The Male Gives it Away?!
Or does it? We look forward each spring to their return to the Sierra, their song is so mellow and sweet. Know who it is yet?
Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Who’s That Peaking Out?
Yeap, it’s a nesting bird here in the Sierra, actually it’s a species you’ll only find at higher altitudes. Who is it? Another hint to come shortly.
Photo captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-20e3 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Did You Miss Me?
Those few times when I don’t have a blog posting up first thing in the AM, I get a couple of emails asking what’s up. I do appreciate being missed. Right now the office is just hopping and I’m jamin and cramin to get everything done so I can be gone. I’ve been writing like a mad man so, well, the blog just got the bottom of the list so it’s late today.
Well, finally the nests are popping out some young. The early birds have fledlings but most are just now getting nestlings. This is a Mountain Chickadee that has its nest literally attached to our home. It’s nesting in a bird box that it’s been using for a decade and every year, it successfully adds a few more to the gene pool. The perch it’s on is one I’ve screwed into the house for it to use. When I put it up, I didn’t use a lens so didn’t know it was too close to the bird house. No problem!
I just got the drill out and lowered the perch. As you can see, it didn’t effect the chickadees at all. The other thing you should notice is the big difference in the overall look of the two photos. Both were taken at the same time of the day. The top one though was shot without flash. The bottom one has flash fill. When it comes to nesting birds, it is really rare you can shoot without flash. You can see here why. I’ve gotta get back to real work so I can get back out with the nests. When it rains, it pours!
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Great Week Finished with an !
One of the important lesson the Eastern Sierra teaches anyone who cares to listen is take life slow. To simply enjoy even the smallest treasure makes the day all that much sweeter. Our last shoot at Rock Lake spoke this listen in volumes!
Didn’t have to wander any distance, barely walked far from the truck and the clouds and the light performed. We had a wonderful time with really great folks sharing our home here in the Eastern Sierra. I think we have a couple more B&W converts and definitely fans of this very unique of our wild heritage. Thanks gang for a great week, it ended with one helluva exclamation point!
Photos captured by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
We Stop for Photos!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6611.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I told the group we were heading to one place but as soon as I saw the sky, I made a quick left and then a rapid stop. I grabbed my camera and ran up the hill. When you see here what I saw, you can see why there’s a bumper sticker saying We Stop for Photos!
It’s all about drama, landscape photography that is. This kind of sky screams drama so to make the image, you just need a somewhat interesting foreground. The more interesting the foreground, the more the drama pops in the photograph. The rocks are tan and they were surrounded by yellow flowers, a great foreground. In fact, just a little too good which is why I went B&W. If I hadn’t, the foreground might have gotten more attention visually when I want you looking at the drama in the sky. You’re the photographer, it’s always your choice where the viewer’s attention is going to go.
Photos captured by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
The Ghost Forest is to Die For!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6520.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
After haunting the shoreline for sunrise, we headed up to the Ghost Forest. This grove of pines were killed in place by CO2 from our volcano. When you have great skies you really can’t make a bad photo here and this morning was that kind of situation.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP6545.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
What’s the key to making the images happen? First is finding the right clouds for the background. Next, find a design pattern in the trees that is interesting. Next is know that you can’t find the perfect pattern and that there will always be some trees you’ll need to remove in post from the photo. Lastly, a wide lens and the willingness to endure a stiff next the rest of the day. After that, just have fun wandering the forest for a couple of hours.
Photos captured by D3x, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film