What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using
©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

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Rush

03 November 2013

Fallen

01 November 2013     photo by smck©

Kōura

photograph by Norvell©                   01 November 2013


While walking in the marshy thickets to get to the river's edge for some of the photos of fall along the North East upper-river I caught a slight motion near my feet and looked down at this little guy moving threateningly with his lobster-like claws toward my foot.  Luckily I hadn't stepped on him and luckily I was carrying my camera - for although I have seen hundreds of the little piles of earth they make when burrowing in the mud, I have never seen a live Crawdad in my life.

"Crayfish – also called crawfish, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, or mudbugs – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related; taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills and are found in bodies of water that do not freeze to the bottom. They are mostly found in brooks and streams where there is fresh water running, and which have shelter against predators. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species such as the invasive Procambarus clarkii are hardier. Crayfish feed on living and dead animals and plants."

The above quote is from Wikipedia - which does not have advertising and which you may support by donation if you are so inclined - I strongly feel that Wikipedia serves a valuable function worthy of voluntary support and serves as a reminder that not every thing in this world is driven by greed and ruthless domination.  PLEASE GIVE A SMALL AMOUNT TO THESE FOLK.

These animals are found through-out the world, ranging in size from the little guy shown above to ones as much as 5 Kg (11 lbm).  Two species of Paranephrops are endemic to New Zealand, where they are known by the Māori name kōura.

 

Arch

01 November 2013        photograph by Himself©

Here They Are II

01 November 2013
This is the photo I took of the same scene as "Here They Are"  using no zoom on my new camera. Far down the river you can make out these geese - and a few ducks.  I tried my 24x w/an additional 24x Intelligent zoom (in the camera digital adjustments to the zoom and they are better than a crop on my computer) to get the closer view photo. It really makes me happy with my choice of the FZ200. p.s. The title 'Here They Are' refers to a comment a friend of mine made on a corn field photo when he said "where are the ducks?"