I Just Love Pink!

Mar 23, 2010 | Wildlife Photography

Pink on blue, what a dynamic color combo! The trick, getting the blue because in FL, getting the pink, the Roseatte Spoonbill is pretty easy (compared to getting it like in KS).

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp2691.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Here’s the problem, there was plenty of pink but not the blue. You have two options, don’t shoot or make the most of what mother nature has presented you. Shooting is just in my blood so I don’t know anything else under these conditions and while gray skies is the last background I would prefer, that’s what we had.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp2880.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

There is a rule in wildlife photography, don’t shoot a bird in flight against a gray sky. This is because of exposure range. Exceptions include pink birds and when a tad, very little, the smallest sliver of light slips under the cloud to kiss the subject.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp3576.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

And if you have gray skies then you will have gray water so the rule applies to both. It can put you in quite a pickle or, if you look for the slightest variation, opens the door to new possibilities. Don’t get stuck behind rules, click and make merry!

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Flight in any form is Gorgeous!

Mar 22, 2010 | Wildlife Photography

All I could think as I admired the incoming flight of White Ibis was, spectacular. That’s until I saw this one itching its back while flying in. Then I just thought, show off!

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp2293.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

There is a very special rockery in Tampa when there is a westery breeze, the evening flyin is just a photographic delight. It is a challenge for your panning skills to say the least as you’re using big glass. There are some visual obstacles in the flight path which can take your eye away from the subject. And the rate of keepers is much lower than normal. But when you do make that sweet click, it is indeed sweet.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp2110.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Making the shot required a teleconverter but with the ever decreasing light, the loss of light made AF operation sluggish. The trick is to prefocus on an object you think is about the distance of the subject when you first want to acquire it. This speeds up the system and makes it possible to make the click.

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

The Osprey

Mar 22, 2010 | Wildlife Photography

Sitting, or standing as it were, at a nest site for long hours is something I have done alot over the decades. Nesting birds perform on demand or on a schedule, they do it all on their own time. That gives one time to ponder the questions of time, or clean their nails.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp3937.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

There are many cool moments to be seen and photographed at an active nest. Many want to get the “flyin,” when the adult brings the fish into the nest. Me, I kinda like the antics after that event.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4029.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

As is so aptly put by Jay Maisel, we’re looking for light, color and gesture. The light in this case is fading as the sun sets. The color is constantly changing as the clouds float by behind the subject and in front of the sun and the gesture, that’s the biology.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4039.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

And here’s the deal, take your eye from the viewfinder for a second and you will miss the shot. How do I know this? I’ve suffered from that plight way too many times!

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp4117.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

And then there are those moments when the artsy-fartsy appears before ya and you know you’ve paid your dues for the day. Time, it does cure so much in life and photography!

Photos captured by D3s, 600VR / 600VR w/TC-20e / 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

It just takes One heartbeat

Mar 17, 2010 | Wildlife Photography

Gulls seem to be ignored by most so I guess I feel when in their presence, I’ve gotta make up for that somehow. Personally, I find them really very entertaining and when you can find that one unique individual, photographically rewarding.

This Ring-billed Gull at first seemed to want nothing to do with me. But after only a couple of minutes, the temptations of the sand flees coming up took over the fulls natural impulse to eat. I would keep its back to me for a while, making it easy to fly away if it were scared. But finally it got use to my standing there and I got the shot I had previsualized, that look just prior to make the snatch on a flea. But to me, it appears the gull is listening to some silly joke the flea is telling it as they passed on the beach. I love capturing those moments.