Bird on a Wire

Bird on a Wire, originally uploaded by WhereRu.

This guy was perched on one of the lines that ties the Queen Mary cruise ship to the pier in Long Beach, CA. I have several different shots of him. In one version the line exits to the right of the picture rather than the corner. In another, there is a second line under this one making a V shape. This one just struck me as the one to share. Below this guy there was also a large pelican sitting on another line. Unfortunately I used to large of an aperature and parts of the pelican are out of focus. Learn to shoot another day!

FIre Fighters

FIre Fighters, originally uploaded by WhereRu.

Pleasant Prairie Fire Department. Fire fighters performing a controlled burn of an old farmhouse across the street from my place. It was around 30 degrees outside. I had literally just got back from Mexico so I was still wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The heat from the blaze was so intense that I was actually sweating across the street from it. I don't know how these men and women do it, they have my utmost respect.