You can link to a previous posting by Dave Cesari by clicking on the top item in the menu in the left-hand column.
A macro view of a frog I found behind a wall hanging I had on the outside wall of our front porch
Category: Uncategorized
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November 20, 2022 – I liked the look of this little guy
He/she hopped under a flower pot after this shot As you swing through life, enjoy the up-close small things -
November 17, 2022 – Featuring Dave Cesari – Plus His comment about the snow fall triggered a photo story in my mind.
Dave wrote: Hi Jim, Here are some pictures for the blog.We got one inch of snow here last night. These were at my feeders before the snow came. A Fox Sparrow, a Goldfinch, a Morning Dove, a Cardinal, a Chickadee and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Dave
11 17 2022 Dave Cesaei 
11 17 2022 Dave Cesaei 
11 17 2022 Dave Cesaei 
11 17 2022 Dave Cesaei 
11 17 2022 Dave Cesaei 
11 17 2022 Dave Cesaei ___________________________
Another kind of photography I enjoy is taking or making photos to support a story. Today my story is simple and obvious. I have lived in a number of states, and spent months working many places, including some foreign countries. So, people ask, “How did you come to live your current winters in Florida?”
I used my phone camera in my front lawn, a remote live stream camera at the Drummond Ferry Dock, and a National news source reporting on my home towns in Pennsylvania for these four photos. The story that answers the question about me living in Florida is in the four-photo-image below:
The title of the story is “Mow or Snow As you swing through life, have fun watching your birds at the feeder and share your photo story. -
November 15, 2022 – May I ask you to think about the many kinds of photography our hobby of photography offer!
There are so many kinds of photography – Don’t forget the Club starts to meet again in December. It will be a great opportunity to share your photos – what ever kind they are.
Dave Cesari posts some of the most wonderful photos of birds here often. If you want to share any of your photos here, contact me and I bet we can make it happen.
Three of my many kinds pf photography are flowers, horses, and photo art. I used these two flowers and a single frame from a horse show video to create the photo art.
Flower #1 
Flower #2 
Single frame from video showing riding performance at a youth horse show 
The result of a fun day I had with PhotoShop creating this piece of art work using only the three photos. As you swing through life, share your photos regardless of their kind or their quality – just as long as you had fun taking or making them. -
November 13, 2022 – Why be a photographer? – Come to the photo club meeting on first Friday in December – read on:
I have talked with those who judge photographs for the Professional Photographers of America’s International Photographic Competitions. They gave me a document explaining the “The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image” that they all are required to use: 1. Impact, 2. Technical Excellence 3. Creativity 4. Style 5 Composition 6.Presentation 7. Color Balance 8. Center of Interest 9. Lighting 10. Subject Matter 11. Technique 12. Story Telling.
Now that we have cell phone cameras, we are all professional photographers. Most of us are not professionals at photography but we are professionals at our life. We use our cameral to bring fun to what ever we do in our profession of living and not to win an International Photograph Contest.
The Happenings says the Photo Club will be meeting on the first Friday in December. There is no better place to share, learn, and meet photographer birds-of-a-feather who help each other. So, the purpose of my rambling here is to say:” I want you to be at that meeting.”
But, for right now, think about why you grab that camera or cell phone while doing your own personal (professional) living. For sure, I want you to have the confidence to use your photos regardless of how they stack up to the 12 elements of merit.
Believe me, I want to make better photos but really their “contestant” merit quality is not what matters to me. I just want to make you stop and look at what I saw – maybe ponder the same story & emotion (element 12) that I did when I took the photo – or cause you to see the event I saw and make up your own story. So now you know why I grabbed the camera. I would love to get together with others that grab theirs for the same reason (photographer birds-of-my-feather) and I hope to see you at the Photo Club meeting.
Here are two photos I grabbed from my thousands of photos:
On the streets of NJ, this man caught my attention – I assumed he was was rushing to the Synagogue – maybe overslept – anyway he showed an image of importance and of being late – I watched and snapped a shot. 
Again, NJ, I spent an afternoon at a youth horse show. Love horses and horse people – the audience. I snapped this shot to show how many were on cell phones (Back row) – but I caught another story – “Is that golden hair the man’s pony tail or is the a youthful girl between me and the man??” -I am still not sure. As you swing through life, use your photos, share with all and talk about them with birds-of-a-feather. Come to the Photo Club meetings. -
Nov 12, 2022 – Info from Dave on the flock of birds & two photos from my NYC street’s “Things I Saw.”
About the bird flock I posted yesterday, Dave Cesari e-mailed me this information last night:
“Jim, Those birds you posted are Tree Swallows. They gather like this every year in Florida. Sometimes these flocks hold several thousand birds. At night they roost in cattail marshes. We have seen them in the cattails in the Blue Heron wetlands early in the morning. Dave”
Lets lighten up that sky and take a telescope look at it – Oh my, the storm brought us many birds – did they blow in from up north? I stood and watched them turn back and forth – I wonder which bird told them it was time to turn back and weave across the sky? 
This one of those photos that tell a story … Your story. Is it a friendly encounter between the driver and the walkers? 
The sign on this porto-potty made me laugh. Before you can use it “Call Ahead” As you swing through life call ahead …….. Thanks! -
November 11, 2022 – Things saw I after the storm
“Thanks to all Veterans for their service on this Nov. 11, 2022 Veterans Day”
Biking yesterday after the storm – why the dark cloud? Lets lighten up that sky and take a telescope look at it – Oh my, the storm brought us many birds – did they blow in from up north? I stood and watched them turn back and forth – I wonder which bird told them it was time to turn back and weave across the sky? 
By now you know I see faces, birds, alligators, sailing ships and much more in the clouds every day – but what monster walked under this camping trailer and left his wet foot prints on the pavement? It made me have goose bumps! P.S. —— If you clicked to Dave Cesari’s page with the Trumpeter Swans – You noticed I spell “Trumpeter” wrong – I fixed it last night.
As you swing through life – Find fun things to see – then snap a photo of them and share what you saw. -
November 10, 2022 – Hey kids, We survived hurricane Nicole
‘Tis been a fun 12 hours. I slept as normal – waking up every couple of hours – My Apple watch says I slept 6 hours and 59 minutes. Even had some deep sleep and plenty of REM sleep – 1 hour and 30 minutes I think. It is crazy how life is so saturated with technical stuff these days.
On way to airport during last hurricane – but I was safe in NYC heading for Drummond. But, Look at all the technical stuff on UBER dash board. You would think we were on final landing at the airport! But airplanes do not like to fly into modern airports when the wind is 60-90 miles per hour – Orlando has been shut down and cruise ships went out to sea I understand.
At the airport – maybe it was the time for prayers – maybe they were praying for safe flight – anyway I stood by hoping some would rub off on me (I changed all faces for their privacy – actually the face is from a statue in Spring Lake New Jersey) I woke up at 3:00 am and tried to open the front door – it faces north and winds were, I think, around hurricane strength – straight out of the north. Well I got it open – almost got blown into the house – made me laugh – you know I love all kinds of weather – maybe that is why I have selected the ranch in Texas, the homes on the shores of Islands and Florida – Lots of fun weather in each of those places.
But you can not beat NYC for street photography:
They know how to park so much better then I every could. 
Candid shots like this always get me to wondering what is on the mind of folks I love to study as I wonder Manhatten. 
But here in Florida – Yesterday I counted 16 of these guys heading north along a fence – heading for higher ground just before the many of inches of rain hit the St. Johns river where they live. 
This guy was hiding under some wall hangings I removed befor the high winds hit – I saw him head for cover under a flower pot – hope he is safe. 
Optical illusions happen in hurricanes I have been told – anyway our back lake looked like it had ocean waves when I awoke this morning. As you swing through life Be safe but get out and enjoy God’s weather. It is lots of fun. -
November 9, 2022 – Rainy day – me and my computer
On a rainy day, I enjoy reviewing my old photos looking for those that best allow you, the viewer, room to let your mind tell you the story behind the photo. You know what I mean – you decide what is going on in the minds of the subject – animal or human.
As you swing through life find something each day that causes you to stop and ponder “What are they thinking?” Then take a photograph of them. -
November 8, 2022 – Featuring Trumpet Swans by Dave Cesari
I am testing a format change – I have a number of ideas in mind for future changes – but for now click in the left column to see Dave’s new posting on Trumpet Swans.
Before you click to Dave’s Trumpet Swans, see below, my view from the Nature Trail Bridge a few days ago.
Liked this little gator swimming over cloud’s reflection and notice fuzz from trees looks like a Drummond Island early snow squall. The reflected rainbow helps direct your eyes to the center of interest – the gator. As you swing through life Try something new each day. -
Oct 26, 2022 – Featuring Dave Cesari showing Chickadees – a bird we have all seen at our feeders up north – I sure miss seeing them!
BTW – There are two ways to view past posts: scroll to bottom and click on previous posts. The other way is to click on a post title in the left column (the menu).
Dave wrote: Hi Jim, Here are some pictures for the blog. A series of Black-capped Chickadees. Black-capped Chickadees breed across the northern USA and Canada. A similar bird the Carolina Chickadee breeds in the southern US. They are supposed to breed south to central Florida but I have never seen one in Florida. Chickadees readily come to bird feeders and stay around all year. They are not migratory but do irrupt southward on occasion. Dave
10 26 2022 Dave Cesari 
10 26 2022 Dave Cesari 
10 26 2022 Dave Cesari 
10 26 2022 Dave Cesari 
10 26 2022 Dave Cesari 
10 26 2022 Dave Cesari Jim’s Comment=I see a Chickadee in action – almost surreal art – I love it! I stood on my driveway and held the camera over my head for this shot. Haha.
I enjoy practicing with my new drone – Really a camera with very long arms. This is my home on the lake from a birds flight view. As you swing through life, add some action time each day.