Merry Christmas
From the critters and I.
Dec 202013
Dec 182013
Squeamish ALERT!!!!
It’s not easy getting close to a Kestral. Especially when they are dining on rodent. I was incredibly lucky to be sitting about 60 feet away from a Kestrel landing site when this mighty hunter stopped by. She had a little morsel and really didn’t seem to care a whole lot about me. I am harmless.
mless.
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I was doing my best to not crack up laughing. She spent the first few minutes de-furing the mouse. Mouse fur was flying everywhere….
It was obvious she was going for the meat. She was enjoying the meal.
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I think she got impatient with the bits and pieces and soon went for the whole enchilada.
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Good to the last foot! I mean drop!
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Then shook off all the drippings.
Here is a short video or her dining.
ENJOY!!!!!
Dec 172013
I know!!!!!!!
I have thousands of photographs of Norther Harriers.
I just can’t help myself. They are a blast to watch. Even more fun to attempt and capture in flight. The Harrier is beautiful when it’s wings and feathers are all spread out in flight. This last week I was blessed to find an amiable suitor to let me follow……
Hunting from the same post she would take off one direction……..
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More than not she missed the kill. She would then fly back to the post. Watch for prey. Then take off the other direction……
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All my practice “panning” paid off this day for sure.
Dec 172013
The last while it’s been real cold. This past week we have had our annual fog and “yuk”! The mornings frost is in the valley. With my Nikon Df on the passenger seat I’m always ready to pull over and capture some winter Black and White!
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Guess who I found sitting on a two rail fence………….
Dec 122013
About 30 years ago my life changed.
God sent Karen and I a little redhead. Man was she a screamer! But oh so beautiful. My first of three kids. Like most families the picture taking starts out real heavy with the first child. Then it declines as more little ones drop in. Doesn’t seem fair to the other siblings. Especially while sitting around the table the youngest asks ” why don’t we have any pictures of me?”
Dang.
In my house the photo passion started with the oldest child and grew more passionate even until this day. In short order I put a studio addition in my home, installed a dark room, and added more and more equipment. Over the years I have always had a Nikon camera. For a few years Hasselblads were added to my camera family. So, for some 30+ years I have owned all kinds of camera gear, lighting and studio gear. Though always an amateur.
Recently Nikon announced the Df Camera.
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Holy cow it looked just like the camera body I started with. The F series camera (FE, FM, Etc.) was my workhorse back then. I had to have this new camera!
A couple of weeks ago the Df landed at my house. Between work, stress, life and rattling in my head I haven’t really had it out to play with. This past couple of weeks it has been really cold in Utah. Tonight at sunset the Df and I went a shootin’. Though I still feel like crap from a cold I was pretty excited. Then the memories flooded back. Back in the day I would drive home from work in the winter hoping to capture a beautiful sunset. Probably all photographers look to sunsets in the beginning of their photography adventure. I sure did. With the Df in hand tonight, sub zero temps, an inversion and a cold I was reliving the old days.
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The manual controls on the camera are perfect! I love this camera. I expect rain, cold, sun or night I will be carrying this gem. If only to re-light some of my early photography visions!
Dec 112013
WInter has come!
And I have been staring at the ceiling and walls. First and hopefully only winter cold. I just had to get and today. Grabbed some gear, bundled up and headed out to my “spot”. It didn’t take long to start tracking an American Kestral. For many years I have captured some fun photo’s of these hyper hunters. This time of year they pretty much will land on several of the same spots and watch for little critters. To day a rock and rebar was a couple of lookout spots.
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In the very cold winter they are a little more tolerant of cars and photographers that stay in their cars. Of course it helps when shooting with a 600mm lens.
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When leaving the island I always look for the BIG guys. Today I was lucky! Had to stop real fast grab my 80-400 lens while driving and shooting. Then this huge buck stopped long enough for me to barely fit him in the photo. Of a dozen shots fired in just over a second this is the only one that got the full rack captured! This guy looks a bit like a fullback. What a huge neck!
Nov 202013
Sunday mornings.
What to do? Often I sneak out and get a little free time and engage in my passion…… photography.
Early this year the company I work for sold to a relative. A cousin, a niece, a very wealthy individual. A Harvard graduate. A very big deal. The company has done extremely well. What is the future? I don’t know. Sunday morning photography get-aways take me away from these type of questions. I worry and see a dramatic change in how employees are treated. Our new CEO is wonderful. A real people person. But does Harvard not have classes in interpersonal skills? Or employee empowerment, recognition and encouragement? Is the bottom line the only subject taught at Harvard?
A bit of complaining it sounds like. Actually I worry. I work at a level where I see moral at it’s lowest. So indeed I need that quiet time watching critters. Critters have no education and survive only by instinct. What a concept…logic, instinct….
This was my first shot as I approached Antelope Island. The refuge is bare of birds at this time so I make the trip to the island. Tons to see there.
I always check the ‘barn” first. The owl house. The Great Horned Owl was there. High up in the structural elements. Beautiful birds!
Then I travel along the east side creeping along while looking in all directions. Buffalo at most ridges and valleys. This time of year I am looking for the deer buck. The island is known to have some huge bucks. In November they are very active as they are in rut.
Honestly I have been out there several weeks and struck out. But this week. Well I can say is WOW! Gives me a boost to be in nature and get back to my realities.
It really doesn’t matter who owns the company. I am grateful to be employed. It’s their dime to lose. I’ll do as I have always done, exceed expectations and deliver the very best.
The deer this day are focused on their mates. They are also very alert to anything with two legs. It is somewhat tricky to capture them in my camera. Had to do a little crawling and sneaking around bushes. All the shots of the deer are with the 600mm and a 1.7 teleconverter. Obviously they were keeping their distance.
Maybe within the next 6 years I will able to wake and not worry about what ROI, IRR or reduction in benefits will pop up. I do know that my camera gear will be close and ready to assist me with a great getaway.
Oct 172013
I’m always a succor for a Cathedral, Chapel or beautiful old building. At Gonzaga University and centrally located is a cathedral. It’s very prominent in the Spokane skyline. One of the unique and detailed items there was the different depictions of Christ’s last few days. Around the building are diorama’s/castings with incredible detail. As usual I spent a few minutes and captured a few of them.
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Oct 162013
Finally!
A chance to spend more than a few minutes looking through my viewfinder. And capturing more than a couple of quick snapshots. It’s been a while.
Post Falls is between Spokane, Washington and Coeur d Alene, Idaho. Last week while driving from Cheney to Coeur d Alene I notice through a sliver of trees some small falls. Turns out they are in a city named after them. The falls as you will see are actually run off from a man made dam.
I climbed to the bottom of the canyon where it appeared the shots could be made. Had fun. Then I had to climb back out. Over rocks and a steep grade. Sweating like a marathoner in the mohave I made it back to the rental car. It never looks as hard until I’m climbing back. A little late had a wonderful dinner with my dear friend Sanford. I’ll bet I’m walking a little funny tomorrow!
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Oct 102013
I have been in Cheney Washington this week! I love this area. One of the first fogs of the year created a beautiful scene in the woods. Just could not drive by. I added a quote to the scene.
