Charles Schmidt Photography

I came across an image of a single golden cosmos seen from below. The petals are lit with translucent warmth and the stem sweeps diagonally, giving a gentle sense of motion. A soft pastel blur of pinks and greens fades behind it, and purple serif lettering at the side overlays a short, lyrical quote. Take a closer look: https://www.cschmidtphotos.com/greeting-cards9k-xdfzmel0/art_print_products/flowers-are-the-music-of-the-ground-lqvlorsdld8

Artwork changes the feeling of a room over time, and "Water Lily Macro" is a great option if you want to give something with real presence.

Use code DAD2026 for 20% off during my Father's Day Sale.

https://www.cschmidtphotos.com/merchandise/art_print_products/water-lily-macro-n5vyt5a0j48

Some gifts get used once and forgotten. "Rainbow Sunbeams" is the kind of artwork that stays in someone’s space and becomes part of daily life. Use code DAD2026 for 20% off while my Father's Day Sale is running.

https://www.cschmidtphotos.com/warehouse-open-edition-prints/art_print_products/rainbow-sunbeams

Male Osprey displays fish he caught at Mason Neck State Park! This male Osprey was flying around its nest (where the female was incubating eggs) with this partially eaten fish. He would circle the nest and occasionally stop to hover like in this photo. He would also call out while doing this display. Male Osprey will do this for several reasons. To communicate to its mate that it is a good provider, stimulating its mate to accept the food, advertising its dominance to another Osprey, or just because the osprey is excited. In this case a couple of other Osprey were flying nearby thus it was probably a dominance/territorial display! Enjoy!!

A great gift feels personal without trying too hard, and "Sunset and Moonrise at Mather's Gorge" brings that kind of presence into a home.

Use code DAD2026 for 20% off during my Father's Day Sale.

https://www.cschmidtphotos.com/warehouse-open-edition-prints/art_print_products/sunset-and-moonrise-at-mather-s-gorge

Father's Day has a way of sneaking up, and "White-tailed Deeer Doe Portrait" is a thoughtful place to start if you're looking for something lasting.

My Father's Day Sale is now live, and you can use code DAD2026 for 20% off artwork in my collection.

https://www.cschmidtphotos.com

Cedar Waxwings at Mason Neck State Park! Enjoy!!

Today I observed and photographed the courtship ritual of a male Northern Mockingbird. The mockingbird conducted a flight display by flying from the same perch straight up and spreading its wings to display its white wings patches. It would fly back down to the same perch and conduct the display again and again. The bird also would sing both while perched and flying! Unfortunately, it does not appear that this male has had much luck attracting a female. I saw the same male Mockingbird (probably) conducting the same ritual from the same perch last week! Enjoy!!

Our neighborhood fox is beginning to take her kit out during the day now! On Tuesday, she and her kit began walking down the sidewalk when they stopped and mom began grooming her baby! They then walked into our neighbor's yard. A few minutes later Ava, our dog, was barking while looking into our front yard. The kit was sitting in some shrubs looking down the street as if waiting for mom. I think these photos epitomizes the urban fox in that they have become accustomed to people that they are not too afraid to be seen. But at the same time, they can be hiding in plain sight, and you cannot easily observe them. Enjoy!!

I wanted to share "Storm Approaching Burke Lake." Placid waters stretch to a distant, tree-lined horizon that mirrors a sweep of autumn color under a layered, cloud-filled sky. Slender reeds and shallow ripples interrupt the smooth reflections, while granite boulders up front provide a tactile contrast to the fine marsh stems and warm maples. Take a closer look here: https://www.cschmidtphotos.com/warehouse-open-edition-prints/art_print_products/approaching-storm