surprise flight...

...over the tree tops

in front of the mountain ridge -

by the great blue - a surprise flight as he took off out of the water from a different lake i was visiting today - i don't know if it's the same blue as "my" blue or not - i couldn't get close enough - he was skittish - i think it's because of the turn of events in the air - the wildfires broken out yesterday - encroaching on the area - a haze spreading through the air - layering over the city - reminding me of the ordeal we dealt with a short year ago - how it affects not only humans but wildlife, too -

you can see the brownish yellow clouding in the background - over the mountains - reflective of the fire's effects... this shot is right out of the camera, other than some cropping - i've done nothing to it - i'm beginning to appreciate the natural affect - what my camera can do for me - what i have the ability to do as well if i give it a chance - and avoid the urge of over editing...

but my thoughts today are really focused on more major things - appreciation for each other - for those who serve to help with fighting fires - to help in getting information out within the media - theirs is often a thankless duty - one often overlooked - taken for granted - we need to be grateful for these individuals who are called to put their lives on the lines - to fight a grisly fire - an unknown task sometimes, depending on what the weather decides it's going to do - take a simple moment to say a prayer for them - offer a good thought, if you will: for people protection - for animal care - for quick containment - i'm grateful to you and wish you...

a

happy day.....