A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot - G: George, Golf, Geese

 It these days of throw-away culture I still wonder what litter lout abandoned - 

We frequently see geese flying over our village, but they never land.

Just up the road from my daughter's home in Michigan it's a different story.

Strutting by the river on Belle Isle

When it comes to golf I'm spoilt for choice so I will stay at the Homestead on Lake Michigan - the freshwater resort.

My daughter perfecting her driving style

I nearly forgot to add a shot that could have been in 'F' but falls here as well.

Gary tree frog

Bodies of Water - Thematic Photography

On some bodies of water you cannot see from shore to shore.

Lake Michigan  - empty shoreline

There's more chance of action at Grand Traverse Bay.

Fancy a yacht on this body of water?

Someone did around the Isles of Scilly.

Off Tresco in the Scilly Isles

Closer to home some bodies take to water.

Like a duck and these geese on the River Tees

While at Portrack Nature Reserve alongside the river you can also show your bodies off.

Herons and a lapwing on a Portrack 'island'

Not a wave in sight; meanwhile down the Yorkshire coast at Whitby

The barque Endeavour creates a ripple as in comes in 

But can you see the bodies 'in the water' back in Michigan?

What no dogs?

For other watery offerings check out the links where Carmi hosts the theme - Bodies of Water - Thematic-photographic-329

Liquidity - Thematic Photography

Liquidity means water to me, now that I am teetotal and not a fan of fancy coffee brands.

The pills I'm required to take each day include some water tablets that give a whole new meaning to running water. However watery scenes will figure prominently in my 'Liquidity' shots.

Leland fish falls, Michigan

The Leland River runs into Lake Michigan whose size I had not appreciated until I reached its shores.

Waves lapping the Lake Michigan shoreline

In the Norwegian mountains, east of Stavanger, falls are a frequent attraction for anyone with a camera.

Norwegian stream

These do not have a name as there are hundreds like it depending where you go.

In 2002 we went to a wedding in Germany and used the occasion to visit some falls described by Mary Shelley in a travel narrative published in 1844. She wrote, "A portion of the cataract arches over the lowest platform and the spray fell thickly upon us, as standing on it and looking up we saw wave and rock and cloud and the clear heavens through its ever-moving veil. This was a new sight exceeding anything I had ever seen; however, not to be wet through, I was obliged quickly to tear myself away."

Somehow I don't think we got as close had she had been to -

The Rheinfalls

To get me on the water it would have to be somewhat smoother, rather like this day.

Barque Endeavour approaching Whitby

Of course I wouldn't have been able to take any of these shots without - 

Liquidity

Can you count the quids in the 'Li ity'?

For other insights to Carmi's 'Liquidity' theme follow the links at Thematic-photographic-287.

In the foreground - Thematic Photography

Frequently things in the foreground get in the way of what you want to shoot. There are times however when they may enhance a photo accidentally, or deliberately if you choose.

In this series of shots I had not intended to include the flag.

View from first green. Mountain Flowers golf course

The course is located at the Homestead, the freshwater resort on Lake Michigan.

Mountain Flowers - view towards the Manitou islands.

Those of you who have read the story of Mishe-Mokwa, the bear who tried to save her cubs from a fire by swimming with them across Lake Michigan, will know that the great spirit Manitou raised the two drowned cubs out of the deep blue waters of the lake - and made them into the islands which he named after himself.

There are times however when what is in the foreground is worth including, like this next shot also from Michigan.

Traverse City harbour, Michigan

When observing the developments in a wood during a year, the item in the foreground is sometimes an important element to study.

Horse chestnut buds in March

And a month later on a branch.

Sycamore leaves - April

For more views in the foreground cross over to Carmi's Thematic-photographic-270,

Beached - Sepia Saturday

I nave lost count on how many beaches I have admired, even the empty ones which stretch from the:

Shoreline of Lake Michigan

To the sands of Cornwall.

Empty sands at Crantock, Cornwall

And nearer home in North Yorkshire.

Whitby looking towards Sandsend

However beaches are meant to be played on like this one more that 50 years ago (that's the nearest I'm allowed to date it)

Amy (on the left) and her daughter (future mother-in-law and wife)

Some years later in the 1970s, I get in on the act. Note the flared trousers.

The Scotneys and Andrew, their younger son

A few years earlier it was a case of someone taking charge.

Sandsend again. (Bob, Adrian, Andrew, Rachel laying down the law)

Same beach on a different day, some years later.

Andrew and his children

Apart from empty beaches we can even find an unusually empty sea.

Cornish Surf

This brings me to the UK Pro Surf Tour's Rookie of the Year 2013, grandson Angus Scotney and - .

UK Pro Surf Tour's Beach Bum U16 Boys Champion 2013

If you wish to get more sand between your toes and other unmentionable places then catch a wave and surf over to Sepia-Saturday-202.

The Natural World - Thematic Photograpy

As I'm in Michigan it seemed right to me to post some photos taken there even if they are from previous visits.

Traverse City Harbour

OK, I'll admit that man has changed the view a bit as he has also in the next shot.

Lake Michigan from the Mountain Dew golf course

This shot was taken from an elevated tee on the golf course at the Homestead, Michigan's fresh water resort. That island on the horizon is South Manitou  which in the Ojibwe Indian legend of the sleeping bear is one of the two cubs of Mishe Mokwa. Mishe Mokwa and her two cubs tried to swim the Lake to escape a fire. The cubs did not make and drowned. The great spirit Manitou formed the two islands North and South Manitou as the cubs' resting places. Meanwhile Mishe Mokwa became the sleeping bear dunes on the Lake Michigan shore - where she had waited for her cubs in vain..

Meanwhile nearer home it was foggy on the island of Tresco in the Scilly Isles.

Tresco - 2008

Also in Tresco near the Island Hotel we could see a pile of rocks - not put there by man.

These reminded me of a rocky place in Yorkshire.

Brimham Rocks, Yorkshire
(photo by Penny Mayes - CC A-S A 2.0 generic license)

If that leaves you between a rock and a hard place I can only suggest you take a look at some more of the natural world at Carmi's thematic-photographic-198