In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
All photos shot with a 400mm lens on a tripod.
Look Lane, the hummingbirds are coming!
To get out of the sun, I moved to the patio outside the Living Room and found this guy perching on the umbrella stand.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed this Wren (I think it's a wren). One click of the shutter and the bird flew off.
Right in front of me I noticed lots of movement in the plants. I looked up the name of this bird and found out it's a Verdin.
No luck for this little guy.
No problem for Mr. Squirrel. He takes up residence in the feeder for so long Ray opens the door and chases him out.
Around 5:30pm the birds come in mass. The feeding frenzy gets going and makes for fun photos.
This is what my lighting set up looks like.
This is the second evening I tried my hand at using some off camera flash with two Pocket Wizards, one on my camera and one on a light stand, to shoot the birds feeding. I set up the PW on the light stand to the right and about 4 feet from the birds. Flash settings: Manual, 35mm – 50mm zoom, 1/16th power. The Canon 5d Mark II fitted with a Canon 70 – 200mm 2.8 lens was positioned about 45 degrees to the left of the flash. Manual camera settings for the most part were either: ISO 125: 1/200 sec at f/6.3 or 1/160 sec at f/7.1. Camera was on a tripod with a cable shutter release attached.
The birds got used to the flash going off after a while. I had to shoot the birds from inside the cabin, at a distance of 12 feet, or the birds wouldn’t visit the feeder.
The birds weren’t very active tonight……meaning there wasn’t a lot of bickering which makes for good shots. Here are 5 shots out of 200 plus taken.
A photo flipped in Photoshop. I guess I was bored with the photos I shot today.
Screamer. We always know when he is outside.
Trying to take so-so photos and make something. hmmmmmm.
Couldn't resist shooting Ray in the light falling on him while he was in his cave with his cave toys. His patience with my requests for poses lasted only minutes. He didn't like any of the shots I took. Neither did I because Ray (he's getting better but) freezes in front of the camera. I like his beard. I know it's not gonna last long so I wanted a photo.
While outside on the porch thinking about how I could photograph the critters differently than I have been, I turned and saw my reflection over Ray inside.
Made chili today.
Don’t have to change into my pj’s tonight as I never got out of them all day long.
Keeping it simple.
Put down the cup of seed and seconds later this guy appeared.
And then he disappeared.
And.....reappeared.
Ray is enjoying hanging out.
And I'm in heaven shooting my birds.
I have been out of town for a couple of days and am feeling behind. Hoping to get a blog photo I shot a couple of bird shots during an active feeding time (about 40 minutes before the sun drops behind the mountains) I picked up and put the 400mm f/4 lens on the Canon 5D Mark II.
Bullock's Oriole - male on the left, female right.
Male Bullock's Oriole (Northern Oriole in part).
I’ve decided to bring the Canon EOS 7D with me on the Whitney backpack. So after I finish the remaining 2 macro lens assignments I’ll be using the 7D exclusively, with hopes that I’ll become more familiar with the 7D. I weighed the camera and lens…3.5 lbs. I’ll also bring a polarizing filter, cable shutter release and the large gorilla tripod. Oh, and a GoPro video camera for our Whitney summit and maybe a time-lapse video.
I’ve never taken a good camera into the Sierra before. Hoping for some really good shots. We’ll see.
Today Canon return the 17-55mm lens I sent in for a cleaning and inspecting. A notation on Canon inclosed receipt mentioned they’d found that the adjustment of the lens assembly was incorrect causing the focus to operate improperly from time to time. I had no idea there had been a problem. I’d sent the lens in because I noticed lots of dust inside the lens. I’m thinking I’ll use this lens. I don’t really want to take sensor cleaning equipment so maybe I will only shoot with one lens to eliminate the potential for dust on the sensor do to lens changes.
Passed out two backpacks today to Jen and Melissa. We filled our packs with about 18 pounds. We, Jen, Melissa, Ray and Ann and I are doing a 5 day Whitney Portal backpack starting from Horseshoe Meadow up from Lone Pine. Five weeks to get used to carrying a backpack again. It’s exciting knowing I’ll be introducing the girls to their 1st backpacking adventure.
After a walk around MHCC carrying my backpack in 106 degrees, sitting out with my camera later in the day felt cool.
Birds arrive for their last feeding and water around 7:30pm.
Wonder what this guy is eating.
Peter chimping his shots this morning.
Yum.
Can you tell Lane knew I was shooting him.
The fly is almost as large as the bird.
Needs no caption.
Lane.
Hit the ball. Take a photo. Hit the ball. Take a photo.
Spotter (my husband) is always on the look out too.
An overcast mid-day quick shot while playing golf. Post processing - OnOne perfect preset vol 1, Wow-a_WB_Daylight.
