4 replies to this topic

[OEXCHAOS]

Just to indulge my need to publicly state my appreciation for a life well lived...

This man was my hero. I used to haunt his steps as a kid until I was old enough to do work for him. I learned more about the outdoors and nature from him and his sons than anyone.

When I grow up, I want to be a naturalist too.

http://news.enquirer...0104/606070400/

BTW, to die at 93 and in your sleep isn't bad, but I still mourn his passing as I honor his life.

Mark

[samsung]

For years I have viewed and tried to duplicate much of his bird photography (not easy to do). He was a "Master".... Very sorry to hear this Mark.

[OEXCHAOS]

I'll let you in on a secret, some of his neater shots took place in his garage. Seriously, we'd build a habitat in his garage for whatever he was shooting, with attention to detail. Then the lights and wind and subject could be well controlled. To be sure, he did a TON of blind work, too, but some critters are just easier to shoot on a set. I remember opening up the garage to find a brace of Barred owls hissing at me from the "rafters of a Barn". Nearly wet my pants on that one. I don't want to be maudlin. He lived a long and happy and productive life and died, still mentally sound, in his home, side stepping the whole nursing home thing. I can only think of one better way to go, and no better way to have lived. Mark

[calmcookie]

You wrote: "side stepping the whole nursing home thing" I agree with you there, Mark. And isn't that the way it should be? My great grandmother died at age 98 while tending to her garden (actually pulling weeds!). She outlived 3 husbands (odd in those days) Lived alone in a big house (although she was fortunate to have a housekeeper / cook). I wouldn't mind hitting the dust in a similiar way. Good day to you, C.C.

[OEXCHAOS]

I'll let you in on a secret, some of his neater shots took place in his garage.

Seriously, we'd build a habitat in his garage for whatever he was shooting, with attention to detail. Then the lights and wind and subject could be well controlled.

To be sure, he did a TON of blind work, too, but some critters are just easier to shoot on a set. I remember opening up the garage to find a brace of Barred owls hissing at me from the "rafters of a Barn". Nearly wet my pants on that one.


I don't want to be maudlin. He lived a long and happy and productive life and died, still mentally sound, in his home, side stepping the whole nursing home thing. I can only think of one better way to go, and no better way to have lived.

Mark

Addendum. After the funeral, I met Karl's much younger GIRLFRIEND. Charming, fun red head who liked fishing with him. She was with him the night he died. She told me he gave her a back rub and then went to sleep. He never woke up.



She also advised me that his ashed were deposited in two of his favorite streams that Friday. Evidently, I was fishing about 1 mile down stream of one of those points that evening. Essentially, I was wading in one of the greatest, funniest, kindest, individuals I've ever known.



Oddly, I also unexpectedly hooked into a huge fish that evening that fought me for quite some time before I quickly released it.



Make of that, what you will.



M