour the world’s most authentic, museum-quality replica of Christopher Columbus’ flagship in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Objects in mirror are larger than they appear

ElevenTwentySix — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:44:25 +0000

These four kids were having fun playing on a miniature replica of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria. Playing King Kong for a day brings out the kid in you.

Bryn Du Polo

ElevenTwentySix — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:57:23 +0000

We drove over to Granville to the Bryn Du Mansion to watch the polo matches on the great lawn in front of the mansion. It was very chilly for August, a high of 64F. It was fun to watch the matches and Isabella enjoyed seeing the horses running around.

Isabella at 5 months

ElevenTwentySix — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:49:54 +0000

Our beautiful daughter enjoying a rare cool day in August. She is almost five months old now. Time has gone by so quickly these past months. When people tell you having a baby changes your life, they are not kidding. Now that I am a stay at home dad with her, I get to enjoy every minute of her life and I would not change that for anything in the world.

Young girl fishing on Caesar Creek Lake

ElevenTwentySix — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:42:08 +0000

Back in 2006, when Emilia and I were first dating, we put our relationship to the test by going camping at Caesar Creek State Park. Spending so many days together in close company with each other can either strengthen or derail a relationship. Fortunately, we found ourselves to be very compatible with each other. In a few days we will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary along with Isabella turning five months old. If it wasn’t for that long weekend back in 2006, we may never have reached this point in our lives.

This photo was taken with Emilia’s point and shoot Nikon she had with her. I can’t remember if she or I took the photo, but it was shot after I gave her some pointers and changed the settings on her camera. It is also one of the most popular photos on travbuddy.com.