A Country Journal : Dog Days of Summer

Elvis, the beagle would rather be sleeping on the back of the sofa in the family
room, but he is loyal and follows his best friend, me, around in the heat
taking a few photos.

Today started out hot and humid which made me rethink my statement about dusting off my camera, but then I had a special incentive. Holden, our youngest son at 12 years of age, said he would like to go with me so he can take some photos, too. So, we gathered up the camera, one lens and a polarizing filter and headed down the lane toward photo opps and some good old fashion father and son companionship. We were joined by Elvis our beagle and Holly our 9 month old black lab. Holden, Elvis and Holly were all in as we walked and found interesting subjects to photograph all along the way.

Holden has been asking for a GoPro camera and I have hesitated because if he is interested in photography then I would really like for him to learn to compose and snap photos he will enjoy. I have used my time behind a camera to soothe frayed nerves, calm my moods and sometimes just give me time to think about the ways of the world. I would like to give that pleasure to him and today was a good start.

Photo by Holden Helms- His first photo of the day was
pretty good.

As we walked along the lane we searched for pretty and interesting subjects for our

Photo by Holden Helms - I think his
composition is good he was just a
little short of the depth of field.
We are working on that.

exercise in creativity. Normally by this time of year the summer drought has taken its hold on our landscape, but because of the excessive August rain, we hare living in a lush, green near jungle environment here in central Mississippi where we live.

I had to try my hand at the same subject
and I think his shots were as good or
better than mine.

We walked about a mile or so and there were shots everywhere. We tried to be somewhat selective in what we shot, but somethings were just asking to be shot as they posed along the lane leading away from our house.

In the south we have some very interesting problems caused by our high humidity. Right out of the house we encountered a condensation problem on the lens of the camera. That was a rookie move on my part and trust me I am no rookie. We didn't acclimate the camera to the temperature change when we took it from our air conditioned house and took it out into a 90+ degree heat 90% humidity so problems arose. It took us a few minutes in the sunlight, allowing the camera to warm to the outside temperature, to be able to use it with any success. I carefully cleaned the lens and within just a few minutes we were taking photos of things along our way.

Because of the excessive
rain, vines are covering
anything and everything
that stands still.

As we wandered kept an eye on our dogs because we have a number of venomous snakes here. Among them are copperheads, water moccasins and several different types of rattlesnakes just to keep us on our toes as we walk through underbrush. We normally don't worry about them much, but you do have to watch where you step when you are walking. Today, we were lucky or fortunate or something, and we didn't see any wildlife except bees and one tiny anole (lizard) that was eating insects on a goldenrod bloom.

Photo by Holden Helms - Years ago someone saved a little work and wrapped a piece of barbed wire around this pine tree to save a little time. Eventually it will either disappear into the tree or kill the old pine tree. Both may be accomplished in time.

Photo by Holden Helms

Photo by Holden Helms - Holly romping in the tall grass.

Photo by Holden Helms--An intermittent
stream that crosses our property has
running water in it. That is very unusual
during summer, much less in the
late summer months.