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swede1952.bsky.social
@Swede1952
@swede1952.bsky.social
22K followers 17K following 7.3K posts
Retired soldier, I spent about 30 years in the military (USMC/Army). Also recently retired computer systems engineer. So, I'm just plain retired. I need something to do so, I decided on photography and bird watching as a hobby.
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swede1952.bsky.social
Good morning. ☕☕☕

5 December 2025

I was looking forward to cooler weather. Well—it’s here, and it ...

1/8

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #beach #ocean #greyhoundbus #weather #dogs
Gold at First Light "The image captures a serene coastal sunrise, casting a golden glow across the wet sand and gentle surf. The light is warm and low, spilling across the beach like liquid amber. A dense line of birds gathers along the shoreline, their silhouettes forming a quiet procession parallel to the water’s edge—some still, some shifting, all part of a dawn ritual. The sea stretches calmly toward the horizon, its surface kissed by morning light. A single vertical pole stands in the shallows, solitary and slender, like a witness to the day’s first breath. The reflections shimmer on the sand and shallow water, creating a mirrored world of gold and silence. The atmosphere is hushed, reverent—no wind, no rush—just the slow unveiling of light and the quiet presence of birds greeting the new day." - Microsoft Copilot
December 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Good morning. 🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫

3 December 2025

Today is a walk day, but the thermometer reads 32°F. Maybe later, once it warms up. I’ll play it by ear, though I know the ...

1/7

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #mushrooms #certifications #work #distopian #weather
Whitecaps in the Grass "Five large white mushrooms rise from a patch of golden-green grass, their broad caps slightly convex and dusted with flecks of brown debris—like forest confetti from a passing breeze. The gills beneath some caps peek out in delicate folds, hinting at the intricate architecture hidden below. Their thick, sturdy stems anchor them like ceremonial pillars in a sunlit grove. The lighting—soft and warm—suggests golden hour, casting a gentle glow that enriches the texture of both fungi and earth. The scene feels like a quiet congregation, a natural council gathered in stillness. The photo, credited to Swede’s Photographs, captures not just mushrooms, but a moment of reverent pause in the wild." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Step of the Silent Dove

I captured this image during the summer—a Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), ...

1/3

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #EurasianCollaredDove #dove #blackandwhite
"A Eurasian collared dove walks with quiet dignity along a thick, weathered tree branch. Its body is angled slightly forward, as if mid-step, with one delicate foot lifted in motion. The dove’s feathers are smooth and tightly layered, a soft cascade of pale grays and gentle taupes. A distinctive black crescent—its namesake collar—rests like a ceremonial mark at the nape of its neck, adding contrast and character. The bird’s head is turned slightly to the right, revealing a calm, rounded profile and a dark, watchful eye. Its beak is short and fine, poised like a quill. The branch beneath it is broad and textured, with deep grooves and patches of lichen that suggest age and endurance. Behind the dove, the background blurs into a soft wash of foliage and distant branches, rendered in monochrome. This grayscale palette heightens the textures—the dove’s smooth plumage, the bark’s rugged grain—and evokes a quiet, contemplative mood. The entire scene feels like a still moment in a forest hymn, where movement is gentle and time slows to honor the witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
The Watcher and the Wanderer

I captured this image of two laughing gulls at low tide, bathed in the dim morning light along the beach in Gulfport, Mississippi.
"Two laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) share a moment at low tide, each embodying a different rhythm of coastal life. One gull stands poised in the shallow water, balanced on a single leg like a sentinel, its reflection shimmering faintly beneath it. The other gull is airborne, wings outstretched in full span, caught mid-flight with sunlight illuminating the feathers—each plume etched in light and motion. The water is calm, rippling gently across the sand, which is textured with ridges and shallow pools. The gulls are framed by this serene landscape, where stillness and movement coexist. The standing gull seems contemplative, while the flying one arcs with energy, casting a fleeting shadow below. The monochrome palette heightens the contrast—light against wing, shadow against sand—giving the scene a timeless, almost mythic quality. It feels like a coastal hymn: one voice lifted in flight, the other grounded in quiet witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Black Skimmer Flight

Here is a black skimmer (Rynchops niger) flying above water at Gulfport, Mississippi.

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebird #BlackSkimmer
"A lone Black Skimmer slices through the air just above a shimmering body of water, its wings stretched wide like twin blades of obsidian. The bird’s upper body is cloaked in sleek black feathers, while its underbelly glows white, catching the light like polished bone. Its most striking feature—a long, knife-like bill—is painted in bold red and black, with the lower half extending beyond the upper, poised like a blade ready to skim the surface. The skimmer’s flight is purposeful and elegant, its body taut with aerodynamic grace. The background is a soft blur of rippling water, rendered in muted blues and silvers, allowing the bird’s dramatic form to dominate the frame. The wings curve upward in mid-stroke, casting a shadow of motion and intent. There’s a sense of quiet urgency, as if the bird is threading the seam between sky and water, searching for sustenance with ritual precision. In the lower corner, the name “© Swede's Photographs” is etched discreetly, a signature of witness to this fleeting, sovereign moment." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Last Ember of Autumn

A forest scene unfolds with slender branches of a crepe myrtle in the foreground, sparsely adorned with vivid red autumn leaves. Behind them, the forest recedes into a soft blur—an out-of-focus tapestry of muted trunks and fading foliage.
"A tangle of slender, leafless branches stretches across the foreground like delicate veins against the muted tapestry of a forest. Most of the branches are bare—thin, wiry, and pale—etched like charcoal lines against the soft blur of trees beyond. Yet at the heart of this quiet thicket, a small cluster of red leaves clings to a central branch, defiant and luminous. These leaves are vivid—crimson with hints of ember orange—like tiny flames refusing to be extinguished by the season’s retreat. Their edges are slightly curled, their surfaces dappled with light, catching the last breath of autumn before winter’s hush. Behind them, the forest recedes into a wash of mossy greens and soft browns, tree trunks standing like sentinels in the distance. The composition feels intimate and reverent, as if nature paused to honor the final flare of color before surrendering to dormancy. In the bottom right corner, the watermark “© Swede's Photographs” quietly marks the moment of witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Good morning, friends. 🌻🌻🌻

4 December 2025

Well, where do I start? I just fed Charlie, and now he’s here angling for a head scratch. ...

1/7

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #flower #task #tax #nap #dog #time
Flame of the Garden "A single Calendula officinalis—commonly known as pot marigold—commands the frame with radiant presence. Its petals blaze in a saturated orange hue, each one slender and slightly curved, like sunlit brushstrokes fanning outward from a dense, golden-brown center. The central disc is textured with tightly packed florets, resembling a miniature sunburst or a woven tapestry of pollen-rich threads. Light glances off the glossy petals, creating subtle gradients from deep tangerine to amber at the tips. The flower’s symmetry is nearly perfect yet softened by the organic irregularity of nature—some petals tilt slightly, others overlap like layered silk. Around the main bloom, hints of other marigolds and green stems peek in from the edges, blurred and subdued, suggesting a lush garden setting. The background is a gentle wash of greens and shadows, allowing the central flower to shine like a flame in a quiet grove. The image bears the signature “© Swede’s Photographs” in the bottom right corner, a quiet nod to the artist’s witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Heron on the High Post

There’s something quietly compelling about these minimalistic, slightly overexposed images. In this case, it ...

1/3

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #GreatBlueHeron
"A solitary great blue heron stands poised atop a weathered wooden piling that juts vertically from the ocean like a sentinel. The post is tall and timeworn, its surface etched with salt and age, rising from gently rippling water that reflects the pale light of an overexposed sky. The heron balances on one leg, its long neck slightly curved, head tilted in quiet vigilance. Its slate-blue plumage is sleek and composed, with delicate feathering trailing from its chest like ceremonial tassels. The background is minimal—washed in soft whites and faint grays—creating a high-key effect that renders the scene almost ethereal. In the distance, another post with a green marker stands like a distant echo, and faint outlines of additional pilings drift into view, barely visible through the haze. The water below is calm, its surface broken only by the pilings and the heron’s shadowy reflection. The composition is serene and contemplative, a portrait of stillness and watchfulness. The heron, elevated and alone, seems to preside over the ocean like a mythic steward—half bird, half boundary marker—folded into the quiet ceremony of morning light." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Arrow in the Sky

I was in Georgia, standing outside and trying to catch sight of a few sparrows hidden in a nearby shrub, when a cormorant suddenly appeared high overhead. Naturally, I lifted my camera skyward. From its markings and flight, I believe it was probably a double-crested cormorant.
"A lone cormorant slices through the sky in mid-flight, its wings fully extended in a powerful, aerodynamic arc. The bird’s plumage is dark—almost black—with a subtle sheen that catches the sunlight, revealing hints of charcoal and slate. Its chest is slightly lighter, a muted gray that softens the silhouette. Near its beak, a striking patch of yellow-orange glows like a small ember, adding a flash of color to its otherwise shadowed form. The photograph is taken from below, capturing the underside of the bird as it glides overhead against a backdrop of clear blue sky. The feathers along its wings are sharply defined, each one etched like a brushstroke in motion. The cormorant’s long neck stretches forward, its beak pointed with quiet determination, while its tail feathers fan out behind like a rudder steering through air. There is no clutter—just bird and sky. The simplicity of the composition amplifies the grace of the moment, as if the cormorant were a living arrow, loosed from the sea and aimed toward some unseen horizon." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Golden Solitude in the Bare Branches

Tree branches stretch across a soft gray sky, bare and reaching. At the center perches a yellow bird— ...

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #finch #goldfinch
"A lone goldfinch perches high on the bare, outstretched fingers of a leafless tree, its small body a burst of color against the muted canvas of an overcast sky. The bird’s head and chest glow with a rich yellow, like a drop of sunlight caught in winter’s hush, while its wings and tail feathers are darker—charcoal streaks that anchor its brightness. The tree itself is skeletal, its branches thin and silver-gray, reaching upward in quiet defiance or prayer. There are no leaves, no distractions—just the stark geometry of limbs and the singular presence of the bird. The sky behind is a soft, uniform gray, offering no horizon, no depth—only stillness. In this minimalist scene, the goldfinch becomes a sovereign witness, a solitary note of life and color in a dormant season. The composition feels like a pause in time, a breath held between seasons, where the bird’s perch becomes a pulpit of quiet resilience." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by @Swede1952
swede1952.bsky.social
Woodpecker Watch, A Rooftop Reverie

This is a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), captured some time ago. I hesitated over whether to include it, but the moment felt worth preserving. The bird was perched on the edge of the roof of a small, red barn-shaped shed in my backyard.
"A female red-bellied woodpecker perches with quiet poise on a textured surface—perhaps the edge of a rooftop or a patch of bark—its stance alert yet composed. Her plumage is a study in contrast and subtlety: a pale, creamy face and underbelly glow softly in the light, while her back and wings are cloaked in a crisp black-and-white barred pattern, like woven threads of shadow and snow. The crown of her head bears a gentle wash of red—not the full blaze of the male, but a restrained ember that hints at lineage and fire. Behind her, the background blurs into a soft green haze, as if the forest itself has stepped back to let her shine. The composition draws the eye to her fine details: the curve of her beak, the alert gleam in her eye, the quiet strength in her posture. She is not performing, not calling—just being. A sovereign witness on a quiet stage." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 10:40 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Woodpecker Watch, A Rooftop Reverie

This is a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), captured some time ago. I hesitated over whether to include it, but the moment felt worth preserving. The bird was perched on the edge of the roof of a small, red barn-shaped shed in my backyard.
"A female red-bellied woodpecker perches with quiet poise on a textured surface—perhaps the edge of a rooftop or a patch of bark—its stance alert yet composed. Her plumage is a study in contrast and subtlety: a pale, creamy face and underbelly glow softly in the light, while her back and wings are cloaked in a crisp black-and-white barred pattern, like woven threads of shadow and snow. The crown of her head bears a gentle wash of red—not the full blaze of the male, but a restrained ember that hints at lineage and fire. Behind her, the background blurs into a soft green haze, as if the forest itself has stepped back to let her shine. The composition draws the eye to her fine details: the curve of her beak, the alert gleam in her eye, the quiet strength in her posture. She is not performing, not calling—just being. A sovereign witness on a quiet stage." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 10:40 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Golden Solitude in the Bare Branches

Tree branches stretch across a soft gray sky, bare and reaching. At the center perches a yellow bird— ...

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #finch #goldfinch
"A lone goldfinch perches high on the bare, outstretched fingers of a leafless tree, its small body a burst of color against the muted canvas of an overcast sky. The bird’s head and chest glow with a rich yellow, like a drop of sunlight caught in winter’s hush, while its wings and tail feathers are darker—charcoal streaks that anchor its brightness. The tree itself is skeletal, its branches thin and silver-gray, reaching upward in quiet defiance or prayer. There are no leaves, no distractions—just the stark geometry of limbs and the singular presence of the bird. The sky behind is a soft, uniform gray, offering no horizon, no depth—only stillness. In this minimalist scene, the goldfinch becomes a sovereign witness, a solitary note of life and color in a dormant season. The composition feels like a pause in time, a breath held between seasons, where the bird’s perch becomes a pulpit of quiet resilience." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 10:16 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Arrow in the Sky

I was in Georgia, standing outside and trying to catch sight of a few sparrows hidden in a nearby shrub, when a cormorant suddenly appeared high overhead. Naturally, I lifted my camera skyward. From its markings and flight, I believe it was probably a double-crested cormorant.
"A lone cormorant slices through the sky in mid-flight, its wings fully extended in a powerful, aerodynamic arc. The bird’s plumage is dark—almost black—with a subtle sheen that catches the sunlight, revealing hints of charcoal and slate. Its chest is slightly lighter, a muted gray that softens the silhouette. Near its beak, a striking patch of yellow-orange glows like a small ember, adding a flash of color to its otherwise shadowed form. The photograph is taken from below, capturing the underside of the bird as it glides overhead against a backdrop of clear blue sky. The feathers along its wings are sharply defined, each one etched like a brushstroke in motion. The cormorant’s long neck stretches forward, its beak pointed with quiet determination, while its tail feathers fan out behind like a rudder steering through air. There is no clutter—just bird and sky. The simplicity of the composition amplifies the grace of the moment, as if the cormorant were a living arrow, loosed from the sea and aimed toward some unseen horizon." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Heron on the High Post

There’s something quietly compelling about these minimalistic, slightly overexposed images. In this case, it ...

1/3

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #GreatBlueHeron
"A solitary great blue heron stands poised atop a weathered wooden piling that juts vertically from the ocean like a sentinel. The post is tall and timeworn, its surface etched with salt and age, rising from gently rippling water that reflects the pale light of an overexposed sky. The heron balances on one leg, its long neck slightly curved, head tilted in quiet vigilance. Its slate-blue plumage is sleek and composed, with delicate feathering trailing from its chest like ceremonial tassels. The background is minimal—washed in soft whites and faint grays—creating a high-key effect that renders the scene almost ethereal. In the distance, another post with a green marker stands like a distant echo, and faint outlines of additional pilings drift into view, barely visible through the haze. The water below is calm, its surface broken only by the pilings and the heron’s shadowy reflection. The composition is serene and contemplative, a portrait of stillness and watchfulness. The heron, elevated and alone, seems to preside over the ocean like a mythic steward—half bird, half boundary marker—folded into the quiet ceremony of morning light." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Good morning, friends. 🌻🌻🌻

4 December 2025

Well, where do I start? I just fed Charlie, and now he’s here angling for a head scratch. ...

1/7

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #flower #task #tax #nap #dog #time
Flame of the Garden "A single Calendula officinalis—commonly known as pot marigold—commands the frame with radiant presence. Its petals blaze in a saturated orange hue, each one slender and slightly curved, like sunlit brushstrokes fanning outward from a dense, golden-brown center. The central disc is textured with tightly packed florets, resembling a miniature sunburst or a woven tapestry of pollen-rich threads. Light glances off the glossy petals, creating subtle gradients from deep tangerine to amber at the tips. The flower’s symmetry is nearly perfect yet softened by the organic irregularity of nature—some petals tilt slightly, others overlap like layered silk. Around the main bloom, hints of other marigolds and green stems peek in from the edges, blurred and subdued, suggesting a lush garden setting. The background is a gentle wash of greens and shadows, allowing the central flower to shine like a flame in a quiet grove. The image bears the signature “© Swede’s Photographs” in the bottom right corner, a quiet nod to the artist’s witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Last Ember of Autumn

A forest scene unfolds with slender branches of a crepe myrtle in the foreground, sparsely adorned with vivid red autumn leaves. Behind them, the forest recedes into a soft blur—an out-of-focus tapestry of muted trunks and fading foliage.
"A tangle of slender, leafless branches stretches across the foreground like delicate veins against the muted tapestry of a forest. Most of the branches are bare—thin, wiry, and pale—etched like charcoal lines against the soft blur of trees beyond. Yet at the heart of this quiet thicket, a small cluster of red leaves clings to a central branch, defiant and luminous. These leaves are vivid—crimson with hints of ember orange—like tiny flames refusing to be extinguished by the season’s retreat. Their edges are slightly curled, their surfaces dappled with light, catching the last breath of autumn before winter’s hush. Behind them, the forest recedes into a wash of mossy greens and soft browns, tree trunks standing like sentinels in the distance. The composition feels intimate and reverent, as if nature paused to honor the final flare of color before surrendering to dormancy. In the bottom right corner, the watermark “© Swede's Photographs” quietly marks the moment of witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 11:09 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Black Skimmer Flight

Here is a black skimmer (Rynchops niger) flying above water at Gulfport, Mississippi.

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebird #BlackSkimmer
"A lone Black Skimmer slices through the air just above a shimmering body of water, its wings stretched wide like twin blades of obsidian. The bird’s upper body is cloaked in sleek black feathers, while its underbelly glows white, catching the light like polished bone. Its most striking feature—a long, knife-like bill—is painted in bold red and black, with the lower half extending beyond the upper, poised like a blade ready to skim the surface. The skimmer’s flight is purposeful and elegant, its body taut with aerodynamic grace. The background is a soft blur of rippling water, rendered in muted blues and silvers, allowing the bird’s dramatic form to dominate the frame. The wings curve upward in mid-stroke, casting a shadow of motion and intent. There’s a sense of quiet urgency, as if the bird is threading the seam between sky and water, searching for sustenance with ritual precision. In the lower corner, the name “© Swede's Photographs” is etched discreetly, a signature of witness to this fleeting, sovereign moment." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
The Watcher and the Wanderer

I captured this image of two laughing gulls at low tide, bathed in the dim morning light along the beach in Gulfport, Mississippi.
"Two laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) share a moment at low tide, each embodying a different rhythm of coastal life. One gull stands poised in the shallow water, balanced on a single leg like a sentinel, its reflection shimmering faintly beneath it. The other gull is airborne, wings outstretched in full span, caught mid-flight with sunlight illuminating the feathers—each plume etched in light and motion. The water is calm, rippling gently across the sand, which is textured with ridges and shallow pools. The gulls are framed by this serene landscape, where stillness and movement coexist. The standing gull seems contemplative, while the flying one arcs with energy, casting a fleeting shadow below. The monochrome palette heightens the contrast—light against wing, shadow against sand—giving the scene a timeless, almost mythic quality. It feels like a coastal hymn: one voice lifted in flight, the other grounded in quiet witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Step of the Silent Dove

I captured this image during the summer—a Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), ...

1/3

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #EurasianCollaredDove #dove #blackandwhite
"A Eurasian collared dove walks with quiet dignity along a thick, weathered tree branch. Its body is angled slightly forward, as if mid-step, with one delicate foot lifted in motion. The dove’s feathers are smooth and tightly layered, a soft cascade of pale grays and gentle taupes. A distinctive black crescent—its namesake collar—rests like a ceremonial mark at the nape of its neck, adding contrast and character. The bird’s head is turned slightly to the right, revealing a calm, rounded profile and a dark, watchful eye. Its beak is short and fine, poised like a quill. The branch beneath it is broad and textured, with deep grooves and patches of lichen that suggest age and endurance. Behind the dove, the background blurs into a soft wash of foliage and distant branches, rendered in monochrome. This grayscale palette heightens the textures—the dove’s smooth plumage, the bark’s rugged grain—and evokes a quiet, contemplative mood. The entire scene feels like a still moment in a forest hymn, where movement is gentle and time slows to honor the witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Good morning. 🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫

3 December 2025

Today is a walk day, but the thermometer reads 32°F. Maybe later, once it warms up. I’ll play it by ear, though I know the ...

1/7

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #mushrooms #certifications #work #distopian #weather
Whitecaps in the Grass "Five large white mushrooms rise from a patch of golden-green grass, their broad caps slightly convex and dusted with flecks of brown debris—like forest confetti from a passing breeze. The gills beneath some caps peek out in delicate folds, hinting at the intricate architecture hidden below. Their thick, sturdy stems anchor them like ceremonial pillars in a sunlit grove. The lighting—soft and warm—suggests golden hour, casting a gentle glow that enriches the texture of both fungi and earth. The scene feels like a quiet congregation, a natural council gathered in stillness. The photo, credited to Swede’s Photographs, captures not just mushrooms, but a moment of reverent pause in the wild." - Microsoft Copilot
December 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Spectrum of Serenity

This is a photograph of tree branches etched against a deep blue sky. A small bird perches on one of the limbs—perhaps a goldfinch, though I’m not entirely sure. The colors feel heightened, maybe even magnified: the sky glows a rich, saturated blue; ...

1/2
"A single goldfinch perches quietly on a bare branch, its silhouette delicate and still against a surreal, deep blue sky. The tree’s limbs stretch like veins across the canvas—thin, tangled, and leafless—forming a lattice of winter memory. The image is digitally altered, casting the branches in ghostly whites and silvers, as if frost had etched them with light. The goldfinch, though small, anchors the scene with quiet dignity. Its form is crisp, a lone witness in the skeletal architecture of the tree. The contrast is striking: the bird’s presence soft and organic amid the stark, high-contrast geometry of the branches. The background glows with an otherworldly blue, evoking twilight or dreamscape, while the watermark in the corner—“© Swede’s Photographs”—offers a gentle signature of stewardship. This is not merely a photograph—it is a ceremonial stillness, a mythic pause. The goldfinch becomes a sovereign sentinel, perched in the cathedral of winter’s breath." - Microsoft Copilot
December 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Phoebe on the Pale Rail

When we came in from our walk yesterday, this eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) was sitting on the backside of the ...

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #EasternPhoebe
"A small bird perches atop a white fence, its delicate frame poised in quiet alertness. This is an Eastern Phoebe—modest in plumage, yet dignified in bearing. Its head is dark, almost charcoal, with a sharp eye that gleams like a polished bead. The back and wings are soft gray-brown, blending into a pale white underside that catches the light. The fence beneath it is smooth and clean, a bright horizontal line that contrasts gently with the bird’s earthy tones. Behind the Phoebe, the world blurs into a wash of green and yellow—sunlit foliage rendered as soft watercolor. The background is out of focus, drawing all attention to the bird’s crisp silhouette. Its feathers are finely detailed, each one etched with quiet precision. The Phoebe’s posture is upright, contemplative, as if listening to something just beyond the frame—a rustle, a whisper, a memory in the breeze. The scene is serene, intimate, and still. It feels like a pause in the day—a moment of witness between bird and fence, light and shadow." - Microsoft Copilot
December 2, 2025 at 6:36 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Sentinels in Silver Light
"The image unfolds in monochrome—a coastal scene rendered in shades of silver, charcoal, and mist. In the foreground, three birds stand on a sandbar: two smaller figures and one tall sentinel, likely a heron or egret, its long neck curved in quiet watchfulness. Their silhouettes are crisp against the soft gleam of the water, which stretches out behind them like a polished mirror. Farther back, two birds skim low over the surface, wings outstretched, their reflections trailing beneath them like ghostly echoes. The water is calm, almost glasslike, and the sky above—though unseen—is implied in the soft diffusion of light. There is no horizon, only the seamless blending of water and air, as if the world has been reduced to its elemental hush. The scene feels timeless. No footprints, no waves, no wind—just the stillness of birds and the quiet breath of the shore. It is a moment of pause, a monochrome meditation where nature stands still and bears witness." - Microsoft Copilot
December 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
swede1952.bsky.social
Echoes in the Brine

This image is mostly out of focus, yet it caught my eye and made me smile. Two white shorebirds stand in the shallow ...

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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #egret #gull
"Two white birds stand in shallow water at the edge of a tidal flat, their slender forms reflected in the glassy surface below. The foreground bird faces away, slightly blurred, as if retreating into silence. The background bird stands more sharply in focus, beak open mid-call or yawn—a gesture caught between proclamation and repose. The water is calm, barely rippling, and mirrors the soft hues of the sky above, which glows with the warm light of either early morning or late afternoon. The scene is hushed, almost reverent. No crashing waves, no wind—just the quiet communion of birds and water. The shore itself is muted, a palette of silvers, blues, and pale golds. It feels like a moment suspended in time, where nature pauses to breathe. The birds are not merely present—they are witnesses, sentinels of the tide’s slow rhythm and the day’s unfolding light." - Microsoft Copilot
December 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM