wildlife – Page 48 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

September 29, 2015

Photo Challenge: Change

My interpretation of the weekly photo challenge – change. Thinking of change in terms of growth; from young to old, the exuberance of youth to the wisdom and maturity of older age. This group has it all.

Elephants of all sizes. Mom and kids, aunties and grannies. Sabi Sands, May 2015

The Daily Post Photo Challenge: Change

September 28, 2015

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

September 27, 2015

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

September 21, 2015

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

September 16, 2015

2015-09-16: 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 9, 2015

2015-09-09: Wordless Wednesday

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

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.