2015-08-31: Monochrome Monday
2015-08-30: What I’ve seen this week
For some time, I have been wanting to have more structure to my blog posts, a schedule to keep me from posting three things in one day, then nothing for a week. This weekend, I think I have come up with a workable plan. So before I get on with the photos for today, I’ll fill you in on what to expect in the coming days and weeks.
Since I have moved, I have been a bit lazy getting out with my camera, concentrating instead on editing the mass of photos I brought back from my last trip. I’ve really been missing being out with my camera, so I am going to start a weekly Sunday post titled What I’ve seen this week. Hopefully with this I can get back to wandering around with the dog and my camera, getting pictures of the local birds (and hopefully some deer or a moose too!).
Some of the fabulous bloggers I follow regularly post Monochrome Monday and Wordless Wednesday posts, and I am going to add those two as regular items, as I always enjoy seeing what others come up with.
Tuesday and Thursday I will dedicate to creating posts for the photo challenge that interest me from that week.
Friday and Saturday I am going to leave free to post whatever I have felt like shooting or editing that week.
Please feel free to leave a comment as this progresses and let me know if the new, more structured format works.
Since I am doing some housekeeping, this is a perfect time to mention that I have signed on with Fine Art America. I still have my Smugmug account, and over the coming months, will determine if I will focus on one, or keep both. Links to the two sites are below. Any of the photos the I post here, that I have added to the sales site, will have a direct link included below the photo. As always, if there is something you are interested that I have not yet added, please let me know and I will make that happen.
And with that, no one to the first instalment of What I’ve seen this week.
Wednesday was supposed to be a very strong evening for the aurora, but the near full moon made it very difficult to see much of anything. I did manage to catch a couple photos though.
10 sec, f3.5, ISO 320
This morning I took my camera out while walking with Spencer, and as we were heading home, heard some vigorous chirping and turned back to see if I could see who was making all the noise. It turned out to be two juvenile and one adult hairy woodpecker. The sky was very dull and the light was really not in my favour, but it’s another new bird species for me.
That’s all for this evening. I hope everyone has had a great weekend.
CEE’S FUN FOTO CHALLENGE: HABITS
My post for Cee’s fun photo challenge topic of habits came to me while out walking with Spencer a couple mornings ago, when I started noticing the litter on the side of the road. Luckily there isn’t too much, but I thought that not only is litter itself a habit (a bad one!) but the things people chose to litter says a lot about their habits as well.
Smoking:
Drinking soft drinks and energy drinks:
Take out coffee:
Chewing gum:
Drinking bottled water:
Drinking alcohol:
The Sani Pass
Seeing photos of the Sani Pass between South Africa and Lesotho absolutely do not do it justice. The area is absolutely beautiful, and the pass itself a narrow, unpaved road with sharp switchbacks and steep ascents and descents. From the South African side, you can only proceed forward in a 4×4, but I don’t think the same rules apply from the Lesotho side!
Here are a few photos from my day trip this past April, and a few link if anyone is interested in seeing a dash cam video.
Red Crossbill
We had a new bird in the yard yesterday, and after some searching, I believe it is a red crossbill (female). I wish the photos were a bit sharper, but I got these with my zoom fully extended from some distance away; I was more concerned with identification than having a perfectly sharp photo. The crossbill is a year round resident of my area, so hopefully I will get more opportunities in the future.
1/1000sec, f6.3, ISO 800
Half Moon
I had hoped perhaps to see some northern lights last night as the predictions were for a good show, but that didn’t pan out. The moon however was amazing when I went outside at 10, so I went back and grabbed my 150mm-600mm to try to get a few photos. I’m sure if I had put it on the tripod, it would be a bit sharper, but all in all, happy with the result.
A bright moon above Prince George.
1/1000sec, f6.3, ISO 1000, 600mm handheld
Tamron 150mm – 600mm on the Nikon D5100 (effective 900mm)
Weekly Challenge: Today Was a Good Day
The first thing I thought of when I saw this weeks photo challenge was seeing all of the big five in a single game drive.
It was our first game drive leaving from Chitwa Chitwa, and the first of the big five we came across were the elephants. We ended up in fairly dense bush amongst a large herd, and I know some of the other people in the vehicle were a little nervous of the proximity! At some points, we were completely surrounded by them (I was thrilled!!!)
1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 1000, at 98mm.
The second we came across was the leopard. She was only steps away after we started moving away from the elephants. We followed her through the trees as well, and spent some time with her as she rested atop a termite mound.
1/400sec, f8.0, ISO 5600
We stopped for a sundowner drink and spotted a group of 3 rhino in a mud wallow off in the distance. The light was fading, and the viewing was certainly better without the camera.
1/100sec, f4.8, ISO 6400
Just as we were getting back into the vehicle after our drinks and snacks, Surprise our ranger pointed out a couple buffalo crossing the road off in the distance. The photo is awful, I knew it would be when I snapped it, but I thought I should take it as evidence of seeing 4 of the big 5 in a single drive.
As we were heading back to camp for dinner, we followed the tracks of some lions, and came upon them resting quite close to the camp. And with that, it was the big 5 all within the space of 3.5 hours! An absolutely amazing time.
1/160sec, f6.3, ISO 6400
Of course, most people know by now that I am thrilled to view anything when on a game drive, from the smallest bird to the tallest giraffe and everything in between. Here are a few other interesting sights from that drive.
1/200sec, f5.6, ISO 1100
Have a great day everyone!
Saddle-billed Stork
I just came across this photo of a saddle-billed stork, which I think is a stunning bird. I feel a bit mean now calling one of it’s relatives creepy (see this post if you missed it Photo Challenge: Creepy
1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 280
CEE’S WHICH WAY CHALLENGE 2015 WEEK #33
Everyone should have figured out by now – I absolutely love photographing African animals!
For the which way challenge this week, a selection of animals blocking the way.
Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015.
1/160sec, f8.0, ISO 4500
Phinda Private Game, May 2015
1/250sec, f7.1, ISO 1000
Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 640
Travel Theme: Mellow
I did a quick scan through my last batch of travel photos to find a few mellow shots to share.
I hope you enjoy!
