Hopefully in a few months these peony shoots will grow into flowering bushes.
Waiting Behind The Leaf
Frozen Blue Jay Feather
Jones Run Cascade
This cascade along Jones Run in Shenandoah National Park provided an interesting photographic experience. My friend was smart enough to stay at the top. Despite my better judgement I decided to hike down a little farther from the trail. Just as I was thinking I needed to be careful on the leaves and wet rocks, I stepped on a patch of wet moss covering a large, flat downward sloping stone. As the moss gave way I began sliding down the rock face, watching my camera bounce off the stones beneath me and hoping I would be able to stop myself. Fortunately my slide came to an end before I got to the actual waterfall, about 6 feet beyond the point from which I took this picture.
Forest Still Life
During a hike I noticed this piece of bark resting on stones by the side of the trail. I was initially intrigued by the texture and patterns in the bark itself. My first thought was to get a close up of the texture but when I noticed the bark was sitting between two shadows I thought it made for an interesting forest still life.
Tree Fallen in Water
This tree once stood tall and provided shelter and possibly food to many of its forest companions. Seeing it laying, lifelessly in the water reminded me of the simple truth of mortality. Not in a morbid or depressing way, just as an immutable law of nature. Keeping that in mind, we should all live each moment to its fullest.