Yesterday between time with Mom, church and more time with Mom I sneaked out to FBWR.

It had snowed the day before.  The sun was out in full glory and the snow made for some great “bottoms up” lighting.  Of course I connected with my friend the Female Northern Harrier that I have been watching for some time now.  And boy did she perform…..

It doesn’t get any better when she flies low with the light reflecting of the snow.  Wow!

She would fly from a perch atop a man made birds nest over to a particular spot.  Like there was something there.  Then suddenly she would turn back and go back to the perch.  She did this a couple of times.

After the second flight she flew to a tree closer to where she was investigating.  It really cracked me up.  She was in the middle of small twigs.  Tangled up somewhat.  And the branch was swaying back and forth.  It was hilariousness!  In the end she did not make and a catch and flew off to a new perch.

I love my Mom.

As a parent I find myself thinking about about what a lousy child I was.  I live in the present.  And don’t dwell on my mischievous past.  When with Mom though I think about the fact that I could have been a better son.

She is 84 now of which I caused some anguish for some 10 or 12 or more years.  Some of her wrinkles have my name on them.  Though at 84 I think she is beautiful.  Her eyes still have fire in them.  Today when I “told” her I wanted a picture of her she shook her fist at me and said “I am still your Mother I will decide”.  She loves me.  I got the photo.  I sit here with tears in my eyes hoping I can visit her and  hold her for some time still.  A little selfish on my part.  She tells me often (speaking of my father) “jim, I can hardly wait to get that great big man’s arms around me again”.  It will be 10 years next month since Mom hugged Dad.  My Mom is a GRAND LADY.  When she does eventually graduate from earth I will miss her.  Thankfully today she allowed me to capture a moment of her beauty…..

Cody

This little guy loves my mom too. He takes care of her.  Keeps her company.  He loves it when I stop by.  I give the best belly rubs

Resting a lot today.

And have a new tool.

I have been going back and deleting files that are substandard, out of focus or too clutter y (what the heck the “y” keeps falling off when spell checked).  It’s been real fun.  Haven’t had this much fun with no stress or tasks attached for a long time.  With the new Cintiq I tried a technique that I have always liked.  I will filter a color photo through Silver Efex Pro2 then back out some of the color.  With the Cintiq I can be exact.  The final in print form is nice.

In the past the Wacom tablet performed well but not this exact.  I zoomed in 200% and finished the edge all around the Egret.

At some point I will be in trouble for spending a good 4-5 hours in the Man Cave playing with pic’s.  It really has been wonderful!!!!!!!!!

I love photographing the Male Northern Harrier!

I am constantly trying to better my photography.

And some accuse me of just having toys.

If I was a professional photographer the so called toys would be tools.  I think of them as tools of the trade.  And amateur trade mind you.  Several weeks ago I bought a Cintiq by Wacom.  I am not a graphic artist.  Barely a photographer.  I have always wanted to purchase this tool.  Digital processing at it’s best and closest.

The photo editing can be done right on the screen.  I put the unit together today.  I am blown away.  To get right in close and see the detail is amazing.  The short cut keys cut processing time.  I had to pull a a most recent file and play a little.  No copying, inserting, masking or the like.  A little sharpening, vignette and dodging.  Viewing on the internet does not do this particular shot justice.  On the Cintiq and on to the print-BEAUTIFUL!

Have you ever noticed that a lot of the wild hunt alone?

Probably more hunt in groups.  But I see regularly predators hunting alone.  There is something to be said about being alone and able to survive.

Herons, Egrets, Kestrals, Hawks, Grizzly Bears, Coyotes all hunt alone.  But not “all” alone.  They all were raised by a pair.  TWO adults.  Instinctively the young learned how to hunt and survive.  Many by watching the example of the “adults”.  Over time they become alone to fend for themselves.  Some find a mate.  But still hunt alone.

As humans we are much the same.  We raise our offspring to hunt alone.  They hopefully will find a mate.  The hunting part is their “gig”.  I have heard and repeated this quote many times “Teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves”.  As a parent we feel very alone at times.  Watching our kids grow.  And learn.  I have a friend at work that often when we cross paths at work we end up talking about our kids.  The good and the bad.  It’s Ok.  I have never met her’s and she has never met mine.   We have a lot in common.  We are adults. And we have kids.  Adult kids.  Who have learned or are learning to stand or hunt alone.  The hard part for us as parents…… watching……. and letting them be themselves.  Of which we created and taught.

Only had about an hour after spending time with Mom today.

Probably the most productive shooting in the last while.  Captured a female Norther Harrier devouring a duck, another White Faced Ibis (still here?), and a perched American Kestral.  All but the duck dinner filtered through Topaz’s “Buzsim” filter and subject erased back.  The duck plucking by the Harrier had to be done in video.  No critics please……

Hawk Eat Duck

What a nervous nelly.  But man can she pluck a bird.  I watched as she ate most the bird in 5 minutes or less.  I thought she was was pretty well camouflaged….

Soon a crowd was gathering.  The big lens I use usually draws a crowd.  And as usual one admirer got out of her car to get closer with her point and shoot and off the Harrier flew……

Add to photographic surprise a White Faced Ibis flew right across i front of me right where the Harrior had been.  I am blown away by two things.  One that they are still here this winter.  Have only seen one.  And two how beautiful Ibis are.  Unbelievable!

As I was leaving my always present American Kestal.  Took this one as more of an “arsty fartsy” shot…..

All in all a very short visit at FBWR.  Didn’t even make it to the back gate.  It was fun!

Out at FBWR again today.

Yes it’s Saturday but I had to drive north to measure a store.  Flying out Monday and won’t have time next week.  Driving north almost always means a stop to visit my winter flying critter friends.

Today it was Mallards and a Northern Pintail.  Beautiful birds.  Extremely colorful.  I guess prized by the guys carrying the shot guns.  The ducks do not look tasty to me.  In fact long ago I tasted duck.  Yuck!  Never again.  Besides I am getting into the watch, photograph and enjoy the ducks alive and moving rather than on the grill.

I was moved again to push the post process a wee bit.  All the shots were ran thru the Topaz filter then erased back about 37% just on the ducks…..

This Northern Pintail has a broken or damaged leg.  Hope he makes it.  I really think these guys are beautiful.

After I sat there a while they got a little used to me and took a nap.

Incoming!

Not too often do I get to photograph a bird flying right at me.   But when I do I dig it!

All shots with Nikon D3s, 600mm lens and 1.7x converter.

The Egret is an incredibly beautiful bird.

And graceful.

I have been following Moose Peterson’s web site (daily) for years.  He spent time in Florida recently and has been posting with shots from the area.  He is a master photographer.  An individual that is always looking forward.  Knows the craft and art of photography as good as anyone.

And he has an opinion.

My Dad always said “Opinions are like noses. Everyone has one”.

 I have sat in Moose’s classes a few times and learned tons from him.  Very direct in his teaching approach.  He comes across as his way or the highway.  But not really.  He will give direct reasons why we should not crop.  Why this or that process is not the best.  In the end he is teaching the best knows how.  His is teaching from professional experience.  And he wants to make his students the very best they can be.  The reality is photography is sort of an art form.  A subject can be photographed almost an infinite number of ways.  Some people crop.  Some don’t.  We all use post production tools in different ways.  So I say listen to Moose.  Learn from him but in the end enjoy your very own style, look or feeling in a photograph.

The following is a great example.  I photographed this Egret in Florida.  He flew across in front of me.  While doing so he dragged his feet (claws?) and put his beak into the water while flying.  Pretty cool shot.  I stopped the action.  The water droplets were flying.  The wings in a strange contortion.  I liked the shot.  But it felt like it was missing something.  Going back to Moose Peterson…he is a purest when it comes to wildlife photography.  In a lot of ways so am I.  But there are times when I just want to push the creativity in post.  Probably not my most graceful day but this Egrets……..Oh Yea!

And yes I did get crazy in post.  Used a Topaz filter to mimic an oil painting.  Closest I will EVER get.

My travels took me to the Reno, Nevada area today.

Spent the day in the rental car and walking a few projects.  And taking a couple of photo’s.

When I travel I carry one bag full of gear.  Two camera bodies and 6-8 lenses ranging from a fish eye up to a 70-200.  No long lenses.  I especially don’t bring long lenses on days like today when I know that during daylight hours I will pushing to get things done.  But my eyes are always wandering.  In Minden, Nevada is this old station.   It was cool that the dispensers are right up to the edge of the road.  Things have changed a little. I wish I could have found the owner to thank him for saving the old classic station.

Genoa, Nevada is the first settlement in Nevada.  This small quiet town sits at the base of the mountains west of the Carson, Minden Valley.   I took the back route back to Reno through Genoa today.  When passing through town this time of year I can count on seeing the Deer family.  Every trip through Genoa has provided me with a little camera time with this particular buck.  Last year I photographed him within one block of where I saw him today.  Not the best shot.  But hey its big game…..haven’t pointed the camera at one for a while.

While I was blazing across highway 50 I couldn’t help noticing that the hawk population was out in force.  As usual they where near the roads edge and not practical to stop and photograph.  Amazingly while at a quick stop to get some string cheese and water a hawk landed in an old dead tree next to the property.  A couple of quick jumps to the car and I was back to capture the hawk with pixels.  Five or six frames later he was gone.  Had to push the cropping a little to hide some unwanted human fixtures……