This week Apple Watch users received a bit of a nudge from the company in the form of a Thanksgiving Day Challenge. The challenge was simple, users who complete a run, walk, or wheelchair work out of at least 3.1 miles on Thanksgiving ¹ would be given a special achievement badge and a sticker to use in iMessage.

Since I began using an Apple Watch I’ve been walking more and more, and three miles is right around the type of walk I truly enjoy taking. So, as I had the day off anyway, I figured, “Yah, I can do that.” This morning I woke up, completed the day’s reading for my Bible plan, and then suited up to complete the challenge ².

Of course I had my camera along.

I decided to take a new route, and walked down to the river and turned left instead of right. This took me down through Palmyra Harbor and then up on a road a block from Route 73. It was a quiet morning, and I even found myself avoiding any big piles of leaves which had blown over the sidewalk. If people were sleeping in, that last thing I wanted to do was wake them ³.

As I wandered past the clubhouse down at the Harbor I discovered a few rose bushes ⁴ still in bloom. So I stopped and captured a few images. The one below turned out to be my favorite.

Photographing flowers continues to be a challenge for me. I find the colors to easily blow out, leaving the blooms with almost no definition. Developing them, however, is most gratifying. As I tweak settings hidden details emerge, more closely capturing the memory I carry in my head.

Nikon D7000 with 55-300mm Lens
ISO 1000
270mm
ƒ 5.6
1/160 sec