Just got my gear snug as a bug in the new f-stop Protective Wrap in time to hit the river! Wraps for gear are real old school, I have a bunch of them literally lying in the gear locker. I’ve used them forever but not much in the past years. The main reason is they use velcro to stay closed. The velcro latches on to everything making quick and easy in and out a challenge. Those days are long gone now with f-stop. I don’t know what voodoo they do, but their Protective Wrap doesn’t use velcro to latch close, it uses a technology I’ve never seen before and it works brilliantly! The density of their wraps is high-tech as well, with more protection while just as flexible around gear. I instantly put mine to use wrapping the Z 8 / Z24-120 and putting in the back pocket of my fishing vest. It worked perfectly and easily came off when I needed the camera and stuck to nothing else in the process. It’s a really cool new product keeping my gear snug as a bug, f-stop new Protective Wrap.

There are some amazing, simply gorgeous “bug” photographs being created! It would seem the latest mirrorless gear is permitting photographers to get them into tighter places yielding some great results! Macro and I have never been real close but back in the day I did go after some bugs. The first fly to be listed endangered in the US took us to the deserts of SoCal back in the late 80’s to photograph the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly, the only critter that nearly killed me. With the inspiration of the great images being created these days, I have the gear, and having plenty of bugs in the yard, I might have to revisit the possibilities. There are some great images being produced, have you noticed?

This year like last, the Hairy Woodpeckers nested off property. This year like last year, the parents once the kids fledge brought them to the homestead to learn about life. With plenty of food and water and pretty safe (the Gos & Coops pick on the finches and doves), we’ve created a bird paradise. One of the male Hairy’s fledglings last year was a waccado! We always knew it was him because he would do the goofiest things. For example, while his siblings were on the platform feeding, he would always go underneath it and feed from the bottom. While he’s siblings were the typical “bird shy,” he would fly right up to us. Well, this year he’s the parent and he’s brought his offspring to The Ranch like his parents brought him. Now we have four Hairy Woodpecker waccados! Yep, his kids are just as goofy but you can’t tell that in the photos. Got some new perches so spending some time in the Hide, they would come in and feed. Wanting to get closer and different background, came out of the Hide and just stalked them. They just don’t care if I’m there which is bigtime fun! Just like their father, they are getting to know us, and don’t even fly when Maggie is under the suet. They are getting “habituated” permitting me to get closer and more opportunities. If you have fledglings in your yard, now is the time to get out and work with them even if they aren’t the best looking yet. Doing so will garnish your better photos this fall and next spring. So now’s the time to get to know the kids!