more from Eastern South Dakota & Western Minnesota

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Horned Lark

   

   

   

   

Red-tailed Hawk

   

   

   

   

(more to follow)

1 week in Eastern South Dakota & Western Minnesota

Earlier this month I spent a week at Blue Cloud Abbey near Marvin, SD and environs. I will be posting bird, nature, and other pictures on this blog;  photos pertaining to the Abbey will be posted on my Voice blog.

   

   

Ever have one of "those" days?

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

female Yellow-shafted Flicker (Northern Flicker)

   

   

   

   

Wilson's Snipe

food for thought

photography vs. reality

upgraded Nikon 200-400mm lens

My Nikon user friends may read about it here. Expect the price to be in excess of $6,000 -- and what I've read about the current model, it is well worth it.

the photographer's laptop

here

Great Blue Heron rookery -- part IV

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

    

   

   

   

This concludes our Great Blue Heron rookery series.

Great Blue Heron rookery -- part III

What's with the sticks?

They are part of the mating ritual combined with nest building. The male is attracting the female with the splendid branches he brings and hopes the female will accept. Below are some examples.

   

   

   

   

Will she take it?

  

She's reaching for it . . .

  

She TOOK it!

   

And it's put into place. Success! He: "I had better fluff up my feathers now!"

   

   

   

Here's another pair.

Another completed pass!

   

   

   

   

And a third pair . . .

He: "Now THIS is a splendid branch for your nest, my dear! Don't you like it?"

   

He: "Here, let me put it in place for you."

   

She: "GIVE it to me! You're not doing it right!"

(final installment will follow)

a few hummingbirds have made it to Minnesota

see the map here

heart & mind

Look and think before opening the shutter.

The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.

-- Yousuf Karsh

Great Blue Heron rookery -- part II

Lots of flying going on!

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

What's with the sticks in the bills?

Answer in our next post.

Great Blue Heron rookery -- part I

About three weeks ago my friend Gregg & I visited the rookery at North Mississippi Park located on an island in the River just South of I-694 and East of I-94. The trees were budding so the nests were much more visible than now. The island is some distance from the West shore; bring along your longest lens and any teleconverters you may have. The wide angle photos were taken with my iPhone, the rest with Canon's f/5.6 400mm lens and either 1.4x or 2x teleconverters. Obviously, a tripod is essential except for the flight photos when the Herons may be closer to the Park.

     

   

   

   

   

   

Gregg on the left and Ivars on the right.

   

   

   

    

    

    

    

    

   

   

   

(next, flight photos)

photographing people

It is one thing to photograph people. It is another to make others care about them by revealing the core of their humanness.

-- Paul Strand

photos from another perspective

I was in South Dakota last week, specifically Blue Cloud Abbey, and came close to filling two 8 gigabyte flash cards -- now to find the time to edit all the photos. Meanwhile, take a look at the ingenious way of getting nature shots from a different point of view here.

Want your photo published in the NY Times?

Here's how!

photo vs. painting

It's really not a competition. Each has its strengths in representing the artist's vision. Take a look at the comparison on my Voice blog and let me know what you think.

still more from Springbrook

  

  

  

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

more from Springbrook

    

They look almost good enough to be decoys!   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

hummingbirds

Neat hummingbird high-speed camera video.

How close are the hummingbirds to you? Check here.

photographing warblers

review these tips

Lexar Professional 600X CF card

Do you need one? This may help.

Spring at Springbrook

   

   

   

   

Nesting Time

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

wildlife shooting tips

here

7 things you can do if you really want to become a better photographer

link here

Hint:  Buying gear NOT on the list!

Sculpture at Blue Cloud Abbey

From many of my bird & nature photos over the years, you know I am a frequent visitor to Blue Cloud Abbey. On my last visit, I was pleasantly surprised to find an extensive exhibit of sculptures created by two of the monks, Br. Sebastian Goldade and Br. James Hanson. You will find photos of individual sculptures on my Voice blog.