tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74416613556957814852024-03-13T13:02:58.251-04:00Aaron Smith Wildlife PhotographyI am an amateur wildlife photographer. I normally write about my trips and adventures as well as, wildlife photography tips, beginner photography tips, and some camera equipment reviews.Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-11379357200506648402023-05-21T10:22:00.003-04:002023-05-21T10:24:08.083-04:00Not planning to keep this page updated, but I do still post on Facebook and Instagram.<p> It has been many years since my last post and I find myself not having the time that I once did to write blog posts about my trips. I do still post my photos on my <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AaronSmithWildlifePhotography/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> </b>and on <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aaronmsmith30/">Instagram</a>.</b> So, you can follow me there to keep up to date with everything I am doing. I'll add a few images here to show some of my recent work.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JMUifRvbC9egMOi-wnBne_VYphRTLQ9-sMx_nj2nWCazsequtWgHdL3Dwv8n3UITeWmQQaCDS4P_tahvQFIB7Pj4DnEwiz5-LSX25gcLBw7wcBNmNap-6bVfQ0heqLBq2o-xy_DY3-uX2_FJt45nI1044pzKxjNGhYk1NA1FjjtF_wk0mKM_8nLX/s2999/532A9820-DeNoiseAI-standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2999" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JMUifRvbC9egMOi-wnBne_VYphRTLQ9-sMx_nj2nWCazsequtWgHdL3Dwv8n3UITeWmQQaCDS4P_tahvQFIB7Pj4DnEwiz5-LSX25gcLBw7wcBNmNap-6bVfQ0heqLBq2o-xy_DY3-uX2_FJt45nI1044pzKxjNGhYk1NA1FjjtF_wk0mKM_8nLX/w427-h640/532A9820-DeNoiseAI-standard.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO1PSSb3BMc-0PxbX6gA6Pkxx6HloWxRnth1Gkx32bTq3EZqlFtimbx-ZSqivSy9xUncTn2ILcJIK7nb1V5JU0mBHViO2HdYloRswY6ljiMuxJZXZVfcptqmvf9KZHlqZ16mSvjtHP-OiLQ_Ub2YJ0TiKgdJ06GGCZihuYNMWD56j9fyvgwgmzaZV/s4052/EagleTakeOffSharp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2702" data-original-width="4052" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO1PSSb3BMc-0PxbX6gA6Pkxx6HloWxRnth1Gkx32bTq3EZqlFtimbx-ZSqivSy9xUncTn2ILcJIK7nb1V5JU0mBHViO2HdYloRswY6ljiMuxJZXZVfcptqmvf9KZHlqZ16mSvjtHP-OiLQ_Ub2YJ0TiKgdJ06GGCZihuYNMWD56j9fyvgwgmzaZV/w640-h427/EagleTakeOffSharp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfTgvVs_5vg0JtCpIKplNmoqMKQY08dZi7CC0fcZugocZ4eukNcHc6u7wnVtyKoqHkplu2DhDC53PDIAs6Y5AaOBEjpBWrAjVRXTiy-XZHhKnGP-pUZGzEgxvRqYecFfY0x0GXKWbmKib69qfociDjuoGcL9atogOcpqK5ZwBD2koZqS_LC1jtNyU/s2722/Moon7Stack-DeNoiseAI-low-light.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="2722" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfTgvVs_5vg0JtCpIKplNmoqMKQY08dZi7CC0fcZugocZ4eukNcHc6u7wnVtyKoqHkplu2DhDC53PDIAs6Y5AaOBEjpBWrAjVRXTiy-XZHhKnGP-pUZGzEgxvRqYecFfY0x0GXKWbmKib69qfociDjuoGcL9atogOcpqK5ZwBD2koZqS_LC1jtNyU/w640-h424/Moon7Stack-DeNoiseAI-low-light.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpOUx83evj0OgDhRfiHUmrp0Se40CL5hjJvfN7nGa78NWLTkTCJNlHsKCWYwX963bfsdWw7eYPFH5feD7hI-_o7aH-v0czbAeKNNEvecmUBorO7rC1RTM7-rPNlM7vXvXkItjtFWWk9v2_5xVdzNT0XYrav5heHQ7NDEOnt7vBzPf37vOM9jcTBOz/s2805/JumpingSpiderStack-DeNoiseAI-low-light.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1853" data-original-width="2805" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpOUx83evj0OgDhRfiHUmrp0Se40CL5hjJvfN7nGa78NWLTkTCJNlHsKCWYwX963bfsdWw7eYPFH5feD7hI-_o7aH-v0czbAeKNNEvecmUBorO7rC1RTM7-rPNlM7vXvXkItjtFWWk9v2_5xVdzNT0XYrav5heHQ7NDEOnt7vBzPf37vOM9jcTBOz/w640-h422/JumpingSpiderStack-DeNoiseAI-low-light.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4BeNJ1_6mcjH53mWv4TrsLdqeXzHzW93GxglTIJU_0nAoN7wq4YeNTs-yvusQ8vHukuF9HK3XW8v1AUHzjljmEuggv9BwdxJAtfgYQsRgbA5U7UjibrHbC_Y_qsomZfYqkPnvrPSKrkWg03l83Ln_MbGUrkynPApKdFEV1pwZK622YOw7rIHguuV/s3656/532A1973.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2437" data-original-width="3656" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4BeNJ1_6mcjH53mWv4TrsLdqeXzHzW93GxglTIJU_0nAoN7wq4YeNTs-yvusQ8vHukuF9HK3XW8v1AUHzjljmEuggv9BwdxJAtfgYQsRgbA5U7UjibrHbC_Y_qsomZfYqkPnvrPSKrkWg03l83Ln_MbGUrkynPApKdFEV1pwZK622YOw7rIHguuV/w640-h426/532A1973.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT9e7A-eOinjz6FebKZNYHvKE2ZbWQ2YLSJnX9Z_9fjGrq4VYmzwR4tJtteYmcRTIp4GAESBVBQKfCYn7e5bda4bW5MElN9moA5rUsccMDiOhEd9-8sqnftjEFwuibH2o8s5shl4bkMPopLxtDDr9NuyacnSdqUUkZDb0OvYnH_encPOSBNI4Ocpe/s5261/orionretry-DeNoiseAI-low-light.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3509" data-original-width="5261" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT9e7A-eOinjz6FebKZNYHvKE2ZbWQ2YLSJnX9Z_9fjGrq4VYmzwR4tJtteYmcRTIp4GAESBVBQKfCYn7e5bda4bW5MElN9moA5rUsccMDiOhEd9-8sqnftjEFwuibH2o8s5shl4bkMPopLxtDDr9NuyacnSdqUUkZDb0OvYnH_encPOSBNI4Ocpe/w640-h426/orionretry-DeNoiseAI-low-light.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-61632239107701567212020-03-24T09:49:00.002-04:002020-03-24T09:49:30.060-04:00Spring Migration Starting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1250, f/6.3 @ 1/1250s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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Since the last post it has seemed like the world has changed. Covid 19 has taken hold and since I am working from home and basically self-quarantining for the time being I decided I would try and catch up and post some of my recent images. I know during my last post I had talked about wanted to make YouTube videos and I still do. After filming some test runs I realized how much work goes into editing the film. So I need to work on getting better footage, so I don't have to edit as much. With due time I am hoping to start producing good quality videos on my channel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/1000s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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Since my last post I have spent a lot of time out filming and photographing. Eagle season here is really coming to an end and with this pandemic I am not sure I am going to be able to travel to Maryland to go to the Conowingo Dam again. So, for now I will turn my focus to other waterfowl during the migration months here. Over the last month or so I have seen plenty of eagles due to them being on their nests. But I have not managed many good photos. However, I have been able to get some photos of many other species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0gMSkMLjCU/XnoNdPTUP6I/AAAAAAAABRc/LTUExk4V1KorHum3TU9b20BAiUe-gMjHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Seagull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Seagull" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0gMSkMLjCU/XnoNdPTUP6I/AAAAAAAABRc/LTUExk4V1KorHum3TU9b20BAiUe-gMjHgCEwYBhgL/s640/Seagull.jpg" title="Seagull" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1000, f/6.3 @ 1/1000s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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The first photo that I liked from my trips was a photo of a goose standing on the edge of the ice and reflecting nicely in the open water. I was quite happy with the image. I know that it is just a Canadian goose, so not the most thrilling subject but I just liked the way the image turned out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FqbeToG3G8/XnoNoga-VeI/AAAAAAAABRg/Rbt-HGfYLPk103XZhAIdupYp7XvHr8H2gCEwYBhgL/s1600/TwoSeagulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="TwoSeagulls" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FqbeToG3G8/XnoNoga-VeI/AAAAAAAABRg/Rbt-HGfYLPk103XZhAIdupYp7XvHr8H2gCEwYBhgL/s640/TwoSeagulls.jpg" title="TwoSeagulls" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1600, f/8 @ 1/1250s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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While spending many hours waiting in eagle blinds for an opportunity that rarely came I did get some opportunities to photograph ducks and seagulls. The one day a common merganser came close to the blind and was fishing along the edge of the ice. I wish I could have gotten a little closer, but I will take what I can get. The seagull image was of the bird taking off the ice. I love the contrast of the image and the outstretched wings. I was also lucky enough to get an image of two seagulls flying together. They were circling together for some time, and I was happy to have gotten a decent photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2ENgYJr_Sc/XnoNnuAaQlI/AAAAAAAABRc/Xhzy3V4wqZAFlLwaosAF6a3Q4hQhlDw1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/SwanEarlyLight2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="MuteSwan" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2ENgYJr_Sc/XnoNnuAaQlI/AAAAAAAABRc/Xhzy3V4wqZAFlLwaosAF6a3Q4hQhlDw1gCEwYBhgL/s640/SwanEarlyLight2.jpg" title="MuteSwan" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 320, f/6.3 @ 1/1250s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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One of the days I got to the Bashakill Wetlands before the sun came up. I was lucky enough to spot the Mute Swan very early so I was able to photograph it during the golden hour while the sun was coming up. It turned out to be a weird morning because after the sun came up it quickly went behind clouds and started snowing. I probably spent about an hour photographing the swan and was happy with the way some of the images turned out. I always love the winter grass turning a gold color due to the early morning sun. Also, the swan was more of a soft yellow instead of the typical bright white.<br />
I am looking forward to taking more trips soon.<br />
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Hopefully, the Covid 19 situation will end soon, and life will return to normal. Until next time, please be safe. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-87901571119724194162020-01-12T14:59:00.001-05:002020-01-12T14:59:33.736-05:00Happy New Year and a Slow Start to 2020<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CUJZdtkapf4/Xht5J23hUbI/AAAAAAAABPY/EUAYm5ojQF8sJHahMlgpeSRAGiaCxSAEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/YukonSuspensionBrideBlackandWhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CUJZdtkapf4/Xht5J23hUbI/AAAAAAAABPY/EUAYm5ojQF8sJHahMlgpeSRAGiaCxSAEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/YukonSuspensionBrideBlackandWhite.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 400, f/11 @ 1/320 sec Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
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I hope everyone had a happy holiday and
a great start to the new year. I have been trying my best to get out
and photograph wildlife, but it has been extremely slow to start the
new year. I would normally be photographing bald eagles by now, but I
am not seeing many in this area. It has been very warm this year and
the lakes are not frozen over yet. I feel like I have seen increased
numbers lately but they have to much free range with all the open
water. Hopefully, soon it will get a little colder and I will be able
to get some great photos of them. Speaking of bald eagles, I have
planned a trip next weekend to Maryland in the hope to photograph
some. I look forward to updating about that upcoming trip in a little
over a week.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/11 @ 15 sec. Manual exposure</td></tr>
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Over the holiday, since I was not having much luck
with wildlife I did spend an early morning at the Bashakill Wetlands
in Wurtsboro, NY. I arrived well before sunrise and I decided to test
out some of my new equipment. I was taking some long exposure
landscape photographs using my new Cokin Neutral Density filters kit.
I like them so far. I have not had too many opportunities to use them
but they are very simple to use. I had one photo from the trip that I
liked. I decided to put the photo into black and white because of the
long exposure. I feel that it looked great that way. The 15-second
exposure made the water very reflective and the grasses are reflected
quite well in the water. Also the clouds got smooth because of the
long exposure. I just loved the way the photo turned out. It was
something that I had never been able to do before, and it turned out
well. I look forward to trying more long exposure daylight photos
soon.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 160, f/11 @ 1/320 sec. Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
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I also decided that I would go through some of my old
photographs from my trip to Alaska earlier this year. I discovered a
new way to touch them up and I was experimenting a bit with
Photoscape X. I love the way I was able to touch them up. I feel the
one photo that I made into a high contrast black and white was almost
like an Ansel Adams photograph. It was taken in British Columbia on
the Yukon Suspension Bridge. I love it, and I hope everyone enjoys
it. I also touched up another photograph that I had not posted before
and I like the way it came out. It was when the cruise ship was
approaching the Dawes Glacier and we were heading into an ice field,
which gave the foreground water some interest. I hope to go through
some more and hope that I can find some other interesting
photographs.<br /><br />I will be leaving for my trip on Friday and I am
looking forward to it. I can't wait to spend the whole weekend
photographing with a friend. Until Next Time.<br /><br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-46940034271961222262019-12-02T15:03:00.001-05:002019-12-02T15:03:25.413-05:00GoPro Hero 8 on its way<br />
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I have been spending my weekends out an
about but I have not managed any good photographs. I spent a couple
of days at the Bashakill Wetlands and didn't really see to much. I
did encounter a lot of people out enjoying the trails before winter
set in this week. I have also been monitoring the local reservoirs
for eagle activity, but I have only seen a couple. Nothing close
enough to photograph. I did see some kind of weasel or fisher but I
was not sure exactly what it was. The photographs I did manage were
to blurry. It was a long way away from me, but I was still very
happy to get the opportunity to see it. I don't normally see them.</div>
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This weekend was another lost weekend
because of the major snowstorm. The roads have been to dangerous to
risk going anywhere, and it is still snowing. Hopefully next weekend
will be better.</div>
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Since I was stuck mostly inside I
decided I would order a GoPro Hero 8 and some other stuff. I am
hoping to start making vlog videos for YouTube in the future. I
figured getting a video camera would be the only way for me to
accomplish that so I made the purchase while it was on sale this
weekend. I had already ordered a Rode video micro microphone for my
camera so I can start to do some videography of my trips. I am
hoping that this winter I will be able to take some video of the bald
eagles that I have been photographing for over a decade.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since I was basically stuck at home I
decided that I would make a Shutterstock account and test my luck
with selling some of the my photographs. I am interested to see how
it turns out. So far 9 out of 10 of my images were accepted. I was
extremely happy about that. I was all worried that my images would
not even make the cut to be accepted. Only time will tell how this
will work out for me. Over time I hope that I can talk a little more
about my findings with Stock photography.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am hoping to get out an take more
photographs soon. Until Next Time.
</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-34651802440680992222019-10-24T20:30:00.001-04:002019-10-24T20:30:48.593-04:00Early Morning Walks and Backyard Macro Photography<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KX6-UPaUio/XbI_JJlDZ0I/AAAAAAAABNQ/hx5BnDeS1-YoxjULwR1A2XdhT8ZW1RQ9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/JumpingSpider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jumping Spider" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KX6-UPaUio/XbI_JJlDZ0I/AAAAAAAABNQ/hx5BnDeS1-YoxjULwR1A2XdhT8ZW1RQ9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/JumpingSpider.jpg" title="Jumping Spider" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 1000, f/8 @ 1/180s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two weekends ago turned out to be a photogenic weekend. I did not get a chance to upload the photographs. On Saturday, I stayed home and took a lot of pictures in my yard. I managed a few good photos. I was mostly trying to photograph using my macro lens, but I was not having to much luck. I did manage one photograph of a weed in the garden that had gone to seed. One seed was sitting atop the plume of other seeds. I just loved the way the photo turned out. I was pleased with the way the light hit off the curves in the seed, and with the composition of the picture.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5iNZlqPXnM/XbI_dAUhDAI/AAAAAAAABN0/xeyoNg8YJxIf6MX1h1JFy8RhWsak1DUQQCEwYBhgL/s1600/OneSeed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="PlantSeed" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5iNZlqPXnM/XbI_dAUhDAI/AAAAAAAABN0/xeyoNg8YJxIf6MX1h1JFy8RhWsak1DUQQCEwYBhgL/s640/OneSeed.jpg" title="PlantSeed" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 100, f/2.8 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After about an hour, I was lurking around our shed, looking for spiders. That is when I looked down and was amazed to find a little jumping spider just hanging out on a plant pot. I did my best to photograph it, and I was delighted with the result. It is the best jumping spider photograph that I have ever taken. There are things that I could improve on. But I was excited when I saw a few of the photos. I could not believe how amazing these little spiders are. I was just stunned to see the beautiful orange colors around his eyes. I also liked the way that the background turned out in the one photograph because the light from my flash made round speckles in the background of the spider when it hit off the plastic of the container. I just really loved this photograph.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xG5DE6vDGYk/XbI_ZgAAcWI/AAAAAAAABNw/TjGf_xMqya0uYrkg9k26ehuTJ9R4a169gCEwYBhgL/s1600/OldTrusselFall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="TrestleFallFoliage" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xG5DE6vDGYk/XbI_ZgAAcWI/AAAAAAAABNw/TjGf_xMqya0uYrkg9k26ehuTJ9R4a169gCEwYBhgL/s640/OldTrusselFall.jpg" title="TrestleFallFoliage" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/13 @ 1/10 sec Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That Sunday, I decided I would get up before dawn and go out to the nearby reservoir to try and photograph the fall foliage. It was a somewhat foggy day, and I was only happy with one photograph that I took. The colors were stunning, but I did not capture many pictures that I was pleased with. However, when the sun was rising, I saw a patch of high weeds that were shining in the morning light. So I decided I would try and capture it. I laid on my stomach in the tall grass and pointed the camera directly at the sun. I loved the color and the contrast that I was able to capture, and I was quite surprised by the way the photos turned out. It was worth laying in the grass for the shot.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juN-m-fylo4/XbI_Bc0ge1I/AAAAAAAABNY/mtvYwPSS63gSGRLUxcs-yfWsjwc-2xVpgCEwYBhgL/s1600/MorningSunGrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="MorningSunGrass" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juN-m-fylo4/XbI_Bc0ge1I/AAAAAAAABNY/mtvYwPSS63gSGRLUxcs-yfWsjwc-2xVpgCEwYBhgL/s640/MorningSunGrass.jpg" title="MorningSunGrass" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/13 @ 1/60 sec Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7fVSaN0fYY/XbI_UgCOnjI/AAAAAAAABNs/TQrqER2fsxobClFet4P_uByTHiNTM1T4ACEwYBhgL/s1600/MorningSunGrass2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="MorningSunGrass2" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7fVSaN0fYY/XbI_UgCOnjI/AAAAAAAABNs/TQrqER2fsxobClFet4P_uByTHiNTM1T4ACEwYBhgL/s640/MorningSunGrass2.jpg" title="MorningSunGrass2" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/13 @ 1/60 sec Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall the weekend went well. But last weekend, I did not get a chance to photograph anything. I am planning a trip to a friend's farm tomorrow and Saturday. I am hoping that I will get plenty of photographs to share. I look forward to the next time. I hope everyone enjoys the photos.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-54437361193383397742019-10-13T15:19:00.001-04:002019-10-20T16:32:44.411-04:00Bashakill Wetlands and Mongaup River<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGxFMWYRw8g/XaN0ML9ceEI/AAAAAAAABL0/7V1LIFGQNgYhJIQY3zEFr4c0xRvOznpIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MonguapRiverMotionBlur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mongaup River" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGxFMWYRw8g/XaN0ML9ceEI/AAAAAAAABL0/7V1LIFGQNgYhJIQY3zEFr4c0xRvOznpIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/MonguapRiverMotionBlur.jpg" title="Mongaup River" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/32 @ 4 sec Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last weekend I spent Saturday evening on a trail along the Mongaup River. I was trying to photograph the fall scenery as well as anything else in the woodland. I started by taking photographs of the Mongaup River, trying to capture the fall colors and some motion blur. The photo is more of a water motion blur photograph than a typical fall color photograph, but I was happy with it. Towards the end of the evening, I sat on a rock along the river and watched the sun go down behind the trees. The beautiful yellow rays of light were coming in through the trees, but I was unable to capture the true essence of the scene I was seeing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoGvDTD1PGI/XaN1FnkSbbI/AAAAAAAABMA/yFJqd8Ae-pY6Ph52kYWC34IzfPsL4pkoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MushroomCloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mushroom Close up" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoGvDTD1PGI/XaN1FnkSbbI/AAAAAAAABMA/yFJqd8Ae-pY6Ph52kYWC34IzfPsL4pkoACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/MushroomCloseup.jpg" title="Mushroom Close up" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 @ 1/60 sec. Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was also very fortunate to find one lone mushroom on a log that I was able to photograph. I also liked the way that the photo turned out. I have not done much mushroom photography, but I think that I will try it more in the future.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9jDR2V7zBc/XaN158MZnuI/AAAAAAAABMI/hyUoIH6aZkI6zoXcaVP1WHGeHjShjqyfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/GreatBlueHeron1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="GreatBlueHeron1" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9jDR2V7zBc/XaN158MZnuI/AAAAAAAABMI/hyUoIH6aZkI6zoXcaVP1WHGeHjShjqyfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/GreatBlueHeron1.jpg" title="GreatBlueHeron1" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1250, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sunday morning, it was a much darker dreary day. It was supposed to rain, and I wanted to get out before it started. So I went out to the Bashakill Wetlands at about 7 am. I walked the stop sign trail where I had <a href="https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/2019/09/bashakill-wetlands-spiders-and-great.html" target="_blank">photographed the egrets</a> the week before, hoping that I would see them again. I made it to the place where the egrets were, but they were not there. I decided that I would sit on the raised platform like the previous week, and wait to see what I could find. It was very peaceful because I did not see any other person at the Bashakill that morning. I think the weather kept everyone away. After about an hour sitting in the raised stand, I heard a Great Blue Heron. It came flying in and landed in front of me. I was lucky enough to capture a few photographs of it coming in. Then it actively was fishing in front of me for a while. I was unable to use my 1.4x teleconverter because of the lighting situation. But my Sigma 150-600 did an excellent job without it. It was fun watching the Heron fish for a while. Then I realized that it was getting agitated by something. Then I noticed something else behind the Heron in my viewfinder.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--53ler7GTeo/XaN16GAsQgI/AAAAAAAABMc/qurItuo1Qh0qYC_fzcn_m0gzJWbQQvM7gCEwYBhgL/s1600/GreatBlueHeron2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="GreatBlueHeron2" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--53ler7GTeo/XaN16GAsQgI/AAAAAAAABMc/qurItuo1Qh0qYC_fzcn_m0gzJWbQQvM7gCEwYBhgL/s640/GreatBlueHeron2.jpg" title="GreatBlueHeron2" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1250, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Initially I thought it was a muskrat or beaver. But after looking closer at the picture, I realized it was some river otters. They seemed to be fishing in the same spot as the Heron. The one photograph shows the Heron staring right at the river otters. I had not seen river otters at the Bashakill before so, it was a great treat. I had sat in the stand for about 3 hours, and mother nature rewarded me for being patient. Even though it was a dark overcast morning, it turned out to be a great day. At around 11 am, it started raining, and I decided to call it a day.<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="HeronAndOtters" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juOPE2CSpgE/XaN2DTcjWYI/AAAAAAAABMk/KyKWYYxhQ4k4q7YuLZxfxa-IDAQhhR2owCEwYBhgL/s640/HeronAndOtters.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="HeronAndOtters" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1250, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juOPE2CSpgE/XaN2DTcjWYI/AAAAAAAABMk/KyKWYYxhQ4k4q7YuLZxfxa-IDAQhhR2owCEwYBhgL/s1600/HeronAndOtters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juOPE2CSpgE/XaN2DTcjWYI/AAAAAAAABMk/KyKWYYxhQ4k4q7YuLZxfxa-IDAQhhR2owCEwYBhgL/s1600/HeronAndOtters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
Overall last weekend turned out great, and I look forward to spending some more fall weekends taking photographs. Until Next Time.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59E6eDetthY/XaN16qRzVAI/AAAAAAAABMg/q689piQbT_wLYdWA-3rsv5UkqodCMNM3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/GreatBlueHeron3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="GreatBlueHeron3" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59E6eDetthY/XaN16qRzVAI/AAAAAAAABMg/q689piQbT_wLYdWA-3rsv5UkqodCMNM3ACEwYBhgL/s640/GreatBlueHeron3.jpg" title="GreatBlueHeron3" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1250, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0Basha Kill Wildlife Refuge, S Rd, Wurtsboro, NY 12790, USA41.5161379 -74.53747099999998215.994103399999997 -115.84606499999998 67.0381724 -33.228876999999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-66672811953857521682019-09-28T21:25:00.000-04:002019-09-30T10:30:47.644-04:00Bashakill Wetlands: Spiders and Great Egrets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wyO7qWKtlOg/XZAD17xWP5I/AAAAAAAABLE/dUPUFZccZM0iKC-1ELDFs5GpjJrCfJzpQCEwYBhgL/s1600/GreatEgret2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Great Egret 1" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wyO7qWKtlOg/XZAD17xWP5I/AAAAAAAABLE/dUPUFZccZM0iKC-1ELDFs5GpjJrCfJzpQCEwYBhgL/s640/GreatEgret2.jpg" title="Great Egret 1" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, 1.4x teleconverter, ISO 100, f/9 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last weekend I spent several days at the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. Saturday was mostly an uneventful evening. I was there for about five hours and had nothing to show for it. I spent a lot of my time walking the trails and sitting waiting for something to come along. I was even there to watch the sunset. But it still was not a great day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jejfiL26Atg/XZAEDi3ddGI/AAAAAAAABLI/-MF7uwOKt3QX4f9Y3X3o1uLjt0s8yR8NQCEwYBhgL/s1600/RedSpider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red Spider" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jejfiL26Atg/XZAEDi3ddGI/AAAAAAAABLI/-MF7uwOKt3QX4f9Y3X3o1uLjt0s8yR8NQCEwYBhgL/s640/RedSpider.jpg" title="Red Spider" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 640, f/8 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Several times when I thought I was going to get a chance at some wildlife action, people would always walk by. On the long trail, I thought I was alone, and I was trying to photograph some dragonflies and small birds when all of a sudden, a man on a bike with a dog came upon me. After they passed, I did not see anything more. So I walked back to my car and moved to a place where I thought I would be alone and would be able to watch the sunset on the marsh. I had been sitting in one place for about an hour alone. I was watching plenty of wood ducks fly by, but nothing came close enough. Then out of the blue, another group with a dog came upon me. They were startled because I was sitting still and they didn't see me until they were on top of me. It just was so frustrating that people kept finding me because after they start talking and making noise, nothing is going to come bye. So, I decided to pack it in for the night with the sun completely down.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoCe4QoddC8/XZAEFolF_ZI/AAAAAAAABLY/UYPXQev4Ev0GZ60LruP9QIANW_SdoiDfwCEwYBhgL/s1600/SpiderWebDroplets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spider Web Droplets" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoCe4QoddC8/XZAEFolF_ZI/AAAAAAAABLY/UYPXQev4Ev0GZ60LruP9QIANW_SdoiDfwCEwYBhgL/s640/SpiderWebDroplets.jpg" title="Spider Web Droplets" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 160, f/8 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next morning my brother joined me, and we went back to the Bashakill. We arrived quite early, and there were a lot fewer people there. We started at the boat launch, and I was hoping that I would be able to photograph some migratory birds. Once I got out of the car, I realized that I was targeting the wrong animal. So I changed lenses to my Tamron 90mm Macro lens. In the bushes, there were a ton of spider webs with the morning dew in them. So I started taking pictures of them. Then I found one web with a spider in it. I am not sure what species it is, but it was a beautiful red color. I don't think I have ever photographed spider webs with dew in them, but I enjoyed a couple of the photographs that I managed.<br />
<br />
After a while, we decided to move. My brother took me to a trail that was probably much less traveled. The grass was much higher, and there was not much of a path. Branches were impeding the tiny trail, and we had to duck and dodge to get through. But at the end of the trail, it comes to a section of the long path. To my amazement, when we stepped out on the long path trail, there were three Great Egrets in the marsh in front of us. I decided that they were a bit too far away after taking some initial photographs, so I put on my Sigma 1.4x teleconverter with my Sigma 150-600mm lens.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gWmtkcM5YCk/XZAD0oV31eI/AAAAAAAABK4/zkvlE2Qe-LsO3bfVKSgh9YXa_F02SbiLwCEwYBhgL/s1600/GreatEgret1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Great Egret 2" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gWmtkcM5YCk/XZAD0oV31eI/AAAAAAAABK4/zkvlE2Qe-LsO3bfVKSgh9YXa_F02SbiLwCEwYBhgL/s640/GreatEgret1.jpg" title="Great Egret 2" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, 1.4x teleconverter, ISO 125, f/9 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then we moved up the trail a bit and proceeded into one of the stands at the Bashakill. So, I was about 15 feet up in the air, which is not ideal, but it was better than being behind the dense brush. I decided to use exposure compensation of -1 to help not blow out the white bodies of the Great Egrets. It was the first time that I had ever done this. It worked out great. I managed to take probably a hundred or so photographs. I always seem to take more than needed to make sure they are coming out. It was approaching midday by the time we came upon the egrets, and they were not doing too much. It was thrilling to see them, because I don't see them often in my area, and I have never been able to pull off a photograph of them. In the past, I would always overexpose them. I was thrilled that I had finally captured some pictures of them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_2HTCs2zfM/XZAD1SQs3JI/AAAAAAAABK8/pJYeDFCldj0_rxn4u0aGpe11Sk0r33XCQCEwYBhgL/s1600/GreatEgret3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_2HTCs2zfM/XZAD1SQs3JI/AAAAAAAABK8/pJYeDFCldj0_rxn4u0aGpe11Sk0r33XCQCEwYBhgL/s640/GreatEgret3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, 1.4x teleconverter, ISO 100, f/9 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
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Overall the trips to the Bashakill were a success, but it took a lot of effort. I guess patience finally paid off, and maybe a little bit of luck. I look forward to the next adventure. I hope everyone enjoys the photographs. Until next time.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0Basha Kill Wildlife Refuge, S Rd, Wurtsboro, NY 12790, USA41.5161379 -74.53747099999998241.513163399999996 -74.542513499999984 41.5191124 -74.53242849999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-46400757085182104372019-09-14T17:34:00.001-04:002019-09-19T21:06:42.587-04:00Going Through My Photographs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGR6NceF2iY/XX1a-F5ll3I/AAAAAAAABJQ/kOP1QjwVncIQZjNLvQS1GASFt61bkTG6QCEwYBhgL/s1600/DragonflySuperMacro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="MacroDragonfly" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGR6NceF2iY/XX1a-F5ll3I/AAAAAAAABJQ/kOP1QjwVncIQZjNLvQS1GASFt61bkTG6QCEwYBhgL/s640/DragonflySuperMacro.jpg" title="MacroDragonfly" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 100, f/4 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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Over the last couple of weeks I have not had much opportunity to get out and take any photographs. I have been getting home after dark most days and I have not spent a lot of time out in the wilderness. I am hoping that tomorrow will be a good day, and I will be able to get out and enjoy the day, before heading back to work on Monday.<br />
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Since I have not taken many photographs lately, I decided to go through some of my photographs from earlier this year. I found some that I was pleased with. I am not sure why I didn't share them sooner.<br />
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While going through the pictures I found a Macro photograph of a dragonfly that I really liked. It was really close up. I wish that I had not cut off the rest of the tail, but I really like the way the wings are out of focus and lead your eye up to the right. Also the wings have reflections of the beautiful yellow colors from the body of the dragonfly. The green background being very out of focus also lends well to keeping the dragonfly as the clear subject of the image. I just love Macro photographs of dragonflies. It gives a perspective of a beautiful insect that most people don't get to see, and it brings out all the little hairs and every little detail. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDPIIkbz2S0/XX1bCahOdCI/AAAAAAAABJg/Z7GwZPEz4-oISgyg8r9Wf4mRssLP2LSxACEwYBhgL/s1600/CanadaGeeseFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Canadian Geese Family" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDPIIkbz2S0/XX1bCahOdCI/AAAAAAAABJg/Z7GwZPEz4-oISgyg8r9Wf4mRssLP2LSxACEwYBhgL/s640/CanadaGeeseFamily.jpg" title="Canadian Geese Family" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, ISO 1600, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</span></td></tr>
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The photograph of the geese family was taken on a lovely spring day at the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area near Wurtsboro New York. I was laying on the ground when I took the photograph. The geese were slowly walking up the trail in front of me. I don't know what it is about this photograph but I really enjoy looking at it. I love the way the grasses and brush just frame them. The only thing that I think could improve the photograph is if they were facing me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpOwzrZy5jw/XX1bBxejmJI/AAAAAAAABJc/lcHctX4c_Yg5451_kwzQ2DSpie7KzwnJgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PaintedTurtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painted Turtle" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpOwzrZy5jw/XX1bBxejmJI/AAAAAAAABJc/lcHctX4c_Yg5451_kwzQ2DSpie7KzwnJgCEwYBhgL/s640/PaintedTurtle.jpg" title="Painted Turtle" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150 - 600mm f/5- f/6.3, ISO 1250, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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A little later on during the same trip I came upon a painted turtle just basking in the sun. Again I tried to get down as low as I could to try and get a different angle then I normally photograph at. I did have a hard time focusing on the turtle's head. Even in this photograph the focus was more on the shell. But the blades of grass were coming up and making it hard to focus. I love the shallow depth of field because it makes the turtle stand out in its environment. It just could have been a little better if the focus was perfect. But I still like the shot.<br />
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I think for the time being my best chances are probably going to be photographing a lot of macro insects and amphibians. Also very soon the ducks and waterfowl will be migrating. It may already be starting. Then once the winter sets in I will probably spend a lot of my time photographing bald eagles. I really can't wait to test my new camera and lens combo on flying birds of prey. Until next time. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-25262376554350132672019-09-02T19:11:00.001-04:002019-09-15T19:53:50.057-04:00Trip to the Hickok Brook Multiple Use Area<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CT6O6CGS02o/XW2gKO8yuPI/AAAAAAAABIY/Q0WRN0q1JMAuVTQvQq9exfMOL472-QAigCEwYBhgL/s1600/BullFrogMacro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CT6O6CGS02o/XW2gKO8yuPI/AAAAAAAABIY/Q0WRN0q1JMAuVTQvQq9exfMOL472-QAigCEwYBhgL/s640/BullFrogMacro.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 400, f/2.8 @ 1/250s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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Since my last post the Arrow-shaped Micrathena Spider's have disappeared. I am not sure if they just moved or if they are no longer alive. It has been getting quite cold here at night and I am not sure what they do for the winter. The trees are starting to change color already here and it just seems very early to me.<br />
Yesterday I took a trip with my brother to Hickok Brook Multiple Use Area to see if we could catch any bass. I brought my camera along in case I had any opportunities. I have seen a lot of bear's there and I never have my camera. The fishing was extremely disappointing. We did not even have a bite. Over the past few years it seems like this once great fishing hole has been completely over fished. It is saddening to me. I have very fond memories of fishing off the spill way, catching small catfish and bass. I have not seen a catfish in there in several years, and the bass fishing has steadily declined also.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Kz8RK7U5eI/XW2f-qRdOsI/AAAAAAAABIc/xwYH_EabkU0CJmseeAsQMvORXOj6KJS3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/BullFrogMacroBandW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Kz8RK7U5eI/XW2f-qRdOsI/AAAAAAAABIc/xwYH_EabkU0CJmseeAsQMvORXOj6KJS3ACEwYBhgL/s640/BullFrogMacroBandW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 400, f/2.8 @ 1/250s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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It was around 60 degrees or so when we got to the lake and there were a large number of bull frogs along the water. I must have seen about 10 or so without really looking for them. They just seemed to be every couple of feet. Just sitting and waiting for it to warm up. I did manage to take some photographs of them and I will post the one that I liked the most. The photograph turned out to be a very high contrast image and I liked the way it turned out. I also turned it into a black and white image and I actually like it better than the colored version. Please let me know what you think in the comments below.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u0fC4a1b2vc/XW2gRhHrXbI/AAAAAAAABIs/G1aj4iUhJwQIpJP_a6XiESo_xz0W8us9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Caterpillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u0fC4a1b2vc/XW2gRhHrXbI/AAAAAAAABIs/G1aj4iUhJwQIpJP_a6XiESo_xz0W8us9ACEwYBhgL/s640/Caterpillar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 1600, f/16 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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Also while fishing I came across a branch full of caterpillars. I am not sure what species they were. They may have been an invasive species, but I really had no clue what species they were. What I found really interesting was when you tapped the branch that they were on they would go from docile into a weird defensive stance all at once. It was like they were one being. They curled up into S shapes and stuck there legs out. I figure they were doing it to ward off predators, but I had never seen anything like it before. I did take a short video of it but I have not taken the time to look at it yet. I had a pesky yellow jacket who would not leave me alone while I was trying to photograph them, so I only took about 20 or so images. All the photographs were taken with the Tamron 90 mm macro.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQieHNzcqAk/XW2gR33LFYI/AAAAAAAABIw/g6mz98gjyFYli6_NGGqlT65MepkoTmswACEwYBhgL/s1600/Caterpillar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQieHNzcqAk/XW2gR33LFYI/AAAAAAAABIw/g6mz98gjyFYli6_NGGqlT65MepkoTmswACEwYBhgL/s640/Caterpillar2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 100, f/2.8 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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We did not see any bears this time around but we did see about a 200 pound Black Bear on the way home. It was attempting to cross the road but it decided to turn around and run back into the woods. I did not manage a photograph of it, and it vanished back into the brush. Hopefully soon I will get a chance to photograph a bear. I really had high hopes of photographing Brown Bears in Alaska and I think missing out on that opportunity has me really hoping to at least photograph Black Bears at home.<br />
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I have been very busy lately. Last week I started to teach a college class in C++ programming, in addition to my full time job at the college. So I have been spending a lot of hours at the college. But labor day weekend finally gave me an opportunity to spend some time out enjoying the wilderness. I am hoping I will get to spend some more time out soon, and winter will probably be here before I know it. I cannot wait to really test my sigma 150-600 mm lens on bald eagles. It should be a lot of fun this year. Until Next Time.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-13300182567796511022019-08-17T13:38:00.000-04:002019-09-15T19:54:12.806-04:00Micrathena Sagitatta: Arrow-shaped Micrathena Spider<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ja8T4WynJbs/XVg4UpCrlRI/AAAAAAAABHs/hmNNAZ_43IYHWmpvJDVeOaVaxnGrgZnFQCLcBGAs/s1600/Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderTop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderTopView" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ja8T4WynJbs/XVg4UpCrlRI/AAAAAAAABHs/hmNNAZ_43IYHWmpvJDVeOaVaxnGrgZnFQCLcBGAs/s640/Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderTop.jpg" title="Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderTopView" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 400, f/2.8 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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In my last post, I talked about how I really wanted to get a chance to photograph some spiders. I could not believe it but today I got my chance. I went out in my backyard today, to start cleaning out a garden that we had just let get away from us over the last few years. But as I started to trim back some of the branches off the bush in front of me, I saw two different Arrow-shaped Micrathena Spiders. After some research I found out they were both females. I managed a few good photographs, and I hope over the next few days I get a few more. One of the spiders was rebuilding its web so I focused a lot of my time on that spider. I just could not believe that these spiders have probably been in my backyard all summer. To me they are some of the craziest looking spiders around here. Ever since I photographed and wrote a post about them back in 2012, I had not really seen any. (<a href="https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/2012/07/arrow-shaped-micrathena-spider.html" target="_blank">Link to 2012 Post</a>) Maybe I just was not looking hard enough. Since then I have done some research a few times but I never posted anything about these spiders. So I figured I would put a little information about them here.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQppGME3le4/XVg4Ug61WbI/AAAAAAAABH4/KCaumA6W4mU7VuXh3n3ed0FkeHJ8Uf9bgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderBottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderBottomView" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQppGME3le4/XVg4Ug61WbI/AAAAAAAABH4/KCaumA6W4mU7VuXh3n3ed0FkeHJ8Uf9bgCEwYBhgL/s640/Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderBottom.jpg" title="Arrow-ShapedMicrathenaSpiderBottomView" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Tamron 90 mm Macro Lens, ISO 400, f/2.8 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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<h3>
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What do they look like?</h3>
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Arrow-shaped Micrathena Spiders are one of the smaller species of orb-weaving spider. They are sexually dimorphic. The males are smaller averaging around 0.5cm and females about 1.0 cm. (without including the legs) The females have the more striking features and beautiful colors. Both have the distinctive arrow shape, but the females are more pronounced. The females also have additional small spikes on the abdomen near the thorax.<br />
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Web Structure:</h3>
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The most interesting thing I did not know about them is that the web consists of two portions the frame and the orb. The frame is a relatively permanent structure and some spiders will leave them up for days and weeks. The orb however is built each day at dawn before being taken down in the evening. When they take it down they consume it. They also typically stay in the hole at the center of the orb where it hangs upside down waiting for its prey to wander into the web. In my case because they were upside down the good side was facing into the bush. So I had to climb in behind the bush and the brush to be able to get the shots.<br />
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<h3>
Where are they located?</h3>
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Micrathena Sagitatta is one of only three Micrathena spiders found in North America. It is most common to the eastern half of the country. Nationally it is found in nearly every state east of Kansas, and as far north as Maine.<br />
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<h3>
Are they dangerous?</h3>
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Most people who look these spiders up are rightly concerned as to whether these spiders are dangerous? For the most part, they aren't dangerous to people. They have venom that they use to paralyze and kill bugs, but their venom isn't strong enough to do the same to larger creatures. The venom may be a concern for those who are allergic to it, but this is rare. That said, the bite can be painful, so you should try and avoid accidentally sticking your hand into their web.<br />
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Even though these spiders are not really dangerous they do look quite scary. Once you get past the fear of them they can be very interesting just to watch. I hope over the next week I get some more opportunities to photograph them, and as I clean out the garden maybe I will find more interesting bugs. Until next time.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-946512872227172172019-08-05T20:28:00.000-04:002019-08-05T20:28:19.055-04:00Macro Photography: Historic Goshen Farm Maryland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4-9TabUOJI/XUjHexq3BeI/AAAAAAAABGw/3XCYaaX8LcUMqkFQel8iz2dfTi-vZ1YxwCLcBGAs/s1600/BumbleBeeOnFlower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bumble Bee On A Coneflower" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4-9TabUOJI/XUjHexq3BeI/AAAAAAAABGw/3XCYaaX8LcUMqkFQel8iz2dfTi-vZ1YxwCLcBGAs/s640/BumbleBeeOnFlower.jpg" title="Bumble Bee On A Coneflower" width="640" /></a></div>
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In my last post, I talked about how I had just gotten back from a trip to Maryland to visit my sister. If you have not had a chance to see it yet, <a href="https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/2019/07/alaska-time-lapse-video.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. The one evening, my family and I went to Historic Goshen Farm and Educational Center for an evening of music. I am not much of a live music fan, but I was very interested in visiting their garden. They had several gardens and an apiary. The one garden was called the pollinator garden and it was full of all kinds of beautiful flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f-50Fh_RrYQ/XUjHn2Rp-YI/AAAAAAAABHA/rKxNq4ANtaEr0_lpUZDX83m1nSn25gebgCEwYBhgL/s1600/BumbleBeeOnFlower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bumble Bee on Coneflower 2" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f-50Fh_RrYQ/XUjHn2Rp-YI/AAAAAAAABHA/rKxNq4ANtaEr0_lpUZDX83m1nSn25gebgCEwYBhgL/s640/BumbleBeeOnFlower2.jpg" title="Bumble Bee on Coneflower 2" width="640" /></a></div>
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Naturally this attracted a wide arraignment of insects. There were a ton of bees. Not just honey bees from the apiary, but also wasps, hornets, bumble bees, you name it and it was there. I am always very unnerved by bees but I think if I hadn't gotten used to them buzzing around me I would not have gotten any photographs, because they were everywhere. I did have this one blue colored wasp that was giving me a hard time. Thankfully he moved on without stinging me.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro5ZqV85svY/XUjHxCgKbTI/AAAAAAAABHM/paXGH_7wg-sGpyxlD1TY0-mmzSXEDg2gwCEwYBhgL/s1600/EasternTiger%2BSwallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro5ZqV85svY/XUjHxCgKbTI/AAAAAAAABHM/paXGH_7wg-sGpyxlD1TY0-mmzSXEDg2gwCEwYBhgL/s640/EasternTiger%2BSwallowtail.jpg" title="Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the pollinator garden and on the grounds, there were also a lot of different species of butterflies and moths. Most prominent were the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Eastern Black Swallowtail. Almost all my photographs of the Eastern Black Swallowtails came out to dark. But I did capture some beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. I just love the colors that they exhibit.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yil_6yrGTwk/XUjH5dOqUjI/AAAAAAAABHQ/jWFYpD8sfd8lvOJm8PWLfuUrdl77ziRdACEwYBhgL/s1600/EasternTiger%2BSwallowtailOnFlower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on Flower" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yil_6yrGTwk/XUjH5dOqUjI/AAAAAAAABHQ/jWFYpD8sfd8lvOJm8PWLfuUrdl77ziRdACEwYBhgL/s640/EasternTiger%2BSwallowtailOnFlower.jpg" title="Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on Flower" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the pollinator garden I also captured a couple photographs of a Bumble Bee on a Purple / Pink Coneflower. I could be wrong but I believe that is what it was. If you know what kind of flower it is you can comment the name down in the comments section. The colors were just amazing in these photographs. The other flowers in the background I think just make the bright red and pinks pop with the Bumble Bee as an added focus. I think these are the best Bee photographs that I have ever taken.<br />
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Also, I was able to spot some Monarch Caterpillars, chomping away on Milkweed. It had been a few years since I had seen one. So it was quite remarkable to see so many in one garden. I did not see any chrysalis yet, but it must be getting close to that time of year.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7Rbyqoy_uo/XUjH6LGE0tI/AAAAAAAABHU/f73w4lToJYw9OgBlsDxDupHcsDZ66NmdQCEwYBhgL/s1600/MonarchCaterpillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Monarch Caterpillar" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7Rbyqoy_uo/XUjH6LGE0tI/AAAAAAAABHU/f73w4lToJYw9OgBlsDxDupHcsDZ66NmdQCEwYBhgL/s640/MonarchCaterpillar.jpg" title="Monarch Caterpillar" width="640" /></a></div>
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Overall the trip was a lot of fun and I think that I managed some great macro photographs from the trip. I am looking forward to taking more Macro Photographs of insects while the summer lasts. I would love to get some photographs of Jumping Spiders or just Spiders in general. But I have a big fear of spiders and I normally try and keep my distance from them which typically results in less than stellar shots. Furthermore I would like to try and photograph some more Dragonflies and Damselflies before the summer is over. Fall is quickly approaching and then winter will be here soon. Then I should get a good chance to test out my Sigma 150-600 mm lens on some flying eagles for the first time. I can't wait. Until Next Time. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-1111351538121592012019-07-29T19:34:00.001-04:002019-08-05T19:37:05.023-04:00Alaska Time-lapse VideoDuring my last post I had mentioned that I had been working on putting together a video of some time-lapse that I had taken on my trip in Alaska. I finally put them together and got them uploaded. It took much longer than anticipated, but I am very happy with the result.<br />
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Ultimately, I decided that I should not be posting videos on my person account. So I created a YouTube brand account where I could post everything related to my wildlife photography blog. I decided to keep the name the same as my blog: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCayeniKJcbIDfvpTHlnhFlg/" target="_blank">Aaron Smith Wildlife Photography</a>. I had to re-upload my previous video to the new account and upload the new one as well. From now on I will post all my videos on the new channel.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0G0_hj9DJAw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0G0_hj9DJAw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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The new video is a compilation of time-lapses that I took on the cruise ship in Alaska. I had taken a few time-lapse sequences in the evenings when we were leaving port cities. Because it was a moving ship, they seem much faster than the previous video I had taken. You can also see when the ship speed was changing and also some movement up and down due wave action. So, the time-lapse's were very different than my previous time-lapse when the camera was completely still.<br />
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I had planned on doing some wildlife photography during last weekend but I did not really get many photographs. Then this week came and went like a whirlwind, and I took a trip to Maryland to see my sister. So I have not had to much time to photograph anything. But while I was in Maryland I did visit a historic gardens area and there were more butterflies their than I have ever seen in one place. I did not have a lot of time once we arrived but I am hopeful that I captured a few good shots. There were also a lot of beautiful flowers and plenty of bees. I am hoping to post more about those photographs once I get a chance to look them over on my computer.<br />
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I hope everyone enjoys the time-lapse sequences from my trip. Until Next Time. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-17168393464756314032019-07-15T21:25:00.003-04:002019-08-03T20:07:57.625-04:00Local Wildlife and Alaska Trip Continued<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Over
the last week or so, I have not taken too many new photographs. I
have spent a lot of my free time fishing with my brother, and I have
also been working on going through more photographs and videos from
my Alaska trip. I’m hoping that I will be able to put out the time
lapse videos in the next post. I am trying something new with them
and I have never edited videos before. I have two time lapse videos
that I took on the cruise. They are different then the first one I
did because I was on a moving boat during these. So there was a lot
more motion because of the movement of the boat. But I’m hoping
they will be interesting enough.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64pDMzW3EtY/XS0kMD47QxI/AAAAAAAABFI/REbCyMWNOw0bn-hjXQnSrvwsXzQAHKfdwCEwYBhgL/s1600/BumbleBee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64pDMzW3EtY/XS0kMD47QxI/AAAAAAAABFI/REbCyMWNOw0bn-hjXQnSrvwsXzQAHKfdwCEwYBhgL/s640/BumbleBee.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">On
several occasions I took my camera with me when I was fishing, but I
only managed to take about 100 photographs during those trips. I did
manage to photograph a rabbit the one night, but it was getting quite
dark. The photograph has a lot of noise in it, but I still wanted to
post it. I also spent some time trying my luck at macro photography.
I was using my Canon 6d mark ii with my fathers Tamron 90mm macro
lens. I did struggle some to get parts of the tiny critters in focus.
The auto focus on the lens can be a bit weird, and it does not always
want to work the way you would hope. So I used a lot of manual focus
towards the end of my macro session. I did manage a couple of
photographs. I did like the photograph I managed of a bumble bee, and
I also had some luck with dragonflies.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49g3fiVSfCk/XS0kggQrCzI/AAAAAAAABFY/hdcz-vPJxbc9uQ70xJHi3lVolnvNKUVygCEwYBhgL/s1600/DragonflyonGrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49g3fiVSfCk/XS0kggQrCzI/AAAAAAAABFY/hdcz-vPJxbc9uQ70xJHi3lVolnvNKUVygCEwYBhgL/s640/DragonflyonGrass.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My
plan is to spend some time this weekend out and trying to get some
wildlife photographs. I will most likely head out to the Bashakill
Wildlife Management Area or some other local areas. Hopefully I will
be able to get there around the time when the sun is coming up. I
would love to photograph wildlife in some great lighting. Hopefully
the weather will cooperate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">During the last week I started to go through the pictures I captured on my cell phone during my Alaska trip. I took a lot of photographs on my iPhone, and I figured some would be good. I know the mega pixel count is lower but it was really the only chance I had to capture some of the areas. Because almost all the photographs were taken on the buses, trains, planes, and boats through the windows. So I had to shoot through glass and I figured my cell phone would be easier to press up against the glass to try and minimize glare. I did manage to catch some amazing scenery, so I wanted to share them. So all the pictures below were taken with my iPhone.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">I hope everyone enjoys the photographs. Until next time.</span></span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-31516065855517953642019-06-30T21:39:00.000-04:002019-08-03T20:08:24.251-04:00Alaska Cruise<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQo-pQUyGJQ/XQrXgGqLQkI/AAAAAAAABBA/ZRakaxlCbjU1gW0TizAdC5sSxCDmT07WgCLcBGAs/s1600/Seward%2BAlaska%2BPort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQo-pQUyGJQ/XQrXgGqLQkI/AAAAAAAABBA/ZRakaxlCbjU1gW0TizAdC5sSxCDmT07WgCLcBGAs/s640/Seward%2BAlaska%2BPort.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seward Alaska<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 100, f/5.6 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall, I really enjoyed my trip to Alaska. It was even more awe-inspiring and beautiful than the pictures and videos I had seen. I don’t think that photographs and videos could really capture some of the amazing places that I got to see. Even though I truly enjoyed my trip I am not sure that I would take another cruise. There were some aspects of the cruise that I did not enjoy. I was very happy that I did not experience any sea sickness. I however was not a fan of the small amount of time you have off the cruise ship. I believe that I would have preferred to spend more time in each location. I also did not like the fact that it seems like their main goal on the cruise ship is to separate you from as much money as possible. It was just really annoying. I went to Alaska to escape and enjoy nature, but sometimes it was very hard to because there were so many people in the ports. In every port there was at least 2 cruise ships, which made it extremely crowded. I believe that I would rather go somewhere where it is away from the cruise ships and more isolated. But this trip was by far the most incredible views that I have ever seen, and it was an absolutely amazing vacation.<br />
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My plan for the next few posts is to break down everything I got to experience on my trip, and all the wildlife that I did get to see. I don’t plan on including the travel day to anchorage, or the travel day out of Vancouver. They were rather uneventful days. I hope everyone enjoys seeing the pictures and hearing the stories.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTeHeivtWHo/XQrXPX4q53I/AAAAAAAABA4/ZPaaPJOJTy0_22GVflfLFqHTesqrisnnACEwYBhgL/s1600/Outside%2Bof%2BSeward%2BAlaska.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTeHeivtWHo/XQrXPX4q53I/AAAAAAAABA4/ZPaaPJOJTy0_22GVflfLFqHTesqrisnnACEwYBhgL/s640/Outside%2Bof%2BSeward%2BAlaska.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Seward Alaska<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 100, f/11 @ 1/50s Manual exposure</td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<br />
Day 1: Anchorage Alaska to Seward Alaska</h3>
The first day I boarded a bus at the hotel and took a very lovely trip down route 1, along the Turnagain Arm. It was very different than anything I had ever experienced. They have very large tidal changes, and the tide was out while we drove by. Also the water is filled with silt due to the glacial runoff, and that gave the water a very distinct color. The road for the most part parallels train tracks and the water. Due to it being my first time experiencing Alaska I believe that I was just in shock at how beautiful the views were. It was a long bus ride but it passes very quickly because of the amazing views. I just didn’t want the ride to end. Basically, you are at sea level and looking across the bay, with huge snow-capped mountains in the background. Your eyes are constantly hunting for the next view, or the next animal to show itself. I did see a lot of bald eagles along the shore fishing, but I get to experience that a lot at home.<br />
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A little further along on the bus trip we passed through Portage. We crossed a couple of bridges, and the driver let us know that coming up on the left side a humpback whale had gotten stuck on the shore and died, within a couple of days. There were a lot of eagles around but I did not see any bears at the time. It was a unique experience, but I would much rather see them alive. It did however, give everyone a reminder about how harsh and unforgiving Mother Nature can be.<br />
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Once we arrived in Seward, we boarded the cruise ship. That night around 7 pm we departed from the port and I spent a lot of time on the upper deck photographing the views. I did manage a glimpse at a Humpback whale while leaving the port, but no one else seemed to see it. I thought maybe I was seeing things at that point. But later on in the trip I did point out whales and other wildlife and other people confirmed my sightings.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FISlz__4270/XQrXRW8CGHI/AAAAAAAABBE/S0lX_kImbwwmUVM8o4C68WwY_WuKabaUgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pulling%2Bout%2Bto%2BSea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FISlz__4270/XQrXRW8CGHI/AAAAAAAABBE/S0lX_kImbwwmUVM8o4C68WwY_WuKabaUgCEwYBhgL/s640/Pulling%2Bout%2Bto%2BSea.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed out to Sea<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 100, f/11 @ 1/30s Manual exposure</td></tr>
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<h3>
Day 2: Out to sea and the Hubbard Glacier</h3>
When I awoke on day 2, as far as the eye could see there was nothing but water. For the majority of that day there was just vast empty seas. While at dinner that night, I pointed out two Killer Whales outside the window. Everyone around was very excited to see them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPoOL6gSYak/XQrWmFvn6bI/AAAAAAAABAU/P0aGbprCMbQNqhcpgainhlYhFZXDSDqaQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Hubbard%2BGlacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPoOL6gSYak/XQrWmFvn6bI/AAAAAAAABAU/P0aGbprCMbQNqhcpgainhlYhFZXDSDqaQCEwYBhgL/s640/Hubbard%2BGlacier.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubbard Glacier<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 200, f/11 @ 1/250s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After dinner the ship was arriving at the Hubbard glacier. The problem was, that it was raining and the fog was very thick. I spent several hours up on the upper decks trying to photograph anything. It was quite a scary experience because you cannot help but think about the Titanic, as you hit small chunks of ice and they bang off the ship. You are basically driving though an ice pack on your way up to the glacier. With the visibility so low, we had to get very close to the glacier just to be able to see it. From where we were you could not even see the top of the glacier, it was just pure fog. During our pass by the glacier, chunks of the glacier broke off about 8 to 10 times. I did my best to capture pictures of this happening. I know that glaciers are melting, but I did not think I would see the glacier give way that many times in a short duration. I think that maybe because it was raining, or because the ship got so close, that might have caused more to break loose. None of the other glaciers that I saw on the trip had anything break loose while I was there. Although the weather was not great for viewing the glacier it was still a wonderful experience.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bT7NOLyQcOA/XQrW5omb7KI/AAAAAAAABAk/bit7WzUrBCQAupdWrk2rRFKb5gM7WRLbgCEwYBhgL/s1600/HumpbackFluke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bT7NOLyQcOA/XQrW5omb7KI/AAAAAAAABAk/bit7WzUrBCQAupdWrk2rRFKb5gM7WRLbgCEwYBhgL/s640/HumpbackFluke.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 100, f/5.6 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Day 3: Icy Straight Point and Hoonah Alaska</h3>
Icy Straight Point, was the first and only time that we had to tender to the dock from the cruise ship, because there was another cruise ship in port. It was not that hard though. You basically just get on smaller vessels and they take you to the dock. Due to there being two ships in port it made Icy Straight Point very crowded. They only have one welcoming building and it was packed full of people trying to get to their excursions.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IOELo57a6j4/XQrW1g4ddsI/AAAAAAAABAg/XFe7bE1LPSk3dswEj0SdV-S5Tvn4zwdYQCEwYBhgL/s1600/HumpbackBlow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IOELo57a6j4/XQrW1g4ddsI/AAAAAAAABAg/XFe7bE1LPSk3dswEj0SdV-S5Tvn4zwdYQCEwYBhgL/s640/HumpbackBlow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 100, f/5.6 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our first excursion of the day was a whale watching tour. This was one of the best tours on the entire trip. We got to see a lot of different wildlife and it just made for a great day. Some of the species that we got to see on the trip were humpback whales, sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, bald eagles, porpoises, and a lot of gulls and terns. I did manage a few photographs of the humpback whales, a sea lion, and a harbor seal. For a while we were next to a mother and calf humpback whale. Which I had not experienced in a long time. The first time I saw humpback whales was in Maine when I was a child. There were also a lot of sea lions hanging around with the whales. I missed a few opportunities at close ups of the smaller animals because they got so close to the boat that I could not shoot through the other people on the boat. For most of this trip I did not get a position along the rail of the boat. So I was shooting over the top of most of the people.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6SAu2rUQBQ/XQrW3fMhxSI/AAAAAAAABAg/wyYytD72KzoVeeBihdXBgJuojin0qK-JACEwYBhgL/s1600/HumpbackDeepDive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6SAu2rUQBQ/XQrW3fMhxSI/AAAAAAAABAg/wyYytD72KzoVeeBihdXBgJuojin0qK-JACEwYBhgL/s640/HumpbackDeepDive.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 100, f/5.6 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the afternoon after the whale tour, we took a bus out into the wilderness for our bear tour. We did not manage to see any bears, but we did see some Sitka Black-tailed Deer and a Red Headed Woodpecker. Overall, the wildlife on this tour were so far away that I could not even manage a picture with my 600 mm lens. The coolest thing that we saw during this walk was the amazing little trees. The walkway crosses through forest and almost boggy like terrain. Their growth was stunted due to the harsh conditions, but some were hundreds of years old. After we got back to the bus I realized that I should have been photographing the trees, but I guess I was just too intent on seeing a bear. So I really had nothing to show for this trip.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BAWdUEELa4/XQrXf24XkzI/AAAAAAAABBI/YzwDOLk0Q0QuQ9n0m2xFOPOgRDjEAczBwCEwYBhgL/s1600/SeaLion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BAWdUEELa4/XQrXf24XkzI/AAAAAAAABBI/YzwDOLk0Q0QuQ9n0m2xFOPOgRDjEAczBwCEwYBhgL/s640/SeaLion.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 125, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Day 4: Juneau Alaska</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJTeI8eN-Wk/XQrguQeeJNI/AAAAAAAABBg/ckq2NBx58wMyzEplAHGZfGHXaUKXPlz0ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Mendenhall%2BGlacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJTeI8eN-Wk/XQrguQeeJNI/AAAAAAAABBg/ckq2NBx58wMyzEplAHGZfGHXaUKXPlz0ACEwYBhgL/s640/Mendenhall%2BGlacier.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mendenhall Glacier<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 320, f/11 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In Juneau the first excursion we were on was a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier. The bus ride out was rather enjoyable, and we saw a lot of bald eagles along the route. The only problem was due to the time crunch we only had about 45 minutes to enjoy the glacier. I wish we could have had more time to enjoy the views. The other cool thing was, that it was not very busy when we arrived. So it was relatively peaceful, until a little later after more buses arrived.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QW-oZX1FMTY/XQrWhLLq3_I/AAAAAAAABAM/lr8_xYrv_S0BYKURHBH6Nz7nB3G0EiYzwCEwYBhgL/s1600/BarnSwallow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QW-oZX1FMTY/XQrWhLLq3_I/AAAAAAAABAM/lr8_xYrv_S0BYKURHBH6Nz7nB3G0EiYzwCEwYBhgL/s640/BarnSwallow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 200, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since the area around was on the water, there was a lot of wildlife around as well. At one point I went off alone and somehow got away from other people. I had a barn swallow land on a wooden railing in front of me. It was quite a cool experience because the same bird had been dive bombing other peoples heads who had been around. But once I was alone and relatively still and quite, he came and landed right next to me. He stayed there and stared straight at me. He didn’t seem to mind me at all though because he did not fly off, even while I changed lenses to my 150-600 mm sigma lens. It seemed like he was curious about me. I managed a few photographs of him before a noisy group of people came over to take a picture in front of the view. They were just so oblivious, that they didn’t seem to care about how much noise they were making and the swallow flew off. It was a very cool experience and I had never seen a swallow with colors like his. He was just an absolutely beautiful bird.<br />
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From there we took the bus back to the Mount Roberts Tramway. We were rather disappointed with this excursion. Due to the crazy long lines we did not get a lot of time at the top of the mountain to see the view. We also did not get to walk many of the trails, so it is possible that we missed the best views. But from the main area the best view is blocked by the Tramway building. The most disappointing part was the wait to get on the Tram. We waited in line over an hour and a half just to get up the mountain. There were 5 cruise ships in Juneau on the day we were there, so it was extremely crowded. Once we arrived at the top of the mountain we basically had to wait in another line to come back down. We waited about 45 minutes to come back down the mountain. The ride up and the ride back down, each take about 6 minutes, and that is the best part. At least from what we were able to do, due to the time crunch to get back to the cruise ship.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgjQAM8ws38/XRgS6O2PaFI/AAAAAAAABCU/Fqad4-AyXq49zJIFiFkhiAYZwexYzlDfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/ShipNearIceberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgjQAM8ws38/XRgS6O2PaFI/AAAAAAAABCU/Fqad4-AyXq49zJIFiFkhiAYZwexYzlDfQCEwYBhgL/s640/ShipNearIceberg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed Towards Dawes Glacier<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 160, f/11 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c8cZNBci_vU/XRgRk5Zy0TI/AAAAAAAABB8/PuxyL1jy-6ADn7VQbETjUpGJ9XMyB0teQCLcBGAs/s1600/Seals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c8cZNBci_vU/XRgRk5Zy0TI/AAAAAAAABB8/PuxyL1jy-6ADn7VQbETjUpGJ9XMyB0teQCLcBGAs/s640/Seals.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal Pup and Mother<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 320, f/11 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After leaving Juneau in the early afternoon, we traveled to the Dawes Glacier. Near the glacier I spotted a harbor seal pup and mother near an iceberg. I did manage a photograph but it was basically directly below the cruise ship. I was on the 13th deck so they were very small, and the angle was terrible. But I think it still made for an interesting photo.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JU15xXOU0to/XRgSv3bgz8I/AAAAAAAABCM/fLCf_adnmlUpS9RoPrbS91ZKiLse2DGUgCLcBGAs/s1600/DawesGlacier1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JU15xXOU0to/XRgSv3bgz8I/AAAAAAAABCM/fLCf_adnmlUpS9RoPrbS91ZKiLse2DGUgCLcBGAs/s640/DawesGlacier1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawes Glacier<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/8 @ 1/160s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1L9lnOsqTo/XRgSt8_pFdI/AAAAAAAABCI/twXpM91b2OkMk1T-N0pImL8ARjU7XnQawCLcBGAs/s1600/DawesGlacier2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1L9lnOsqTo/XRgSt8_pFdI/AAAAAAAABCI/twXpM91b2OkMk1T-N0pImL8ARjU7XnQawCLcBGAs/s640/DawesGlacier2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawes Glacier<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/8 @ 1/160s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfQBtK9VxEw/XRgSzNRGqjI/AAAAAAAABCc/ba-tV-39JT83kCnpdBSUjhYNXGMamE6zQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Cliffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfQBtK9VxEw/XRgSzNRGqjI/AAAAAAAABCc/ba-tV-39JT83kCnpdBSUjhYNXGMamE6zQCEwYBhgL/s640/Cliffs.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cliffs near Dawes Glacier<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 640, f/11 @ 1/200s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEDhtRa4U-A/XRgXyi6iXxI/AAAAAAAABEA/Xby812pEV7I3qyjZez_dhqdwGbuzvSAEgCLcBGAs/s1600/WaterfallNearDawesGlacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEDhtRa4U-A/XRgXyi6iXxI/AAAAAAAABEA/Xby812pEV7I3qyjZez_dhqdwGbuzvSAEgCLcBGAs/s640/WaterfallNearDawesGlacier.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall near Dawes Glacier<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 1600, f/13 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Day 5: Skagway Alaska</h3>
In Skagway we had also booked two excursions. The first excursion was the White Pass railway. I would highly recommend this trip to everyone. The views from the train are stunning and unreal. Most of the photographs from the train I took through the glass with my smartphone but I still had a blast. I never wanted this ride to end because it was just spectacular.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhgNHckcj3o/XRgUgUxTJII/AAAAAAAABC0/ANcCHM9POhwBUE1iqEHP5iUfkUbAwFdQACLcBGAs/s1600/YukonBusOverlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhgNHckcj3o/XRgUgUxTJII/AAAAAAAABC0/ANcCHM9POhwBUE1iqEHP5iUfkUbAwFdQACLcBGAs/s640/YukonBusOverlook.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yukon Bus Overlook<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 160, f/5 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once we arrived in Canada, the train was checked by border patrol for a few minutes and then we boarded our bus, which met us at the top of the mountain. From there we were on our way to the Yukon Suspension Bridge. Once we arrived at the Suspension Bridge we hopped off the bus and walked through the gate. We had about an hour to see the views which seemed like enough. The trails are short and when you get off the bus you are basically almost on the bridge. This is another excursion I would highly recommend because the views were beautiful. Also they had a shop with some food and souvenirs. If you are scared of heights you might be scared to get on the shaky extension bridge, but it is well worth it. The excursions that we took in Skagway were the best from the trip, and the views topped everything that we saw on the trip. When you are leaving the Suspension bridge they will also stamp your passport if you would like. So it was the first stamp in my passport. On our way back to Skagway on the bus, we saw a yearling black bear. It was jumping over a guardrail and seemed like it wanted food from the passerby. Which is disappointing because it probably means that someone had fed it in the past. It was the only bear that I got to see in Alaska.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGoMJ6ZNMns/XRgVxn08xUI/AAAAAAAABDI/rXAyLctmdx8sswnK1VswwNq80D4M5OAEgCLcBGAs/s1600/YukonSuspensionBridge3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGoMJ6ZNMns/XRgVxn08xUI/AAAAAAAABDI/rXAyLctmdx8sswnK1VswwNq80D4M5OAEgCLcBGAs/s640/YukonSuspensionBridge3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yukon Suspension Bridge<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 400, f/11 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBB_-Q_G_I8/XRgVwJH0RRI/AAAAAAAABDQ/1aKE-82wKNsw7t_6E63ool1rlLAWXxRFgCEwYBhgL/s1600/YukonSuspensionBridge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBB_-Q_G_I8/XRgVwJH0RRI/AAAAAAAABDQ/1aKE-82wKNsw7t_6E63ool1rlLAWXxRFgCEwYBhgL/s640/YukonSuspensionBridge2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yukon Suspension Bridge<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 500, f/11 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULluxUopaSY/XRgVu41IDBI/AAAAAAAABDM/Eqp0J1-OEkEnKRAlHWRDXrmzjBqtWu_YQCEwYBhgL/s1600/YukonSuspensionBridge1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULluxUopaSY/XRgVu41IDBI/AAAAAAAABDM/Eqp0J1-OEkEnKRAlHWRDXrmzjBqtWu_YQCEwYBhgL/s640/YukonSuspensionBridge1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yukon Suspension Bridge<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 50, f/11 @ 1/25s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Day 6: Ketchikan Alaska and Misty Fjords</h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTzhsam4Y1A/XRgXOq2faTI/AAAAAAAABDs/47dIrU7PHnIMBTYWgFufZtJ7R7oHPBH1ACLcBGAs/s1600/New%2BEddystone%2BRock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTzhsam4Y1A/XRgXOq2faTI/AAAAAAAABDs/47dIrU7PHnIMBTYWgFufZtJ7R7oHPBH1ACLcBGAs/s640/New%2BEddystone%2BRock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Eddystone Rock<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 1250, f/11 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In Ketchikan our excursion was a boat trip out to the Misty Fjords. The trip there is long, but they gave out soup and local smoked salmon to try. They also sell food on the boat. On the trip the scenery was amazing. On the way out to the Misty Fjords you stop to view an active bald eagle nest. Also, you will pass by New Eddystone Rock, which is a volcanic spire rising out of the water. You also, will see plenty of other wildlife in the Bay including whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and eagles. Also on our way to the fjords we experienced about 3 to 4 different rainbows. It was raining, but also sunny in the distance, which led to the rainbows. Once at the fjords you will be boating quite close to the near 3,000 foot vertical cliffs and waterfalls. Due to the depth of the water they can get really close to the walls. The only problem was that it was pouring rain when we arrived at the fjords. So I was having to shoot a few pictures and then head for cover. Due to all the rain though, the waterfalls were running great. We were told that not everyone would get to see them running like they were. It was a stunning view. I just wish I could have captured more pictures.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pzXfcnosPmk/XRgXTIIPPXI/AAAAAAAABD8/_WyLPrlG8V8E5WgAL-iLYx-hf0KTBxleACEwYBhgL/s1600/MistyFjordsWaterfall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pzXfcnosPmk/XRgXTIIPPXI/AAAAAAAABD8/_WyLPrlG8V8E5WgAL-iLYx-hf0KTBxleACEwYBhgL/s640/MistyFjordsWaterfall2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall at Misty Fjords<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 6400, f/8 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvXo3yZOMIQ/XRgXM47-aWI/AAAAAAAABD0/2BJ63QYevl0uiRYnQWRRM0orbVkCOaQrQCEwYBhgL/s1600/MistyFjordsTrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvXo3yZOMIQ/XRgXM47-aWI/AAAAAAAABD0/2BJ63QYevl0uiRYnQWRRM0orbVkCOaQrQCEwYBhgL/s640/MistyFjordsTrip.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow headed towards Misty Fjords<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 160, f/8 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Day 7: Out to sea</h3>
Day seven was spent mostly out in the ocean as the ship headed towards Vancouver, British Colombia. The next morning we departed the cruise ship and took a bus tour of Vancouver. This was not a great trip. The first part was beautiful, as they took you through Stanley Park. It had some amazing Redwood trees which made the start of the trip very cool to experience. But the rest of the tour was of the city of Vancouver and it did not interest me. Also we were not scheduled to leave Vancouver until the next day, and the problem was that the tour was dropping you off at the airport. So be careful if you book this, because you will need to get transportation to your hotel. It turned out to be less of a problem than we thought, because we went to the bus stop and the first shuttle was going to our hotel. So we jumped in and went to the hotel. The next day we departed from the hotel and took the morning flight out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia8AZffKf88/XQrWjJyeunI/AAAAAAAABAU/9Jmpv-cT-xo2K7h4eMX6lsTFLzpNVfo9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/AlaskaMountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia8AZffKf88/XQrWjJyeunI/AAAAAAAABAU/9Jmpv-cT-xo2K7h4eMX6lsTFLzpNVfo9ACEwYBhgL/s640/AlaskaMountains.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountains in the distance<br />
Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Canon 24-105 mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 Lens, ISO 125, f/11 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall the trip was remarkable and I would love to go back to Alaska. The trip lived up to most of my expectations and then some. I did not get to see a brown bear, so I know that I will have to head back one day, hopefully soon. I have other places I would like to visit, but Alaska will always be on my list. I hope this post was informative, and if you plan on taking an Alaskan cruise please read about some of the excursions and my experiences on them. Until Next Time. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-22699934443115714062019-05-24T17:02:00.001-04:002019-08-03T20:08:52.823-04:00Preparing for my Alaska Trip<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have not had much free time lately to
take many photographs. I have been busy preparing for my trip to
Alaska, and doing a lot of spring work on my bonsai and seedlings.
So far only my Japanese Black Pine seedlings have germinated. I am
concerned that my Japanese maple and Tamarack seeds have failed. I am still praying that they will germinate, but it is not
looking good. I have also purchased two small Japanese Maples
trees in the last couple of weeks. One is an “Orido Nishiki”
Japanese maple and the other is an “Emperor One” Japanese maple.
I re-potted them into slightly nicer pots with my bonsai soil mix. My
plan is to let them grow vigorously for the next year and then decide
what I want to do with them. My plan right now is to propagate them
via air layering or soft cuttings that way I have more trees to work
with. Also, then I will not have to start from seeds. Which takes
substantially longer than starting from cuttings or air layering's. My biggest concern was leaving my trees during
my trip. I really did not have anyone reliable to water them. So, I
went to the store and purchased a water hose timer, and a sprinkler
head. I tested the system last night and it seemed to work well for
what I have. All the trees had adequate water from it. My only
concern is that with fluctuating temperatures it is hard to judge how
often they need to be watered while I’m away. So hopefully I will
not overwater or underwater them. I do have someone to check on them
in case the water system fails, but hopefully everything will be ok.
I have no plans of using this system except while I am away.
<br />
<br />
Besides my trees taking up a lot of my time lately, I have been purchasing a lot of new equipment and necessities for my trip. I will try and post about all the new equipment that I purchased, and I might review some of it after the trip. I think Alaska will be able to put everything to the test.<br />
<br />
Today I did take a trip out to the Bashakill. I believe that I probably had a couple of usable photographs from the trip but I am not going to have the time to post them before I leave tomorrow. Once I am back from Alaska in about 10 days I will do my best to post those photographs, and all the photographs from my trip. I am really excited about this trip and I cannot wait to share all the photographs. Until next time. </div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-21569317868754791132019-05-08T21:11:00.001-04:002019-08-03T20:09:34.486-04:0020 Wildlife Photography Tips<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The natural world around us is full of
potential subjects to photograph. If you are anything like me,
taking a few hours each week to enjoy them is a great way to unwind
after a busy week. No matter, if wildlife photography is your niche
or not, these are 20 tips to help elevate your images.</div>
<ol>
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Know your equipment</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
In wildlife
photography, the best photographs come from the action packed moments
which only last on average 5-20 seconds. If you are unfamiliar with
your equipment, camera settings, or the abilities of the lenses you
are using, you will miss out on the best opportunities. The images
that you do manage to capture will either be lackluster, or you will
have missed the shot.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
You must at least know:</h3>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li>The shutter
speeds at which you can obtain sharp images with your equipment.</li>
<li>How to quickly
change focus points or focusing modes.</li>
<li>What your camera
and lens Image Stabilization gives you.</li>
<li>How high you can
push up the ISO and still get an acceptable image.</li>
<li>How to make most
of the necessary adjustments to exposure and focus settings without
lifting your eye from the viewfinder.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<ol start="2">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Know your subjects</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hKR3fsCY8Y/T3MwviLIIzI/AAAAAAAAAMU/AZcLeS_9_W8xyZYJmT_vfYDdGECP209tgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hKR3fsCY8Y/T3MwviLIIzI/AAAAAAAAAMU/AZcLeS_9_W8xyZYJmT_vfYDdGECP209tgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_5575.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Wildlife
photography is all about capturing interesting actions and behaviors
of the subject. In order to accomplish this, it pays to be able to
predict the subject’s behaviors. Some species are easier to
predict than others. You should research the subjects that you plan
on photographing. You should see when they are most active, what
behaviors they typically exhibit, and see what habitat they prefer
the most. That way you can head out to the right spots to see them.
By doing this you will be prepared, and will be able to make the most
out of your time. Knowing your subject can be the difference from
being ready to capture the shot or missing it completely. You need
to sit with your subjects and watch them, learn from them, and wait
for the proper moment.
</div>
<ol start="3">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Know your location</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Knowing the
location that you plan to photograph will put you leaps and bounds
ahead of the rest. Knowing your location gives you a better idea of
what the weather will be like and how it will impact your light and
your subject’s behaviors. Knowing the location also gives you a
sense of comfort. You will not need to worry about getting turned
around, or lost. You also won’t hesitate to adjust to your
surroundings and relocate for a better angle, because you know
exactly where you are. Knowing your location, its weather patterns,
and the subjects that frequent the locations will give you the upper
hand and help you improve your chances for great images.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="4">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Know and Break the rules</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
There are some
basic rules and fundamentals of good photography, and then there are
some rules that find application mostly in wildlife photography.
This is not a complete list of the general rules.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<h3>
Proper exposure:</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
For many new
photographers, getting the proper exposure is the biggest challenge
they face. Most of the time letting the camera do the work for you
turns out fine, but there are some times when the camera needs a
little help. For instance very bright light with white subjects.
Knowing how to give your camera the help it needs is the key to
getting the proper exposure of your subject. The best way to tell if
you have the proper exposure is by using the histogram.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
A histogram, is
simply a graph showing the brightness levels of pixels in the image.
The right side of the graph represent the bright pixels, and the left
side of the graph represents the darker pixels. Pixels representing
the midtones are in the middle of the graph. A histogram runs from
left to right, showing values from 0 or black, to 255 or white. The
height of the histogram represents how many pixels are recorded at
the given brightness level. The most important aspects of the
histogram that you should be most concerned about are the left and
right edges. Any pixels as bright white or pure black would be
pushed to the edge of the graph. Unless it is intended pixels pushed
to the edge can indicate an exposure problem. This is because the
image will be clipping the highlights or shadows resulting in pure
blacks or blown out whites.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Since a histogram
is simply a representation of tonal range of the given image, there
is no right or wrong histogram. The histogram will change based on
the tone of the image. A high key image would show the pixels mainly
to the right side. A low key image would show the pixels mainly to
the left side. An image with a wide tonal range would show pixels
across the entire histogram. In post processing if you want to be
able to get the most out of the pixel data it is important to capture
as many pixels across the range as possible. If you have pure blacks
or blown out whites you will not be able to manipulate the image as
well, because the color data in those areas is lost.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<h3>
Rule of thirds:</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
The general rule
for proper composition is the rule of thirds. Where you divide the
frame into a 3x3 grid, and you normally place your subject on one of
the intersection points. The theory is that if you place the points
of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your
photograph becomes more balanced, and enables the viewer of the image
to interact with it more naturally. Using the rule of thirds helps
to move the viewer’s eye around the image more naturally.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
In landscape
photography it helps to keep the horizon line of your image along the
horizontal lines of the grid. That way the landscape takes up just
the bottom third of the image with the sky taking the other two
thirds, or the landscape takes up two thirds of the image and the sky
takes up the other third. Thus making the image more balanced.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<h3>
Eye Contact:</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UO0no5LWnpg/XKPiBVDP40I/AAAAAAAAA5s/OTRctxqqnjgykc5b4ajK8hx7fsn_bFhCACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Bullfrog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UO0no5LWnpg/XKPiBVDP40I/AAAAAAAAA5s/OTRctxqqnjgykc5b4ajK8hx7fsn_bFhCACPcBGAYYCw/s640/Bullfrog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Photographing
wildlife is not the same as photographing a landscape or inanimate
object. Your wildlife subject has eyes, and our natural tendency is
to make eye contact. As a result, capturing the eyes effectively is
essential to a great wildlife image.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Making eye contact
with the subject helps the viewer connect with the image. It is also
very important that the eyes are the focal point of the image. This
is what you should be focusing on with your camera and it needs to be
sharp. If it is not, it will not be an effective portrait of your
subject. It is also important that you capture the catch light.
This is the little reflection you can get in the eye of the subject.
Without it your subject does not look lifelike. It also can be
helpful to get at eye level with the subject, but I will cover this
further down in tip 8.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
To take this
subject further it normally helps to have a good head angle in
relation to the camera’s sensor. The head angle should be at least
perpendicular to the camera sensor, but ideally it should be turned a
few degrees towards the sensor. Which would then untimely be facing
towards the viewer, thus maintaining eye contact.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Once you know the
most of the basic rules of photography you can break them. If you
always follow these rules your images will look just like everyone
else's. These are just some of the general guidelines but going
outside of them can make your images stand out.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="5">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lighting</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
It is no surprise
that light is the most important factor in all forms of photography,
but it is especially important for wildlife photography. In order to
take amazing pictures you need to know how to use light to your
advantage. Often light is not ideal or the light is sweet but it is
in the wrong direction in relation to your subject. Shooting into
light can be tricky and that refers back to rule 1, and knowing how
to properly use your equipment.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
The best times of
day to photograph wildlife are called the golden hours and the blue
hours. The golden hours are the periods shortly after sunrise and
before sunset. During this period the sun is at its warmest hue,
casting rich colors across the landscape and providing a dramatic
backdrop for your subject. The blue hours are the period before
sunrise and after sunset. During this period the hue is normally a
blueish color, and also provides a great backdrop for your subjects.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
is the period when the harshest light occurs. So, it is not an ideal
period to photograph your subject. For the best lighting of your
subject it is best to avoid these hours. The exception is on overcast
days. This does not mean that you should not take pictures during
those hours. Getting a picture of the action no matter what the
lighting is still better than not getting the picture at all.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
The key to this tip
is not to just get their early enough or late enough to shoot during
these periods, but to use the light creatively in your shots. A
photographer who can play with light and use it to highlight the
features of their subject will produce much stronger photographs than
those who do not.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="6">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shoot wider / Shoot closer</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a90dZOIMsUo/XL-ekY-LWAI/AAAAAAAAA-M/5X6Xo41Fh6ofBX5Wbeeu-7bzdPNUkyVsQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/WoodDuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a90dZOIMsUo/XL-ekY-LWAI/AAAAAAAAA-M/5X6Xo41Fh6ofBX5Wbeeu-7bzdPNUkyVsQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/WoodDuck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Many photographers
get fixated with focal length. Even I had an obsession with always
getting a longer lens. For instance, my purchase of a Bower
650mm-1300mm lens. I was fixated with always being able to get more
reach with my lens, in order to be able to pull the subject in more
and more. The problem with this is that it isolates the subject from
the background to often resulting in the subject looking like a
captive subject. This could be what you are trying to do but it is
often better to shoot wider, in order to get a better idea of the
environment your subject is in.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Obviously if you
are trying to produce portraits of your subject then you probably are
looking to get closer and isolate the subject from the background.
You can also try and get really close to subjects to get a more
abstract composition of your subjects.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
The other problems
that typically come with more focal length is higher f-stops.
Typically larger lenses have higher f-stops meaning they allow in
less light. Normally you should try and find a lens with an f/4 or
less f-stop but f/5.6 is not terrible. Once you start getting
towards f/8 and larger it is just not going to be very useful. This
is because for wildlife photography you typically also need to use
high shutter speeds to capture your subject. In order to accommodate
both high shutter speeds and high f-stop’s, you would have to
increase your ISO to the point where it would introduce to much noise
to make a good photograph.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="7">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Are multiple subjects better than one?</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlPzyyFRcK8/XK0wXmHz42I/AAAAAAAAA7M/cftt0-kNAMc0kb4N06r44FogWA6Jw6d8QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/2eagles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlPzyyFRcK8/XK0wXmHz42I/AAAAAAAAA7M/cftt0-kNAMc0kb4N06r44FogWA6Jw6d8QCPcBGAYYCw/s640/2eagles.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
If you have a good
view of more than one subject of a species then you should probably
stay for a while. If you have one subject the interactions and
behaviors could be good to capture, but if you have two subjects,
your chances of experiencing interactions increases. Obviously the
more subjects you have the more you’re increasing your chances at
photographing interactions between them. In my opinion photographing
the interactions between your subjects is normally better than just
photographing the one subject. It normally makes the image much more
interesting to look at.</div>
<ol start="8">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Get down</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
The point of view
of a wildlife photograph is very important. You should try to get at
the subjects eye level or even lower. Doing this, brings the viewer
of your image right into the scene and brings the viewer down to the
subject’s perspective. This also helps with getting the eye
contact of your subject. If you take the picture from your eye level
all the time, you will most likely be always looking down on your
subjects. This view is the standard view that most people take
pictures from. Obviously in some situations you will not be able to
get lower. For instance, if you are not allowed out of your vehicle,
or should not go outside your vehicle, you will be stuck with that
one perspective. For flying subjects it can help to get to a raised
area, or an area where the subjects will be flying at your eye level.
Again this is not always possible but being at eye level with the
flying subjects leads to better pictures in most cases.
</div>
<ol start="9">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Patience</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YdOp_Z79j4Y/XLe3Y6TsQQI/AAAAAAAAA80/QE59ZJfNQNklRwb55EBjzMM4Mb_aft1AwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/MuteSwansFlyByTwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YdOp_Z79j4Y/XLe3Y6TsQQI/AAAAAAAAA80/QE59ZJfNQNklRwb55EBjzMM4Mb_aft1AwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/MuteSwansFlyByTwo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Modern life happens
at a break neck pace. We are always in a rush, but in wildlife
photography good things come to those who wait. Anything can happen
at any time, but most things only happen rarely. At least they don’t
correspond with the exact time that you are in that specific spot. It
is one of the hardest things to grapple with out in the field. If
you are not seeing anything in one spot you are more likely to move,
than continue to sit there. But you don’t know if moving is the
best option. Sometimes sitting in one place and waiting for the
animals to come to you is much better. It is like hunting. Sometimes
it is better to just wait than it is to stalk your prey.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
What a photographer
normally shows you on their website it the best of their work. They
do not show the hundreds and thousands of pictures they took that do
not work out. All the wonderful pictures that they have on their
websites took a lot of time and effort to get. It does not show you
the hours that they sat out in blinds or walked trails. You can sit
out in a blind all day and not see anything. It just takes a lot of
patience and persistence to follow through. If you want to capture
action, you must watch and wait. If you are lucky, you will be able
to capture that brief moment that makes a great image.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Another important
lesson in patience is not to snap off a photograph too soon. In some
cases the animals can hear your camera’s shutter release. In these
cases you could scare them off. So you will want to wait for the
right moment to snap the photograph. Because more skittish animals
will run off and you may only get one chance.
</div>
<ol start="10">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Telephoto</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
There is no question that a long lens is a vital part of any wildlife photographers gear. Telephoto lenses play a couple of important roles. The first important role is magnification. A lens over 400mm will make the subject appear much closer, and take up a large portion of the frame. This allows you to focus more on your subject and cut distracting elements out of the frame.<br />
<br />
A telephoto lens also compresses your depth of field. Long lenses are particularly good at blurring foregrounds and background, making the subject stand out from their surroundings. The magnification of the long lens allows you to isolate the best part of the scene from side to side. The shallow depth of field allows you to isolate the subject from front to back.</div>
</div>
<ol start="11">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Macro</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dcC7ngsJ1l4/XKPjTNAECiI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/3RxhodWVd7ATehuGJ2Vkx-awwEzLLsAWwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dcC7ngsJ1l4/XKPjTNAECiI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/3RxhodWVd7ATehuGJ2Vkx-awwEzLLsAWwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Dragonfly.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Macro photography is extreme close-up photography usually of very small subjects like insects, in which the size of the subject in the photograph is greater than life size. The ratio of the subject size on the sensor to the actual subject size is known as the reproduction ratio. Likewise, a macro lens is classically a lens capable of reproduction ratios of at least 1:1. Macro photography can be a lot of fun and the images that you produce can be amazing. They can allow you to see things that you would not see with the naked eye. That is what makes macro photography so intriguing. It allows people to see a world that they didn’t even know existed.</div>
<ol start="12">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Clean backgrounds</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
What is happening
in the background can make or break your shot. Busy and cluttered
backgrounds can quickly become muted. Elements of human activity
such as fences, can ruin the authenticity of a shot. For small bird
photography please do not shoot birds on feeders or other man made
items, it does not make for a good shot. For wildlife photography
natural backgrounds always look the best.
</div>
<ol start="13">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Don’t over edit</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Editing is where
images often come alive and become more impactful for the viewer.
But, over editing a photograph can make it appear unnatural. High
dynamic range is most often better left alone. Your best option is
to only make slight changes to sharpness, exposure, color palette,
and saturation. It also helps to photograph in RAW that way you have
more data to work with.
</div>
<ol start="14">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Depth of field</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Getting lower down can help you implement this in your photographs. By being at the subject’s level it can thin out the plane that needs to be in focus. If you use f/4 or lower you can drop areas of your foreground and background into a stylish blur. By lowering your f-stop you are widening your aperture size, which results in a shallower depth of field. Doing this can help to make your subject leap out of the image. You can also use this technique to frame your subject with blurred out foliage which can lead to more dramatic images. If you raise your f-stop you are narrowing your aperture size, which results in a deeper depth of field. This can be helpful to increase the amount of area that is in focus. This is normally used when you want to see what is in the foreground and background of your subject. Also higher f-stop numbers are used a lot in landscape photography to get the entire landscape in focus.</div>
<ol start="15">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sharp Images</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
To take a sharp picture of wildlife with a telephoto lens, you will need to use fast shutter speeds. A general rule of thumb is to set your shutter speed to at least as fast as the length of your lens. So, if you are shooting a 500mm lens, you will need to use a 1/500<sup>th</sup> of a second shutter speed to create a sharp image. But the faster your shutter speed the better chance you will have with producing a sharp image. Even the smallest camera shake can cause a blurry image. You may not even realize how much you are moving holding a large and heavy lens combo. When possible, you should use a tripod to stabilize your camera. If you cannot, you should brace off of something instead. At the very least you should keep your arms in as tight to your body as possible. Sort of like how a ballerina spins with her arms in tight. The closer your arms are to the center of your mass the less they will move, thus reducing camera shake. Also most lenses are at their sharpest a stop or two down from wide open. That means if your fastest aperture of the lens is f/4 you will normally get sharper images around f/8. But this is not always practical since it will cut down on the amount of light that it allows in.</div>
<ol start="16">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Blurred Images</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Animals always seem to be in constant motion. Images that show this movement in the form of a motion blur can be effective. Creating a good motion blur requires some experimentation. 1/60th of a second is more than slow enough to show sufficient motion blur for moving animals. Sometimes with flying birds you want to show the motion blur in the wings. This can be accomplished with speeds under 1/400th of a second normally. For blurring moving water I would recommend using about a 2 second shutter speed. The longer the shutter speed in this case the smoother the water will look.<br />
<br />
There are two main types of motion blurs. One where you have a steady camera and the subject is moving. Like most of the examples above. Then there is motion blur caused by moving the camera. Often called a panning blur. You typically move your camera in this case to stay even with the moving subject. This creates an image with both the background and the moving parts of the subject to be blurred. These can be very tricky to pull off, but when done correctly can be beautiful.<br />
<br />
Whenever you are playing around with slow shutter speeds. Remember to always set you shutter speeds back to a normal range for getting sharp shots when you are done. There is nothing worse than turning on your camera to capture a split second shot and your shutter speeds are set so low that you miss the shot. So always make sure that you set your settings back when you are done.</div>
<ol start="17">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Weather</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Don’t be afraid to photograph in bad weather. This is one subject that I am just learning. I used to always think that rainy days or snowy days were days that you should just stay home. I always had a fear of getting my equipment damaged during bad weather. I have since purchased some equipment to cover my camera and lens combo. You can also stay in the car, or use other forms of cover. Rainy and snowy days can lead to dramatic shots of animals and the experience they are having during bad weather. Freezing the action of rain drops and snow can make the background more exciting as well. The other reason to embrace bad weather is that a lot of people stay home, so the photographs that you do manage to capture will look very different giving your images a little edge. Other weather factors like wind and fog can also play a vital role in your images.</div>
<ol start="18">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tell a story</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
In any type of photography the best images tell a story. In wildlife photography a simple image of a subject in its surroundings can really tell a story. An interaction between two subjects or more can be even more intriguing. Always think about the species that you are photographing and the environment that they live in. Then consider how your image can tell the full story. For instance a polar bear in a snowy plain can give you the feelings of isolation and harshness. It can really showcase what the bear goes through to survive in that habitat. It tells a story.</div>
<ol start="19">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Respect the wildlife</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Your top priority as a wildlife photographer is to do no harm to the animals and the environment you are photographing. Nothing upsets me more than seeing people chasing animals around or leaving their trash behind. Where I live it seems like people think that wildlife management areas are great places to dump their trash, because there are less people in the area at night. It is very upsetting to see that people have dumped garbage in these areas, or any area for that matter.<br />
<br />
Animals should always have a route to escape. Don’t corner them in. You need to pay close attention to their behaviors. If an animal begins to look agitated it is better for you to back off. Whenever an animal flees, it means that you got to close to it. Every time this occurs you are causing the animal additional stress, so don’t cause it.<br />
<br />
Always follow the rules of the places that you are photographing. Stay on trails, and respect the other people in the area. Don’t be the person who walks in front of other peoples photographs or goes off the trail into a closed area. Eventually if we do not police ourselves, someone will and will eventually restrict us from using these areas.</div>
<ol start="20">
<h4>
<li><h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Enjoy it</h4>
</li>
</h4>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
By this I mean you need to be in the moment, and don’t get caught up to much with the technical issues and settings, that you don’t take in the moments that you are witnessing. We need to be more mindful of the privilege that we have of spending time in nature. What is the point of taking all the pictures if you do not enjoy the time you are spending out in the field? So be mindful of what is going on around you and really enjoy the time you have, and the amazing things that you will get to see.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;">
</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-36389198609101233402019-05-01T21:49:00.002-04:002019-08-03T20:10:02.013-04:00Water Like Glass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEW2YxwZby4/XMpIphaWD0I/AAAAAAAAA-o/NUXxzll6Kkohc6zoLiTOdIJXv2rGMF8iwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEW2YxwZby4/XMpIphaWD0I/AAAAAAAAA-o/NUXxzll6Kkohc6zoLiTOdIJXv2rGMF8iwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0170.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 400, f/11 @ 1/250s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last Sunday, my brother, and I spent the evening out at the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. It was still raining when we arrived, but it was starting to clear off. Within about a half an hour, it finally stopped raining. The Bashakill had some fog that was lifting and the sky was dramatic with storm clouds. The wind was so still that the water was like glass. It was truly stunning. I did not have my tripod with me, but I did manage a few handheld photographs of the landscape. We spent some time on several trails, but none produced any opportunities.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKTGqufbHW8/XMpIopvK7TI/AAAAAAAAA-s/LdR5xyOycig30cdDbJmt5_zapmYS5dncgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKTGqufbHW8/XMpIopvK7TI/AAAAAAAAA-s/LdR5xyOycig30cdDbJmt5_zapmYS5dncgCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_0157.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 400, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most of our opportunities came on Haven Road and from the parking area north of haven road off Route 209. From the parking area north of Haven, I was able to photograph some Canadian Geese in flight and a pair that was content with standing out in front of us. The water was so still that it basically mirrored them. So, I was quite happy with the photograph that I was able to get.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYyjXrufczY/XMpImo1QI-I/AAAAAAAAA-s/BdsaToD4oIU4z8qgu47g2uu2jMcm-GJpQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYyjXrufczY/XMpImo1QI-I/AAAAAAAAA-s/BdsaToD4oIU4z8qgu47g2uu2jMcm-GJpQCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_0145.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 640, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The landscape shots that came out the best, was a shot looking towards Haven Road. The dramatic sky coupled with the late evening hours made the picture pop. I was happy with the way the picture turned out. The only thing that could have improved the shot, would have been using a tripod. I would have been able to use a 100 ISO if I had brought my tripod with me, and that would have cut down on the noise. I guess I learned my lesson from not wanting to bring my tripod.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M5d2rL0W6Ew/XMpJLlMcHOI/AAAAAAAAA_E/3w5cDjz2kIki_bkDCHUtIACpFDdg-RSmwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M5d2rL0W6Ew/XMpJLlMcHOI/AAAAAAAAA_E/3w5cDjz2kIki_bkDCHUtIACpFDdg-RSmwCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_4935.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 1250, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also managed a photograph of some fungus growing on a log. At the time, I was not thinking that the picture would turn into anything usable. Once I got it back and onto my computer, I was surprised with the intricate patterns. I wish that I had taken the picture using a macro lens to really pull out the detail. But I only took the image with my Sigma 150-600 mm lens. I do know where the log is, and I plan on making a trip back to see if I can get better images of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vV51aY1t_gI/XMpJLkf14zI/AAAAAAAAA_A/mNVmcjQyV9gKDumBVC8wsoe3KO5tdOs8QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vV51aY1t_gI/XMpJLkf14zI/AAAAAAAAA_A/mNVmcjQyV9gKDumBVC8wsoe3KO5tdOs8QCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_0238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 640, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With sunset approaching we had to start heading for home, but before we left the Bashakill we decided to go back and check Haven Road one last time. This worked out well, because one of the Mute Swans was right along the road. I was a little worried that I would scare it off, but it did not seem to mind that we were there. I did not get out of the car, so I assume that helped.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--BlOCFgWViQ/XMpJGvX3WHI/AAAAAAAAA_E/HAa0vEnT0NcB80waI1kHnY8R1ow8M-ymwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--BlOCFgWViQ/XMpJGvX3WHI/AAAAAAAAA_E/HAa0vEnT0NcB80waI1kHnY8R1ow8M-ymwCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_0207.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS 6D Mark II & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 250, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Due to its proximity to the road I was able to take a lot of pictures. I must have snapped off over a hundred photographs in a matter of minutes. It was not doing too much, except for swimming back and forth. It also chased off the Canadian Geese that were around, but they just swam off, and they did not really fight or anything. Overall the trip was great, and I really look forward to the next one. Until next time. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-42099252912291273392019-04-23T20:05:00.000-04:002019-08-03T20:11:06.477-04:00Great Days at the Bashakill<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRHQi9XFk2I/XL-ejlOoeQI/AAAAAAAAA-A/c_gZs34aPd8UYejVXs8Wy0ueKK4YYNkqQCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodFrog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRHQi9XFk2I/XL-ejlOoeQI/AAAAAAAAA-A/c_gZs34aPd8UYejVXs8Wy0ueKK4YYNkqQCLcBGAs/s640/WoodFrog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My brother and I took two more trips
out to the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area during the last week
and a half, both days turned out great. We decided to walk a section
of the Long Path Trail, that we had never gone down before. It
started on Haven Road and headed towards the boat launch. We always
assumed that it was a trail that was more for birds and other
woodland animals, because it starts off in a forested section.
However, we were surprised to learn that after a brief section of
forest, it opens up and parallels the open water of the Bashakill. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a90dZOIMsUo/XL-ekY-LWAI/AAAAAAAAA-M/K-O6gQYWf5IEnco5UL2aM5GlcxdWx8uugCEwYBhgL/s1600/WoodDuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a90dZOIMsUo/XL-ekY-LWAI/AAAAAAAAA-M/K-O6gQYWf5IEnco5UL2aM5GlcxdWx8uugCEwYBhgL/s640/WoodDuck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 400, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Further down, the trail also has water on both sides of it. This
made it an ideal spot to find ducks and waterfowl. To our surprise,
this was the best trail we had ever been down for seeing ducks. We
must have seen several hundred ducks. There was a variety of
species, but for the most part it was wood ducks, ring neck ducks,
and mallards. We also could see the Mute Swans that have been
hanging around. The trail also seemed to be a hot spot for Downy,
Pileated and Red Bellied Woodpeckers. We also spotted a lot of
turtles and frogs along the trail. I did manage to capture a picture of a wood frog on a log. I wish that I had gotten lower to the ground to get a more appealing photograph, but I would have had to lay in mud to do it. I need to get some clothes that I can lay on the wet ground with, so I can take pictures like this.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjgUBbIMtRA/XL-ehZz-a6I/AAAAAAAAA-M/kUav55humNQeUM1gZEMeGjaO3BfD8xfvACEwYBhgL/s1600/WoodDucksInFlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjgUBbIMtRA/XL-ehZz-a6I/AAAAAAAAA-M/kUav55humNQeUM1gZEMeGjaO3BfD8xfvACEwYBhgL/s640/WoodDucksInFlight.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 400, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
With the temperatures climbing weekly I have been seeing a lot more reptiles and amphibians. I was very pleased that we only saw a couple of snakes. My brother
says that I almost stepped on one, but I never saw it. During the
last few trips, I managed to get photographs of wood ducks, frogs,
woodpeckers, and squirrels. I had plenty of opportunities but I feel
like I missed out on a few.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9WyE-IfkCtE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9WyE-IfkCtE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Last week, I purchased a lot of new
equipment for my trip to Alaska. I figured before I went that I
would upgrade some of my equipment, since a lot of my equipment is
going on ten years old now. I purchased a Canon 6d mark ii with a
canon 24mm – 105mm lens, and it arrived on Thursday last week.
During Friday, I made sure everything was ready for the weekend. On
Easter Sunday we got up at 5 am and headed out to the Bashakill. We
arrived before 6 am, and I decided that I wanted to test out the
video time-lapse capabilities of the new camera. Once we arrived, I
setup my tripod with my new camera and lens combo and proceeded to
set up for the time-lapse. It was simple to setup and before I knew
it the camera was snapping pictures. I used the video time-lapse, so
the camera would automatically compile the images into a video. I
set it up to take 600 images in total, with a 2-second interval. So,
it took 600 shots over a period of 20 minutes and compiled it into a
20 second, 4k video. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4RnQCJPdyNk/XL-eJiFRhjI/AAAAAAAAA90/npKbOjyOo10cPnHrVK7xcG3DbdIhqv3RQCEwYBhgL/s1600/DownyWoodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4RnQCJPdyNk/XL-eJiFRhjI/AAAAAAAAA90/npKbOjyOo10cPnHrVK7xcG3DbdIhqv3RQCEwYBhgL/s640/DownyWoodpecker.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/320s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was very pleased with the way the test turned
out, so I uploaded the file on YouTube. I am looking forward to
taking more time-lapse now that I know how it functions. We were at
the Bashakill for over 6 hours. We saw a lot of action during the
morning hours, but as the day progressed the action slowed. I did
not get to many opportunities with the new camera for photographs,
but I am hoping soon I will be able to get out again and test it out. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdgTyvxtx6U/XL-eIXvK2ZI/AAAAAAAAA9w/pSu71lumypskFBeBDtWoI4--D5189zZfgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DownyWoodpeckerGotAWorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdgTyvxtx6U/XL-eIXvK2ZI/AAAAAAAAA9w/pSu71lumypskFBeBDtWoI4--D5189zZfgCEwYBhgL/s640/DownyWoodpeckerGotAWorm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The photographs included in this post were not taken with my new
camera. I hope that everyone enjoys the images and the video. Until
Next Time.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5B5pLD-VFQ/XL-eK3KM_UI/AAAAAAAAA94/-T50ccQhFRYqmQOrBW4clYpeUaZnR8PYgCEwYBhgL/s1600/GreySquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5B5pLD-VFQ/XL-eK3KM_UI/AAAAAAAAA94/-T50ccQhFRYqmQOrBW4clYpeUaZnR8PYgCEwYBhgL/s640/GreySquirrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/500s Manual exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-19613965968373187002019-04-17T19:43:00.000-04:002019-08-03T20:11:39.018-04:00Multiple Trips to the Bashakill Wetlands<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-je2AurKKmIE/XLe3YhJfBjI/AAAAAAAAA8s/hL1LwelpdI8K-x7YZ9XnZuCEx__YGWg9ACLcBGAs/s1600/RedWingBlackBirdOnACattail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-je2AurKKmIE/XLe3YhJfBjI/AAAAAAAAA8s/hL1LwelpdI8K-x7YZ9XnZuCEx__YGWg9ACLcBGAs/s640/RedWingBlackBirdOnACattail.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 400, f/6.3 @ 1/640s Manual exposure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two weeks ago, I took two trips to the
Bashakill Wildlife Management Area with my brother. I was really
hoping to see a lot of ducks and waterfowl that were still migrating
through our area. We spent most of our time on Haven Road and on the
trails around Haven Road. We were seeing a lot of different species
of ducks. Mostly Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Wood Ducks, and Hooded
Mergansers. We were also seeing plenty of Canadian Geese. I only
managed a few photographs of the ducks because they were normally so
far away. There were a lot of people on Haven Road walking around, so
most of the wildlife kept its distance. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdOp_Z79j4Y/XLe3Y6TsQQI/AAAAAAAAA80/PawKIAxTSRcpj6ne919_NzGGR6bZHY-ZgCEwYBhgL/s1600/MuteSwansFlyByTwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdOp_Z79j4Y/XLe3Y6TsQQI/AAAAAAAAA80/PawKIAxTSRcpj6ne919_NzGGR6bZHY-ZgCEwYBhgL/s640/MuteSwansFlyByTwo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/1000s Manual exposure.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After being there for over
an hour, I noticed two big white birds in the water very far out in
the distance. After I looked in my viewfinder I realized that they
were Mute Swans. After about twenty minutes to my surprise, I
noticed that they were flying towards us. They flew directly in
front of me and then looped back around and flew back away from Haven
Road.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENFaY1RPQzw/XLe3Px--yfI/AAAAAAAAA84/04t8ikGnKmMFHNG6MLDRm1-i-0J7Gz7OACEwYBhgL/s1600/MuteSwansFlyBy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENFaY1RPQzw/XLe3Px--yfI/AAAAAAAAA84/04t8ikGnKmMFHNG6MLDRm1-i-0J7Gz7OACEwYBhgL/s640/MuteSwansFlyBy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/1000s Manual exposure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was using my Sigma 150-600 mm lens at the time, and I was
hoping it would be the first time that I could test it out. To my
surprise, I had a hard time focusing the camera on the swans when
they flew by. I was quite upset because I thought that I just
missed my best opportunity. After I had a chance to figure out what
my problem was I realized that one of the slide buttons on the lens
had been accidentally moved. So, the lenses operating system thought
I was shooting on custom instead of the standard mode. I have not
set up custom yet on the lens, so the camera was probably having a
hard time focusing because the lens was not functioning properly.
Some photographs were still good enough to include. I wish they
could have been a little more crisp but I was still quite happy with
the end result.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3NlVCBFWy1I/XLe239JH_VI/AAAAAAAAA8c/CX-0mgOPjboaJINoW7wlV7NV6zvoe4z3wCEwYBhgL/s1600/GeeseChase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3NlVCBFWy1I/XLe239JH_VI/AAAAAAAAA8c/CX-0mgOPjboaJINoW7wlV7NV6zvoe4z3wCEwYBhgL/s640/GeeseChase.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 200, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I also managed to get a photograph of some Canadian
Geese chasing each other. It was a long way off, but I will include
the image slightly cropped in. I was also very pleased with the
photograph that I took of a Red Wing Black Bird on a cattail. I
really didn't think anything of the photograph when I took it but
upon review of my images from those trips I was rather surprised. During those trips the Bashakill was great, and I was very happy that I was able to see everything that I did.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzZqeuNLFF0/XLe29fOISZI/AAAAAAAAA8k/bbZgoobiG1w3sgGmg0ea8F_mR9MRm7ezwCEwYBhgL/s1600/GroupOfMallards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzZqeuNLFF0/XLe29fOISZI/AAAAAAAAA8k/bbZgoobiG1w3sgGmg0ea8F_mR9MRm7ezwCEwYBhgL/s640/GroupOfMallards.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/400s Manual exposure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We also took a shorter trip
to Lake Superior State Park. I did manage to take some shots of ring
neck ducks that were in the pond. They were doing their best to
avoid me, but I did manage a few shots before they swam off. We also
got to see a Bald Eagle do a fly over but I did not manage to get any
photographs. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfvRT2XWf_c/XLe28Mi2QHI/AAAAAAAAA8g/SEnWxMHsxl04CKBk0z7-6OKTRoBwk5TtQCEwYBhgL/s1600/GroupOfRingNeckDucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfvRT2XWf_c/XLe28Mi2QHI/AAAAAAAAA8g/SEnWxMHsxl04CKBk0z7-6OKTRoBwk5TtQCEwYBhgL/s640/GroupOfRingNeckDucks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera & Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0 - f/6.3 DG Contemporary Lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 @ 1/640s Manual exposure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Overall the trips that we took two weeks ago were great
and I was very pleased with the photographs that I was able to get.
I hope everyone enjoys the photographs. Until Next Time.</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-37093061481718052702019-04-09T20:17:00.000-04:002019-08-03T20:12:36.279-04:00Winter Eagle Trips<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdQ7g_mO6SE/XK0wquUSDEI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/liwbtS2SEBk5Ks8sgL81cI3SzwacSnP2QCLcBGAs/s1600/ImmatureEagle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdQ7g_mO6SE/XK0wquUSDEI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/liwbtS2SEBk5Ks8sgL81cI3SzwacSnP2QCLcBGAs/s640/ImmatureEagle.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph taken with canon 55 - 250 mm lens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
During the
wintertime, I did not get out as much as I would have liked. However, I did take several trips to my favorite bald eagle areas. In the
beginning of February, I took off some days from work for my birthday, which gave me some opportunities to get out and take some photographs. During my trips in February, the eagle counts were amazing. I was seeing at least over twenty a
day. Several days there were at least ten or more eagles in
view of my camera. It was remarkable to see. I had not seen
numbers like that in at least two years.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlPzyyFRcK8/XK0wXmHz42I/AAAAAAAAA7M/UzQDbPmZQzc9v511tMOGPTI8f3olK5cLgCEwYBhgL/s1600/2eagles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlPzyyFRcK8/XK0wXmHz42I/AAAAAAAAA7M/UzQDbPmZQzc9v511tMOGPTI8f3olK5cLgCEwYBhgL/s640/2eagles.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph taken with bower 650 - 1300 mm lens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even with the high numbers, I
did not manage many good photos. At that point, in the winter I was
still only using my Bower 650-1300 mm manual focus lens. So, photographing birds in flight was difficult, unless they were
close enough where I could use my shorter lenses. I did manage a shot through a hole in thick brush, of a pair of full mature eagles together on a branch. The immature eagle photograph atop the post was an old photograph that I found on my memory card when I started the camera up for the first time in a year.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FClMFfPhe7M/XK0wgquw3JI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/X4TJVBRr3p432U2klTF_1ruTooE1WGpmQCEwYBhgL/s1600/FullMatureEagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FClMFfPhe7M/XK0wgquw3JI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/X4TJVBRr3p432U2klTF_1ruTooE1WGpmQCEwYBhgL/s640/FullMatureEagle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph taken with sigma 150 - 600 mm contemporary lens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Towards the end of
March, I purchased my new Sigma 150-600 contemporary lens. I had a
few days off from work, and I took a couple of more trips out for
eagles. The numbers were drastically lower than the prior month. I
was lucky if I was seeing more than five eagles in a trip. The one day, I
spent almost eight hours out and did not see anything within
range. I did take one photograph of an eagle sitting in a tree with
the new lens, but that was about it. (The photo is above)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HqhWe8_oVU/XK0wXFojfJI/AAAAAAAAA7I/WJ8I5ONHMcQTKOwo-6UF_KCsf2eR9dCWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Chickadee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HqhWe8_oVU/XK0wXFojfJI/AAAAAAAAA7I/WJ8I5ONHMcQTKOwo-6UF_KCsf2eR9dCWQCEwYBhgL/s640/Chickadee.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph taken with sigma 150 - 600 mm contemporary lens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
I did not really get to test the auto focus lens on eagles this year. During the down times
when I was not seeing eagles I did try to take some photographs of
the smaller birds that were coming to feed at the feeders that are
set up. I did manage some shots of black cap chickadees and nuthatches. I have included two of those photographs. I am really looking forward to next winter's eagle season. Hopefully, I
will be able to pull off more action shots, now that I have a long range auto focus lens.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SHUDjJRTEL4/XK0wr0GPN5I/AAAAAAAAA7c/T0P38rXQkDcnzE7cUkwgNaLuMs5eNpH3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Nuthatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SHUDjJRTEL4/XK0wr0GPN5I/AAAAAAAAA7c/T0P38rXQkDcnzE7cUkwgNaLuMs5eNpH3ACEwYBhgL/s640/Nuthatch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photograph taken with sigma 150 - 600 mm contemporary lens</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Since my winter outings, I
have taken several trips out to the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area, hoping to photograph waterfowl that are migrating through our region this time of year. It has allowed me to get somewhat used to
the new lens, and how it functions. In the next posts, I will cover those trips, and then I
will be caught up thus far. Until next time.</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-40532138259488569732019-04-02T18:49:00.000-04:002019-08-03T20:13:04.110-04:00Finding My Passion Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UO0no5LWnpg/XKPiBVDP40I/AAAAAAAAA5o/v_uxKGsYBuA6OIlzGctCEpBSzrc-ucUGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Bullfrog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UO0no5LWnpg/XKPiBVDP40I/AAAAAAAAA5o/v_uxKGsYBuA6OIlzGctCEpBSzrc-ucUGgCLcBGAs/s640/Bullfrog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It has been over three years since my last post. I cannot believe it has been so long. The last three years were probably the toughest years of my life. I lost my grandfather, my aunt, and my father in less than two years, all which took a toll on me. None harder than the loss of my father. It was so sudden and unexpected that it really crushed me. After his passing, I realized how little time I spent with him doing his true passion, woodworking. So, I guess to help cope with my father's loss I spent a lot of my free time in his wood shop doing everything that he enjoyed doing.<br />
<br />
Looking back at my life, I realized how much influence my father had on me. Almost everything I enjoyed doing I learned from him, and we always did them together. Since I was a child I remember getting my first Minolta film camera, and the two of us would go out and photograph wildlife together. For probably 20 years or so, we were always going together to take photographs. I guess without him I didn't have the drive to go out alone. Also, with my new full time job, I didn't have the free time that I had before. I believe that I had gotten used to staying home, when I was not working, and finding more things to do around the house.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGmhzS_YLYs/XKPinTf-YlI/AAAAAAAAA5w/pLVTNOH6hzsfhirZuxeWGt5wNETjnOtWQCLcBGAs/s1600/Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGmhzS_YLYs/XKPinTf-YlI/AAAAAAAAA5w/pLVTNOH6hzsfhirZuxeWGt5wNETjnOtWQCLcBGAs/s640/Lily.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Just before my father passed away, I had started growing some bonsai trees from seeds. I had also bought some pre bonsai to work on. I thought it would be something that I would enjoy doing. Over the last two years, I have learned a lot about bonsai care, but I still have a lot to learn. I have really enjoyed spending the time outside and enjoyed the process of bonsai. Now, I have approximately two dozen different trees, in a large variety of species. None of which I would consider bonsai at this point, but they are a work in progress. After some reflection about the past few years of my life, I realized that maybe this was my way of coping with the losses. Either way, I have enjoyed working on my trees, and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. I have started a lot of seeds over this winter, and I am waiting to see if they will sprout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcC7ngsJ1l4/XKPjTNAECiI/AAAAAAAAA6A/xW82hlXjJ9URlQMBptilLFbWrhO9v3HmwCLcBGAs/s1600/Dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcC7ngsJ1l4/XKPjTNAECiI/AAAAAAAAA6A/xW82hlXjJ9URlQMBptilLFbWrhO9v3HmwCLcBGAs/s640/Dragonfly.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
From spending all the extra time outside caring for my bonsai trees, I realized how much I was missing being out in nature. So, I charged up my camera batteries for the first time in over a year last fall and finally took a trip out to the local reservoir. I saw some bald eagle's fishing, some geese, and ducks, and some other small bird species. However, I did not get any pictures. I was focusing more on macro photography at the time. I wanted to photograph insects because I was seeing much more insects than anything else. I did manage to get a couple of photographs of dragonflies and frogs. I also photographed a lot of flowers and other subjects just to have something to photograph. I did get some good shots, but it simply felt good to be back out taking pictures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VtsPAcVUlpM/XKPjSr9rT3I/AAAAAAAAA6M/s4VijIghiSgK_B_N7d3PdJi_5lVzV-KfwCEwYBhgL/s1600/DragonflyOnLog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VtsPAcVUlpM/XKPjSr9rT3I/AAAAAAAAA6M/s4VijIghiSgK_B_N7d3PdJi_5lVzV-KfwCEwYBhgL/s640/DragonflyOnLog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Since my trips in the fall, I did take some other trips out during the winter. I just didn't post anything about them. I plan on sharing some photographs from those trips soon. I also recently took a trip out to the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. I will post more about that as well. Soon, I will also be taking a trip to Alaska for the first time. I am so excited to finally get to visit Alaska. I have been wanting to go there since I was a child. I've been preparing for the trip, and I purchased a new camera lens. The sigma 150–600 mm contemporary lens. So far, I really like it. I have not had much time to test it out, but it is a vast improvement over my last lenses. I look forward to getting more opportunities to use it. I am also thinking about getting a new camera body for my trip. I will keep you posted on that once I decide what I am going to purchase. I am also looking to buy some other accessories. As I purchase the equipment, I will probably post about it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXx2TPaCLhk/XKPjZnMAQXI/AAAAAAAAA6U/BSsvdXgwHgcNwC2j9vjDUGKiJnjZXF_OgCEwYBhgL/s1600/BirchTrail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXx2TPaCLhk/XKPjZnMAQXI/AAAAAAAAA6U/BSsvdXgwHgcNwC2j9vjDUGKiJnjZXF_OgCEwYBhgL/s640/BirchTrail.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
For this post, I decided to include some photographs taken since my last post. As a reminder all the images posted on my blog have been reduced in size for storage purposes. I hope you all enjoy them. Until next time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7pncrwTYSM/XKPjenWg6MI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/xjcylBiGxdcesAFlmv9Q4mFWSgktoyP6gCEwYBhgL/s1600/GrayCatbirdCropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7pncrwTYSM/XKPjenWg6MI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/xjcylBiGxdcesAFlmv9Q4mFWSgktoyP6gCEwYBhgL/s640/GrayCatbirdCropped.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-79991249048780405832016-02-23T14:22:00.000-05:002019-08-03T20:15:48.802-04:00Deep Freeze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOqZPIQTtH0/VsywdggJdVI/AAAAAAAAAz4/noEBryZ_RZM/s1600/EagleSmall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOqZPIQTtH0/VsywdggJdVI/AAAAAAAAAz4/noEBryZ_RZM/s640/EagleSmall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two weekends ago temperatures dropped below zero for a
couple days, which did cause the reservoirs to almost completely freeze
over. This for me was a good thing,
because it forced the eagles to be near the stream where I can get the closest
to them. The eagle numbers were the
highest I’ve seen this winter, but still lower than normal. I was seeing about ten eagles every time I
went out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However I only managed a few photographs. I was having problems with lighting. With the lens I use it has a very high f-stop
when at long range, which was causing problems with getting the proper
lighting. Also due to this, most of the
time I had to use a 1600 ISO. Which I would prefer not to use because of the
extra noise that it adds to photographs. Also I was battling the sun all day. It was either too bright or not enough. It always seemed to sneak behind a cloud at
the worst moments. In addition I was
having problems with the full mature eagles because there heads were
overexposing, and I could not figure out how to prevent it, without the rest of
the image being drastically underexposed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Furthermore I had a day that when I arrived at the lake,
there was a construction crew working on clearing brush and putting in new
electric poles. They were working right
where the eagles roost and feed. This
really upset me, especially since they were running a chainsaw and making tons
of noise. There are signs that it is an
endangered species area during the winter months because of the eagle
population in the area during those months.
Also there are signs stating that outdoor activity will disturb
eagles. Yet they were out there
working. It just seemed like poorly timed
construction work. Due to there noise
the eagles left the area for the day.
But the next morning they were back and it was the best day I had all
week. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During my trips last week I was also seeing much higher
numbers of ducks. I saw plenty of common
mergansers, black ducks, and a few hooded mergansers. But I also found two common goldeneye ducks,
which I don’t normally see. I also
spotted a downy woodpecker, but he didn’t stay around for long. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Towards the end of last week, the weather had started
another warming trend. It is quite
crazy. Temperatures fell to below zero and
days later it climbed into the fifties, with average temperatures around
freezing. I am hoping that I continue to
see more eagles, but I believe that the warm weather won’t help. I guess at least I can look forward to the
spring duck migration. Until next time. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-58555882728540236412016-02-14T14:00:00.000-05:002019-08-03T20:17:01.419-04:00Change of Luck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLyeo7NKCmM/VsDNrxIyxpI/AAAAAAAAAzg/sOsqrQD8z1o/s1600/Blackcapsmall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLyeo7NKCmM/VsDNrxIyxpI/AAAAAAAAAzg/sOsqrQD8z1o/s640/Blackcapsmall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So far this winter’s eagle season for me has been a complete bust. I have been seeing small numbers
of eagles, but nothing within range to photograph. Due to the warm winter most of the water in
the lakes and reservoirs is not frozen.
Which gives the eagle’s free roam of the area, and they mostly stay in
areas where people cannot go. But yesterday
and today Mother Nature is throwing a curve ball, and dropping temperatures to
zero and below, with wind chills in the -20 to -30's. I am sure that the ice will form on the
lakes, and tomorrow I hope that I will get a chance to spend most of the day
out. Maybe these extremely cold
temperatures will be the change of luck that I need to get my first eagle
photographs of this year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since it has been so bad with the eagle count, I decided
that I would fill my bird feeders and see what I could get. I have had a good amount of species visiting
including cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, juncos, tufted titmouse, and
nuthatches, but I have not seen the woodpeckers that I have seen in the past.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SN78MomqUU0/VsDN14E-92I/AAAAAAAAAzk/HV91b-yWZnE/s1600/Blackcap2small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SN78MomqUU0/VsDN14E-92I/AAAAAAAAAzk/HV91b-yWZnE/s640/Blackcap2small.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also have had a hawk that seems to show up every time I
fill my feeders. I guess he likes easy
prey. I feel bad about the situation,
but I don’t think I can do much about it.
If you watch him carefully he normally hides in the trees above my
feeder and ambushes the other animals.
Last year he attacked a squirrel on the ground below my feeder and
chased him up a tree. It was crazy too
watch. I had never seen a hawk hop
branch to branch up a tree and chase a squirrel. In the end he managed to kill the squirrel
just behind my fence. Since then I have
felt bad about filling the feeders but I guess it is only nature taking its
course. If anyone has ideas about
stopping the hawk, please feel free to comment.
The only thing I could find was to not fill the feeders for a while and
hope the hawk moves on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that I have not been posting much, but I have not had
many photographs to post. So I think I
will be trying to post more helpful hints and other things to fill the time in
between my photographs. If anyone has a
topic that they would like me to try and cover, please leave a comment and I
will try and cover it. Until next time.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-76757648040363716072015-12-06T17:17:00.000-05:002019-08-03T20:17:28.510-04:00Lunar Photography Attempt<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGcOL8ibObc/VmSzUUvoc4I/AAAAAAAAAyE/zLSAT7PLk20/s1600/moon1small.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGcOL8ibObc/VmSzUUvoc4I/AAAAAAAAAyE/zLSAT7PLk20/s640/moon1small.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been a while since I have made a post, but I have not
had any photographs to post. I have been
having very few chances to photograph any wildlife. So I decided to change gears a bit, and I
tried to photograph the full moon about a week ago. It has been a long time since I had done it,
and since the last time I have gotten a better tripod and a gimbal head. So it
was definitely easier this time around.
I was using my Bower 650-1300 mm lens for this though; because it is the
only lens I have that can get close up to the moon. I kind of wish I had a telescope I could hook
my camera up too. I was happy with the
photographs but wish I had a better lens.
The Bower lens is not high quality, but for the price it’s great for
me. So because of the quality of the
lens the photographs are more pixilated in my opinion. After I took the photographs I did some
processing, and maybe even too much processing, but I think they came out good. My favorite thing about them is that if you
look close enough you can see the craters, which you can’t see when you’re
taking the photographs. I think the next
moon photograph I want to try is a crescent moon to see the difference from the
full moon. But I need a clear night to
try it. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIAVVGo45V8/VmSzh4rGe9I/AAAAAAAAAyI/ttcYIRnN-lY/s1600/moon2small.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIAVVGo45V8/VmSzh4rGe9I/AAAAAAAAAyI/ttcYIRnN-lY/s640/moon2small.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Even though it has been a slow couple of months for me
wildlife wise, I am looking forward to the winter. I am hoping that this winter will be another
productive eagle winter. Last year I
managed some of the best eagle photographs that I had ever taken. I’m really excited that there migration will
start soon. I spend a lot of early
mornings trying to take a photograph of these magnificent birds of prey. But with my limited budget it makes it very
difficult to photograph them. Most of my
long range photographs are taken with a manual focus lens. So it is almost impossible to capture them in
flight. However last winter I did manage
some flying shots with my 250mm lens.
The eagles came extremely close though, and that does not happen all the
time.</div>
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I have seen several eagles lately and I hope that I continue
to start seeing higher numbers. I can’t
wait, and I will try and post as often as I can over the winter about all my
sightings. Until next time.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441661355695781485.post-73998299913293596952015-10-21T12:06:00.000-04:002019-08-03T20:18:11.106-04:00Productive Outings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qlrMaxuqmv0/Vie3CJ5FK5I/AAAAAAAAAxc/obSBdjEowPc/s1600/jumpspidersmall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qlrMaxuqmv0/Vie3CJ5FK5I/AAAAAAAAAxc/obSBdjEowPc/s640/jumpspidersmall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finally I am starting to have some productive photography
trips. The last few I have been on were
great. The fall foliage is at its peak
and the scenery is absolutely beautiful.
My most recent trip was the most productive. I made my way to the Bashakill Wetlands and
was hoping to find some warblers and other fall migrant birds. I did get a glimpse at a few of them but
didn’t manage a good photo. Once I
decided that birding was not going well, I changed to photographing
insects. I managed a couple shots of
dragonflies and butterflies. Most didn’t
come out due to the harsh natural lighting.
There were no clouds and it made it very hard to control lighting. After a while I remembered I had extension
tubes in my camera bag, so I put two of the three on. That’s when I saw this little jumping spider
crawling up a boulder. The spider was
probably about the size of a pencil eraser.
The spider didn’t sit still very long so I only managed a few shots
before he hopped off into the grass and disappeared. I was pleased with the shot but I wish I
could have gotten closer. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5a7lWCCi2BU/Vie3o6s9wMI/AAAAAAAAAxk/QtXPWiTL7Hg/s1600/butterflysmall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5a7lWCCi2BU/Vie3o6s9wMI/AAAAAAAAAxk/QtXPWiTL7Hg/s640/butterflysmall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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While I was
home after this I realized that maybe if I added the extension tubes and then
attached my small lens reversed it might actually get me more magnification
than I had with my 250 mm with the extension tubes on. I plan on running a test to see if adding
extension tubes to a reversed lens lets you stay a little further from the
subject. I’m hoping this is the case
because with the reversed lens you have to get so close to the subject that
it’s almost impossible to do, because the wild animals don’t stay when you get
that close. I hope that the upcoming
week is as good as this one. I hope
everyone enjoys the photographs. Until
next time. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please subscribe to my blog at https://aaronsmithwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/
and feel free to post comments or questions.</div>Aaron Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440540011066011651noreply@blogger.com0