You Capture - Black and White

Beth's You Capture challenge this week is Black and White which I soon realized wasn't as easy as it sounded.  It seemed like just a matter of converting my favorite color shots to black and white but I soon found out that not all beautiful color shots convert beautifully to black and white.

Here are the ones that I thought did the best starting with backyard wildlife.

And of course the birds - sometimes dramatic.
 

 Sometimes small and busy.

 And sometimes just neighborly.


On Saturday we went to Redamaks, a favorite local restaurant in a nearby resort town, and while we waited for a table, I snapped a few pictures.  Eli was a favorite subject.

And Eli talking it over with his grandpa was an even better one.

 And I am ........
 


For more Black and White photography, visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

     

Hummingbirds, Etc.

I wonder sometimes at how our backyard has turned into such a refuge for birds.  We've worked hard to get bluebirds and although we've always had some robins, now they're everywhere.   Another bird that we've invited is the hummingbird.  We love the sightings but they're so fleeting.  A few seconds, maybe just long enough to reach for the camera, and he flits away as quickly as he came.

So we have the hummingbird feeder right up next to the patio window and we enjoy each and every sighting no matter how fleeting.  But I thought hummingbird feeders were strictly for hummingbirds and no other creature would be particularly interested in them. So I was chagrined for two days in a row to see this most unwelcome visitor.
  

I'm not sure of his identity but I am sure he was uninvited.  Fortunately after a day or two he moved on and we haven't seen him since.  I've managed a couple of hummingbird shots but, even though they aren't great, I feel lucky to have gotten them.
 

I'll keep trying to get that really great but elusive hummingbird shot and if I ever do, you can be sure I'll be posting it.