Photos A Walk in Nature

[bigfish64]

Gracias amigo, talk of small boats and water always gets me excited very fast lol

LOL , no comments PLEASE

Thank you Tom I apreciate your kind words
Things are going well . Diana has finished the hardest portion of her treatment ( chemo, surgery and radiation) and is getting stronger by the day . She is tolerating the infusions she still gets every 3 weeks until May quite well. She is looking forward to going back to work on modified duties three days a week in early January.
I have been trying to catch up with many things I had pending in my to do list

Today I went xc skiing with my oldest daughter who is home for the holidays from university in Alberta. We had not seen her in 4 months.

I caught a bunny in the canadian wilderness

Good news Dan, always enjoy your skiing photos.

 

[Johnnythefox]

I just wanted to thank you guys. I don't mean to hijack the thread with the things that I see.
It's the only thing I'm good at. It took a lot of practice and many years. I don't make a penny from it.
I don't know why I do it. I figure one of these days, someone will discover me. That's how I have to look at it.
If not, it's all for nothing. From this day to me last days.

Could you tell us the locations and equiment used please?

I dream of taking photos like this in Scotland.

 

[Johnnythefox]

I went for a short walk along the river Thames yesterday.

Abingdon bridge to Abinbgdon lock,then crossed over and walked back on the other side,nipping into town for a coffee on the way back to my car.



The sun was out,
it was glorious, a few people spoke to me.

One young woman telling me she works from a small room at home and was desperate to get out for a bit of air.
She was stretching and exercising facing the sun and looking contented.
(I was taking off my cap everytime the sun was directly on me,it felt great).
I told her my saying..."when the suns out,I'm out" which she liked and made her smile as she wished me happy Christmas and carried on her walk

You could see the sun had cheered people up.

The river was very high (close to flood in places) as you can see by the trees,crossing the very long lock the water was coming through the sluice gates at a very fast rate and it was very noisey.

 

[IXLR8]

Could you tell us the locations and equiment used please?

I dream of taking photos like this in Scotland.

Thank you .
Equipment used:
Camera body: Sony A7RIV-A - high resolution 61 megapixel full frame camera
Lens used:

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens​

Shot in Aps-c mode on a 26 megapixel RAW file, effectively at 900mm focal length

I'm from the state of Louisiana. The photo was taken on a roughly 120 acre low water lake in the Atchafalaya Basin. This is some of the swamp land in my home state.
It's rare to see a bald eagle here, and usually they are many hundreds of meters away, very high in the sky. The photo of an Eagle is rare in itself, but to catch one on the hunt and actually making a kill is even more rare, in my geographic location.
When I found the Eagles and the area they were hunting , it was a matter of coming in undetected, before daylight, and not getting any closer than 300 meters, or so, from a large/tall Cypress tree where they perch and overlook the water in search of prey items. I'm wearing a camouflage ghillie suit and blending in to the brush and background while sitting like a statue for hours and hours. Careful not to disrupt the balance of nature.
From there it was days and hours of waiting and hoping they would come in my direction when they took flight from the tree, and come in close enough for a decent burst of shots.
It was not a planned shot to actually have one swoop down, hit the water, while making a successful kill. It was a matter of being at the right place at the right time, and on point with all the correct camera settings.
Although I had waited for an action shot like this to happen, there was no guarantee that it would happen. Many times they will hit the water and miss the prey. Or never dive on a hunt at all.
I had luck and planning on my side, this day. It took a long time, just to get a few shots.

I sat there for a weeks, every clear weather day before the sun would rise, I was there. You can't imagine how many times I was talking to myself and saying things, like, " Come on eagle , do something, Don't just sit there in the tree."
Most days the two of them just sat there, in the tree for hours, only to see them take flight in a direction away from me. Until one day......it happened.
Wildlife photography is far different from any other type of photography. There are no " do-overs." You have to be there and be ready, when it happens.
Thank you for your compliment. I take it as mighty high praise. It means something to me.
Wishing you all a happy holiday.

Sincerely,
Arthur Smith

 

[Johnnythefox]

Thank you .
Equipment used:
Camera body: Sony A7RIV-A - high resolution 61 megapixel full frame camera
Lens used:

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens​

Shot in Aps-c mode on a 26 megapixel RAW file, effectively at 900mm focal length

I'm from the state of Louisiana. The photo was taken on a roughly 120 acre low water lake in the Atchafalaya Basin. This is some of the swamp land in my home state.
It's rare to see a bald eagle here, and usually they are many hundreds of meters away, very high in the sky. The photo of an Eagle is rare in itself, but to catch one on the hunt and actually making a kill is even more rare, in my geographic location.
When I found the Eagles and the area they were hunting , it was a matter of coming in undetected, before daylight, and not getting any closer than 300 meters, or so, from a large/tall Cypress tree where they perch and overlook the water in search of prey items. I'm wearing a camouflage ghillie suit and blending in to the brush and background while sitting like a statue for hours and hours. Careful not to disrupt the balance of nature.
From there it was days and hours of waiting and hoping they would come in my direction when they took flight from the tree, and come in close enough for a decent burst of shots.
It was not a planned shot to actually have one swoop down, hit the water, while making a successful kill. It was a matter of being at the right place at the right time, and on point with all the correct camera settings.
Although I had waited for an action shot like this to happen, there was no guarantee that it would happen. Many times they will hit the water and miss the prey. Or never dive on a hunt at all.
I had luck and planning on my side, this day. It took a long time, just to get a few shots.

I sat there for a weeks, every clear weather day before the sun would rise, I was there. You can't imagine how many times I was talking to myself and saying things, like, " Come on eagle , do something, Don't just sit there in the tree."
Most days the two of them just sat there, in the tree for hours, only to see them take flight in a direction away from me. Until one day......it happened.
Wildlife photography is far different from any other type of photography. There are no " do-overs." You have to be there and be ready, when it happens.
Thank you for your compliment. I take it as mighty high praise. It means something to me.
Wishing you all a happy holiday.

Sincerely,
Arthur Smith

I admire the dedication and understand what it takes with the waiting,I couldnt be a stake out cop.


I was looking for this Kingfisher for 2 years,people would report sightings to me but it was always gone in 60s and I didnt even get a glimpse.


Then one day I sat down thinking no more, its never going to happen,looked up and it was in front of me.
I was trying not to breathe, it felt like my heart was making to much noise and I nearly passed out.

I went back every day same time for ages,never saw it again, same when I found a barn Owl.

The waiting and uncertainty is a killer,though I never went as far as you.


Reminds me of a famous English wild life photograper he spent more than a week sneaking into a hide in the dark staying all the long day till it was dark again (Norway I think).
He was looking for Capercaillie didnt see one.

A Scottish game keeper called him when he got back to England,so he went up on the heather and got photos straight away without a hide,it takes a lot of dedication and a lot of luck.


By the way I dont think you could have a more English sounding name than yours,I thought your photos where in the UK for that reason.

 

[RayseM]

Just my usual back yard trail walkabout this afternoon. Here are a few blade photos - you see snow...



... but not much of it. Will all be washed away tomorrow.

 

[Old Engineer]

Thank you .
Equipment used:
Camera body: Sony A7RIV-A - high resolution 61 megapixel full frame camera
Lens used:

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens​

Shot in Aps-c mode on a 26 megapixel RAW file, effectively at 900mm focal length

I'm from the state of Louisiana. The photo was taken on a roughly 120 acre low water lake in the Atchafalaya Basin. This is some of the swamp land in my home state.
It's rare to see a bald eagle here, and usually they are many hundreds of meters away, very high in the sky. The photo of an Eagle is rare in itself, but to catch one on the hunt and actually making a kill is even more rare, in my geographic location.
When I found the Eagles and the area they were hunting , it was a matter of coming in undetected, before daylight, and not getting any closer than 300 meters, or so, from a large/tall Cypress tree where they perch and overlook the water in search of prey items. I'm wearing a camouflage ghillie suit and blending in to the brush and background while sitting like a statue for hours and hours. Careful not to disrupt the balance of nature.
From there it was days and hours of waiting and hoping they would come in my direction when they took flight from the tree, and come in close enough for a decent burst of shots.
It was not a planned shot to actually have one swoop down, hit the water, while making a successful kill. It was a matter of being at the right place at the right time, and on point with all the correct camera settings.
Although I had waited for an action shot like this to happen, there was no guarantee that it would happen. Many times they will hit the water and miss the prey. Or never dive on a hunt at all.
I had luck and planning on my side, this day. It took a long time, just to get a few shots.

I sat there for a weeks, every clear weather day before the sun would rise, I was there. You can't imagine how many times I was talking to myself and saying things, like, " Come on eagle , do something, Don't just sit there in the tree."
Most days the two of them just sat there, in the tree for hours, only to see them take flight in a direction away from me. Until one day......it happened.
Wildlife photography is far different from any other type of photography. There are no " do-overs." You have to be there and be ready, when it happens.
Thank you for your compliment. I take it as mighty high praise. It means something to me.
Wishing you all a happy holiday.

Sincerely,
Arthur Smith

I admire your patience and skill Arthur . That is a beautiful shot of a beautiful Eagle . Thank you for it .

Harry

 

[CelloDan]

So glad to hear Diana is doing well with her treatment

Dan, thanks for those good news.
Great to see you on the skis but don't forget, no ice skating anymore!

Glad Diana is through the hardest part and thankful her strength is returning.
Looks like you and your daughter had a great outing

Good news Dan, always enjoy your skiing photos.

Thank you gentleman !!! Your well wishes and kind words are always appreciated.

We went on a little Christmas Day afternoon walk to visit our little friends after being cooped up due to severe weather for a couple days.
We were the only ones at the bird sanctuary and were glad to manage to make it there and back safely

Our little friends were EXTREMELY hungry today ! So glad we brought them presents

Lolly scramble

Boating anyone ?

"That's just crazy, I am outta here"

Winter wonderland

An uninvited guests shows up

We were ecstatic when this one showed up
( It stood on Diana's arm at one point but could not get it on camera)

 

[Just Tom.]

The birds on my walk today were far more averse to getting their pictures taken. I saw probably a dozen bluebirds, but they just wouldn’t sit still for the camera (phone). This is the closest I got, and you can’t see how vividly blue his back was:

There was also a pileated woodpecker which I got a blurry shot of.

Signs of beaver activity:

I think this is his lodge:

 

[RayseM]

CelloDan brings photo props on his bird sanctuary walk

Well worth it. You've got some exceptional photos. You all look GREAT too. I'll wave to your from Quebec tomorrow.
Hopefully we will find some snow there and can have some of our own walk in nature snowy photos.

I like your walkabout place too Tom.

 

[RLB0414]

CelloDan , looks like a great afternoon and outing. The blue Jay is awesome. As much snow as you have, I know your feathered friends were very happy to see.

 

[Just Tom.]

No snow where I am, but temps in the single digits Fahrenheit the past few nights. This is in the park a short walk from my house:

 

[Benjamin Carl]

 

[CelloDan]

Enjoying all the photos … “white stuff” or not
J Just Tom. what “knaf” is the one you posted earlier today ? I like the saw option

We went to the ice trails today for the much anticipated season opening day that was delayed due to severe weather

I panicked when I realized I had not brought a pocket knife with me however Diana came to the rescue and pulled the car keys from her pocket with our trusty Victorinox classic

 

[Just Tom.]

J Just Tom. what “knaf” is the one you posted earlier today ? I like the saw option

It is a Mikov (Czech) version of a German-style hunting knife, with faux-stag covers. I bought it at a very deep discount from a US dealer that was liquidating its stock of Mikovs ( euroken alerted me to the deal). The saw is excellent, as good or better than the one on my Victorinox Fieldmaster, but I have not managed to put more than just a decent working edge on the 440A blade yet - I probably just don’t know how.

 

[CelloDan]

 

[RLB0414]

Looks like a nicely groomed trail for whatever snow sport one enjoys

 

[CelloDan]

A lovely card arrived in the mail today addressed to the "CelloDan family"
Gracias RayseM !!!

Happy New Year folks !

 

[Fodderwing]

Happy New Year Dan! Your lovely bride looks healthy and beautiful! Wonderful to see you two out and about.

 

[RayseM]

January 1, 2023 New Year, new trail to hike. A variation on the coast of Maine scene.