When I went our west a few weeks ago, I promised myself and fellow photographer, Joe Zinn, that I was ready to really get “focused” on landscapes. I even bought a new camera, tripod and some other essentials for serious landscape work. I thought the results were well worth the effort. My thanks to Joe who knew where to go and when to be there. We were really in his big back yard once we headed up through Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho.
Here is a batch of the landscapes we recorded as digital images in late September and early October. Some are on my Facebook site, as well.
You can click on any of the photos to enlarge and sharpen them for better viewing. Advance through the photos by clicking in the upper right portion an image.
Maples and aspens along the highway south of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Colorful cover on the forest floor in Teton National Park, Wyoming.
We photographed a herd of elk in this Rocky Mountain National Park meadow one afternoon and returned the next day to capture the colors by this small creek.
Tree reflections in Jackson Lake, Teton National Park.
With smoke covering the Tetons, we had to find a different way to photograph the barns along Mormon Road in Teton National Park.
Morning light on the sandstone cliffs in Colorado National Monument at Grand Junction.
Pink morning light on a waterfall by the Snake River, Idaho.
Gazebos in a city park, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Curious horse in a pasture along the Snake River, Idaho.
Dr. James Johnson of College Station, Texas composing another of his great landscapes on a hillside by Jackson Lake in Teton National Park.
Smoky sunrise over an old farm stead on Mormon Road in Teton National Park.
Watching the sun set behind the Tetons and Jackson Lake, Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Crescent moon setting on the Tetons at the Oxbow, Teton National Park, Wyoming.
I still have more landscapes from the Rockies for next week’s newsletter, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, I’ve been photographing hawks, caracaras, piping plovers and warblers, so there will be plenty of photography to share in the coming weeks.
Last week, you saw several landscape shots in this newsletter from my recent trip through the Rocky Mountains. This week’s edition is dedicated to wildlife, specifically big game. You may not believe this, but I went almost three weeks without making a bird photo.
In the Tetons of Wyoming, we saw and photographed several bison and moose (you just can’t believe how big a moose is until you get within 30 feet of one like I did). From Wyoming, we drove south to Rocky Mountain National Park where we encountered lots of tourists and elk. All of it was great fun, magnified by our finding the animals in habitat rich with fall colors. Our timing was as good as it gets because the big game animals were in full rut and the colors were peaking with the mating season, September 20 and October 1.
I photographed the moose with a 100-400 mm Canon lens that decided to break just about the time we headed south to work on the elk. Because of it’s Image Stabalization and zoom capabilities, it is a perfect lens for working large animals at fairly close range. Nevertheless, I was pretty successful with the 300 mm and 500 mm lenses.
Remember, you can click on a photo to make it larger and sharper for viewing. Then advance to the next shot by clicking in the upper, right portion of the photo.
Shiras moose bull pausing in the shadows of a big willow tree at the edge of a river bottom.
Cow moose browsing near a rail fence in a forest of cottonwoods, Wyoming.
Large bull moose on the trail of a cow in estrus.
The end of the scent trail for a breeding bull moose.
Even during their mid-day siesta, bull moose never stop checking the air currents for scent of a breedable cow.
Cow moose and fall colors reflected in a river oxbow, Teton National Park.
This bull American Bison was part of a herd which stopped traffic to graze the roadside in Teton National Park.
Bison cow and calf grazing in a smoky haze during September's wildfire outbreak around the Tetons.Large bull elk bugling.
Dominant bull warning other bulls to stay clear of his harem.
During the breeding season, bulls spend much of their time keeping the herd gathered and chasing other bulls.
One of my dream shots...a large bull elk coming right at the camera while bugling. His eyes say it all, "don't come any closer to my cows."
During the rut, big bull elk are always "pushing", even when they pause for a mouthfull of grass.
A family gathered to watch mule deer browsing near their camp in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Next week, I will have more western landscapes for you as this trip to the Rockies winds down. It will make you want to head west for the autumn.
After three weeks in the Rockies shooting mostly landscapes, it is good to be home and catching up on emails, photo edits, and sleep. On September 13, I left home, overnighted at Caprock Canyons State Park in the Texas panhandle and then drove to Monte Vista, Colorado the next day. From there, Joe Zinn and I made our way through Colorado by way of Rocky Mountain National Park and on to the Teton National Park at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
After leading a three day landscape workshop, we headed west into Idaho, then south and back to Estes Park, Colorado for three more days of elk photography before heading home again. I was up at 5:30 AM and in bed about 11:00 PM each day. We camped some and lived the nature photographers’ life listening to bugling elk and coyotes at night and looking for the perfect scene and the big bulls each day. We even shot a little bull…
So, here are some of the captures from that journey. I hope you see a little different take on some of the iconic landscapes. Of course, the persistent smoke from western wildfires helped alter our view of the Tetons, too. The mountains were mostly obscured during each day of our shoot.
Remember, you can click on a photo to make it larger and sharper. Click in the upper right zone of a photo to advance to the next photo.
Eroded edge of the caprock, Caprock Canyons State Park from a rocky ledge at sunrise
Abandoned adobe on the west side of the Sangre de Christo range, Co. at sunset.
Asters blooming in the high sagebrush country near Monte Vista, Colorado.
Tumbleweed and old corral gate in front of the Sangre de Christo range, Monte Vista, Colorado.Shed elk antler below the Rocky Mountains, Colorado.
Autumn ferns and aspens in north Colorado.
Back-lighted fern in aspens, north Colorado
Pink cloud and sandstone canyons at Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa, Colorado.
Sweeping cloud and marsh, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, Monte Vista, Colorado.
I will have many more landscapes and lots of wildlife for the next few newsletters, so keep watching. All the above shots were done with the Canon 5D Mark II, 16-35 mm and 24-104 mm lenses on a Feisol carbon-fiber tripod and Feisol cf ball head. Of course, all shots were done with polarizing filter and, for some, I use a two stop split neutral density filter.
Two weeks ago, I was in the Davis Mountains to conduct a hummingbird photography workshop. The 7th of August was supposed to be the peak of the hummer migration, but the birds didn’t get the memo. It seems the heat and dry weather delayed their movements by about 10 days. Nevertheless, we had a pretty good shoot. Next summer, I plan to do it again, only later in August…around the 20th. Keep an eye on my photo tour schedule next spring to get the details.
For us south Texas folks, the weather was great with highs around 90 degrees (almost 15 degrees cooler than McAllen experienced) and the nights were a pleasant 67 degrees.
Meanwhile, it remains hot in south Texas, but I keep plugging away behind the computer. A few days back, I ventured outdoors to photograph a rare and beautiful reptile called the speckled racer. You will see from the photos below that it may be one of the most beautiful snakes in Texas. Then two mornings ago, I worked a fishing area on the on the Laguna Madre at sunrise before moving a short distance inland to catch some deer activity. Last night I drove out north of Edinburg to photograph a weathered old church.
With all this going on, I’ve been trying out some new equipment (a carbon fiber tripod by Feisol.net and their carbon fiber ball head). Both are sturdy, lightweight and considerably less expensive than that of their highly advertised competitors). A 20 mph breeze was ripping last night as I shot the old church and I was sure it would cause blurs in my slow shutter speed photos. Not so; each photo was razor sharp. If you are looking for a new tripod or ball head, check them out.
Here are some of the August photos for your consideration. Remember, you can click in the upper right portion of any photo to get a larger, sharper view.
The speckled racer occurs along the lower Rio Grande in Sabal palm forests, but it is rarely photographed.
Both racer photo were shot with a 100-400 mm Canon lens and Canon 7D camera.
The turquoise and black speckled racer is well camouflaged in its riparian forest surroundings.
Black-chinned hummingbird feeding at flower in the Davis Mountains, Texas.
These hummingbird photos were shot with the Canon 7D, 500 mm IS lens, carbon fiber tripod, and Wimberley head at 1/250 second, f 22 and ISO 200 with five high speed flashes focused on the background and flower area.
Black-chinned Hummingbird male feeding in a butterfly garden in the Davis Mountains, Texas.
Juvenile Black-chinned Hummingbird feeding at red flowers.
Black-chinned Hummingbird male at rest on yucca leaves, Davis Mountians, Texas.August sunrise in the Davis Mountains, Texas.
Tourists watching the sunrise at Indian Lodge, Davis Mountains State Park, Texas.
Shots above and below were made with a Canon 5D Mark II camera and 24 -105 mm lens, hand held below and supported above.
Slow motion shot of fishermen seining bait fish in the Laguna Madre before sunrise.
Scuffle at feeding time, south Texas.
Sunsets like this are why a lot of Texas sportsmen practice "deer blind theology".
Abandoned church in rural south Texas.
This old church needs a little "light painting" before the walls cave in.
Maybe the ghosts left the lights on.
The light painting shots were done in bulb setting with a Canon 5D Mark II and 15-35 mm lens with cable release, ISO 100, long exposure noise reduction setting, mirror lockup setting, Feisol CT-3371 carbon fiber tripod and Feison CB-50DC carbon fiber ball head.
I hope you enjoyed this eclectic little batch of photo subjects from a August in Texas.
Roadrunners and most of the other wildlife were hanging around the water hole last week when the thermometer hit 102 in the afternoon. At Santa Clara Ranch, Beto Gutierrez and I sat at blind #3 and photographed thirsty wildlife during the last three hours of light on July 20. Many birds still looked good (not too much molting, yet). The roadrunners were nailing grasshoppers and one little Mexican ground-squirrel had a hopper, too.
A good variety of wildlife was drinking, including bobwhite quail, cardinals, cowbirds, hawks, cuckoos, roadrunners, cottontail rabbits, black-throated sparrows, woodpeckers, mockingbirds and painted buntings. I left my flash at home…big mistake. Beto was popping the flash and getting good action (raised wings and takeoffs) from many birds.
It has been so hot, I’ve stayed indoors most of July, but maybe I’ll get myself out to the Laguna Madre for a little kayaking, soon. I might even try finding a whitetail fawn or two later this week. A Brownsville friend, Stephen Sinclair, has been doing quite well at South Padre Island, Sabal Palm Sanctuary and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Steve is serious about nature photography and tries to shoot every day.
Ok, here are a few shots from waterhole #3:
When it's 102, roadrunners pant a lot.
Fat, juicy grasshoppers are almost as good as a cool drink.
A quick focus is required to capture the roadrunner photo once its prey is caught.
Even grasshoppers must go down head first.Omnivorous Mexican Ground-Squirrel gets the grasshopper first.Northern Cardinals still had good plumage.This yellow-billed cuckoo was too nervous to come on in for a drink and too close for a full protrait.I never get tired of seeing painted buntings at the pond.Wary Swainson's Hawk.
When working at blinds with permanent ponds, photographers have to decide whether they will leave everything natural or set up perches for songbirds. We elected to set out a small tripod to hold a fresh tree branch for songbirds. This wary Swainson’s Hawk spotted it and eventually flew off without a drink. I wonder what would have made the best photo, my 10,000th cardinal shot or a nice pose of a bathing hawk???? Consolation: little, the cardinals certainly gave us more action on this day.
For the past three days, I was hiding in a sorghum field at sunrise and trying to capture images of doves on the wing. Smack in the middle of McAllen, a five acre patch of grain was attracting white-winged doves, Eurasian collared-doves, mourning doves, rock doves and whistling ducks. It wasn’t like being in Mexico where thousands of doves would have been swarming, but the action was good and I had lots of fun.
Each shoot was done with the Canon 500 mm IS lens and the Canon 1D Mark III and Canon 7D cameras. Of course, I love the “multi-frames per second” capability of both cameras, but the Mark III, at 10 fps, is hard to beat. Its autofocus is faster than that of the 7D, but either was very capable of delivering what I needed with this type shooting. The tripod stayed in the car. I was photographing passing and landing birds, so everything had be done in the “hand-held” mode. Most of the time, I was seated on a low folding stool with the sun behind me. The lens came up only when birds were closing in. Within minutes after sunrise, the shutter speed was at 1/2500 second with ISO 640. Auto-focusing worked best with all focusing points activated for both cameras because I had clear sky for most backgrounds.
Shooting in the city meant the backgrounds weren’t always great… cars, signs, etc.. I did some cloning on a few photos, but most were clean from the start. Here are some of the shots I liked best:
Click in the upper right corner of a photo to get a sharper, clearer image. You can also advance or see the previous shot from there.
Adult white-winged dove landing.White-winged Dove starting a second pass before landing.Why they are called "white-winged" doves.Dropping in for breakfast.
Black-bellied whistling ducks can land on sorghum heads and feed just like doves.Eurasian Collared-Doves are common in south Texas and share the grain fields with several other dove species.Rock Dove looking for white-wings. They preferred feeding with the other doves.
Many white-wings fed on the heads of grain rather than landing in the rows to feed on the ground.White-wings even use their "thumbs" for braking. I'd never noticed that before.It was difficult to hide well enough to get the wary doves to land within photo range.Adult white-winged dove perched on sorghum seed-head.White-winged dove circling the field.White-winged dove dropping into grain field.
Two weeks since I shot with two clients at the Laguna Seca (Photography) Ranch, part of the historic Laguna Seca Ranch north of Edinburg, Texas. As expected for late May and early June, the weather was hot…. I mean really hot! These photographers wanted very much to capture images of painted buntings and other south Texas birds in good plumage and, they got what they came for. The action was fantastic! We were visited by blue grosbeak, lesser goldfinch, Bullock’s oriole, painted bunting, scissor-tailed flycatcher, great kiskadee, summer tanager, green jay, pyrrhuloxia, northern cardinal, bronzed cowbird and more.
As is often the case with bird photography, it took patience and endurance to get what they came for, but these clients were up for the challenge. Each day, we loaded the cooler with ice, drinks and snacks and dressed as coolly as possible. By sunset, we were panting for some air conditioning and dry clothes, but all those beautiful birds made the sacrifice worth while.
Click on the upper right portion of any photo to move forward or backward with the slide show. The photos will open in a larger, sharper format for improved viewing.
Male Bronzed Cowbird displaying for a female.
Great Kiskadee calling from a perch atop some sedges near our photo blind.
Great Kiskadee landing by the pond.
Northern Cardinal male enjoying a "tail" wind.
Damselflies mating at the photography pond.
When the photography gets slow during mid-morning, I like to put a teleconverter and extension tube on the 500 mm lens and shoot dragonflies/damselflies. If they perch close enough, I prefer the 300 mm lens with 1.4 teleconverter. The above and below shots were taken from a beanbag at near ground level.
Damselflies will perch on almost anything.
Painted buntings were coming to water in a never-ending stream during the warm south Texas afternoons.
Bullock's Oriole female in the background joins a female painted bunting for a cool bath.
Once a bird gets into the pond, others gain confidence and join them.
Bathing birds like this male painted bunting keep a sharp lookout for predators.
Summer tanager female ready to try the water when this painted bunting finishes.
Even on hot days, wild birds approach the water with caution.
Male scissor-tailed flycatcher landing on perch near photo pond.
Wild turkey hen with two poults coming to a ranch pond for water at mid-afternoon.
Male summer tanager splashing in the photo blind pond.
Painted Bunting male catches a spot of sunlight while feeding in a granjeno bush.
These photographs were made with the Canon 7d Camera and 500 mm IS Canon lens mounted on Wimberley head and Gitzo cf tripod. Most were shot with minimum depth of field. Where wings were moving or flight and bathing was involved, I tried to hold for 1/2000 second shutter speed. Most of the action shots were done at ISO 400.
Next week, I will show you a few more shots from the Block Creek Natural Area shoot in late May. I hope to do a workshop there in late April of 2013.
It’s time to catch you up on what happened at Caddo Lake in early May. As most of you know, Texas had a blistering hot spring which certainly affected the bird photography. Early May at Caddo Lake is usually mild and quite enjoyable, but this year it felt like August. The birds responded to the unusually high temperatures by moving on or breeding earlier than usual. Nevertheless, we had a great shoot. Check out the photos below to get a better idea of the great potential this lake has for photographers.
Remember, click on the upper right portion of a photograph to make it larger and sharper for better viewing. You may also advance through the slide show by clicking on the upper right portion of a photo.
Sunrise through the Spanish Moss and Cypress.
Each morning and evening presented many opportunities for landscape photography amid the thousands of bald cypress hung with Spanish moss. This shot was made from the landing of a boat dock just across the road from our cottage.
Water lilies cover hundreds of acres in part of Caddo Lake near the town of Uncertain, Texas.
This photo was done from the boat deck, but I made several lily shots by holding the camera over the side near the water surface while watching the “live view” screen to level the shot. The depth of field and other settings were determined in advance so that all I had to do was get the composition set and trip the shutter. A 45 degree viewfinder would have been nice.
Yellow-throated Warbler extracting a spider from Spanish moss.
Three species of warbler (prothonotary, yell0w-throated and northern parula) nest at Caddo Lake and we got all three during this workshop.
Northern Parula searching for invertebrates hidden in the Spanish moss.
Most of my warbler shots were made with the Canon 7D camera, Canon 500 mm IS lens and 1.4 X teleconverter mounted on a Wimberley head and Gitzo 1348 tripod.
Male prothonotary warbler perched in new bald cypress leaves.
Some photographers elected to pursue some of the more uncommon birds and passed up opportunities to photograph herons and egrets at Caddo Lake. These birds are numerous, but working to get good images of the elegant birds is always fun.
Great egret landing in water lotus at sunrise.Barred Owl preparing for flight from a perfect perch where he was framed in Spanish moss.
Over the years, I’ve been able to get my photographers lined up for some great barred owl shots. This spring, the birds were especially cooperative and everyone had many excellent opportunities to capture images of this splendid predator.
Barred Owl flying past our boat in late evening light.
In late May, I had an opportunity to photograph some ocelots in “controlled” conditions. Working with another photographer, we were able to establish a “set” with south Texas plants that occur in good ocelot habitat.
Ocelot emerging from dense thorn-forest cover.Endangered ocelot crouching behind a log in south Texas thorn-forest habitat.Ocelots are about the size of a bobcat and their markings provide superb camouflage.Ocelots are seldom active in daylight hours.
I would love to tell you this mammal can be photographed in south Texas where 30-80 of them still survive, but that isn’t likely. A few lucky persons have seen them in the wild. So far, the mostly nocturnal felines have refused to pose for photos.
Check out next week’s newsletter when I will take you to a south Texas ranch with two photographers who were amazed at the numbers of painted buntings and other colorful birds just waiting to be photographed.
*** Used photo equipment for sale:
Paul Denman (pdenman@mac.com) has the following used items for sale – Canon 1D Mark III body; Canon 5D Mark II body and battery grip; Canon 70-200 f2.8 lens.
Hal Mayfield (hmayfield@dfw-mail.com) has these used items for sale – Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED film scanne; tiffen step-up rings (72-77, 62-77, 58 – 62, 55 – 62, 52 – 62); tiffen 3X4″ graduated ND filters (#6 and #9); a variety of other filters, holders, filter pouches; a flash modifier, Bogen super clamp; Nikon MC-36 multi-function remote cable. Contact Hal for more details and prices.
The unusually hot spring weather had me worried for a while. Migrating birds seemed to arrive earlier and there were no real “fall outs” along the coast this spring. From east Texas to the panhandle, nesting was earlier than usual. Activity at many of the photo ranches was slower than normal, but things weren’t quiet. I just had to keep plugging away and finding ways to locate the wildlife.
For a change of pace, I skipped shooting at South Padre Island this spring. After heading up to Caddo Lake for the usual workshop during the first week of May, I went to the hill country and shot at the Block Creek Natural Area near Comfort. Before Caddo Lake, I had the opportunity to photograph an ocelot one morning here in south Texas.
In this newsletter, you will see some images of the endangered cat. Then, we’ll view a sampling of wildlife from Block Creek. Next week, the Caddo Lake workshop images will be ready for viewing.
Click in the upper right portion of each photo to make it larger and sharper for viewing. Then advance through the photographs by clicking on “next”
Ocelot at sunrise in south Texas.
These ocelot shots were captured as the sun was rising on the lower Texas coast. Canon 7D camera, Canon 100-400 mm IS lens, hand held, ISO 800, 1/320 second @ f 5.6.
Endangered Ocelot stalking the coastal prairie east of Harlingen, Texas
Ocelots are excellent climbers. This one is in a mesquite.
Ocelot headed for cover as morning sun emerges.
One of our most anticipated photo subjects at the Block Creek Natural Area was the painted bunting. Unfortunately, they arrived early this year and were well into breeding when we arrived last weekend. Fortunately, this bird came to a feeder at least twice each morning. Getting him on a natural perch proved too difficult for us, so we settled for what we could get.
Painted Bunting, male at Block Creek bird feeder.
Summer Tanagers were numerous and we got some stunning images.
Fox Squirrel stretching as it approaches a photo blind in search of food.
Squirrels, cottontails and deer were around the Block Creek Natural Area morning blind each day. And, they were accustomed to the smell of humans and the whirr of cameras. I kept the Canon EOS Mark III camera and the Canon 100-400 mm IS lens handy in case mammals approached.
Spring rains have stimulated rank growth of cover for white-tailed deer at the Block Creek Natural Area.
White-lined Sphinx Moth feeding at thistle bloom in mid-afternoon.
The last time I photographed white-lined sphinx moths was in 2001 when Greg Lasley encountered dozens of them feeding on bee balm west of Eden, Texas. Normally, they aren’t active until just around sundown, but this guy was feeding in mid-afternoon.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker, male in search of food in the cracks of a dead hackberry tree.
Adult Eastern Bluebird approaching nest box to feed young.
Mother Nature (God) favored us with good timing at the Block Creek Natural Area. This pair of eastern bluebirds was just beginning to feed a second brood of the season, so we spent a couple of mornings trying to “shoot” the birds in flight as they arrived at and departed the nest box.
Eastern Bluebird adult leaving nest box after feeding young.
Black-chinned Hummingbird feeding at Salvia blooms.
Our last two afternoons at Block Creek Natural Area were spent photographing hummingbirds with a high-speed flash setup on the back porch of the Bed & Breakfast. The hummers were there by the dozens, so we had some fast and furious shooting.
Up to 5 hummingbirds would gather at one thistle bloom to feed while we photographed them.
Plan to join me the last week of April in 2013 for a week at the Block Creek Natural Area. The accommodations and food are outstanding and you can see the photo subjects aren’t too shabby, either.
I am convinced, as was the apostle Paul when he wrote his letter to the church at Rome, that God’s glory is obvious in what he created. I’ve seen it in the painted bunting and the hummingbird and it is beyond description.
It has been a busy spring with almost no time produce a newsletter. But, at long last, here I am at the computer.
I’ve been leading workshops and giving talks at nature festivals through April. Along the way, I met some great people and I’ve had some great photo opportunities. The unusually cloudy, rainy weather certainly hurt the lesser prairie chicken photo tour, but that was just bad luck. The panhandle is almost always clear in the spring. On the way up, we had clam, sunny days and photographed wildflowers in the Texas hill country. It was a great year for bluebonnets. Along the coast, it looks like we won’t get a songbird migration “fallout” because late season cold fronts just aren’t making it this far south. So, what else is new, eh, the Texas weather always keeps us guessing.
Let me show you a few shots from the various April trips. I’m thinking these will make you want to photograph Texas in the spring. . Just click on the photo to make it larger and sharper. Then, you can advance by clicking at the upper right portion of each photo.
Country church and bluebonnets at sunrise in the Texas hill country.
The image above was shot from just above the bluebonnets at f 22 with the 16-35 mm lens and Canon EOS Mark III camera on a tripod. I tilted the camera sharply downward and used a cable release to trip the shutter.
Bluebonnets and evening primroses surrounding a grove of live oak near Mason, Texas.
The photo above was done at ground level (very tough on the photographer’s neck) just as the sun was setting. Again, I used the super wide angle lens for this shot. All my daylight landscape shots were done with a polarizer attached and rotated enough to distribute the darkening effect on the sky.
Ground fog around a country church at sunrise.
Great Blue Heron landing on thornbrush in the Laguna Madre, Texas.
I captured this Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage just as it touched down on a perch. For most of my bird shots, including this one, I use the Canon 7D and Canon 500 mm lens and try to capture action. I was using the center focusing point in the viewfinder to insure I got the bird in sharp focus. With multi-point focusing screens, focus tends to jump to the background, but it works well for birds with sky background.
Note the shadow on the wing of this Roseate Spoonbill as it lands.
I couldn’t resist showing you this shot with the Roseate Spoonbill’s shadow on his wing. It really helps when you can capture something a little out of the ordinary in your nature shots.
Roseate Spoonbill launching past a Great Egret just after sunrise in the Laguna Madre.
The sweep of the spoonbill’s wings makes this shot exciting to me. Obviously, the Great Egret was NOT impressed.
Lesser Prairie Chicken landing on sagebrush.
Under the dark clouds, I had to do this shot at ISO 1000 to get a shutter speed of 1/400 second. Thanks to Adobe Camera RAW’s great noise reduction slider, I was able to eliminate most of the noise in this one. For the flight shot below, I used ISO 1250 to get a shutter speed of 1/1250 to almost stop the bird’s motion. It’s not tack sharp, but close.
Lesser Prairie Chicken male leaving the lek at mid-morning.
White-tailed Kite approaching the nest with food for its young.
During Galveston’s FeatherFest, I spent every day leading talks and photo tours. Most of the time, I never got my camera out of the bag, but on the last morning I was lucky enough to do some shooting with the group. We all got some nice flight shots of White-tailed Kites. Of course, we were successful because we remembered to add 1.5 f stops of light to what the camera’s meter was telling us. * When shooting into blue skies, add light.
Poison Ivy growing beside the walking trail at a nature park on Galveston Island.
Since we weren’t lucky enough to catch some migrating songbirds on this morning, I shot plants along the nature trail on Galveston Island. This is one of the reasons we don’t bother the plants along the edges of hiking trails.
Bull Snake in verbina on the Hoak Ranch near Ozona, Texas.
For the last two springs, I’ve led a photography workshop at the Hoak Ranch near Ozona, Texas. It was tons of fun…we concentrated on light painting and star trails. There were lots of nice cacti in bloom and a few reptiles that added to the interest of this west Texas setting. The bull snake above was photographed with the 16-35 mm wide angle lens at a distance of about 6 inches. The tongue makes the shot. Again, the photographer has to be willing to go prone for shots like this. It’s tough on the neck but the results are much nicer than shots done from above.
Pitaya (Christmas) Cactus on a ledge at the western rim of the Texas hill country.
I used the vignetting tool in ACR to help focus the viewers’ attention on the Pitaya Cactus growing from a ledge on the Hoak Ranch.
Light painting the ruins of barracks at historic Fort Lancaster west of Ozona near Interstate 20.
The shot above was a test shot for the star trail photograph that was to follow. * Just for fun, you should try helping 8 photographers set up, after dark, for a star trail shot. In spite of the high stress it placed on the workshop leader, the one hour exposure below is what everyone got. I’ve never seen a happier group than ours when they finally got a chance to see a real star trail captured in their own cameras.
Star trails around the adobe walls at historic Fort Lancaster, Texas.
I hope you like this little collection of photos from a very busy spring in Texas. If you have time for a last minute trip, join me next week on Wednesday – Friday morning at Caddo Lake, Texas for two and half day of great bird and landscape photography. There have been two cancellations in the last week which opened these slots. Just drop me an email and I’ll get the details to you immediately. This is your chance to get the yellow-throated warbler, prothonotary warbler, norther parula warbler, summer tanager, and a bunch more.
Finally, there are still two places left for the Block Creek Natural Area workshop on Friday-Sunday, May 11-13. We will be photographing painted buntings, vermilion flycatchers and more on that one. Check this web site for other details and contact me at lditto@larryditto.com if you are interested. We will enjoy very nice accommodations and food on that Texas hill country shoot!
