Tag: nature

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Ornate

Years ago, I lived for a year and a half in the UK, and spent a lot of time on my weekends touring properties listed under the National Trust.  If I had been asked to come up with photos to describe my impression of ornate at that time, I would have drawn on references such as rococo furniture, tapestries, paintings with gilded frames, the fencing surrounding Buckingham Palace and the gardens of Hampton Court.  All are still valid today, and I could go back in my archives and find dozens of examples… but my brain seems to work differently now.

Now, when I think of ornate, I think of birds.  The beautiful detail of feathers when seen up close.  The dizzying array of patterns, colours and textures.  The mating performances.  Even the patterns of their flight.

When you look at the birds below quickly, they seem to be dusty creatures in tones of beige, brown and grey.  So take a closer look at a few ornately decorated birds I found in Botswana and South Africa.

A pair of namaqua sandgrouse. Who says you can't pair stripes and polka dots together? Kalahari Desert, April 2015 1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 400
A pair of namaqua sandgrouse. Who says you can’t pair stripes and polka dots together?
Kalahari Desert, April 2015
1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 400
An orange river francolin, also in the Kalahari Desert. This one had been digging in the dirt. At least the coating of mud on his front feathers doesn't obscure the wide variety of patterns and colours on display. April 2015 1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 400
An orange river francolin, also in the Kalahari Desert.
This one had been digging in the dirt. At least the coating of mud on his front feathers doesn’t obscure the wide variety of patterns and colours on display.
April 2015
1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 400
A swainson's spurfowl (I believe our ranger referred to it is a slit-neck francolin as well, or something like that). I was lucky that bird stayed still for such a long time, usually these scurry off into the bushes site quickly, but this one posed perfectly so we can see not only the intricate feathers, but the texture on his legs and around his eyes. Seen in the Okavango Delta April 2015 1/800sec, f11, ISO640
A swainson’s spurfowl (I believe our ranger referred to it is a slit-neck francolin as well, or something like that).
I was lucky that bird stayed still for such a long time, as usually these scurry off into the bushes site quickly.  This one posed perfectly so we can see not only the intricate feathers, but the texture on his legs and around his eyes.
Seen in the Okavango Delta April 2015
1/800sec, f11, ISO640
A crested francolin at the roadside in the TImbavati. May, 2015 1/640sec, f5.6, ISO 200
A crested francolin at the roadside in the TImbavati.
May, 2015
1/640sec, f5.6, ISO 200

Ornate

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2015-11-08: Monochrome Monday

For anyone that hasn’t been in the presence of a hadeda, they sound kind of like the kid on the Simpson’s show that always says “HA HA”.  Honestly, if you get a large group of them, they can get a bit irritating after a time.  I think more than one ranger I’ve met has described them as the most annoying creature in the bush.

Now about this photo.  I flagged it quite some time ago to edit, and couldn’t figure out the reason why, other than I liked it.  But after staring at it for the last 20 minutes, I think the two things I like are the contrasts (the bright highlights and dark shadows and the flash of iridescent feathers against a flat sky) and that the shape of the bird is repeated in the shape of the branches (look to the branch directly below the tail, it has the shape of a head and beak).  The monochrome treatment highlights what I like about the image, whereas the colour version is pretty easy to overlook.

Sometimes I find it difficult to explain what draws me to one photo over another; I often find myself at a loss for words when someone is looking for a critique on an image.  I know very quickly whether I like an image or not; but the reason why isn’t always easy to put into words.

A hadeda ibis perched on some gnarly, dead branches. 1/100sec, f10, ISO400
A hadeda ibis perched on some dead branches; the late afternoon sun reflecting off of iridescent wings. 
1/100sec, f10, ISO400
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2015-11-01: What I’ve seen this week

I was driving home from a morning trip into town, thinking that I would have nothing to post for this week, as it had been a slow week for both bird and animal sightings, and I already posted the lone landscape photo I liked for my monochrome Monday shot… and about the lack of a Wordless Wednesday post… I kinda forgot what day it was – oops.

Just as I was about to turn onto my street, I noticed something perched on a fence post at the end of the road; I couldn’t quite believe my eyes as it was an owl (at noon no less).  I stopped in the middle of the road to watch for a moment, and then hurried home to grab my camera and the dog.  I drove back up hoping I might be lucky enough for it to still be there, and it was.  I managed to get the car into a great position without causing and ruffled feathers, and sat for about 10 minutes snapping photos before I decided to head off, as the dog needed a walk.  It was rainy and miserable though and other than doing what was necessary, Spencer wasn’t too keen to stay out long, so I decided to take another drive and see if the owl was still there.  This time I stayed longer, and managed to see a couple failed hunting attempts before I headed back home.

I’m really happy with how well the photos turned out despite the weather, but even more, I’m very grateful to have had such a cool, and unexpected, afternoon with wildlife.

I hope you enjoy the photos!

My first sighting of a great grey owl.
My first sighting of a great grey owl.
Such an intense gaze.
Such an intense gaze.
The way owls heads rotate amazes me.
The way owls heads rotate amazes me.
She showed off all angles while I happily snapped away.
She showed off all angles while I happily snapped away.
Watching the ground for mice and other critters. Based on the leftovers I have been seeing on the road the last few days, she is fairly successful.
Watching the ground for mice and other critters. Based on the leftovers I have been seeing on the road the last few days, she is fairly successful.

20151101_What I've seen this week-5

I love the angle on this photo, and the streaking raindrops in the background. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 800
I love the angle on this photo, and the streaking raindrops in the background.
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 800
If you look closely, you will see that there are remnants of another bird stuck in the fencing.
If you look closely, you will see that there are remnants of another bird stuck in the fencing.
After watching the grass along the roadside intently, she launched off, but sadly did not make a catch. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000
After watching the grass along the roadside intently, she launched off, but sadly did not make a catch.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000
I included this only to show the beautiful variation in the feathers. Unfortunately the photo is blurry, a combination of too slow a shutter speed (due to the light) and user focusing issues!
I included this only to show the beautiful variation in the feathers. Unfortunately the photo is blurry, a combination of too slow a shutter speed (due to the light) and user focusing issues!
Coming back in to land after an unsuccessful hunt.
Coming back in to land after an unsuccessful hunt.
A bit of post flight grooming and fluffing of feathers.
A bit of post flight grooming and fluffing of feathers.
With this, she was off again and we left her in peace. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000
With this, she was off again and we left her in peace. By the way, look at those talons!!!
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000

Should you wish to have a copy of any of these to call your own, click here.

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2015-10-26: Monochrome Monday

Yesterday afternoon there were 3 leaves clinging to the top of this tree. After the snowfall this morning, only a lone leaf remains. Autumn is quickly giving way to winter. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO500
Yesterday afternoon there were 3 leaves clinging to the top of this tree. After the snowfall this morning, only a lone leaf remains.
Autumn is quickly giving way to winter.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO500
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2015-10-25: What I’ve seen this week

This week has seen a fair bit of rain and fog in my area, so I didn’t take my camera out with me as much as I would like.  When I did, much of what I tried to shoot suffered from poor light and a lot of noise.  So, just a few pictures this week to share, all taken today.

I was happy to see the northern shrike again, and this time, have my camera at the ready. This one is a juvenile based on the plumage.
I was happy to see the northern shrike again, and this time, have my camera with me. This one is a juvenile based on the plumage.
Another view of the northern shrike. If it hadn't been for a sizeable flock of other birds that caught my attention (finches or sparrows, or perhaps the crossbills) I wouldn't have even noticed this lovely bird.
Another view of the northern shrike. If it hadn’t been for a sizeable flock of other birds that caught my attention (finches or sparrows, or perhaps the crossbills) I wouldn’t have even noticed this lovely bird.
The three birds posed in the treetops are part of a much larger group that were pecking at the pinecones. With the fog, I wasn't able to make a species ID.
The three birds posed in the treetops were part of a much larger group that were pecking at the pinecones. With the fog, I wasn’t able to make a species ID.
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