Landscape – Page 26 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

This week has brought some really variable weather, and with that, some dramatic skies. Birds have provided some frustration this week. My elusive local northern flicker made an appearance today, but at such a distance the photo isn’t even worth posting. I saw a new bird this week as well, of course the time I left my camera at home 🙁 I managed a snap with my cell (absolutely not worth posting!) but through the blur, I think I can identify it as a northern shrike, which are winter residents of my area. I also could be 100% wrong on that; I’ve not been lucky enough to see it again and get some decent photos to do a proper ID. I don’t have any great photos to share, but it has been lovely now that most of the leaf cover is gone to watch the chickadees flittering about. They are such sweet birds and really make me smile (I also enjoy calling to them “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” while out walking and having a bit of a conversation… I guess that’s a slight admission of being crazy!

I had one other interesting sighting yesterday; you’ll have to scroll to the end to see. The pictures aren’t the best, but I was walking two little dogs at the time (I’m currently looking after my brother’s mini schnauzer Dylan) and didn’t want to risk wandering any closer; we were already under some rather intense scrutiny.

I hope you enjoy, have a lovely day, and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians.

Evergreens silhouetted against a colourful morning sky.

Such beautiful, saturated colours this week.

An awkward shot, as I was aiming above a roof, but the light on the trees was too amazing not to try to capture something.

Stunning skies this week almost every morning.

We spotted a coyote at the end of the road yesterday morning.

The big, bushiest tail I've seen. — The big, bushiest tail I’ve seen.

October 4, 2015

2015-10-04: What I’ve seen this week

I’m going to start with the most recent pictures and work my way backwards. Yesterday, I started the day reading a post on Facebook by Cheryl Richardson that said “Stop trying to make sanity out of an insane situation. If your schedule is crazy busy, you don’t need time management, you need space.” Lately I have definitely been feeling that is something needed in my life; but looking back at the compositions I made yesterday morning, I guess it was also something I also desired in my photos.

After quite a windy day earlier this week, colourful leaves in my neighbourhood are getting few and far between. 1/320sec, f11, ISO320 — After quite a windy day earlier this week, colourful leaves in my neighbourhood are getting few and far between.
1/320sec, f11, ISO320

A few leaves clinging on. 1.320sec, f11, ISO320 — A few leaves clinging on.
1.320sec, f11, ISO320

Naked branches reaching into the blue. 1/320sec, F11, ISO320 — Naked branches reaching into the blue.
1/320sec, F11, ISO320

Half moon and about a half dozen leaves. 1/320sec, f11, ISO320 — Half moon and about a half dozen leaves.
1/320sec, f11, ISO320

Probably my favourite picture of the bunch; I can't put my finger on why :) This is straight out of camera, I didn't even run sharpening on it. 1/320sec, f11, ISO320 — Probably my favourite picture of the bunch; I can’t put my finger on why 🙂
1/320sec, f11, ISO320

Hot and cold. I think this would have been a lot better with my macro lens, but that isn't the best walking around lens, in case an interesting bird decides to fly by. 1/200sec, f5.0, ISO640 — Hot and cold.
I think this would have been a lot better with my macro lens, but that isn’t the best walking around lens, in case an interesting bird decides to fly by.
1/200sec, f5.0, ISO640

This week has been an interesting adjustment photographically, as I have put away my D610 and my Tamron 150mm-600mm, as both need to go in for some work. My first thought when primarily shooting with my D5100 again was how wonderfully light it is! It also doesn’t have the same warm colour cast when using auto white balance that I have found my D610 has. The downfall for taking it out walking early in the morning is it does not have an auto ISO option in manual mode, so there’s one more thing to remember to do. Hopefully this week I can get all the equipment shipped off (and hopefully get everything back working good as new). Here are the photos I selected from the earlier part of the week.

A young male deer at the top of my road. The light wasn't very favourable, but that just made the photos less than stellar, not the moment. 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO800 — A young male deer at the top of my road. The light wasn’t very favourable, but that just made the photos less than stellar, not the moment.
1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO800

This really isn't a great photo, but it's a bit of a family portrait of the three deer that were grazing. 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 800 — This really isn’t a great photo, but it’s a bit of a family portrait of the three deer that were grazing.
1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 800

I've seen lots of bunnies around my area, but never when I have my camera. This little one was about 10 feet from my driveway, spotted on the way home from our morning walk. He was quite calm and I felt bad startling him when I got too close, but I had to get in and get on with work. 1/640sec, f7.1, ISO2000 — I’ve seen lots of bunnies around my area, but never when I have my camera. This little one was about 10 feet from my driveway, spotted on the way home from our morning walk. He was quite calm and I felt bad startling him when I got too close, but I had to get in and get on with work.
1/640sec, f7.1, ISO2000

I'm glad I managed a picture of this guy (or girl) as the flock was too far away to ID without taking pictures. One of the photos taken before the Tamron got packed away. A juvenile red crossbill. 1/100sec, f7.1, ISO800 — I’m glad I managed a picture of this guy (or girl) as the flock was too far away to ID without taking pictures. One of the photos taken before the Tamron got packed away.
A juvenile red crossbill.
1/100sec, f7.1, ISO800

Cheryl Richarson Quote

September 30, 2015

2015-09-30: Wordless Wednesday

September 14, 2015

2015-09-14: Monochrome Monday

A parade of oryx cross the Sossusvlei desert. Namibia, April 2015. 1/1250sec, f11, ISO 1600 — A parade of oryx cross the Sossusvlei desert.
Namibia, April 2015.
1/1250sec, f11, ISO 1600

September 14, 2015

2015-09-14: What I saw last week

Well, Sunday came and went, and there were just more tasks than hours in the day… so I’m a day later than I had planned for this post. C’est la vie. I’ve had the sad realization this week that there is some pretty significant dust inside one of my lenses, and from research nothing to be done for it, except embrace the clone stamp tool as needed! Thankfully it’s in a spot that can normally be cropped out, and as I’m usually concentrating on wildlife, it’s not that big a deal.

Here are a few photos from my wandering last week. I hope you enjoy!

I love the hint of autumn colours coming in here.

The leaves are turning... and already falling. — The leaves are turning… and already falling.

An early morning self portrait with Spencer. This was my one opportunity to be tall and leggy!

I'm waffling between calling this a red tailed hawk and a northern harrier. I really do have trouble with raptor ID. The light wasn't great and he (or she) didn't stick around long enough to get any better photos. — I’m waffling between calling this a red tailed hawk and a northern harrier. I really do have trouble with raptor ID. The light wasn’t great and he (or she) didn’t stick around long enough to get any better photos.

On our way home from an early evening walk, Spencer stopped for a roll in the grass (one of his favourite things on a sunny day) and positioned himself perfectly for some photos. I couldn't resist an impromptu pet portrait session. — On our way home from an early evening walk, Spencer stopped for a roll in the grass (one of his favourite things to do on a sunny day) and positioned himself perfectly for some photos. I couldn’t resist an impromptu pet portrait session.

September 7, 2015

2015-09-07: Monochrome Monday

Here are a few photos from my wanderings in the past week, that I thought would look interesting converted to monochrome.

Have a great Monday!

A bit of an odd photo, but I like it, so I included it. I just loved the way the frost glistened on the hood of this truck. If I wasn't on my way off to walk with Spencer, I would have gone back for my macro lens and played around; given we are just moving into fall, I guess I'll have lots more opportunities! 1/3200sec, f5.6, ISO 320 — A bit of an odd photo, but I like it, so I included it. I just loved the way the frost glistened on the hood of this truck. If I wasn’t on my way off to walk with Spencer, I would have gone back for my macro lens and played around; given we are just moving into fall, I guess I’ll have lots more opportunities!
1/3200sec, f5.6, ISO 320

A few of the wildflowers have hung on despite the frost, but these ones seemed resigned to summer having passed. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 500 — A few of the wildflowers have hung on despite the frost, but these ones seemed resigned to summer having passed.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 500

Some of the roadside tall grasses, glistening with frost in the early morning sun. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 1250 — Some of the roadside tall grasses, coated with frost and catching the early morning sun.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 1250

September 6, 2015

2015-09-06: What I’ve seen this week

What did I see this week? The start of autumn! We’ve had frost several times now, and while it heats up as soon as the sun comes up, it certainly is chilly on my early morning walks with Spencer. I’ve even had to get out his sweater already. Hopefully there will be some lovely leaves changing colour in the coming weeks.

I had some interesting bird sightings this week, I hope you enjoy.