Close Encounter

I wonder what the Mantis sees
as he peers at me:
a thousand angel-apes with oculars
shattered on the sky

or does his micro brain combine
the honeycomb
till I am only eye
spread from sea to sea

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All pics (c) by Kirk Jordan
taken in Conway AR, mid September.

Bonus Link: today as I loaded the blog version of the Mighty Works Project, I noticed that a recently published Mighty Works photo was picked up by Earth Shots. I've submitted a least half a dozen pictures to this daily world "contest" but this is my first picture to be picked. I'm thrilled.
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http://www.earthshots.org/2008/10/icarus-by-kirk-jordan/

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The Mighty Works project exists to invite all persons everywhere to join the Mantis in sustained continual prayer.

Moonlight Madness Sale

Moon Light Madness Sale, all images (c) by Kirk Jordan

All in all, these images are kind of ugly, but interesting in their own way. The other day the wife and I were taking a walk on our local walking trail by night, under a sweep of fast moving "curd" clouds overhead. Odd thing, there was hardly any wind movement on the ground. To top it off, the moon was full, and strobing through the sweeping gaps. After the walk I ran back to the trail with a camera and tripod.

In today's new digital climate, it is possible to use "film speeds" that were pretty had to get with film. I shot most of these at 3200 ISO, and packed flash on relatively short exposures of a second or two. The orange color cast is due to city light bouncing into the clouds.

As for exposure length, the one exception would be the picture of the walking trail with blue sky. It is a fifteen second exposure taken near 11PM at night. With the high film speed rating and a long exposure it looks almost like day. You can even see a speckle or two of stars.

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Old stuff, from the journals of the Kirk.

There, in the dark, in the part that hangs between the moon and me, runs a great river of light. Not just a stream, but a racing ocean. In fact, I am looking through that very flood, to see the lit plane of the moon. And this is strange. Looking though light to see light? Does the light clash?
We know that the moon is not a light unto itself. It bounces a cold bone flame, borrowed from the sun and modified on a surface of chalk. But what if the moon weren’t there. That ‘place’ -- apart from stars -- would be dark. And what if we swung the moon closer, into the present dark between us. It might refract even harder. So it hit me. Light is flowing though that space between the moon and I. And not only there, but all about the moon. Up, down, forward, back. Indeed, If we were to litter the night with moons, every one bending light from the dark, our night might shine like the noonday. But how can this be -- the thing that we call night and see as dark is not a “true” dark at all. The thing is a bastion of unseen light!

Ode to Joy

Pipevine Swallowtails near Mountainburg, AR all images (c) by Kirk Jordan


Last Thursday(8/14/08) on a several hour drive back from Springdale, AR (to Little Rock) I took a side highway near Mountainburg that culminated in these images. It helped that there was only one major thistle outcrop for a country mile, so the butterflies all came in dense pack. I must have taken two hundred frames often squinting into the sun, just waiting for the right arrangements. And boy did the wonder juice flow.

With a little help from biologist Maranda Henley, she's determined that these are Pipevine Swallowtails. She writes:

It took quite a bit of searching to find an underside photo, but my research has definitely paid off. These are all Pipevine Swallowtails. I knew black (Black Swallowtail) didn't seem right because of their only having one row of orange spots. Spicebush have two rows as well. "Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail" didn't quite fit either. I'm glad I did the researching--I had not realized Pipevine Swallowtails have such color. So instead of mimics, you got the real things!

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Photo Buff stuff: These images result from a blend of sun light and electronic flash. The color is exaggerated because I am packing flash back into sun. Beyond that, the butterfly wings have a reflective quality that really shouts when flashed.

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The Mighty Works Project exists to celebrate the metamorphosis that takes place in the lives of those in whom God is working.

Camouflage (Crepe Myrtle 2)

Camouflage, or .... How to hide the Crepes

Crepe

2008

2004

Just in case your not from around these parts, the Crepe Myrtle is Arkansas' premier flowering shrub (or tree) throughout the blistering summer. I tend to associate the start of Myrtle season with the Fourth of July, when the Crepes explode like so many Roman Candles.

As is, Myrtles come in at least four colors: Cumulo White, Cotton Candy pink, Ruby Red, and Dark Lavender. As for shape, they range from sprigs and sprays to big bushes or even full blown trees, as shaped by pruning.

For even more on Crepes, and the genesis of the Crepe Myrtle seed head see:

http://idarkansas.blogspot.com/

http://idarkansas.blogspot.com/2008/07/creype-myrtle-extravaganza-sp.html

Big Bang: in Celebration of the forthcoming Fourth

Fireworks/Mimosa (c) by Kirk Jordan

Images from Independence Day Celebrations 2004, 2005 (Delaware, Wyoming, Arkansas)

Friends of the Mighty Works Project will note that it has been a long time between sends. And the next gap may be longer. I will be taking a vacation with family in New Mexico this next week ... So, forgive the rerun, but look forward to some desert fare.


Question: Do they have a Fourth of July in England?







Answer: yes, and a Fifth, and a Sixth too.


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Your vote:

Attention all photographers and lovers of photography. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette is holding a wonderful "Capture Arkansas" contest -- that will culminate in a coffee table book and DVD. If you are a photographer with images of Arkansas, you should consider entry. And I (Kirk Jordan) would appreciate your votes and comments on my entries. Please feel free to go to http://www.capturearkansas.com/ and enter the fray. (I have been astonished both by the number of entries and the quality of the submissions. Our state is blessed with lots of first-rate photographers.)

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The Mighty Works Project exists to affirm that nations -- like persons, are given their life by God -- who can as readily remove them from their stand.

(Dear, that was kind of grave ... Where did that come from?)

Father's Day Rush

He leads me besides still waters....

I'm running a tad bit behind, not only here, but in life in general.

These are from a Father's day hike, that my bride and I took to Petit Jean State Park (AR) --all along Cedar Creek. (We try to hit Cedar Creek at least once a season.) This time we were surprised. Summer usually means low flow, but after strong rains, Cedar Falls and Creek were gushing.

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As is, I'm due to take a break in July. Expect no posts for a couple of weeks. After that, look for some desert fare.

The Coming Storm

Sunday Night Storm, 6/15/08

From the parking lot field of New Life Christian Church, Conway, AR

and yes, it was scary-fun.

Quiz (Arkansas Flora)

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Know your Arkansas Flora

The pictures above are a quiz to determine if you know your plants (and if you have followed the ID Arkansas link provided on this site.)

There are seven "Questions" each with several sub-questions.
Without going to any other source, can you provide:

Common Name
Scientific or Latin Name
Family Name (Doesn't have to be scientific)
Your own made up name


For each plant you get the common name correct, give yourself a point.

For each plant you name the Scientific Name, give yourself three points.

For each plant you identify with a family of similar plants, give yourself two points.

And for each plant you correctly give a made up name, give yourself ten points.
(I value originality.)

Then go to ID Arkansas, and check your answers.
http://idarkansas.blogspot.com/

You may want to post your original answers or score in the comments section (and get 25 points in the process.) Folks who pass this quiz on get an additional 25 points, and folks who provide a link to ID Arkansas on their blog or in an e-mail, get a whalluping (sp?) 53 additional points.
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The Mighty Works Project exists to give adults much needed points. Do whatever you want with them.