I found this praying mantis on my doorstep last week, and promptly took it to my studio (aka table with black backdrop) for a quick photoshoot before releasing her (him? it?). Not a very stationary subject, but these two shots turned out OK.
Canon 7D, 100mm f/2.8L Macro
ISO 1000
1/125 sec
f/3.2
Caught this flock of birds as it was making its way across the horizon early morning yesterday.
That’s what this bulldog seemed to say, begging me to throw his toy so he could run after it.
Every time I walk the dog, these little bunnies run for cover. This time, I captured one of them on the run (or in flight).
Canon 7D, EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS
ISO 100
f/2.8
1/250 sec
…and keeping the camera low to the ground yields great shots:
Canon 7D, EF40mm f/2.8
ISO 1600
f/3.5
1/1250 sec
The seagulls were out on a sunny day, enjoying the spring air.
I found a dead baby horseshoe crab on the beach and decided to make it the subject of a practice lighting session. The underbelly was particularly challenging because of all the detail.
Canon 7D, EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
ISO 100
f/8
1/50 sec
This moose didn’t seem to be too concerned about me taking pictures. The other creatures actually enjoyed it (giving me some practice with action shots).
Arrived in Montana and took a drive through parts of Yellowstone before arriving at Big Sky today. -15F (-26C)!
This gang of elk didn’t mind the cold.
Well, amazing might be a better adjective, but that wouldn’t make for nearly as good a blog title. When it’s cold and monochrome out, the dog becomes a never-tiring subject to practice on:
Canon 7D, 100mm f/2.8 macro lens
ISO 400
f/10
1/40 sec
Edited with Color Efex, soft focus filter, Fujichrome Velvia 100 film
Thought I’d post a few close-ups I shot this summer while it’s snowing and howling outside.
Canon 7D, 100mm macro lens
Adjustments in Color Efex
These birds were heading to the sunset – wish I could have flown along:
Canon PowerShot G12
ISO 100
f/3.2
1/2000 sec
processed with Nik Color Efex
This little Robin had built her nest in a bush on the side of her house, guarding two blue eggs. Then one day there was only one egg, and the Robin never returned.
Canon EOS 7D, 70-200mm f/2.8
ISO 100
f/2.8
1/200 sec
I didn’t know until I looked at this picture on my computer that I had caught this little fly enjoying the hibiscus flower.
Shot with iPhone Hipstamatic
lens: Tinto 1884
film: Sussex
This cat certainly seemed to have the run of the house in the little Amsterdam bar I stopped in to inquire about the menu. Fortunately the weather was so nice that everyone sat outside, leaving her the interior.
Canon 7D
ISO 320
F/2.8
1/100 sec
Walking a child in Manhattan — much like walking a dog:
iphone, Hipstamatic
Look how Ozzy, my sister-in-law’s pug, OWNS that chair:
Canon Powershot G12
ISO 200
f/4.5
1/60 sec
Nik Color Efex
Or: Dinner!
Shot at sunset near our local beach:
Canon EOS 7D, 100mm macro
ISO 100
f/4.5
1/60 sec
I was lucky enough to catch the one day when Horseshoe Crabs come to our town beach to mate. There were at least 15 pairs of these ‘living fossils’ (so-called by Charles Darwin because they look just like their fossilized ancestors) horsing around (pardon the pun) in the shallow water.
Camera: Canon EOS 7D, 100mm macro lens
Some other shots I really liked from my visit to the National Zoo in Washington, DC (the first one was a collaboration with my son – he took the shot with my camera, I did the editing):
Captured on Hammonasset Beach in Connecticut, as they fluttered around a gentleman passing out breadcrumbs.
Canon Powershot G12
ISO 100
f/4.5
1/200 sec
Adjusted with Nik Color Efex
Our dog LOVED all the snow that came down as a result of storm Nemo:
These geese were making a few passes over the field behind our house during sunrise, and then they disappeared beyond the horizon. Hope they found a warm place to set down.
iphone Hipstamatic, Jane lens, Ina’s 1969
Ok, it didn’t take long before I took our new dog, Skylark, to the beach for a photo session. She’s a 10-year old retired Guide Dog for the Blind from California, who is now getting used to Connecticut weather and the notion that it’s OK to chase bunnies and squirrels. She already took control of the backyard, which she patrols diligently. Soon this sweet and well-mannered German Shepherd will think she owns the whole neighborhood..
This is Kearney, a retired Guide Dog for the Blind who had enjoyed her retirement with us for the last 4 1/2 years before passing away last month. This is how I’ll always remember her – slightly leaning from a stroke (which she recovered from almost fully), attentive, and super sweet. And next week, we’ll get a new addition to the family, yet another retired Guide Dog that needs a home, named Skylark (and also a German Shepherd). I’m VERY excited!
Taken a few days before hurricane Sandy, when the weather was still nice enough to wander to the beach without a heavy jacket.
Canon EOS 7D, EF 24-70mm
Top: ISO 100, 70mm, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec
Bottom: ISO 100, 66mm, f/3.2, 1/320 sec
This time I enjoyed getting very very close to my subject. Fortunately, the mushrooms didn’t move much. The frog was a bit more challenging – took about 3 minutes to get close enough for this macro shot.
Canon EOS 7D, 100mm EF-L f2/8
Watching these graceful herons at our beach sure awakened in me the desire to fly. I’m glad that the Wright brothers did something about it.
Several herons (or egrets) made the marsh near our town beach their hunting ground today. What graceful creatures – and perfect for photographers since they tend to stand very still as they wait for unsuspecting fish to appear at their feet.
this one took off as soon as I got closer than 100 feet.
Soaring towards another feeding spot:
All shots taken with Canon EOS 7D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L
ISO 250
f/9
1/2000 sec
These monkeys had no fear – they prowled across the hotel property with impunity.
And this howler monkey didn’t care whether he was flashing us or not:
And this spider monkey thought he could fly:
All photos taken in Costa Rica in April 2012, with Canon EOS 7D, 200mm lens.
Found these two wild turkeys strolling across our lawn today. Raced to my camera gear to get a good shot, and was lucky that they were still there when I got back.
The male was about 3 feet (1m) tall.
Canon EOS 7D, 70-200mm EF IS II
ISO 200
135mm
f/6.3
1/400
While there’s a constant racket of bird chirps, screeches, and whistles in the background, the birds in Costa Rica’s are actually very hard to find because they hide in dense foliage of the rainforest canopy. I was lucky to get these shots during a week-long visit. Here is a Toucan, the national symbol of Costa Rica:
This was shot at 400mm, and then cropped by 2x. With the naked eye, the Toucan was just a dark blob in the foliage. Here’s another screecher (no idea what this one is called):
And here’s a hummingbird, the hardest one to catch on film because they dart so quickly from flower to flower:
All photos taken with Canon EOS 7D, 200mm or 400mm, ISO 1000 to ensure fast enough shutter speed.
Saw quite a few lizards and iguanas in Antonio Manuel National Park yesterday morning. This one is a Ctenosaur – it was about 2 feet long and resting on a tree overlooking the beach:
And this one is a Plumed Basilisk, also known as the Jesus Christ Lizard, for his ability to run across water for up to 20 meters:
And these little ones (20 cm) ran so fast and their heads darted in all directions so frequently that they reminded me of the velociraptors in Jurassic Park:
All photos taken with Canon EOS 7D, 400mm, ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/160 sec
Snapshots For Sore Eyes 