Natures turn…….
This is a Red-headed Woodpecker recently taken in Huntsville, Texas. I was looking out the kitchen window and noticed some frequent visits from a couple of these beautiful birds. Their colors are vibrant and stand out. Hard to pass up an opportunity for a few captures. After setting up it didn’t take long before they came back for a visit. There were other birds in the mix but these were the stand outs that I had been wanting to take for some time. Between all the rain we have been having here in south Texas it was a good weekend.
Nikon D800, 500mm, f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 800
Stopping by in a local park just to check the activity can be pretty good. This particular park has a small rookery which I like. I don’t have to deal with a crowd trying to get a close up view or that keep sake photo. Especially I don’t have to keep swatting those pesky mosquitoes.
Nikon D800, 500mm + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/2000’s, ISO 800
Landscape from Moab, Utah. Certainly a target rich area for taking pictures. Wish I would have had more hand warmers for my frozen fingers early in the mornings. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Nikon D800, 70-200 @ 70mm, 1/33, f/9, ISO 100
Spring time in Texas is special as there is a burst of wildflowers stretching out after a cold and wet winter. A short vacation seemed just the right thing to travel the back roads and see what we could find. After traveling parts south of San Antonio we headed into the hill country. The day was getting late so we picked a few back roads then headed towards the Llano area with our destination being west of Pontotoc. A few miles from Pontotoc you’ll see the entrance to the cemetery.
Early one morning, five years ago, we located the Union Band Cemetery. It was covered with bluebonnets and made a lasting impression. This year the cemetery was full with not only bluebonnets but other wildflowers mixed throughout. Since it was getting late I was anxious to see how the evening light portrayed the cemetery. In my opinion, the evening light was much better. The flowers were swaying in the wind making some captures not as sharp as I wanted but still nice.
We spent more time walking around reading and looking. The cemetery was established on March 31, 1891 when T.H. and Pricilla Thomas conveyed one and one-half acres of land to the Trustees of the Union Band Missionary Baptist Church. A beautiful place to see, walk and enjoy the wildflowers.
This is the 13th Anniversary of the Galveston FeatherFest and Nature PhotoFest. You are allowed to submit 2 pictures a week for four weeks. There are three places per week with the winner being eligible for the grand overall winner. It’s been a trying year for me and I haven’t been able to get out and take pictures like I usually do. So I struggled to make my selections for each week. It doesn’t help being your own worst critic. I hesitated so much I missed the first week deadline. I was definitely in a flux.
I had been sick for over a month and was slowly trying to get over it but just couldn’t shake a nagging cough. I told my wife the tides were going to be perfect on Bolivar flats with a clear blue sky. She said to go. We were suppose to have already left for my mother in-law’s. Mind you now it’s 04:00 Christmas eve morning and I’m struggling – cough, cough, cough. I knew there was no way I could lay down in the watery muck with the temperatures in the low 30’sF. I struggled again asking myself do I really need to get out. It would be so much better to get back in bed because that is what I really needed.
Plan B goes into effect. I was pulling myself all the way as I loaded up and set off for Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. The geese, it was all about the geese. I had seen some recent pictures and hoped they would still be there. When I arrived it was pitch black with beautiful stars above. Deciding to take a particular route I lowered my window and slowly made my way forward. I was trying my best to listen to get some indication where they were. The chill in the air was dang cold, cough, cough, cough.
Finally I could hear them but couldn’t see them. I cranked up my ISO in my camera and took a blurred but viewable shot. Bingo, I could see them and make out where I wanted to stop. After stopping I slowly slipped out of my truck. Took my equipment and set up in front of my truck hoping for a little warmth from the engine. Didn’t happen. Did I say it was cold? Even though I had my heavy jacket on I was cold. Cough, cough, cough, water, cough drop.
As darkness slowly faded away it was a sight to see. The fields where full of geese into the distance. Daylight was fast approaching when silence gave way to distant guns. Seemed like hunters were everywhere just off the refuge. Some geese in the distance where lifting but trying to find another landing area. It sounded like roaring trains. The ones in front of me were getting restless as the noise level started picking up.
I knew it was just a matter of time. My mind was racing verifying my camera settings when I thought – whoa. I quickly pulled my wide angle from the truck and rechecked settings. As I laid the camera on the hood it started. The roar, they were lifting in stages from the distance. Then is was time for those in front of me. I had so much adrenaline flowing I could have bottled it.
The Lift was in full effect. The Roar sounded as if a train was coming down the road towards me. Cough, what cough? I was too busy to cough as natures wonder was unfolding right before my eyes. I had seen National Geographic shows with geese lifting. It didn’t compare to what I was witnessing. I reached for my camera on the hood. It was set to a fully wide angle view as I leaned against the truck for support. Firing away as they continued to lift.
I was all alone experiencing what I would call a heavenly moment. I praised and gave thanks to God.
I submitted this photo for the second weeks contest. It was selected as the winner. I’m honored.
Most of my photo friends are Canon shooters with less than a handful of Nikon. Recently read where Canon is coming out with two new 50+ megapixel cameras. Whoa, how big can they get. Got to love technology but also wonder how much is enough.
I was recently reviewing and cleaning up files when I came upon a few I thought would be worth a try. When I completed the one below it was 40.56MB’s. Several ranged from 40 to a little over 50MB’s. I use SmugMug and they accepted everything below 50MB’s and rejected 50+ files. Said file tooooo big. So that got me thinking is the cart before the horse.
Nikon D800, Nikon 24-70mm, f/16, 1/100’s View from La Sol Mountains, Utah.
Unlike past trips my goal was to hurry and cover other areas of the park that I rarely venture. Not an easy task with so much to see and photograph. I simply had to make myself stop and move on. Just like being on a treasure hunt.
Nikon D800, 105mm, 0.6’s, f/11, Ev +0.67, ISO 200
Nikon D800, 105mm, 0.6’s, f/11, Ev +0.67, ISO 200
Nikon D800, 105mm, 1/60s, f/11, Ev +0.67, ISO 200, flash (I’ve posted this one before – taken that morning)
Nikon D800, 105mm, 1/25’s, f/5.6, Ev +0.67, ISO 200
Nikon D800, 105mm, 1/40’s, f/5.6, Ev +0.67, ISO 200
Nikon D800, 105mm, 1/40’s, f/5.6, Ev +0.67, ISO 200
Nikon D800, 105mm, 1/40’s, f/5.6, Ev +0.67, ISO 200
Taken this morning at Brazos Bend State Park. This little guy was about 2″ long and blended in real good. I was bent over looking at something else when I must have made him nervous and saw the movement. If he hadn’t moved I most likely wouldn’t have seen this photo op.
Nikon D800, 105mm, f/5.6, 1/60 flash, Ev +0.67, ISO 200
Watching the Swallow-Tailed Kites can be mesmerizing as they float what seemed effortlessly. The first picture is one I named Brutus. He seemed to be larger and more bulkier than the rest. He also did a little chasing of the others if he got close.
Once they started gathering they kept coming giving many photo ops. Hand holding the lens at the beginning wasn’t bad. However, by the end, I was wishing for a tripod or monopod for help in that department.
Nikon D800, 500mm, 1/2500’s, f/5.6. -0.33 Ev, ISO 200
Nikon D800, 500mm, 1/2000’s, f/5.6, -0.33, ISO 200
Nikon 800, 500mm, 1/2500’s, -0.33 Ev, ISO 200 (Note the little black “dot” upper left corner – flying insect)
It was a cold crisp early morning at Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah. Less than a handful were there for the sunrise. In my opinion it is the best time to see the color changes and the shadows give way to light as the sun comes up. A great place to relax and reflect. A must see if in the area.
Nikon D800, 1/15’s, f/11, ISO 100, single exposure
David Alaniz Photography 