For the Birds

Watering the dogs I noticed the birds are loving the cherries just as much as we are. So, a couple of the little thieves. :-) May as well I guess. We didn't pick hardly any this year, left them for the birds.

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Swallow at Home

I got this little guy peeking out of her home. I'm sure she didn't like me poking around with my camera.

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Bee

Hone bee attached to a flower bud. It took a lot of shutter presses to get this one from my new camera, Pentax Q. Taken with the regular lens and +4 close-up filter, I think it came out quite well. Still learning the finer points of this camera, but it is quite small and fun to use. I have more images coming.....

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Return of the Swallows

It must be spring as they have returned to nest. Great bug catchers!

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Lammy

Lamb? Lame? Perhaps. I was following an eagle and this guy was curious so I grabbed a shot of him. A waste of pixels? Naw. :-)

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Egret #2

Another version of the egret of a week ago. Not the best image quality but I like the pose and reflection he is giving me.

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Heron on the Surf

I forgot about this image and found it while looking for something else. This Blue Heron was searching for lunch during low tide at Seal Rocks on the Oregon coast. I was really surprised how long he stayed around and posed and the first time I had seen a heron searching for food in salt water. Guess I should not have been surprised as it all eats! :-)

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Ankeny Refuge Geese

Thousands of geese, hundreds of ducks, 6 swans. 5 egrets, 3 hawks 1 blue heron and an eagle. I didn't get photos of them all and of the ones that I did get many are not usable. I need a LOT more practice with my new lens and tripod lens mount. It is a great setup but we cannot expect miracles on the first real outing! :-)

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Help Me!

This was an easy one to capture because he couldn't get out! I heard the buzzing of wings and had a look, took a photo. I'm sure he made it out okay though......

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A Crow's Sunset

I waited patiently for the sun to get just right while not spooking the bird. It worked! Slightly cropped, nothing more.

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All-a-Chatter

I'm not sure if we were being scolded for being too close or not feeding him. Wither way, we had a good talking to. It is funny to listen to these guys chatter.

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A Dog's Life

Here is Mocha, taking her usual morning place on a couch. (Couches are old and we keep blankets on them for the dogs.) I couldn't help but think what a luxurious Dog's Life she has, hanging on the couch in her retirement years. That's Roc in front on the left. Not too much of a couch dog. Prefers the floor and has the elbows to prove it. The vet said he needs a bed to sleep on because of his elbows. He has one, as well as 2 couches. Won't use them.

The image is a 5 image HDR to bring in a little detain from the window and from Mocha's side. She is a dark chocolate color and would have been rendered black in this image. Not *too* HDR-ish I hope! Also made it monochrome to look a little more old-timey. I like it.

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Begger

We were followed around by a female mallard (or two) who was looking for handouts. As long as she let me take pictures, I obliged with bread crumbs. I know it is not the best for her, they are such pretty ducks and I cannot deny her for a picture.

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For the Birds

Let's see, ISO3400, hand held, 400mm and cropped. Rough? Yes indeed they are! But I have been trying to get these yellow finches in my yard for a couple years and found out this past winter I have been feeding the wrong thing. Here it is the first nice day of the spring and the finches are here already! (Sunflower and thistle seed.) Yes, I'm excited and you should expect me to get closer and mych better at captcuring these guys on my sensor.

Oh, the swallow? I thought it was cool.....until I realize the new construction across the highway has ruined *my* favorite perch of getting shots of this bird house.

As always, click on an image to make it larger. Thanks!!

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Seal Rock, Oregon

And here are the seals to prove it! I have never been down to this beach before, it is quite a little climb down some jagged rocks. But William and I did it and it was well worth it. These 3 guys were sunning themselves fairly close for all to see. (And there were 30 or so of us watching. Silly humans!) The gull is sharpened, levels adjusted and therefore not SOOC but I love this shot!

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Looking

Fluttering about looking for food.....in the feeder I have for them.

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Sandpipers Marching

I followed these guys for a while this New Year morning. Very interesting to see their feeding patterns, back and forth, following each wave for what the ocean brings.

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Only a Test

I was playing the other day, with Teddy here, by a window. I grabbed my flash and wanted to duplicate window light. So the question to you is this: Which is natural window light and which is flash? 1000 points to who ever gets it correct with solid reasoning behind their guess. (1000 points? You bet! Not good for anything, but hey, you got 'em!) :-) Click for a larger version, as usual and next/prev to compare.

Did you guess? The answer is on the next page, after the break........
(Having problems with the "Page Break" feature. Sometimes works, sometimes not. Dunno.)

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Caterpillar on my Flower

I wanted to photograph this flower with a little grass in the background to had it sitting ready to go. We found a caterpillar outside and I decided I need his photo too! So, I combined them! He was very photogenic and patient with me before I set him free. I added one more photo: The set up. I like to see other people's setup and I thought I would throw mine in, mess and all. There is no magic: macro lens on DSLR, tripod, remote release & 2 flash units with triggers. I'm constantly amazed how images look when I know what it looked like behind the scenes, like this one. :-) The maroon background is from a jewelry box ready to go on craigslist and the black/gray background is the back of an etch-a-sketch.

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The Cone of Shame

If you don't know what the "cone of shame" is, you are not UP on your Disney/Pixar movie trivia!

Poor Roc a 11 days after his ear surgery to get out a bad infection. He is better and you can see the bandage glue on his head but the stitches that are supposed to fall out in 10 days are still there and his skin was WAY irritated by the bandages. He has lost a lot of hair where his skin was raw from the over tight bandages the vet put on. She is generally a good vet but I am displeased with her work this time. Any way, well on the way to recovery!

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