Spreading his wings…

As a companion post to my previous one, I had the pleasure several days after the de-nesting day to find one of my resident baby birds in a uniquely convenient photographic situation. That is, he was literally sitting in the middle of my big backyard, waiting for his next meal. Of course, I had no choice but to grab my telephoto and observe. As I watched he would crane his neck, looking for mama, cheep, and stretch out his wings as if he wanted so badly to be airborne and take off! No matter how much he stretch, however, the laws of aerodynamics continued to elude him. Eventually mama did show up, provided him with a tasty morsel, and left him again to his gymnastics. It’s been several days hence, now, so I am relatively sure he and his siblings have about got the hang of it, but I treasure those moments this summer when I got to observe their mighty journey from nest to wing. Hope you enjoy…

 

Backyard birding…

 

I’ve written before about the joy of discovery right in your own backyard, and there is no better time to do so than spring. After months of cold weather, it seems both man and beast are equally delighted to be outside. Here are a few of my feathered friends who visited my little corner of the world this week. Hope you enjoy…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Decisions, decisions…

 

Today is decision day for the United States, so I guess it seemed an apt metaphor for my post this morning. By the time we all go to bed tonight, we’ll have the outcome  to what seems the longest running campaign in history, and most people I talk to simply say they’ll be happy when it’s over, already! So, speaking of decisions, my image today is another one I captured on the Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk a couple of weeks ago, and I am actually very pleased with the end result, based upon a lot of decisions I made on how to develop it.

This was a situation where I definitely previsualized a dramatic black and white image from what I saw as strong graphic lines with this bird in silhouette.  As I moved the image in various phases of post processing, I got closer and closer to something that felt dramatic and striking. I could have gone with an absolute white/black graphic design, but instead, the deep silvery gray lent a moodiness to the work that just seemed “right.” All these post-processing decisions are part of what makes a photographer’s work unique and a statement of art–which is why, as a form of expression, it never gets old to me.  This image started out as  a simple bird on a ledge, but ended up as something much more. Hope you enjoy…

Remember the human element…

 

Travel photography generally consists of gorgeous photos of faraway places that instantly transport the viewer to a locale that is generally more exotic/warm/inviting/peaceful (you fill in the blank) than the mundane place he/she is viewing from. It’s a wonderful way to experience the world through the magic and artistry of a talented  travel photographer. I subscribe to several photoblogs that concentrate on travel photography just for that reason, and have often thought that if I could walk away from my day to day encumbrances, the life of a travel photographer would be one of the most rewarding of all. However, in the real world, (where I have another full time job) I am actually lucky enough to have been able to travel with my family to see many new places, and, when I do, I live the life of a “travel photographer” to the fullest.

One thing that is important to me, when I travel and shoot, is to capture the small essences that truly make a place memorable and unique. The day-to-day living, the people, signs, businesses, language and culture.  That is to say, the human element. The photograph above is a great example of this. To me, it says: Paris. Why? Because it was taken outside the Notre Dame, where thousands of sparrows are known to gather and flock on a regular basis. The sparrows were so charming… nearly as captivating as the majestic cathedral itself, just steps away. The next couple of shots were taken at the same time–the little girl was unknown to me, but her sweet way of reaching out to the sparrows was the perfect characterization of my memory of the Notre Dame garden. Among other things, those sparrows are one special memory of Notre Dame–one I enjoy sharing, through my photography, to others as well. Hope you enjoy…

An outstretched hand…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then there were three…

These baby robins have  come a long way in a week… Stay tuned for more updates from the nest-cam! Hope you enjoy…

Signs of spring…

 

I know it’s practically summer already, but this image of a newly hatched baby Robin certainly screams “springtime.” Of course, Baby is probably screaming something more along the lines of “Breakfast!” I was lucky enough to have mama Robin build this nest and lay her three eggs right near a corner of my house. Lucky me–a short stepladder was all that was needed to provide me a surreptitious peek into the first hours of life of this tiny chick. I will attempt to sneak back over the next few days, and see how the little family is doing. Hopefully we’ll have siblings, soon! And more than ever, this shot proves that you don’t have to travel the world over to find engaging and rewarding photographic images. Sometimes you just have to open your eyes, and be open to what is in front of you. In fact, with all the technology, gear, and high-tech equipment we sometimes feel we need as photographers, I have to say thanks, Mother Nature,  for giving me the perfect photographer’s gift! Hope you enjoy…

Sittin’ on the dock of the Bay…

Tourists may come and go here at San Francisco’s Pier 39, but to the area’s indigenous residents, it’s just another day on the Bay. I caught this guy eyeing the nearby minnows during a mid-day visit to the popular pier last summer. I particularly liked capturing the geometric patterns of the boardwalks, as they jutted in and out of the frame. More images from this fabulously rich area to come, as I am months behind on working on my San Francisco portfolio! So many photos, so little time! Hope you enjoy…

 

Winter buffer…

While it’s been a mild winter season for many residents here in the U.S., there is indeed a chill is in the air this morning. This little bird has the right idea–creating a natural barrier of warm air and down, against the outdoor elements. My favorite feature of this shot from last winter? The tiny sprinkles of snow that dot the frame, giving a true feel for the cold in the air that morning. Hope you enjoy…

Soaring….

Soaring… this image capsulizes a perfect afternoon spent yesterday, enjoying the serene countryside near Franklin, TN. The autumn hues could not have been more beautiful–golds, reds, and flaming oranges, all contrasting beautifully against a perfect azur sky. This magnificent hawk, swooping, gliding, dipping and turning, seemed to be equally entranced with his environs. It was a lucky break that I managed to capture this shot with a 10-24 mm wide angle lens (I was composing landscapes at the time) rather than a more suitable telephoto–a pleasant surprise when I viewed in onscreen last night. Even the trails of sun flare, which I normally avoid at all costs, seem to add the perfect component to this photograph. There are but precious few of these perfect autumn days each year, which is why, I suppose they are to be savored to the fullest. For me, this hawk sort of sums up how they make me feel. Hope you enjoy…

f/9, 1/250th sec, ISO 100, 24 mm

Delicate as a flower…

A friend who recently wanted to decorate a room with some bird images got me interested in pursuing this challenging aspect of wildlife photography. Not challenging because it is inherently dangerous, or required exotic world travel and expense–rather just challenging because it is harder than it seems to capture birds really well… that is, in-focus, with narrow depth of field and frankly, doing something interesting. I purchased a couple of feeders recently to help engage my subjects in a location where I could easily observe their behaviors and study how best to get in close and capture them. Funny enough, I have enjoyed watching them as much if not more outside the lens as through it… really studying all the different varieties, and their interactions has been fascinating.

Here is one image I particularly liked from this past week. While he’s not in flight (a hummingbird in flight being one of the holy grails of bird photography), I really liked capturing him during a moment of respite. He seems to be savoring the sweet nectar within before flitting off at 100 mph again from bush to bush. Hopefully, more to come with my birding adventures! Hope you enjoy…

f/5.0, 1/200th, ISO 400, 225 mm