Category: Wildlife

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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

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2015-09-28: Monochrome Monday

You'd think it would be easy to edit a zebra in black and white.. but surprisingly it took me some time before I found the look I was seeing in my minds eye. Grazing in the Sabi Sands, May 2015 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO110
You’d think it would be easy to edit a zebra in black and white.. but surprisingly it took me some time before I found the look I was seeing in my minds eye.
Grazing in the Sabi Sands, May 2015
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO110
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2015-09-27: What I’ve seen this week

I was originally planning to hold off on this post, in the hopes of including some photos of the super blood moon eclipse… but it’s mostly overcast here at 4:45pm, and it seems pretty unlikely that it will clear in time to see anything.  C’est la vie.

This week has seen me finally sort out the annoying camera spots (sensor dirt, so time for a trip to the service centre).  I’ve also started having a somewhat annoying issue with my Tamron 150mm-600mm; it occasionally will register f0 and stop working.  I need to turn the camera off, unmount and remount to get it back to normal.  Sadly it seems like it is a common problem after doing some research; so that might end up taking a trip to a service centre too.

Hardware issues aside, I’ve managed to remember my camera on most of my walks this week, and was prepared to capture what I saw along my walks.  I hope you enjoy!

A black billed magpie flying through the fog. 1/800sec, f6.3, ISO 2000
A black billed magpie flying through the fog.
1/800sec, f6.3, ISO 2000
I like this shot because it shows off the beautiful wing tips. 1/800sec, f6.3, ISO280
I like this shot because it shows off the beautiful wing tips.
1/800sec, f6.3, ISO280
The wire perch was to my advantage, as the fog wasn't as much of an issue. 1/800sec, f6.3, ISO 6400
The wire perch was to my advantage, as the fog wasn’t as much of an issue.
1/800sec, f6.3, ISO 6400
One wildflower clings on, it's neighbour having already given in to the chill of autumn. 1/160sec, f6.3, ISO800
One wildflower clings on, it’s neighbour having already given in to the chill of autumn.
1/160sec, f6.3, ISO800
Earlier this week, a Mom with a fairly large fawn spent some time in the front yard; again I saw them when heading out for our afternoon walk. These ones were far less comfortable with my presence and hopped off deeper into the bushes very quickly. 1/500sec, f6.3, ISO2800
Earlier this week, a Mom with a fairly large fawn spent some time in the front yard; again I saw them when heading out for our afternoon walk. These ones were far less comfortable with my presence and hopped off deeper into the bushes very quickly.
1/500sec, f6.3, ISO2800
A couple days in a row, this ruffled grouse was in the long grasses at the roadside (I couldn't see him at all) and when Spencer and I walked within about 20 feet, he shot off noisily deeper into the bushes. On this occasion, he flew straight towards us and passed within about 5 feet, but it allowed me to track him to his perch in a evergreen tree, and finally get a few better shots. Still not ideal with the low light and the fog, but an improvement nonetheless. 1/640sec, f6.3, ISO 6400
A couple days in a row, this ruffled grouse was in the long grasses at the roadside (I couldn’t see him at all) and when Spencer and I walked within about 20 feet, he shot off noisily deeper into the bushes. On this occasion, he flew straight towards us and passed within about 5 feet, but it allowed me to track him to his perch in a evergreen tree, and finally get a few better shots. Still not ideal with the low light and the fog, but an improvement nonetheless.
1/640sec, f6.3, ISO 6400
Looks at the fluffy legs! 1/640sec, f6.3, ISO4000
Looks at the fluffy legs!
1/640sec, f6.3, ISO4000
Cow-moo-flage. A pair of calves nearly disappear within the tall grass. 1/800sec, f7.1, ISO 6400
Cow-moo-flage.
A pair of calves nearly disappear within the tall grass.
1/800sec, f7.1, ISO 6400
Just as I was leaving to take Spencer for his afternoon walk, I noticed this young deer grazing in my back yard. He spent a few moments watching me watch him, before getting back to eating. 1/1000sec, f8, ISO 2200
Just as I was leaving to take Spencer for his afternoon walk, I noticed this young deer grazing in my back yard. He spent a few moments watching me watch him, before getting back to eating.
1/1000sec, f8, ISO 2200
Nibbling on some select bushes. 1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 1600
Nibbling on some select bushes.
1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 1600
This little chickadee was clinging quite precariously to a branch, almost upsidedown. I like how the autumn leaves create a frame for the bird. 1/800sec, f6.3, ISO1000
This little chickadee was clinging quite precariously to a branch, almost upsidedown. I like how the autumn leaves create a frame for the bird.
1/800sec, f6.3, ISO1000
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2015-09-021: Monochrome Monday

A gorgeous female leopard lounges on a fallen tree. I love the positioning of her head and the curl of her tail. I even like the harsh shadows, as it shows she was out and about long after leopard are usually tucked away for the day to beat the heat. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO 640 Monochrome conversion using Nik Silver Efex Pro
A gorgeous female leopard lounges on a fallen tree. I love the positioning of her head and the curl of her tail. I even like the harsh shadows, as it shows she was out and about long after leopards are usually tucked away for the day to beat the heat.
1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO 640
Monochrome conversion using Nik Silver Efex Pro
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