It should be noted that Mother Nature was very kind to us this week

Since we here in Maine (ok, since *I*...) like to complain about the sun abandoning us during the winter I thought it just that we (*I*) give Mother Nature a little credit once in a while. It's been an absolutely beautiful week here in the Bangor/Orono area. In addition to the recent river/ducks/foliage shots that I've posted, here are a few other shots taken over the past few evenings on or around the UMaine campus in Orono.

Duck. River. Sunset.

Photo Friday. Minimalism.

Leaping Lizards! (or gymnasts, as the case may be)

Submitted to Photo Sharks Jump challenge.

Photo Friday's "Difficult Shot" challenge

Photo Friday's challenge for last Friday is Difficult Shot. I'd have to say, given that I took over 150 shots of this scene over the course of a month and am still not completely satisfied, that this would have to be my most difficult shot. The web was only visible when the light above it was on. That light only came on at dusk. The natural light was only available for another 10 minutes or so at that point. The web was virtually invisible during daylight. I suppose the lighting at dawn might have worked, but that's a time of day I see rarely.

Add the fact that I had to have a ladder in order to even attempt the shot from any angle and was pressed close to the ceiling. Also add that multiple snowstorms changed the shot, including one storm that wiped out the web, after which the spider had spun a new web with slightly different anchor points. It's not what I envisioned when I saw the web, but this is the shot I like the best out of the bunch.

Another Stillwater River photo (from April)

Waterfalls on the Stillwater. Submitted to Photo Sunday's "White" challenge and Moody Monday's "Agitated" challenge.

Sunset (with ducks) over the Stillwater River

What a difference a month makes. Last month I posted a couple of shots from maybe a hundred yards further north than these. The trees were still bare and the water was quite a bit higher. Now, everything's growing and the area seems more alive. My return to work from getting dinner was timed very well this evening!

Hmmm... The lowly and humble photographic servant (savant?) over at The Thing of the Moment...

...would have you believe that he has no friends. Here at Whittling Fog we present startling evidence to the contrary:

Of course this is an online endeavor, so he could easily be just be making it all up or picking out people at random! Oh, Internet, what a wondrous thing thou art!

Two Ed(d)s are better than one!

Lil Ed and Edd Morang share some laughs and wisdom between sets of Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials performance at the Time Out Pub in Rockland, Maine on Memorial Day May 26th, 2008.

Edd was one of my 6th grade teachers many moons ago. I hadn't seen him in ages when we ran into each other at the 2002 National Folk Festival (the first one on the Bangor waterfront). Given our shared love of the Blues, I see him often now at shows and almost as often in the grocery store!

Reflected sunset on Valentine's Day 2008

Submitted to Thursday's Pink challenge.

Heart-Shaped Box(ers) - with apologies to Nirvana

Heart-shaped boxers. The purse accessorizes them wonderfully. Need I say more?

Submitted to Thursday's challenge for Shapes. (ed. note - looks like I just missed the deadline for Thursday's Challenge. It just turned over to Pink. Are those hearts a little too red for that?)

Rhythm and Views

Well, views first...

On one of several trips taken to or near the coast of Maine in April (Rockland 3 times, Bucksport, Blue Hill) we stopped by the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in the hopes that the Observatory would be open. Alas, we were a few days early as it didn't open up until May 1st. Still, took a few shots (I'd like to get down there and take some more with better light) and managed to wander by while these kids were banging out a pretty decent rhythm on the Fort Knox picnic grounds.

Submitted to Tuesday's challenge for Towers.

Bangor Opera House fire from 1914

I went down to Bucksport last month to see Jason Spooner and Boheme at the Alamo Theatre. There was a display in the lobby of old postcards depicting Maine theatres. This one of the Bangor Opera House caught my eye.

The January 1914 fire occurred exactly 90 years before the 2004 fire that claimed the Masonic building across the street.

I'd like to get a better shot of this postcard, but the lighting and scratchiness of the display case might be of benefit in submitting the shot to Unique's photo challenge for Old. Also submitted to Photo Friday for Fire.

If it's not on the board...

Submitted to Tuesday's photo challenge for Arrows.

Harlem Shakes skull prop

Submitted to Shutterday's Fake challenge.

Don't cross the streams.

Submitted to Photo Friday's "Electricity" challenge.