Derek Orpen
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dnorpen.bsky.social
Derek Orpen
@dnorpen.bsky.social
54 followers 130 following 23 posts
Occasional nature photowalker

Me: https://sparksphere.net/about/
My blog: https://sparksphere.net/
My gallery: https://derekorpen.smugmug.com/A-Few-Shots/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Derek Orpen
djordi.bsky.social
The Draw Steel analog experience is about to go digital! Our custom digital toolset, the Codex, is going into Steam Early Access on April 6th!

Knock enemies into other enemies, walls, and MORE!

WISHLIST DRAW STEEL IN STEAM TODAY!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2902740/...
March 30, 2026 at 7:53 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A green heron, an egret, a chipmunk, and a wood duck in High Park.

Some wildlife shots from last summer.

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #herons #greenherons #egrets #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks #chipmunks
A green heron stands on a log surrounded by water and marsh plants. An egret stands between a tree pond, pointing away from the tree out into the water with its beak. A chipmunk looks wary on a paved pathway. A wood duck swims across shimmering pond water.
June 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
westendphoenix.bsky.social
Subscriptions allow us to pay our contributors fairly…

Subscriptions keep the lights on…

We are 100% independent, we 100% algorithm free.

Help us keep local print journalism alive in the West End, it’s rough out here.

www.westendphoenix.com/subscription...

Joy
March 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A suspicious-looking great blue heron and some ducks. (3/3)

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #mallardducks #herons #egrets #greatblueherons #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks

Full post: see link in description.
A suspicious-looking great blue heron stands in a marshy area surrounded by tall reeds. Three wood ducks are perched on a branch over a body of water with a blurred green and yellow background. A mallard duck with mottled brown feathers stands on a rock beside a body of water. Two wood ducks are perched on a tree branch over water, basking in the sunlight.
January 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some more egrets! (2/3)

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #mallardducks #herons #egrets #greatblueherons #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks

Full post: see link in description.
A white egret stands on a log over a calm, reflective body of water with a lush, green forest background. A white egret is perched on a fallen tree branch over a calm body of water in a wooded area. A white egret is wading through a forested wetland area with fallen branches and logs partially submerged in the water. A white egret stands gracefully on a log above a reflective body of water surrounded by fallen branches.
January 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some shots of egrets I took this past summer in Grenadier pond. (1/3)

wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #mallardducks #herons #egrets #greatblueherons #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks

Full blog post: see link in description.
A white egret is standing on a log by a body of water. A white egret stands gracefully on a branch over a body of water. A white egret with a long neck and yellow beak is pictured against a blurred natural background. A white egret stands gracefully in a shallow body of water amidst floating leaves and branches.
January 8, 2025 at 3:29 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Shots of some trees from a photowalk this past summer. (And some ducks.)

#photomonday #summer #nature #naturephotography #naturewalks #photowalks #trees #mallardducks #ducks #woodlands #woodlandphotography
Lush, green foliage with a gracefully arching tree and sunlit leaves. A serene pondside scene features a birch tree surrounded by greenery and tall grasses. Ducks rest on a woodland floor surrounded by tall trees and a blurry background of greenery and a pond. Green woodland with dense foliage and tall trees bathed in sunlight.
December 30, 2024 at 6:55 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some wider shots from High Park gardens (i.e., not close-ups of flowers.)

#silentsunday #flowers #gardens #summer #nature #naturephotography #naturewalks #photowalks
A garden pergola is adorned with vibrant hanging plants and surrounded by lush greenery. A large, textured tree trunk surrounded by lush green hedges and other foliage. A cart is parked on grass, loaded with colorful watering cans in the back.
December 29, 2024 at 9:33 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some shots from the High Park gardens this past summer

#silentsunday #flowers #gardens #summer #nature #naturephotography #naturewalks #photowalks

(Species identification by Apple Photos, not sure if accurate.)
A vibrant red hibiscus with intricate petals is in sharp focus against a blurred green background. A delicate purple flower (symphyotrichum dumosum) with a yellow center is surrounded by green foliage and grass in an outdoor setting. A cluster of vibrant purple flowers (fall phlox) stands alone with a blurred natural background. A purple flower (coopers hardy ice plant) with green stems and leaves is in focus, surrounded by a blurred background.
December 29, 2024 at 9:29 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some long exposure ducks in the late afternoon.

(Oops! the last two shots from the last post that didn’t make it.)

#saturdaystroll #nature #naturephotography #ducks #mallards #mallardducks #trees #fallcolors #fallcolours #woodslands #woodlandphotography #naturewalks #photowalks
Long exposure of ducks gliding swiftly along a calm, reflective pond surrounded by dense, wintry reeds and trees. A snow-dusted field of tall, dry reeds is set against a cloudy sky at sunset.
December 7, 2024 at 11:35 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
The colours of November. Some long exposure shots in the late afternoon.

#saturdaystroll #nature #naturephotography #ducks #mallards #mallardducks #trees #fallcolors #fallcolours #woodslands #woodlandphotography #naturewalks #photowalks
A serene wetland scene features a leaning tree by a small pond with dry reeds and autumn leaves scattered on the ground. A calm pond beneath a leaning tree with a modern high-rise building and street car blurred in the background. A narrow, snow-dusted path winds through a forest with bare trees and dry, brown foliage at sunset. A narrow, snow-dusted path winds through a forest with tall, leafless trees and patches of orange foliage.
December 7, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
earthmood.bsky.social
Lovely shots!
November 18, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
gspence2.bsky.social
👏🏾🤩😍
The opening sounds like the beginning to a punch line…
November 10, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
tenoaks6.bsky.social
I feel like your caption is the beginning of a charming story! Lovely captures Derek!🌺
November 9, 2024 at 8:20 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Two trees and a bunny.

(Photos from a walk this summer.)

#saturdaystroll #nature #naturephotography #bunnies #rabbits #trees #woodlands #woodlandphotography #naturewalks #photowalks
A solitary tree with yellowing leaves stands along a dirt path in a lush green forest. A lush, green forest scene features a variety of trees and dense foliage bathed in bright sunlight. A small rabbit is sitting on the edge of a path next to a grassy area, with a wooden fence in the background.
November 9, 2024 at 7:32 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Houseboats on the Ottawa River. (Also rocks and motorboats.)

#landscape #landscapephotography #nature #naturephotography #outdoors #rivers #waterways #beach #summer #ontario #canada
A serene lake with a rocky shoreline is framed by distant, tree-covered hills under a partly cloudy sky. A serene lakeside scene features clear blue water, a sandy shore with large rocks, and a backdrop of lush green trees under a partly cloudy sky.
October 29, 2024 at 2:48 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A wildlife hodgepodge: a duck, a black-crowned night heron, a dragonfly, and a bumblebee.

#birds #birdphotography #ducks #herons #nightherons #bumblebees #bees #insects #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography
A duck stands on a branch in a serene, reflective pond surrounded by trees. A night heron stands on a branch over a murky, watery surface. A dragonfly with blue markings is perched on a brown stalk surrounded by green leaves. A bee is perched on a vibrant yellow flower among green foliage.
October 26, 2024 at 6:46 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some quiet, mossy woodland shots from a recent hike.

#silentsunday #mosstodon #nature #naturephotography #woodlands #woodlandphotography #trees #hiking
A moss-covered tree stump is surrounded by dense foliage and forest undergrowth. A tree trunk covered in moss and surrounded by lush green foliage in a forest. A dense forest features tall trees and two large fallen tree trunks resting diagonally among the foliage.
October 20, 2024 at 4:19 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Side-eye (😒 ) from a Mallard and a couple of Northern Shovelers.

#birds #birdphotography #ducks #quackscrolling #wildlife #wildlifephotography #mallard #northernshoveler #nature #naturephotography
A mallard duck is swimming on a calm body of water. A colorful duck with a distinctive shovel-shaped bill is swimming on calm water. A colorful duck with a green head and brown chest is swimming on calm water.
October 18, 2024 at 1:49 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A white-breasted nuthatch jumps around on the side of a tree.

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #wildlife #birds #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #nuthatch #whitebreastednuthatch #nature #naturephotography #birdsofmastodon #birdsofthefediverse #birdsofbluesky #photof="/hashtag/photography" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#photography #photo
A small bird with a white belly and blue-gray back is perched on the side of a tree trunk. A small bird with muted blue and gray plumage clings to the side of a tree trunk. A small bird with blue-gray feathers clings to the side of a tree trunk.
October 16, 2024 at 3:41 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Mist on Mount Martin

#photography #landscape #landscapephotography #river #ottawariver #mountain #mist #misty #fog #clouds #ontario #canada
A calm river is framed by a distant tree line and a misty mountain under a cloudy sky. A wide, tranquil river stretches into the distance under a dramatic, cloud-filled sky. Mount Martin is on the far side of the water.
October 15, 2024 at 3:34 PM