Category Archives: Photos

Surface tension

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A maple leaf floating on water (20080921_12654)

So we have pierced the surface tension of a new year and plunged headlong into 2013.  This must come as quite a surprise to the doomsayers who ignorantly presumed the end of the Mayan calendar was a prophecy about the end of the world.

(It was, in point of fact, nothing of the sort.  It was not a prediction but it was the end of a calendar, just like December 31 is the end of the Gregorian calendar and happens once a year.  These same blind believers never think December 31 is the end of the world simply because the calendar ends; instead, they buy a new calendar.  Yet somehow, looking at the Mayan long-count calendar, they saw doomsday prophecies instead of the need for a new calendar.  And though the Mayans somehow missed predicting the end of their own civilization—they never saw that coming—they were nevertheless endowed with the unquestionable prescience to know when the world would end.  Never mind the fact that real Mayan prophecies include events well past December 21, 2012, another inconvenient truth easily ignored by the great unwashed.  But I parenthetically digress…)

Though I don’t make New Year’s resolutions—they symbolize weakness because anyone who needs a new year in order to better themselves is (a) lacking in willpower and (b) destined to fail for the same reasons they didn’t try to better themselves before the new year began—I do have plans for 2013.

First, I hope to publish two novels.  This of course depends greatly on when the first one finally hits print.  Early enough in the year and the second can easily fit within the next twelve months; later in the year, however, and the second will likely be pushed into 2014.  My sincere intent is to have both published in 2013.  They will be the first and second installments of a series.

Next, I want to keep this blog going.  Since February will mark the tenth anniversary of xenogere (and jasonhogle.com, it’s predecessor and now sister site), I feel the endeavor and subsequent accomplishment are well worth my time.  And as I get my novels published and get my (more) public writing career started, xenogere could grow into more than it is.  Then again, it could also stay the same.  Only time will tell.

Third, I intend to publish my first nature photography book, coffee-table size.  I have talked about this goal for some time, yet I’ve never made it happen.  I want to change that trend.  Coupled with writing—some of it gleaned from this blog and some of it original—the book will provide eye candy as well as mind and heart candy.

Fourth, I will buy a RV.  Just sayin’.

In addition, I will either purchase an additional vehicle—a SUV—or I will trade in my IS 300 on said SUV (preferably the former, but I’ll accept the latter).

Sixth, I might launch an author page on Facebook and I will launch one on Goodreads.  I don’t consider social networking to be that important in my life.  I can take it or leave it, especially Facebook, hence that idea is a might do and Goodreads is a will do.

Seventh, I plan to return to Dallas to visit friends and family, and likewise I will travel to Idaho to visit my sister and her family, and similarly I will travel to New York to visit family, and additionally I will travel to where ever to visit other friends and family.  Assuming I plan and execute some book signings, I’ll travel elsewhere, and perhaps I’ll consolidate a few of these trips.

Also, I want to continue expanding my photography work (camera upgrades included).  Here in Jefferson I’ve had the chance to delve into other areas of that hobby, and I’ve been asked to continue branching out by way of specific projects and requests.  Making it a paying gig will be nice.

Ninth, I will keep writing.

Tenth, I aim to continue being as much help to my parents as possible.

Eleventh, I’d like to get involved with local newspapers and magazines (believe me, they need the help).  In what capacity I don’t know, at least not yet, but it’s something I’d like to do.

And finally, I mean to inject myself into the area in which I now live.  By that I mean meeting more people and making new friends, delving into whatever social and cultural offerings can be found here in the Piney Woods (and surrounding area), and otherwise becoming an active member of this dispersed, bucolic-cum-townish, diverse environment.

This is by no means an exhaustive representation of my to-do list, but it’s a good representation of the plans I have heading into 2013.  After all, we’ve pierced the surface tension of a new year.  Now it’s time to swim in the temporal river of possibility.

A paper wasp (Polistes annularis) standing on shallow water to drink (2009_03_08_012965)

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Photos:

  1. Maple leaf floating on water: unless something lands on the leaf or the leaf degrades enough to take on water, it will not break through the lake’s surface tension and sink like many of its brethren.
  2. Paper wasp (Polistes annularis) standing on water to drink: as long as it lands lightly with its legs spread, a wasp is light enough to stand on water’s surface tension, though in this case the wasp has pierced the surface with one of its legs.

He never met a stranger

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Everything is made to be broken.  Thus rings the loudest bell in life, the piercing sound of endings that follow all beginnings.  For in this universe that shelters us, nothing is eternal.
— Jason M Hogle, Some comfort here

Sometimes words fail me.  Not often, no, but sometimes.

Let me just say that Vazra will be missed.  And not just by me, but instead by everyone who ever met him.  Why?

Because he never met a stranger.  Just ask anyone who had the pleasure of being in his presence.

A close-up of Vazra (2008_12_27_003721)

Vazra
August 1996 – December 2012

Loss is a funny thing: immeasurable, though we recognize the fullness of it and know when it diminishes; uncontainable, though we can carry it in a single lifetime; and insubstantial, yet we immediately feel its weight when it rests upon us.
— Jason M Hogle, Dreamdarkers

A boy and his cow #3

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After observing the livestock show hoping to better understand what was expected of him when he and Bella eventually entered the ring, Keigan returned to his cow’s side.

Keigan checking Bella prior to competition (20120818_03066)

Perhaps by this time in the day’s activities—most notably after he gained perspective and instruction from the ongoing competition—Keigan’s palpable fear, uncertainty and doubt began to change, to metamorphose into something usable, something akin to determination and intent.

Keigan and Bella sharing a moment before they compete (20120818_03073)

Because she continued drawing upon his emotions to help define her own, Bella’s substantial stress and worry remained tangible, material.  Keigan knew this as well as we did.  He therefore tried his best to reassure her, to calm her, but also to reiterate that she must follow his bidding if they were to have any hope of placing.

Keigan and Bella waiting to hear the get-ready call for their competition (20120818_03093)

The enemy of purpose is vacant time.  Always rushing only to wait, the boy and his cow found themselves suspended in that insufferable moment when they had nothing further to do save wait for the call for his class to show.  It would be unwise to leave Bella, he knew, because they would have to move swiftly when the speakers announced their time had come.  So they waited.  And worried.  And wondered.

Keigan leading Bella toward the ring (20120818_03110)

Then it happened.  Through the cacophony of bellowing cows and bleating sheep and laughter and voices and overhead announcements, word came for Keigan’s class to prepare for competition.

With show stick in hand, he led her toward the ring, through throngs of animals and people.  He led her toward competition, their first together.  He led her.

Keigan and Bella waiting yet again before entering the ring (20120818_03114)

Yet once again the enemy of purpose reared its ugly head.  Prepared and assembled, competitors had to wait.  Again.

Bruce, Keigan's ag teacher, giving Bella a quick look and giving Keigan last-minute guidance (20120818_03118)

But Keigan’s ag teacher Bruce knew they would have no better opportunity for last-minute checks, last-minute tips, last-minute guidance.  So he defeated the enemy of purpose by filling vacant time, wresting control from fear, uncertainty and doubt.

The moment didn’t last long, though, for the time had finally come.  Speakers throughout the arena declared competitors in their class should make their way to the ring’s gate, for they finally had to face the judge for the first time.

Competition comes in waves.  Competitors and their animals must first contend at the class level.  Worthy participants advance to the best-of-class competition.  And winners in best of class advance to best of show.

However, first they must make it through their class, be chosen to move on, impress the judge with knowledge, skills and genetics such that they place and move forward.  Keigan had great hope for placing in his class, deep desire tempered with realism that he might take best in class, and willingness to face the daunting challenge of competing for best in show.

To know if any of these prospects could be made manifest, he and Bella had to overcome the biggest hurdle.

The judge for the cattle portion of the livestock show (20120818_03132)

They had to face the judge for the first time.

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Photos:

  1. Keigan checking Bella prior to competition
  2. Keigan and Bella sharing a moment before they compete
  3. Keigan and Bella waiting to hear the get-ready call for their competition
  4. Keigan leading Bella toward the ring
  5. Keigan and Bella waiting yet again before entering the ring
  6. Bruce, Keigan’s ag teacher, giving Bella a quick look and giving Keigan last-minute guidance
  7. The judge for the cattle portion of the livestock show

How typical

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Back when I photographed a pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) with its crayfish breakfast, I said,

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that this bird species remains one of the most skittish animals one can encounter.  The moment these grebes think there’s a threat, they vanish beneath the water’s surface and swim for all they’re worth, eventually surfacing some distance in a random direction.

Like this:

A pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) preparing to dive (2009_11_21_040589)
A pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) diving (2009_11_21_040590)
A pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) after diving (2009_11_21_040591)

Because the camera was in burst mode, those photographs were taken in a single second.

I had come upon the bird on an overcast morning.  Walking along the water’s edge, the grebe surfaced—much to my surprise—and we both reacted, me by swinging the camera and snapping pictures, and the grebe by doing precisely what I expect them to do.

But something else I said in that grebe-and-crayfish post was this:

Pied-billed grebes over these past few years have grown predictable to me.  If they vanish underwater, I usually know where to run so I can be right where they pop up.  And I know they don’t like people, but what they dislike even more is moving people.  That means once they see you, the best option is to freeze and hope for the best.

So after the moment captured above, I rushed headlong until I reached the spot where I thought the bird would surface.  And lo:

A pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) swimming away (2009_11_21_040649)

Though not as near as I had hoped, at least it came up pretty much where I anticipated.  And of course, surfacing to find it hadn’t outfoxed me meant the bird quickly paddled away, always watching, but this time not diving.  Mainly because I didn’t move—and perhaps because diving hadn’t worked so well the first time.

A few of my favorite things #9

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Turtles.  All sorts of turtles.  Because turtles are cool, especially if you can get them to sit still long enough to capture a respectable photo.

Texas river cooter (Pseudemys texana) perched on a log (2009_02_01_005696)
Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) sunning on a debris pile (2009_03_08_012937)
Female river cooter (Pseudemys concinna) building a nest (2009_06_07_022723)
Male three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) sitting in the middle of a trail (IMG_2082)
Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) crossing a dirt road (IMG_2257)
Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) on the side of the road (IMG_2447)

That last photo gives me the willies.  Why?  Here, take a closer look.

Close-up of a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) with mosquitoes covering its head (IMG_2444_c)

By my count, there are six mosquitoes visible on this side alone.  What about the other side?

Worse still, other than retracting its head and hoping for the best, what defense does a turtle have when it comes to mosquitoes?  From this image, I’d say none.  And boy does that make me itch.

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Photos:

  1. Texas river cooter (Pseudemys texana) perched on a log
  2. Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) sunning on a debris pile
  3. Female river cooter (Pseudemys concinna) building a nest
  4. Male three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) sitting in the middle of a trail
  5. Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) crossing a dirt road
  6. Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) on the side of the road
  7. Close-up of a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) with mosquitoes covering its head