Author Archives: Tom

About Tom

Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Appalachian State University.

Snowy Egrets

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Tom

We visited Fish Haul Beach Park yesterday afternoon, hoping to see some interesting birds or animals on the receding high tide.  It’s probably the wrong time of year for fiddler crabs and other tiny things, but we lucked into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Uncategorized, Wildlife Photography | Leave a comment

Foggy Cypress Tree

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Tom

I was intrigued by an image of a cypress tree on our lagoon taken on a recent foggy morning, especially since it seems to render better in black and white tones than in color.  I have been trying different processing … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Landscape Photography | 2 Comments

Cormorant Fishing in Sun City-Hilton Head

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Tom

Recently The Atlantic ran a feature on the ancient Chinese custom of cormorant fishing.  Although now a dying art, Chinese fishermen have for thousands of years used trained cormorants to fish local lakes and rivers.  Today the practice is more … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Commentary, Wildlife Photography | Leave a comment

2014

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Tom

A New Year!  New calendar pages, new opportunities, and new friends to meet. Billie and I have had a whirlwind 2013 in which we dealt with many new emotions.  We came to grips with the loss of our brother-in-law Fred, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Leave a comment

Whirlwind Tour

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Tom

Billie and I went on a whirlwind tour of North Carolina recently, visiting Charlotte, Hildebran, Blowing Rock and Asheville in just 4 days.  Our tour included a family wedding shower, an overnight visit with our grandson Jacob (and his parents … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | 2 Comments

Settling In to the Lowcountry Experience

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Tom

Billie and I have begun to breathe more easily now after a whirlwind few months.  It’s pretty incredible that in this calendar year we have sold our home in the North Carolina High Country, bought a home in the South … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | 1 Comment

Hands on little creatures

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Tom

Warning to those who don’t like spiders−do not open links here because photos of spiders are involved! I found this little creature outside our front door this morning, and since he was essentially immobilized because of the cold, I decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Wildlife Photography | Leave a comment

Audubon Newhall Preserve

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Tom

I visited the Audubon Newhall Preserve on Hilton Head Island Thursday, January 24, and while there I happened upon an anhinga having lunch.  As I approached the observation deck on the north bank of the pond I saw some movement … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Commentary | 1 Comment

Gaussian Blur

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Tom

I posted the photos of Charley the Bluejay on the CNPA web site asking for critique of the images, and fellow members and moderators offered the suggestion that the background was too busy with too much detail.  I agreed with … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Commentary | 1 Comment

What color is a bluejay?

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Tom

Old friend (long-time friend?) Jim Greene of northern Virginia and Boone, NC commented in my previous posting that the bluejay has no blue pigments in its feathers.  I had forgotten that feature of bird coloration, but a quick search of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment