Tag: nature photography

Practice Practice Practice

Been taking my camera out ss often as I can, experimenting with manual mode. And lighting. That seems to be my biggest problem. There was a particular grainy, 18% gray day this week, where everything came out fuzzy and monotone. Like this guy over here ———> I went back on the next day, which was bright and sunny, and did much better. Like that … Read More Practice Practice Practice

It’s Here! It’s a GO!

The Wild Wings Photography Tour, Costa Rica 2022 is a GO!   This is the kind of birds we will see — — and I am hoping that this is the kind of photos we will take! With Andy’s patient help and expert teaching we will no doubt bring lots and lots of good photos back home.  So, get your passports updated and your … Read More It’s Here! It’s a GO!

Wild Wings Day 6: The (Final) Star

If Saturday was SuperSaturday, then I would have to say that Sunday was StupendousSunday. I thought I was in photography heaven. When Andy said he was taking us to a rookery, I immediately thought of this: Which is a fairly typical example of a great blue heron rookery up where I live. You know, a stand of dead trees in the middle of a … Read More Wild Wings Day 6: The (Final) Star

Wild Wings Day 5: The Star

Today was SuperSaturday, so by definition The Star of the Day would be a SuperStar. And it was! No doubt about it, it was babies! Babies clearly were the Number One SuperStar of the Day! Our morning outing was delayed by thunderstorms, severe enough to prompt lightning warnings. But once they cleared we were off, looking for SuperStar candidates. It didn’t take long to … Read More Wild Wings Day 5: The Star

Wild Wings Day 4: The Star

The Star of the Day today could have been the pelicans, which were quite photoworthy. Or it could have been any of the number of small waders that ran along the shore and entertained us by pestering each other. But The Star of the Day was none of these. It was definitely the  wood stork. And not just *any* wood stork. It was THIS … Read More Wild Wings Day 4: The Star

Wild Wings Day 3: The Star

We went out twice on Day 3, once in the morning and once in the evening during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. The choice of Star of the Day was actually quite difficult, as several lovely and not-so-lovely candidates had to be considered. The first candidate would have to be the purple gallinule. The morning light glistened off its iridescent feathers — … Read More Wild Wings Day 3: The Star

Sony a7ii

I really love my Olympus gear, but I can’t ignore the full-frame fuss any longer.   So, I took the plunge and bought a (used) Sony — not the latest model and certainly not the most expensive — but one that Digital Camera World recommended as a very capable and affordable full-frame, as long as you don’t do video (https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-full-frame-mirrorless-camera). Although still a relative newbie … Read More Sony a7ii

Spring, Montezuma Style

Winter is slowly losing its grip on western New York. Eaglets are hatching, osprey and herons are nesting, and ducks, geese, and swans have found their mates. Although spring arrived meterologically on March 21, it wasn’t really spring for us nature photofolks until April 1st, when the gate to Wildlife Drive swung open. Today was sunny (and warm!), so I packed a lunch and … Read More Spring, Montezuma Style

Feeding the Waterfowl, An Update

Well, this blog has definitely been seen, because Ms. van Beusichem has now issued a brochure, Draining the Main Pool, Feeding the Waterfowl, which is available without charge at the MNWR Visitor’s Center. Nice try, but in my opinion it warrants no cigar.  She merely repeats the glib arguments that we have already heard, albeit with a bit more cheerfulness.   “The Montezuma National Wildlife … Read More Feeding the Waterfowl, An Update

Wildlife Dried

Writing on Joseph Karpinksi’s Facebook Page, Birds of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, MNWR spokesperson Andrea van Beusichem advised visitors that Wildlife Drive will be “challenging” this year. I’m not sure if that is the best way to describe it. . .pathetic is more like it. There just isn’t much to see on the grasslands situated where the marshes used to be. But hey, at … Read More Wildlife Dried

Losing My Fear of ISO

What newbie wouldn’t be scared of ISO? On one hand, it promises you brighter, better photos. . . . . .but the other hand takes them away with great big blobs of grain. Up to now, I simply ignored this third leg of the exposure triangle. I figured that by keeping the ISO low (200 or below), I wouldn’t have to worry about grain. … Read More Losing My Fear of ISO

A Good Day of Fishing