Monday, August 31, 2009

Sunday, August 30, 2009

this morning at my window

   
   
     
  
  
Juvenile Wild Turkey with mom

Saturday, August 29, 2009

histogram

Use the histogram on your DSLR. Here is one reason why.

more from Lake Superior

 Canon Xti  70mm  f/4  1/4000  ISO: 200  
   
   
Canon Xti  200mm  f/6.3  1/4000  ISO: 200
  
  
  
Canon Xti  400mm  f/8  1/500  ISO: 200

Friday, August 28, 2009

remote control for your DSLR

Think of the possibilities for unusual and great photos if you did not have to hold your camera but could operate it with your iPhone or iTouch and even look through the viewfinder (selected models) from some distance. I have been aware of this program for a while, but the newly released version has me excited. Take a look at Moose Peterson's review here and the developers site here.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Wordless Wednesday on Lake Superior

Canon XTi  200mm  f/8  1/800  ISO: 200

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

the fear of failure

Those of us who enjoy photography are often timid when it comes to taking pictures. What are we afraid of? Is it failure? You may want to read this commentary by Scott Bourne.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Lake Superior

Photo by Anna  Canon XTi  70mm  f/4  1/400  ISO: 200
Earlier this month we spent a few days at Bob's Cabins on Lake Superior (4 mi. south of Two Harbors, MN). It has been a family tradition for us to take the grandkids there. Even though Anna is a teenager and there are no amenities at Bob's, they still enjoy throwing rocks in the Lake.
  
  
Canon XTi  70mm  f/2.8  1/3200  ISO: 100  
There always seem to be some kayakers staying at Bob's Cabins.
  
  
  Canon XTi  200mm  f/2.8  1/4000  ISO: 200
Mergansers maybe? I saw very few birds (not even gulls) at close range during these few days on the Lake.
  
  
Canon XTi  200mm  f/4  1/500  ISO: 100  
  
  
 Canon XTi  70mm  f/2.8  1/4000  ISO: 200
Perhaps one reason for the few birds near the shore. What's the point of these machines?
  
  
Canon XTi  173mm  f/4  1/640  ISO: 200
Even the crow did not appreciate the jet ski.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

the rest from Springbrook

 Canon XTi  300mm  f/4  1/1600  ISO: 200  
  
  
Canon XTi  300mm  f/4  1/4000  ISO: 200  
  
  
Canon 20D  400mm+1.4x  f/8  1/250  ISO: 200  
  
  
Canon 20D  400mm+1.4x  f/8  1/250  ISO: 200    
  
  
Canon 20D  400mm+1.4x  f/8  1/160  ISO: 100 

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Green Herons at Springbrook

Canon 20D  400mm + 1.4x  f/8  1/400  ISO: 400 
  
  
  

Canon 20D  400mm + 1.4x  f/8  1/320  ISO: 400 
  
   


Canon XTi  300mm  f/8  1/320  ISO: 200
  
  
  

Canon 20D  400mm + 1.4x  f/8  1/20  ISO: 200 

Friday, August 21, 2009

Springbrook visit

Canon XTi 300mm f/4 1/200 ISO: 200
I arrived after an overnight rain. Rain drops everywhere!
Canon XTi 300mm f/4 1/60 ISO: 200


Canon 20D 400mm+1.4x f/8 1/30 ISO: 400



Canon XTi 300mm f/4 1/1000 ISO: 200



Canon 20D 400+1.4x f/8 1/320 ISO: 400

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley, MN

During the last two weeks I visited the Springbrook Nature Center several times. I hadn't been there since spring and it was encouraging to see a number of improvements under construction, the most obvious being a boardwalk along the north boundary of the Center. Below are some iPhone photos showing the environment. Bird & flower photos to follow.


f/2.8 1/24 ISO: 70
f/2.8 1/15 ISO: 87

f/2.8 1/30 ISO: 72

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

this one may be more useful for impromptu birding


20x Wide-angle Zoom Lens (28-560mm). We'll have to wait for tests to see what the quality is like. More specifics here.

new Canon PowerShot G11


Not so much for birding, but could be a good carry-around camera for scenics, close-ups, RAW. For more info, click here.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Whooping Cranes

I registered today for another trip with Stan Tekiela. This time to a facility in central Wisconsin where young Whooping Cranes are being trained to fly behind ultra-light aircraft for their migration south to Florida. For details go to p.42 at this link. We depart for the overnight trip on September 12 -- the cost is nominal considering all that is provided.

Monday, August 17, 2009

last morning at Blue Cloud Abbey

On my last morning at the Abbey, having spent a week there, I took a short walk around one of the ponds and came upon this Red-tailed Hawk.
A few moments later it took off. I didn't know why, but should have guessed from the small song bird coming toward us -- see the out-of-focus spot near the center of the photo.
I'm sure most of you have observed this same scene -- a small bird going after a much larger raptor.
Sure enough, a few seconds later it was joined by a second, small attack-bird.
The Red-tail managed to elude and out-distance them. There must be a moral somewhere in this short scenario -- I'll leave it to you to come up with it.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Da Cat


formal portrait


"Yes, I have teeth!"
For another photo click here.

Blue Cloud Abbey's new cat.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Lake Superior at dusk

vacation

I'm off to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a few days with the grandkids. I'll be posting on Twitter & maybe some iPhone shots on this blog -- back by the weekend.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Western Kingbirds

  
  
  
  
  
  

These photos were taken last month near Blue Cloud Abbey.