Peak Colors Might Get Wiped Out

Peak colors are here if the wind and rain doesn't strip the trees come Monday. In that case peak color week was yesterday!

The past week has been some of the best fall weather that I have seen in years. The progression of the fall color change starts in Canada and moves south about 20 miles per day. By the time it hits Texas it's usually--yep! November-- and with drought years, it just isn't like it is up north. Still, in years where rain falls at the right time, even in drought years, the colors have a chance to shine.

As most already know, it's been an exceptional year for rain. Even if we get our normal rain fall in November and December, we will break a record for yearly rain fall. Crazy! But, we needed the rain with the drought. My trees on the porch were highly stressed and I still water them a gallon of water a day. But, come spring, one will see the trees that really stressed because of the drought when they produce no new buds and are standing firewood.

In the past week alone, my camera counter has wracked up a total of some 500 images taken.This year's focus was on leaves. Like the old basketball cliche: nothing but net, pretty much, my mantra has been nothing but leaves. Well, 95 percent leaves. There are a few pelicans in there; a business fire in Garland, a train or two and some lens adjustments (those don't count). Live news feeds always take top priority. A doctor's appointment and a few trips to the drugstore and grocery and gas rounded out the week.

Yesterday was just that perfect day. Some of the test areas were revisited and nice clean shots came about from the initial ones that were a bit out of focus. Going back to re shoot what I have done already from my projects list isn't something I like to do as a general rule. It cost the same to get a the shot but that cost is doubled from the first trip. So even if you do sell an image as stock, you can wipe out income from stock very quickly. It takes a long time for most to realize that it's all about numbers. As much as you want the numbers to roll in-- if the numbers are not there, there is no number at all. It's negative numbers and those are not good, even as a hobby. You have to learn to say "no" and to know when to cave in to sitting at the desk editing old images a second time or even a third thing to squeeze all you can get out of them. That---is where the money is if there is any money at all!

You may have read my article about  selling an image for $0.27, but by listing it on some of the art sites and sites like Zazzle, or Cafe Press, you can sell the item for $2.00 royalty rather than the $0.27. but when you sell it for $2.00 and you sell it for $0.27, Look at the difference. Yes, my friends, it's all a numbers game.

But, like anything else, you must add those numbers into the mixing bowl where common sense and moderation and ethics are blended into the mix--your mix--that is where the happiness at doing what you love appears. My twitter friend, Patrick, the anthropologist at U Mass posted today on his blog a quote that just really defines that last statement about mixing things.

             "When we are bad, we are worse than any primate that I know. And when we are good, we are actually better and more 

altruistic than any primate that I know." 

~~Frans de Waal

 So, here are a few shots to sum up the week beyond what I have posted already this past week. 

Colors are so pretty this year

I use a company that looks for my images on line to detect copyright infringement.

This one is really being watched! Because it's been made into a greeting card.

These are live news coverage editorial images. They watch for these as well!

Generally duck pictures are a 'I don't mind kind of thing'. However, these two pelican images are on the watch list too!.