I can’t believe 2011 is here already. The fall and early winter have flown by, and I didn’t get to do nearly as much photography as I’d hoped. I just spent most of the holidays editing and culling photo files. Still there are thousands of shots to be edited, labeled and optimized. The computer stuff never ends, does it?
In spite of all that computer time last week, I did sneak out one morning to chase white-tailed deer and then I spent an afternoon sitting in a photo blind. Here are a few of those shots.
Remember to click on the photographs to enlarge them for better viewing. Then you can click on to the next and view them at your own speed as a slide show.
Ten pointer following the trail of a doe.
In late December, the big bucks are in constant pursuit of females and have little time to feed or pose for photos. This big guy allowed me to follow until he topped a little ridge and paused in front of the sunrise.
Both of the previous shots were taken with the Canon 1D Mark III and 100-400 mm IS Canon lens, hand held.
It took several tries to capture this green jay landing.
Most of my shots of landing birds look like this. It has good color...
I had to crop the tail of this green jay since I shot this photo close in with about 1,000 mm of telephoto power.
Another close focus on a green jay.
These last two green jay shots were taken with the Canon 7D, 500 mm IS lens and 1.4X teleconverter at close range. I was geared for warblers, but couldn’t resist the green jays.
This verdin came to feed on an orange slice I had placed near a perch. Unfortunately, green jays persisted in chasing it away.
Yellow-rumped warblers fed and bathed near my blind all afternoon.
When I am in a blind photographing birds with the big lens, I always keep a second camera ready with the 100-400 mm lens in case a mammal comes to water. On this day, a thirsty armadillo spent about 5 minutes drinking at the small pond about 15′ in front of me.
That long tongue and snout look like they are made for drinking, but I suspect they are more useful for rooting in leaf litter and grabbing invertebrates.
I always try to remember to mix some vertical shots with the horizontals, even when the shot demands a horizontal.
Santa didn’t bring me the new cameras and lenses I was hoping for, so I’ve decided to try being the first photographer to completely wear out a 500 mm lens. Mine has 11 good years behind it and is still going strong. I’m going to sprinkle a little salt spray on it this coming week. You will hear more about that in the next newsletter.
Happy New Year!
Larry
3 thoughts on “Happy New Year!”
Larry – Happy 2011 ~ Don’t wear out your 500mm. Give it to some needy “young” aspiring photographer to wear out for you! Enjoy the surf – Steve
Happy New Year Larry!
Happy New Year to you too…..love the armadillo shots…they are fantastic…wanted to go out to the ranch today, but the warmth of my home won out….it’s 8:30am and it’s still 36 degrees with a wind chill of 32, so I stayed indoors…..feels like I’m missing so much….cain’t wait to retire so I can spend more time out there….your bucks are fantastic…thanks for sharing your awesome photos….sylvia 🙂
Larry – Happy 2011 ~ Don’t wear out your 500mm. Give it to some needy “young” aspiring photographer to wear out for you! Enjoy the surf – Steve
Happy New Year Larry!
Happy New Year to you too…..love the armadillo shots…they are fantastic…wanted to go out to the ranch today, but the warmth of my home won out….it’s 8:30am and it’s still 36 degrees with a wind chill of 32, so I stayed indoors…..feels like I’m missing so much….cain’t wait to retire so I can spend more time out there….your bucks are fantastic…thanks for sharing your awesome photos….sylvia 🙂