Life: Through the Lens

Last week I did one of my favorite things - gave a presentation to a group of 5th grade students. They were learning about the slave trade, and I was more than happy to offer my expertise and photography to the class. While in Ghana we visited what was once called the Gold Coast, the area along the Gulf of Guinea from which slaves were sent to various destinations around the world. These two pictures were taken at Cape Coast Castle, an important seat of government and also a slave holding area. We toured the "castle," and visited the cells and dungeons. What an experience. From the top of the castle you could look down at the sea, and the working fishing town. Here the people still dig their canoes by hand, head out to sea, throw out the nets, and pull in their catch. After lunch, we continued down the coast to Elmina Castle. These "castles" line the coast of West Africa, and the students were very intrigued by my photographs of maps as well as the locations pulle

We love to watch the birds at our feeders. Colorful birds, such as the Blue Jay and Cardinal, quiet and gentle birds like the White-throated, White-crowned and the Chipping Sparrows. Then there is the splash of slate color which is the Dark-eyed Junco, the red of the Purple Finch, and the various woodpeckers: Red-bellied , Downy and Hairy. Black-capped Chickadees flit in and out all the time, and I particularly love the subtle grey-blue of the Tufted Titmouse. However, every time I see the Nuthatch I think of my father-in-law, and his quiet sense of humor. Red-breasted Nuthatch I will remember forever that day in the kitchen of his apartment. We were standing at the sink, looking out at his bird-feeders. They were his pride and joy and he would spend hours caring for, and watching, his birds. When a cute little bird landed upside down on his peanut feeder, I fell in love with it, asking its name. He softly murmered that it was an "Assup." I thought it an unusual name, and rem

Ah, the adjustment to the cold and snowy wonderland of Michigan following the heat and sun of Ghana. When we got back we were right into the swing of things...family, holidays, new semester. This weekend we decided we needed an outing, and time for photography, so off to the International Dog Sled races in Kalkaska. The weather was not cooperating. Wind chills close to zero degrees, and blowing snow, kept everyone bundled from head to foot, with heads ducked down to protect faces from the elements. But the dogs didn't seem to mind at all. They were so excited to run...straining at their leads...howling for attention. And the racers seems just as intense about their race. The children didn't seem to mind, either. The youngsters above were very busy devising their own races. We managed to stay outside most of the time, retreating to the car on two occasions to warm our hands. Our cameras held up well, though battery life is a huge issue in cold weather. We manged to capture some