Steven Helmer Publications

I wasn't sure if I would get an opportunity to get a walk in at lunch today because of a surprisingly busy Tuesday. However, there was enough of a lull for me to get out for a short while and that's all I needed to get some great photo opportunities, including making eye contact with the deer I thought had moved out of the park weeks ago as I was walking past one of the ponds. Here are some of the photos: ____________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my previous nature photos: Lunchtime Walk Photos 4/30/2018 Lunchtime Walk Photos 8/14/2017 Lunchtime Walk Photos 3/18/2019 Lunchtime Walk Photos 5/15/2019

It rained yesterday so I didn't get a chance to get out with my camera but made up for it today, even stepping off the trails a few times to see if I could get something unique. My Kodak AZ425 is starting to show signs of wear after years of use and I had a few early issues with the autofocus not wanting to focus on anything I was trying to get a photo of. However, I did manage to get some photos in spite of that (it may be time for me to thoroughly clean the lens and sensor again). I apologize in advance for the multiple robin photos. They were extra cooperative today and I took advantage of it. _______________________________________________________________________ Here are some other nature photos: Family Walk Photos 8/8/2017 Some Canadian Geese Photos Morning Walk Photos 7/26/2017 Lunchtime Walk Photos 4/30/2018

I guess I wouldn't describe the weather outside as cold, at least not compared to how it can get in Wisconsin, but it certainly isn't as warm as I would prefer either. However, I stopped letting weather be an excuse and finally got out for a walk with my camera for the first time this year.  I am more than a little rusty (though also in a bit better shape than expected after not being out of breath walking up that hill) so the photos I was able to get aren't among my best. There are a few OK ones though and here are some of them. ___________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my past photos: Lunchtime Walk Photos (4/30/2025) You Can't See Me, I'm Hiding Another Deer Photo Lunchtime Walk Photos (10/9/2024)

Considering this is one of the very few spring days we've had that was both sunny and not super windy, I was a little surprised when there wasn't anyone else at the park when I was there. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I do like being able to get my walk in without someone being ahead of me and scaring off my photos. Here are some of the shots I took today:

  I didn't spot a whole lot on my lunchtime walk today and the animals I did see (including a sandhill crane) were just too far away or didn't sit still long enough for me to get a good photo. I did, however, see some of the trees beginning to bloom and snapped some photos of that, giving me reason to hope we'll start seeing spring-like weather more consistently than has been the case.

So, a bit of a funny story. I almost got run over on my walk today. I had thought the deer I had photographed on multiple occasions earlier this year had moved on because I hadn't seen her then, as I was walking up one of the trails, she popped out from behind some of the tall grass a few feet in front of me. By the time this all registered, she was charging right at me and, had she not changed directions would have knocked me right over. Fortunately, that didn't happen for both our sakes (I'm sure I would have gotten the worst of it but didn't want to risk her getting hurt either). Needless to say, I didn't get a photo of her this time around. However, I also didn't drop my camera or die so I'll consider it a win. Anyway, here are some of the (less exciting) photos I did get.  

That humidity made me feel a bit short of breath at times and the mosquitoes were nasty at certain points, but I managed to get a walk with my camera in today while it wasn't raining for a change. Here are some of the photos I took.

It's a bit too humid outside to do any real yard work but I did manage to get out a bit with my camera and take some photos of some of the things I have growing around the outside of the house. Here are a few of them.

The sun is finally starting to come out after a whole bunch more rain yesterday and last night. While outside, I decided to take a photo of the rose we have growing by our house that finally bloomed. I got the plant for my wife as a Mother's Day gift this year.

The apple tree behind my house is flowering, giving the area bees a great place to get a snack and providing a wonderful scent when we open our bedroom window (though they may also be the reason my allergies have been so bad lately). I decided to snap a photo of them yesterday. Here it is.

I didn't see any deer or woodchucks on my walk today. However, the turtles are starting to hatch, and I did come across a silver-dollar-sized one on one of the trails. Since it is finally starting to feel like spring, I also got some spring-like shots while I was at it.

It was heavily overcast today and a bit cold. However, I managed to get a walk in before it rained. Here are some of my photos.