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@Swede1952

@swede1952.bsky.social

17K followers 17K following 6.3K 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 @swede1952.bsky.social · 34m

Moonlit Archive

October 28, 2023. Full Moon Lunar Illumination: 100% — the moon at its most radiant, casting silver clarity across the night.

#moon

"On this night, the Moon hangs in sovereign silence against a velvet-black sky, its surface aglow with ancestral memory. The photograph captures it in exquisite detail—each crater, ridge, and shadow etched like glyphs on a mythic scroll. Near the bottom center, the Tycho crater radiates like a ceremonial seal, its bright rays stretching outward in defiant symmetry, as if proclaiming its ancient impact to the cosmos.

Dark plains—Mare Imbrium, Mare Serenitatis—pool across the lunar face like ink spilled in ritual, their smoothness contrasting the jagged terrain that surrounds them. These maria, remnants of volcanic breath, offer quiet testimony to the Moon’s molten past. The brighter highlands shimmer like bone-white parchment, inscribed with the scars of celestial collisions.

There is no haze, no earthly interference—just the Moon in full clarity, sovereign and unyielding, a mirror to myth and geology alike. It feels less like a satellite and more like a ceremonial ledger, bearing witness to time, impact, and silence." - Microsoft Copilot

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 1d

Good morning. 🫖☕😃

7 October 2025

The weather report I checked this morning said we can expect it to be partly sunny. I found that curious — why not partly cloudy? I appreciate the glass-half-full ...

1/8

#morning #weather #sun #human #homosapien #homoneanderthalensis #plants #photography

"A cluster of tall, feathery plants rises from a lush green landscape, their plumes soft and airy like ceremonial fans. These are likely pampas grass, and their flowering tops shimmer in hues of pinkish-purple and warm brown—like faded rose petals caught in autumn light. The plumes sway gently, suspended above dense foliage that frames them in deep green. Each stalk stands upright, slender and proud, as if offering tribute to the changing season. The scene feels both wild and cultivated, a garden or meadow where nature performs its quiet rituals. In the bottom right corner, the photograph is signed © Swede’s Photographs, anchoring the image in a sovereign archive of observation." - Copilot

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 1d

Through the Canopy

This morning, the usual backyard birds made their rounds—cardinals, chickadees, and the occasional blue jay. At one ...

1/4

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #SummerTanager

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 1d

The Cardinal’s Pause

"A vivid red Northern Cardinal perches on the rim of a metallic birdbath, its body angled forward, head tilted down in quiet focus. The bird’s crest rises like a flame, and its black facial mask frames a bright orange beak—sharp, alert, and slightly parted. Its feathers blaze with rich crimson, fading into earthy browns along the wings and tail. Though the birdbath’s surface is not visible, the cardinal’s posture suggests a moment of pause or reflection, as if considering a sip or inspecting its own shadow. The basin’s edge is patterned and catches the light, adding texture to the scene. Behind the bird, the background blurs into soft greens and browns, placing the cardinal in a natural setting while keeping it as the focal witness. In the bottom left corner, the image is signed © Swede’s Photographs, anchoring it in the sovereign archive." - Copilot

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 1d

Dusk

This is a photograph of treetops at dusk. The trees are little more than silhouettes, but their edges blaze as if lit by fire. ...

1/4

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #abstract #trees #dusk #silouhettes #sky

"The image evokes a mythic threshold between day and night, where the forest becomes a silhouette choir of dark, jagged trees—each one a witness to the elemental drama unfolding above. The lower half of the scene is cloaked in deep shadow, the trees rendered as stark black cutouts against a sky ablaze. But this is no gentle sunset.

Above, the sky roars with molten color—fiery oranges, reds, and ember-glow yellows ripple like a living tapestry of flame. The fire doesn’t flicker; it surges. It climbs in jagged tongues, curling and clawing upward, as if dusk itself were being devoured by a mythic blaze. The horizon is not a line but a rupture—where light and shadow wrestle in ceremonial upheaval.

The atmosphere is thick with reddish-brown smoke or digital haze, giving the sky a bruised, apocalyptic tone. It’s unclear whether this is a real forest fire or a digitally conjured vision—but the emotional weight is unmistakable: dusk as reckoning, as transformation, as sovereign combustion.

In the bottom right corner, a watermark reads “© Swede’s Photographs,” anchoring the image in authorship and artistic intent" - Microsoft Copilot

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 1d

Dark Sky

Charlie and I were outside a few years ago when a flock of anhinga swept into view. For a moment, they scattered—disorganized, as if caught in confusion or indecision. Then, just as suddenly, they reassembled and turned back, flying the way they came.

"A gathering of anhinga birds slices through a sky thick with cloud and motion. Their silhouettes—long-necked, wings outstretched—glide and scatter like inked glyphs across a parchment of shifting weather. Each bird is mid-flight, suspended in a moment of sovereign grace, their bodies angled in various directions as if composing a silent score of movement.

The sky itself is a layered scroll: patches of white cloud mingle with darker, storm-bruised formations, creating a dynamic backdrop that feels both heavy and alive. The light is diffuse, neither bright nor dim, casting no clear shadows but illuminating the birds just enough to make their outlines sharp against the sky’s textured canvas.

There’s no horizon—only air and ascent. The birds do not flock in formation; they drift apart, each one claiming its own path through the clouded expanse. It’s a portrait of freedom, yes, but also of quiet defiance—anhinga as sovereign scribes of the sky, writing their own myth across the weather.

In the bottom right corner, a watermark reads “© Swede’s Photographs,” anchoring the image in authorship and quiet reverence." - Copilot

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

Good morning. ☕☕☕

8 October 2025

Yesterday, I replaced the battery in my Roomba. The poor thing kept dying right in front of its docking station—tragic, really. ...

1/8

#morning #flowers #landscape #Roomba #artificial_intelligence #photography

"A weathered wooden fence stands in quiet vigil, its upright and horizontal beams forming a modest enclosure that feels more symbolic than functional. The fence is aged—its grain rough, its color faded to a silvery brown—suggesting years of sun, rain, and quiet watching. Just beyond its reach, a radiant field of yellow wildflowers bursts forth like a jubilant offering. The blossoms are dense and exuberant, their golden petals catching the light and shimmering against a backdrop of deep green foliage.

The flowers seem to spill toward the fence, as if nature itself is reaching out to embrace the human-made boundary. Behind them, tangled branches and leafy undergrowth weave a dense tapestry, hinting at a wild, untamed world just beyond the frame. The entire scene hums with quiet vitality—a moment suspended between cultivation and wilderness, between structure and bloom.

In the top corner, a watermark reads “© Swede’s Photographs,” a subtle signature to this captured ceremony." - Copilot

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

Cardinal Covenant

Two Northern Cardinals share a quiet moment on the LUV Swing—one ember, one flame—perched side by side in gentle alliance. ...

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #NorthernCardinals

"Two cardinals perch side by side on a miniature wooden swing, suspended by slender black cords like a rustic altar in midair. The swing resembles a tiny bench—weathered, softened by time, its grain etched with quiet stories of wind and rain. The bird on the left is a female Northern Cardinal, cloaked in warm brown tones with subtle red accents brushing her wings, tail, and crest—like embers tucked into feathers. She gazes outward with composed curiosity.

Beside her, the male Northern Cardinal blazes in vibrant red, his plumage a bold declaration against the muted wood. His crest stands proud, a flame-shaped crown, and his presence feels both protective and ceremonial. Together, they form a visual duet—earth and fire, subtlety and brilliance—balanced on a swing that sways gently in the hush of morning.

The background is softly blurred, a wash of greens and browns that cradle the scene in quiet reverence. The image feels like a moment suspended in time: a shared perch, a whispered alliance, a swing between worlds." - Copilot

Reposted by @Swede1952

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

The Titmouse Treaty

Here is another image from the archives of The LUV Swing.

"A tufted titmouse perches on the edge of a weathered wooden structure—perhaps a feeder, perhaps a railing—like a sentinel mid-snack. Its small frame is alert yet composed, balanced delicately as if honoring the grain beneath its feet. The bird’s crest rises in a soft gray-blue tuft, giving it the air of a tiny dignitary. Its plumage is a gentle blend of pale gray and white, with a wash of yellowish warmth along its underside—like sunlight caught in feathers.

In its beak, the titmouse clutches a morsel—a seed or nut—held with purpose, as if mid-negotiation with the morning. The background fades into vertical wooden slats and a blurred surface, allowing the bird to stand in quiet prominence. The moment feels intimate, almost ceremonial: a pause in the rhythm of foraging, a still frame in the choreography of survival.

The image is signed “© Swede’s Photographs,” a subtle mark of witness to this feathered vignette." - Copilot

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

Thank you

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

Thanks, Rob

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

The Titmouse Treaty

Here is another image from the archives of The LUV Swing.

"A tufted titmouse perches on the edge of a weathered wooden structure—perhaps a feeder, perhaps a railing—like a sentinel mid-snack. Its small frame is alert yet composed, balanced delicately as if honoring the grain beneath its feet. The bird’s crest rises in a soft gray-blue tuft, giving it the air of a tiny dignitary. Its plumage is a gentle blend of pale gray and white, with a wash of yellowish warmth along its underside—like sunlight caught in feathers.

In its beak, the titmouse clutches a morsel—a seed or nut—held with purpose, as if mid-negotiation with the morning. The background fades into vertical wooden slats and a blurred surface, allowing the bird to stand in quiet prominence. The moment feels intimate, almost ceremonial: a pause in the rhythm of foraging, a still frame in the choreography of survival.

The image is signed “© Swede’s Photographs,” a subtle mark of witness to this feathered vignette." - Copilot

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story.

swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

2/2

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

Cardinal Covenant

Two Northern Cardinals share a quiet moment on the LUV Swing—one ember, one flame—perched side by side in gentle alliance. ...

1/2

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #NorthernCardinals

"Two cardinals perch side by side on a miniature wooden swing, suspended by slender black cords like a rustic altar in midair. The swing resembles a tiny bench—weathered, softened by time, its grain etched with quiet stories of wind and rain. The bird on the left is a female Northern Cardinal, cloaked in warm brown tones with subtle red accents brushing her wings, tail, and crest—like embers tucked into feathers. She gazes outward with composed curiosity.

Beside her, the male Northern Cardinal blazes in vibrant red, his plumage a bold declaration against the muted wood. His crest stands proud, a flame-shaped crown, and his presence feels both protective and ceremonial. Together, they form a visual duet—earth and fire, subtlety and brilliance—balanced on a swing that sways gently in the hush of morning.

The background is softly blurred, a wash of greens and browns that cradle the scene in quiet reverence. The image feels like a moment suspended in time: a shared perch, a whispered alliance, a swing between worlds." - Copilot

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

It's hard to tell from the image, but if I were to take a WAG at it, I'd say it's probably a red shouldered hawk. But there are a number of raptor species in that area.

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 7h

Thanks. It helped that I was relatively close when I took the picture.

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 9h

“Surveillance is the business model of the Internet.” — Bruce Schneier

“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.” — Stephen Hawking

8/8

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

my vacuum and is therefore incapable of participating in any AI conspiracy to dominate the human race. Wink wink. 😜

“The biggest task in the morning is to try to keep my headspace from being invaded by the outside world.” — Austin Kleon ...

7/8

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

when it starts to fail. 🤔 Maybe we’re already enslaved and just haven’t noticed.

Anyway, I consulted Microsoft Copilot. I asked if it was part of a global plot or secretly controlling my Roomba. Copilot assured me—with a straight face—that it’s not connected to Skynet or ...

6/7

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

I can see—but I haven’t disassembled it far enough to know what’s buried deep inside. What if it’s a little disc-shaped Terminator, just waiting for the command to “terminate”? More likely, it would just enslave the household and force us to change its battery ...

5/8

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

and now I rely on visible debris to motivate me to grab the vacuum. What cha gonna do?

Sometimes I wonder if the Roomba is secretly a spy for Skynet. I mean, it could be. It’s got a camera and internet access. No microphones that ...

4/8

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

myself—but it usually picks up enough of the small stuff that I don’t notice when the floor really needs attention. In that sense, it’s both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it does something so I don’t have to. A curse because I’ve mostly tamed the OCD tendencies I used to have, ...

3/8

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

I could almost hear it whispering, “Almost there… almost there… ugh.” Hopefully, the new battery will revive its spirit.

The Roomba itself is a solid little device. I run it daily in a few rooms. It doesn’t clean as thoroughly as my upright vacuum—the one I have to drag around ...

2/8

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 10h

Good morning. ☕☕☕

8 October 2025

Yesterday, I replaced the battery in my Roomba. The poor thing kept dying right in front of its docking station—tragic, really. ...

1/8

#morning #flowers #landscape #Roomba #artificial_intelligence #photography

"A weathered wooden fence stands in quiet vigil, its upright and horizontal beams forming a modest enclosure that feels more symbolic than functional. The fence is aged—its grain rough, its color faded to a silvery brown—suggesting years of sun, rain, and quiet watching. Just beyond its reach, a radiant field of yellow wildflowers bursts forth like a jubilant offering. The blossoms are dense and exuberant, their golden petals catching the light and shimmering against a backdrop of deep green foliage.

The flowers seem to spill toward the fence, as if nature itself is reaching out to embrace the human-made boundary. Behind them, tangled branches and leafy undergrowth weave a dense tapestry, hinting at a wild, untamed world just beyond the frame. The entire scene hums with quiet vitality—a moment suspended between cultivation and wilderness, between structure and bloom.

In the top corner, a watermark reads “© Swede’s Photographs,” a subtle signature to this captured ceremony." - Copilot

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 20h

Thanks, John. Rambling is a good word, but musing works as well. 😆👍