Mike Saunders 🇺🇦
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hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Mike Saunders 🇺🇦
@hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
3.6K followers 1.1K following 2.1K posts
Photographer. Lover of the outdoors. Musician.

Red Siege Principal Consultant so I can pay for my hobbies.

#PhotographersUnited <- Check out this great community!

IG: https://www.instagram.com/hardwaterhacker/
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hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Alan's #BirdOfTheDay theme for today is #shadesofgray with an alternative of #beakopen. My contribution is an Eastern Screech Owl.

#birds #wildlife #Nikon
An Eastern Screech Owl peers at the photographer from a hollow cavity in a tree. The cavity is formed from a limb breaking off the tree, exposing the brown inner wood. The owl is shades of gray patterned feathers and has small ear tufts. The bird's yellow eyes are open.
November 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
For #Stunday, here's a delightful little fall scene from along the North Country Trail in Minnesota.

#mushroom #fungi #fall #NorthCountryTrail #Nikon #PhotographersUnited
Two small conical cap mushrooms grow out of the cut face of a decaying log. The log is on the right side of the image and is nearly black. The closer mushroom is yellowish tan in color, while the second mushroom, slightly behind and above the first mushroom, is a burnt orange color. The forest floor is littered with leaves. A dark orange colored leaf sits just below the mushrooms, accentuating the color scheme. Behind the mushrooms, in the upper left, out of focus green foliage is lit by golden sunlight.
November 16, 2025 at 2:18 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
It's #Caturday! We're currently fostering these two beautiful ladies. Sushi is the black and white kitty, and Luna is what's referred to as a Siamese Lynx point. There both incredibly sweet, but Sushi is much more outgoing.

#foster #adoptapet #pet #cat
Luna, a Siamese Lynx point cat, sitting on an end table near a wooden dresser. Luna is looking out of frame to the right. Luna has a base coat of short, gray hair. She has typical tabby patterns, but the patterns are black lines on her face and legs, with a black striped tail. She has pale blue eyes. Sushi, a black and white cat, sits in a cubby. She has one paw sticking out and is looking at the camera. Sushi is black, with white feet and white on the right side of her nose. Her nose is black, except for the area near the white fur, where it becomes pink. She has green eyes and long, white whiskers.
November 15, 2025 at 9:39 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
A photo from a recent trip through South Dakota. The world seems much more connected now, but I imagine when it was built, this house felt small and the world quite large under the vast prairie skies.

#landscape #monochrome #ClassicMono #PhotographersUnited
An black and white photo of an abandoned farmstead under a vast sky. The house sits atop a ridge overlooking a large valley. The far side of the valley is several miles away. A small cattle trail leads from the lower left corner of the photo towards the house. The house is a single-story white house with wood shingles. There are three windows on the side facing the camera, and a door and window on the right side of the house. On the horizon is a thin layer of fluffy clouds. Above, the sky is mainly clear except for a few thin, white clouds.
November 15, 2025 at 1:59 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social has set the #BirdOfTheDay theme today to #swans and the alternative is #posts birds perched on any type of post.

#birds
A trumpeter swan floating on a lake, directly facing the camera. It's wings are tucked in and it's head is turned backwards, preening under its left (our right) wing. The water is blue and calm, with only ripples from the bird's movements. A cygnet (a young trumpeter swan) takes a nap in golden morning sunlight. The bird has the gray colors of a juvenile bird. It's floating on calm water, perpendicular to the camera, with its head tucked under the wing closest to the camera. Behind the bird, golden fall foliage reflects in the calm water.
November 14, 2025 at 6:32 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Another #AuroraBorealis shot from Wednesday night in rural eastern North Dakota.

#astrophotography #aurora #northernlights #PhotographersUnited
The Northern Lights dance in the sky, viewed from inside an area of trees. A large pine tree extends diagonally up and to the left frames the upper right and top of the photo. Below, grasses and defoliated trees extend from the bottom of the frame. On the horizon, the aurora is mainly green, with a thin layer of clouds just above the horizon. A column of light extends upwards, transitioning from red to a deep pink color.
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Corporate sponsorship has gone too far. Now Nike is even sponsoring the #AuroraBorealis! 😆 I'm just finally getting around to editing photos from the past two nights and I'm excited to see what else is there.

#aurora #northernlights #nightsky #PhotographersUnited
The Northern Lights shine over a lake. The sky is mainly green, with some red appearing in the upper left side. A cloud makes the appearance of the Nike Swoosh logo, appearing as a dark gray logo in front of bright green sky. The water is perfectly still, reflecting the sky and the campground lights on the far side of the lake from the photographer.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
I wish I had gotten better pictures of that May storm. I expected more action to the north and the location I was at was really only usable looking north. Everything was happening south and west of me. Still, I’m not mad about this shot.
The Northern Lights shine green and purple in the sky. A railroad bridge crosses a river. The lights reflect on the water.
November 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Out capturing photons.

#astro #astrophotography #aurora
A photo of the northern lights. A bright red beam runs vertically through the center of the image, surrounded by dimmer green and dark sky
November 12, 2025 at 3:15 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Enjoying the fruits of this weekend’s labor. Apple butter made from apples grown in my yard. Plum jelly made with wild plums harvested on public land.

#FueledByNature #canning #foodpreservation
Two slices of whole wheat toast sit on a white plate with a floral pattern. One slice has apple butter on it. The other has vivid ruby-colored plum jelly.
November 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #StandingOnThings except the Floor, and the Alternative is #Gulls.

Here's a Red-winged Blackbird standing on a fence post.

#birds
A Red-winged Blackbird standing on metal fence post. The bird is jet black except for the red epaulets on its wings . The wings are spread out and the bird's beak is open, mid-call. The post is a dull dark green, painted orange at the top. In the background and out of focus are dried cornstalks and green foliage.
November 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
No photography for me this weekend. Busy making wild plum jelly and fruit leather, apple butter, and some apple crisp. It’s cold outside and winter is starting to show herself and I’m ready for it.

#winter #LakeSuperior #landscape #PhotographersUnited
A winter scene along Lake Superior. A snow covered wooden bench sits diagonally near the lower left of the frame. The bench is surrounded by a snow covered rocky beach extends beach. In the distance, the beach curves to the left where it meets a line of pine trees. The lake is completely still and the sky is gray and moody.
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are described as hyperactive. After many attempts, I finally managed to capture one. Unfortunately, just not in focus.

#PhotoFailFriday #worstbirdpic
An out-of-focus photo of a ruby-crowned kinglet. The bird is small, olive and yellow in color, with a red crown visible on top of its head.
November 8, 2025 at 12:47 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
It’s #flyday Friday!

#aviation #jet #BlueAngels #PhotographersUnited
Blue Angels jet #4. The navy blue plane with yellow striping passes over the photographer, right wing down. The pilot is visible through the canopy. Vapor trails form below the canopy and extend over the wings.
November 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
A fall scene from the North Country Trail in Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.

#landscape #nature #fall #Nikon #PhotographersUnited
A hiking trail, covered in brown and orange leaves, heads through the center of the photo. The trail is surrounded by tree trunks that lean in over the trail, giving the impression of a tunnel. The ground is covered in small saplings with orange, yellow, and green leaves. A cloudy sky is partially visible through the trees, and mist hangs in the air.
November 7, 2025 at 12:41 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
TAKE THE F*CKING PICTURE ALREADY!
A male red-winged blackbird, perched on the tattered remains of a cattail reed against a blurry background of dried and green reeds. The bird is looking directly at the camera, mouth open, and appears angry. The bird is jet black except for a red shoulder patch above a yellow stripe. A metal band can be seen on the bird's left leg.
November 2, 2025 at 4:30 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Grebes. Thanks to @robcrank68.bsky.social for the theme.

#birds #photography #wildlife #nature
A Western Grebe swimming slowly in still water before sunrise. The grebe has a gray back that is wet from a recent dive. The birds breast, throat, and chin are white. It has a black head cap that extends down the neck. The bird's eyes are a striking red color. The bill is orange, with black around the margins. A monochrome image of a Pied-billed Grebe. The bird is a compact water bird, that is brown and gray in color, with a black stripe under its chin. The bill is light gray, with a vertical black stripe in the front third of its bill.
November 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
A Pronghorn buck in Custer State Park, SD.

#wildlife #nature #Nikon #PhotographersUnited
A portrait of a Pronghorn, a North American animal similar to an antelope. The animal is standing in profile but is looking away from the camera. Its head is turned allowing a view of the right side of its head. The Pronghorn has reddish brown hair over the majority of its body, with a white rump, and white facial markings. It has a black mark at the back of its jaw and on its nose. It's horns are black and textured. The horns fork near the top, with a shorter beam extending forward, and the tops curl backwards. The scene behind the animal is out of focus green grasses.
October 31, 2025 at 12:22 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Sunrise in the Smokies.

#sunrise #landscape #Nikon #PhotographersUnited
A series of mountain ridges at sunrise. The camera side of the closest ridge is in heavy shadow. The top of the ridge is illuminated by sunlight, showing a mix of tall pines and deciduous trees. A second ridge line with several valleys is visible beyond the first. These hills are illuminated. A tall ridge spans the image in the distance, heavily obscured by haze. Clouds can be seen in the sky above the distant mountains.
October 29, 2025 at 11:08 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
If you're lucky enough to have some fall color hanging on where you're at, get out there and see it! If it's already passed, I hope you got a chance to experience it this year.

#fall #nature #Nikon #PhotographersUnited
A golden aspen leaf laying on a rock. The leaf lies diagonally from the upper left to the lower right. The leaf is bright yellow, with spots of green and dark yellow. The rock is damp, largely brown, and heavily textured. Cracks in the rock are stained darker colors.
October 29, 2025 at 3:34 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
When reality looks a bit like an oil painting.

#landscape #photography #Nikon #PhotographersUnited
A fall scene at the edge of a wetlands. In the foreground is dried reeds and grasses. A small beaver lodge can be seen in the marsh on the left. Behind the marsh, tamaracks are golden. Behind the tamaracks are green pine trees. Behind the pines are oaks with red leaves. The sky above is textured and cloudy.
October 28, 2025 at 1:55 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay is #Egrets. I think I have precisely one good egret photo in my catalog. I don't love birds against blue sky shots, but when a Great Egret flies by in range, I gotta take the shot.

#birds #nature #wildlife
A Great Egret flying against a blue sky with its wings extended and legs trailing behind it. The bird is pure white except for an orange bill, a yellow band between the bill and its eyes, and black legs.
October 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
For #Stunday, here's another sunrise from Kuwohi in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

#landscape #sunrise #Nikon #PhotographersUnited
The sun rising over the mountains. The photo shows a series of mountain ridges and valleys extending into the distance. The first ridge is in heavy shadow, nearly black. The detail in the farther ridges and valleys are obscured by haze and appear purple, becoming tinted with orange. Above the horizon, the sun is bright yellow, almost white. The sky transitions from a deep pink, to orange, and finally gold above the sun.
October 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
It can be hard to tell if your tree has an iron deficiency, but there are signs.

#pun #forest #nature
October 26, 2025 at 12:58 AM
hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
Dennis, a domestic medium haired tabby. His throat and paws are white, and the rest of his fur is patterned gray and tan. He has green eyes. He is laying on a blanket that is dark turquoise and a gray blanket. Behind him is a blue, turquoise, and green afghan blanket. Debbie, a white, domestic short-haired cat. Debby is a flame point, so her nose and outside of her ears are pink. Her eyes are closed. She is curled up in a light gray circular cat bed. Behind her, a red, orange, and purple afghan blanket can be seen.
October 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM