Nikki's Photography

_______________________________________________________________________________

Mohave Desert sunset near Edwards Air Force Base, CA. 5,000 wind turbines all spinning miles into the horizon is a thrilling sight to see, even if you don’t appreciate their great contributions. I suppose I’m pretty naive in assuming that everyone everywhere holds the sake of the planet in highest regard, even at the risk of paying higher taxes and energy bills…which are inevitable anyway no matter what resources we consume, and if we depend on others to create electrical energy for us.
Proposition 7, a Renewable Energy Generation Initiative Statute proposes all Government owned and private Utility companies in the State of California to generate 20% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010, 40% by 2020, and 50% by 2025, with possible penalties for not complying. I was kind of surprised that there is a controversy at all until hearing arguments from both sides. Now I’m confused! Who do I believe? A contraversial statute with good arguements from both sides. For details visit voterguide.sos.ca.gov/audio/proposition7.htm
To give an idea of scale of each Wind Turbine at the Tehachapi Pass, California. Apparently six people can fit inside to fix and maintain the turbines.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Severe and spooky Summer storm in Calgary, Alberta

___________________________________________________________________________

I have yet to see a tornado in Texas since we moved there, yet here is the first one I’ve ever seen, about to touch down in Airdrie, near Calgary Alberta while we’re on holidays. Watching it form is surreal, and though it’s not far away I don’t feel in any danger. It formed a perfect funnel then I watched it pull back again, spawning a skinny long string-like tornado, then dissolve. The associated clouds are ominous and dark in contrast to the sunny neighborhood where I’m standing. I learned later this afternoon that the tornado touched down in a farmer’s feild for a few moments.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Alain and I flew to North Carolina for three days – a little business trip and I tagged along—he threatened to take my camera with him and I was sure I could not manage without it! We drove around the eastern countryside between Raleigh and Washington, NC through old, old towns. It takes a looong time for wooden doors to shred, and a looong time for conditions to be just right for vines to sprout then twirl round and round, entwined and squished between panes of glass …old, old farms: tobacco, cotton, peanuts.. and an interesting gas station.

There is a lot of history in North Carolina – fossils, settlers and Civil War history. We stayed at Kitty Hawk (first flight – Wright bros.) and walked the shores at various places along the narrow coast of the Outer Banks. We watched the sun rise and dolphins feed – too far away for good photos, even with the telephoto. As soon as the sun rose they swam away.
Along Cape Hatteras, groups of Grackles ate ripe grass seeds, bouncing up and down on the stems, their bodies too heavy for the tall grasses. Just off the 2 1/2 hr. long ferry at Swan Quarter, and sunset with a short, wide rainbow after a storm that we managed to escape and watch from the better side.

NO OLF – we were curious about this sign in many people’s yards. The following website shows a video describing how the U.S. Navy has purchased over 30,000 acres of land near the eastern North Carolina coast, planning to move their pilot training program from Virginia. Part of the huge controversy is that over 75 families would be forced to leave their homes, many of them farming that land for generations. The human issues are enough, but the cause and effect on the wildlife and ecology would be drastic and irreparable. Thousands of ducks and large flocks of snow geese that feed in the area annually would no longer have sanctuary. The large birds would also be a danger to the jets.

On Pony Island a large sand crab tried to buff up and look tough, but it was quite vulnerable there out in the open; all the other crabs scurried into holes but this one stayed, trying to hide in footprints, which offered no protection if we had been birds looking for a hearty meal. Great fun to watch the behavior for a while. Its clearly outlined crab-shaped shadow following it everywhere, creating a few graphic photos that are perfect resource material for drawings and paintings but do not stand alone as good photography because it was moving so fast.

Afternoon sunbeams, Lewisville, TX

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Cumulonimbus clouds over Montana landscape at sunset

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Lazy U Motel, Broadwater, Nebraska

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________