Behind The Scenes

Posted on December 12, 2012 by foresterartist

Ever wonder what is going on behind the scenes with other blogs? This is a little snippet in the life of The Backdoor Artist. If you are a follower of my blog, you probably already know that I am married to The Backdoor Artist, Mary Livingston.

The Backdoor Artist, Mary Livingston, Artist, Photographer

Mary in the creative process.

Mary has a front row seat to our backyard with a large window facing out from her work space. It is a wonderful view. A view which often provides for visual treats. Yesterday she spotted a large buck across the pond. She posted this adventure complete with beautiful pictures here at, http://thebackdoorartist.com/2012/12/11/animal-attraction/.

Spotting this big old buck prompted frantic camera grabbing and stealthful sneaking out into the yard to photograph the buck. When he didn’t run away, we plotted to stalk our subject for more and better shots. More frantic activity ensued with changing of clothes and getting shoes on. We came around the garage and started approaching our prey, all the while, keeping the trees in between to hide our approach. Next, we used the dam of our pond for cover and climbed to the higher ground. Once, on top of the dam we had to stay low to stay out of sight.

Mary belly crawls for the money shot. The buck is on the hillside on the left side of this picture.

Mary crawled to the edge of the dam to have a clear shot of the buck with her Nikon D200. I hung back a recorded the moment. I Let her go first. Wasn’t I considerate. She was kind enough to soak up the water in the grass, leaving me a little less wet. We laid there together shooting pictures of the big buck for quite some time.

Patience and opportunity pay off. The big fellow started to leave, but he could still smell the doe.

Maybe he’ll stay.

What a handsome fellow!

We continued taking pictures together until they left. We would have stayed in the wet grass for as long as the deer were willing to stay. At a moment like this, I didn’t even notice the cold and wet. It was one of those great times with my best friend. We headed back to the house soaking wet and with Mary’s light colored pants looking more like camouflage. All well worth it.

Off they go over the hill.

The old buck trotted off with the doe over the hill. I’m with you brother.

Posted on December 12, 2012 by foresterartist

I had a lot of fun with Mary when she shot these fantastic pictures!

Sneaking Bliss

As I sat down to paint this morning, movement in the field on the other side of the pond caught my attention. The distance, about 250 yards, from the window was a bit far for a nice shot. Tim and I quietly slipped around the south side of the dam, then belly crawled to get within 100 yards. This nice black-tailed buck in rut was watching a doe by one of the lower ponds.

We must have been a sight, laying on our bellies, in the rain soaked grass, stalking the deer for a photo. The buck did not notice us at all. He was captivated by her scent. She was nervous, people crawling through the grass and taking aim her way was more than she could stand. She bolted up the hill and over the ridge with him in hot pursuit.

Gotta sneak bliss when you can, even when…

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Here’s Your Sign

Posted on December 8, 2012 by foresterartist

Vista point……not today.

I want to meet Yogi!

Sentinels Of The Wind

Posted on December 2, 2012 by foresterartist

Some folks are very photogenic and some, not so much. Some days are very photogenic and some days, not so much. This was one of those good days. I love a good day. I try to have a lot of them.

Like sentinels in the wind, the big turbines peer through a window in the clouds.

Magee Peak, volcano, mists, pines, nature, photography

Magee Peak is a sleeping volcano.

oak, black oak, fall color, forest, nature, photography

The mother oak looks down at the young pines gathered about her.

Magee Peak, volcano, pines, nature, photography

Magee Peak in the distance.

Nellie, Burney Mountain, nature, golden retriever, dog, photography

With Burney Mountain in the background, Nellie strikes a lovely pose. She is one of my favorite models. Nellie is very co-operative and will work for dog biscuits.

Have A Thankful Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2012 by foresterartist

turkey, wild turkeys, photo, Photography

Wild Turkeys, Yum!

Snow Day!

Posted on November 18, 2012 by foresterartist

Every kid loves a snow day. It gets them out of school work. I go to work to get a snow day!

Even Nellie likes a snow day.

What Golden doesn’t love the snow.

Be careful were you stand.

logging, loader, delimber, landing, winter logging

Definitely a snow day for the loggers.

Out here a snow day doesn’t get you out of work.

New snowfall on a Douglas-fir sapling.

There will be no cattle to load today.

Snow in the pines.

The big wind turbines don’t care if the snow is falling.

SNOW DAY!

Black Bird Fly

Posted on November 16, 2012 by foresterartist

black bird, pen and ink, photo, photography, logs, salvage, forestry, timber

Black birds feast.

The black birds hop from log to log. All the while, tilting their heads to and fro. Then after a brief pause they reach into the bark, and with surgical precision, pluck out a squirming grub. Then with heads thrown back they swallow the grub with the ease of an Olympic gymnast dismounting from a balance beam.

black birds, logs, logging, grubs, photo, photography

Hunting grubs on the burned logs.

This goes on all day in our log yard. As the logs from the fire salvage operations pour into the yard, so do the black birds. The swarm the logs for this feast of opportunity. Sometimes they engage in black bird battles for dominion over some particularly grub infested log. I think these birds get fatter every day. Soon they may not be able to fly.

logs, salvage logs, fire salvage, burned, photo, photography

Burned logs delivered to the log yard.

Salvage logging continues at break neck speed. The beetles invading the logs are an indicator of the oncoming decay. Next will be stain, splitting and then rot. Time and decay are our enemies. The black birds are a constant reminder of the ticking clock.

fire salvage, burned timber, timber, forest, golden retriever

Ponderosa burn fire salvage. Where have all the squirrels gone?

Lumberjack Yard Art

Posted on November 12, 2012 by foresterartist

A really big yard ornament.

So many of the loggers I know have big personalities. It only makes sense that they might have a little something that makes a big statement, or in this case a BIG something that makes a BIG statement. Why not have a vintage skid cat complete with logs and a chainsaw carved equipment operator of redwood.

I Needed This Day

Posted on November 7, 2012 by foresterartist

Some days I need to experience the beauty in my world. Today was one of those days. Today was exceptional. Here are some pictures I would like to share with you. Today the sun shone warm. Tomorrow a storm is coming.