nature – Page 84 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

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.

To me, it looks like these tree branches are trying to grab the moon.

I spotted some movement in the underbrush, and thought it might be a rabbit. Instead, it turned out to be a pair of ruffled grouse. The photo is lacking, but it was good enough to get an ID on the bird when I got home.

I was happy to get some photos in time to be able to ID this bird. As best as I can tell, it is a yellow-dumped warbler (Audobon's). There was a group of them handing around the yard. According to my bird app, our area is only part of their migratory route, so I guess I will be seeing them again in the springtime when they are ornate further north. — I was happy to get some photos in time to be able to ID this bird. As best as I can tell, it is a yellow-dumped warbler (Audobon’s). There was a group of them hanging around the yard. According to my bird app, our area is only part of their migratory route, so I guess I will be seeing them again in the springtime when they are on their way further north.

I spent some time today with the hairy woodpecker family (I posted a few photos of them last week as well). The light today was far better, and the birds were so much closer :) — I spent some time today with the hairy woodpecker family (I posted a few photos of them last week as well). The light today was far better, and the birds were so much closer 🙂

I believe this is one of the juveniles. The bird was on its own for most of the time I was photographing it. When I passed the spot I first saw it again on the way home from my walk, the whole family was together.

September 3, 2015

The Daily Post: From Every Angle

After seeing this challenge, I decided to go through the photos I took of fish eagles throughout my last trip to Southern Africa. I saw them from a lot of different vantage points, including from above, which is a unique way to watch birds.

I hope you enjoy!

Looking into the river, looking for the next meal. 1/1000sec, f10, ISO 400 — Looking into the river, looking for the next meal.
1/1000sec, f10, ISO 400

This juvenile fish eagle was perched in a tree across from my room. The branches in the background are distracting, but I couldn't ask him to move, and I didn't want to spend ages photoshopping them out. 1/32sec, f5.6, ISO100 — This juvenile fish eagle was perched in a tree across from my room. The branches in the background are distracting, but I couldn’t ask him to move, and I didn’t want to spend ages photoshopping them out.
1/32sec, f5.6, ISO100

The tilt of the head shows off the hooked book. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 100 — The tilt of the head shows off the hooked book.
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 100

An attempt at dinner as the light fades. This time, he was unsuccessful. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 6400 — An attempt at dinner as the light fades. This time, he was unsuccessful.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 6400

A view from behind.1/800sec, f7.1, ISO 800

Watching a fish eagle fly from above, during a helicopter tour of the Okavango Delta. 1/1000sec, f9.0, ISO 900 — Watching a fish eagle fly from above, during a helicopter tour of the Okavango Delta.
1/1000sec, f9.0, ISO 900

Capturing a fly by. 1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 160 — Capturing a fly by.
1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 160

A pair of fish eagle perch along the river. 1/200sec, f7.1, ISO 200 — A pair of fish eagles perch along the river.
1/200sec, f7.1, ISO 200

Flying off into the sunset. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 2200 — Flying off into the sunset.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 2200

Daily Post Photo Challenge

September 2, 2015

2015-09-02: Wordless Wednesday

August 31, 2015

2015-08-31: Monochrome Monday

I exposed this shot for the sky, as I wanted to capture the amazing texture of the clouds and the suns rays visible behind the clouds. The trees naturally went into silhouette. Converting this to black and white emphasized the texture far more than the colour photo did. 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 110 — I exposed this shot for the sky, as I wanted to capture the amazing texture of the clouds and the suns rays visible behind them. The trees naturally went into silhouette. Converting this to black and white emphasized the texture far more than the colour photo did. Okavango Delta, April 2015 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 110

August 30, 2015

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.

Smugmug Sales Site

Fine Art America Sales Site

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.

The aurora and the light from the moon. 10 sec, f3.5, ISO 320 — The aurora and the light from the moon.
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.

August 25, 2015

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.

Table Mountain isn't the only flat topped mountain in South Africa. — Table Mountain isn’t the only flat topped mountain in South Africa.

One of several waterfall seen on the journey. One of them ran right over the road, and we went through about 12" of water! — One of several waterfall seen on the journey. One of them ran right over the road, and we went through about 12″ of water!

I wish I recalled what type of antelope these are. I hope a local stumbles across this post and will let me know.

A pair of dassies sun themselves on a granite boulder.

Beautiful hills - the scenery was just stunning. — Beautiful hills – the scenery was just stunning.

A traditional Lesotho herder's home. — A traditional Lesotho herder’s home.

Enjoyed a local beer at the highest pub in Africa :) — Enjoyed a local beer at the highest pub in Africa 🙂

Shooting starts into the sun wasn't ideal, but it was the only way to capture the switchbacks. — Shooting starts into the sun wasn’t ideal, but it was the only way to capture the switchbacks.

A beautiful cape rock thrush was perched at the roadside; luckily towards the bottom where it was safe to stop for a couple photos.

A gurney's sugarbird — A gurney’s sugarbird

Youtube: Driving the Sani Pass

August 25, 2015

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.

August 24, 2015

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.

Half full or half empty??? A bright moon above Prince George. 1/1000sec, f6.3, ISO 1000 Tamron 150mm - 600mm on the Nikon D5100 (effective 900mm) — Half full or half empty???
A bright moon above Prince George.
1/1000sec, f6.3, ISO 1000, 600mm handheld
Tamron 150mm – 600mm on the Nikon D5100 (effective 900mm)

Tag: nature

2015-09-09: Wordless Wednesday

2015-09-07: Monochrome Monday