Get in Ma Belly!!

This was an amazing battle, that lasted almost ten minutes.  This little Grebe was wrestling with the fish in every way you can image, eventually victorious and swallowed it whole.  Once he had a solid grip and the fish was tired – he just kicked his head back and let it slide down.  Proof below!!

Keep an eye out for nature’s entertainment – and stay in focus!

Mark

What the Hell are you doing . . . ????

I swear that I could literally read the goose’s mind and the female Mallard came in for a short landing!  It’s not always the greatest picture, but paying attention to the interactions of the various subjects in the pond (and new arrivals) can certainly be entertaining – especially when you learn to expect it!

Be sure to check out out new home at Soaring Art.  

Tips, tricks, galleries, projects and assignments can all be found there for your enjoyment.  Archive and posting of this blog can also be found there.

Stay in focus,

Mark

Drop it Mom!  Just. . . Drop it!

It’s amazing to witness the dedication of wild-life parents.  Here’s a little reminder – remember to put the camera down every now and then and just enjoy the moment!

Stay in focus,

Mark

Don’t ignore macro photography just because it’s winter!

Springtime is usually the most popular time of year for macro work – everything blooming and coming to life and all – but don’t ignore the winter months, it’s my favorite time to shoot macro.

A nice winter morning (after a fresh snow fall or especially after an over night refreeze) can yield great opportunities.  Keep your eyes open for some of these subjects:

• Snow or ice settled on top of branches, winter berries or left over shells – like the opening image in this post
• Puddles on the trail or along the banks of small streams and rivers that have frozen over night – look for trapped leaves, air bubbles and unique patterns (this is my personal favorite)
• Mother Nature’s overnight composition work in the leaves and pine needles that were blowing around.  It’s a special delight to find a contrasting light colored leaf that landed or bent in a unique way around a darker one

Are you new to macro and looking to give it a try?  Then check out Mike Moat’s Website.  Mike is a self taught, outstanding photographer who specializes in macro education.  In addition to his blog and clinics around the country, Mike does a really good down to earth instructional series in his books.

I can highly recommend his Creating Art with Macro – ebook, it’s what I turned to as my first instructional tool into the macro world.  The first couple of chapters rehash some of the typical camera basics, but after that it’s all macro.  Mike’s writings are down to earth and easy to read in a nice simple format.

Check Mike’s stuff out, if only to subscribe to his blog – I’m sure you’ll find it worth your time!

Stay in focus,

Mark

Caffeine?  What’s caffeine? I don’t eat human food – but I do love their drinks!

Don’t forget to look for the pictures inside the pictures.  While reviewing my shots of a civil war reenactment, I noticed the crazed expression of this one horse.  I cropped in tight and did some focused processing and came up with a unique image.

“Crazy Horse” has been a strong seller in the online gallery.

Stay in focus,

Mark

How often do you pass by an object or a certain location and say to yourself “wow, this would be a great picture if only ______” !  Fill in the blank: “good light”, “cloudy day”, “it was wet”, “it was dry” . . . . and so on.  Well, here’s an opportunity to make some of your own luck.  Create a “shooters to do list” and add your new found opportunity.

When you find that special something, follow these steps:

• Snap a cell phone shot of the scene or object:
  • If you’re using a relatively new phone, not only will you have a reference image (like the opening shot in this post) but you’ll have the GPS info embedded, enabling you to find the location in the future.
• Use a voice recorder app on your phone (or make paper or mental notes) to note the best shooting direction, lens you’ll want to use and what unique elements you’d like to have for the image.  In the above tractor image, it was already late fall with some snow on the ground.  I visualized an overcast day just after a fresh snowfall so that’s the conditions I figured would look the best for this shot.  Here are a few examples of elements you may desire for your future plan:
  • A certain time of the year, like fall – or maybe the dead of winter when everything is barren?
  • Would the shot be better in early morning or late evening?
  • Could it be a nice “rainy day” shot?
  • Should you wait for a foggy morning?
  • Are you looking for a bright day with shadows just so – or would a totally overcast day be better?
• When you return home, build a quick record of your planned “shoot”.  Doesn’t have to be fancy, even just placing the info on a single sheet in a word processor will do.  Save it electronically along with a calendar reminder or just print it out and keep your planning file the old fashioned way.

With a little bit of advance planning when you find something of interest, you’ll be able to return at the right time and capture a great photo.  The tractor shot below is what I ended up with about four weeks after I took the original cell phone picture and envisioned the “perfect” shot.  I also had a ball in the process!

So the next time you see potential – make your own luck!

Stay in focus,

Mark

Don’t you YELL at ME, Sonny . . . . I’ll Snatch Ya BALD!

That’s a juvenile Sandhill Crane on the right, getting some “training” from a parent.  The beginning of the fall migration season is a good time observe unique behavior as the adults are finishing up some final lessons with the kids before the big trip.  Some species will stay with their parents throughout the first year while most begin to go their separate ways.

Stay in focus,

Mark

NOTE: my place on the web is moving, including this blog.  Please join us at http://www.soaringart.com

Yea, I studied Ballet . . . WHAT OF IT?

One of the advantages to shooting at a high frame rate, you’ll tend to grab a unique pose or element that you would have otherwise missed.  In the next frame, the eagle’s second foot was back parallel to its body.  This split second shot imitates a perfect toe-nail pirouette worthy of the best ballet dancer!

Stay in focus,

Mark

Popeye?  I’m Not Popeye . . . . They Call Me “Crusty”!

He really did look like a crusty kinda fellow – crusty but cute!  Thanks to the Stillman Nature Center for caring for these injured birds.  Do a search and find out if there are any rehabilitation centers around your area – They’re worthy of your support.

Stay in Focus,

Mark

Looking for Sandhills, find them in Indiana.

Bosque del Apache is still the supreme fall location to find Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese but Jasper Pulaski (JP) is a close second for cranes.  Located in northwestern Indiana, just south of Valparaiso, JP is a prime migration point with end of November crane counts in excess of 28,000.  The preserve does a great job of providing access to viewers and photographers with a raised viewing platform position right in front of the morning and evening gathering spots.

You are limited to viewing locations (primarily shooting due west) so the time of day dictates your shots.  Evening shots are either difficult low light shots or some fantastic silhouettes as seen above. (click the images to see a high rez versions).  Learn to take what nature gives you and you’ll come away with some great sunlit backdrops as the cranes arrive from feeding in the near by fields.

Get there at sunrise as the Sandhills arrive from their night time spots in the adjacent marsh and you’ll be treated to wave after wave of arriving cranes, just as the light gets really sweet.  Arrivals and departures will continue until around 10:00AM.  Just as the best light starts to slip away, you’ll get to witness a huge series of blast-offs as the cranes head out to the corn fields for daily feeding.

Weekends get a little crowded with fellow bird watchers and photographers – but weekdays are perfect for a relaxed adventure.  The main parking lot is about an 1/8 of a mile walk from the observation deck and a dedicated handicapped parking lot is available right next to the observation deck.  The deck is equipped with both stairs and an access ramp.

Crane populations have peaked but there will still be plenty of action through December.

Stay in focus,

Mark