I’ve been Explored

Posted on September 1, 2016 by PC PHOTO

Recently two of my photos have been selected by Flickr Explore. What is Explore and what does it mean to me? Approximately 2 million photos are uploaded daily to Flickr photo sharing site so the chances of people viewing your photos other than friends and family that follow you are slim. Flickr has an algorithm that selects 500 interesting photographs every day that go into a special stream giving them an higher than average chance of being viewed, fav’d or even commented on by more people. You may be wondering why I’m writing about Flickr in my blog post. Well, because it’s been fun having my photos selected and seeing how many thousands of views they have gotten after all I post them there to share with others, plus it’s been a little bonus to my ego 😊.

These are my photo’s that have been Explored I hope you enjoy and can view them on a large monitor:

I’ve been working on longer term projects that tell a story rather than posting random pics which is why there are fewer posts here. It’s easier to do the shooting than to put together a story that has taken weeks or months to compile into an editorial manner. I’d much rather be out in nature rather than sitting in front of the computer culling pictures and writing cohesive blurbs to add to the post. For those that have stuck with me here over the years I say thank you and many thanks for continuing along on my photographic journey as it unfolds.

We’re just dust in the wind count your blessings …now go take more photos!

A birds eye view

Posted on July 26, 2016 by PC PHOTO

Photographers often visit and revisit certain locations. One of my favorite places to photograph again and again is Circle B Bar Reserve. After hiking countless miles over many years photographing the landscape and wildlife I took to the sky for a birds view. *1 Liftoff 0555

The Discovery Nature Center complex is where visitors begin their experience at the reserve. The lake looks close by the center and it is as the crow flies but when walking the trails you discover it is quite a trek. *1a discovery ctr 1a-0383

Above the treeline where Alligator Alley and Shady Oak trails meet was disorienting because at ground level the tree canopy is so dense not much light gets through. It took a couple passes overhead before I was orientated to where we were on the property. *1b treelined trails 1b-0370

Soaring over Lake Hancock the observation platform is below, it was at this very moment I felt I was seeing the view as a bird does. *1c observation platform 1c-0450

Heading into the Banana River marsh area is the intersection of Heron Hideout, Alligator Alley and Marsh Rabbit Run trails one of the easiest locations to recognize and most traveled on if you are a regular visitor to the reserve. *1d iconic trail 1d-0464

This is one of my favorite views on that day even with the hazy sky because it shows the expansiveness of the marsh area and this is only a partial view of it. *1e majestic marsh 1e-0463

Eagle Roost trail reveals a landscape of upland habitat that is so different from the lake and marsh areas with its long leaf pines, sand and grasses it’s a no wonder why National Geographic wrote about Circle B’s diversity. *1f diverse landscape 1e-0467

In a flash it was time to head back to the base so I took one final look back at the fabulous vista from an unseen vantage point unless you are in the air. *1g last look 1g-0483

Back at the base landing on water is much softer than tarmac landings in a 2 seater plane. Many thanks to my pilot Luke who without his skill I would not have viewed this wilderness area from the sky. *1h back at base 1h-0546

This wraps up a glimpse from my adventure into a birds eye view at my happy place. If you are a regular visitor to Circle B you will recognize familiar sights and if you have not been this is an overview of the lay of the land that is teaming with wildlife.

*1i free ad 1i-0302 Now a little well deserved free advertising, if you ever considered a sightseeing flight in central Florida I highly recommend Brown’s Seaplane in Auburndale, their staff is friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.

Special thanks to my husband for his thoughtfulness to arrange this outing for me on our anniversary.

A Limpkin family chronicle

Posted on July 12, 2016 by PC PHOTO

Limpkins are found in swamps and marshes in Florida they feed primarily on apple snails. The photo below shows an apple snail on the trunk of a bald cypress tree. The pink clusters on the tree trunk and the reed are eggs that the snail has already deposited. apple snail laying eggs-4765

Limpkins nest on floating vegetation or in trees, this nest is in a tree. Incubation time for their eggs is approximately 27 days. 1 - sitting on nest-9309

8 chicks hatched from this nest, getting a family portrait was impossible with the chicks exploring their new world. 3 - limpkin family-4000

This chick stood a away from the family pensively watching and learning. 4 - 3 days new watching and learning-3991jpg

Meanwhile theses three amigos formed a close knit bond that endured up to the time they matured. 5 - 3 amigos _DSC3995

Adults hunted apple snails and fed the insatiable appetite of the chicks for weeks. 6 - adult feeding apple snail to chick _DSC4004

When it was time to move from one location to another the adults would carry a snail shell knowing that the chicks would follow. 7 - time to cross the marsh - follow us_DSC4538-2 8 - follow me _DSC4541 One by one the chicks entered the marsh waters following the adult. 9 - chicks following parents across the marsh _DSC4544 Is this where the saying “keeping your ducks in a row” comes from? (Yes, I’m aware these are not ducks 😀)

Once on the other side of the marsh this little Limpkin takes its iconic place close to the adults mouth waiting for food. 10 - safe on the other side of the marsh _DSC4512-2

At 2 weeks the parents continued to bring the brood to the same area to feed, the water level hadn’t receded after a heavy rain and neither the adults nor chicks were happy to have wet feet all day long. limpkin chicks 2wks after 5＂ rain pin feathers beginning to show-5089 Note the downy feathers fading giving way to pin feathers at 2 weeks. limpkin chick 2wks pin feather-5329

At 3 weeks of age the chicks have more than doubled in size and the pin feathers continue to fill in on their wings. A couple of the chicks have disappeared from the family however, the dynamic bond continues with the amigo siblings sticking close by one another while the chick in the foreground remains a solitary creature. limpkin chicks 3wks pin feathers 3 amigos-6145

At 6 weeks the Limpkin chicks are nearly the size of the adults and they are learning to find food for themselves yet they don’t pass an opportunity to slip under a parent that is hunting in hopes for a bit to eat. classic limpkin position 6 wks-7510 limpkin chick 6wks being fed 2-7478

By the time 7 weeks passed only four chicks had survived. I wondered what happened had an alligator or snake or bird of prey taken them… I choose not to dwell on the loss because it is the other side of wildlife and nature the cycle of life and my main focus is on the beauty and wonder side of the cycle.

I observed this Limpkin family for 2 months watching how the parents cared for their young and taught them how to survive. It was interesting that when the chicks were displaying signs of sibling rivalry the parents didn’t intervene they let the youngsters work it out on their own. During the chicks growth there were moments that I felt a personal pride watching their accomplishments it was they were a part of my own family. But as all good things come to an end so did the chronicling of this feathered family, they grew up and went off in their own separate directions. I hope you have enjoyed the chronicle of this Limpkin family and are encouraged to discover nature for yourself. Now go take more photos!📷📷

A sad commentary

Posted on December 6, 2015 by PC PHOTO

I went to a local park on a lake to test the new Nikon 200-500mm on a full frame body and this is what I saw, a sad commentary.

_-sad-commentary-- This is just a small sample of the debris in a 30 foot diameter along the waters edge.

Test shots from Nikon 200-500

Posted on November 22, 2015 by PC PHOTO

Seems like I have been away from blogging for ages. I was away from the computer but I never put the camera down. Matter of fact I attended a photo workshop and have shot more frames in the past 2 months than I did all summer long.

Nikon released their latest big zoom the 200-500 AF-S prior to my workshop but I didn’t order it until after I got back home. I’ve taken it on 2 outings since it arrived last week and will share a some examples from todays shoot.

This first shot of a black swan is sooc the f5.6 delivered a pleasing bokeh.

A heavy crop on the mirror image of the ring necked duck and the white swan closeup doesn’t show alot of distortion. Though I hope Adobe will be adding the lens correction profile to Lightroom soon.

I haven’t tried the “Sport” mode that was added to this lens so far. That’s on the to do list next time out. The biggest surprise I had was too much lens compared to what I am used to with the 80-400mm. Never thought I’d say that! It’s a nice lens and will be an everyday part of my kit but it won’t replace the 80-400 however it is a great compliment to it. All of the shots in this post are DX format shot with D7200. Next outing will test its performance with full frame D610.

Other reviewers have stated that this lens design leans towards hand held shots. It can be done and can be used at lower shutter speeds than most long lenses allow you to shoot but IT IS heavy and the 95mm barrel is more than a handful for smaller hands. A quick mention the 200-500 performs well with the TC-14E III although it is a slow focus and manual focus is better suited for birds in flight.

Thanks for taking time to stop by and listening to my thoughts! It would be great to hear thoughts from others who have been using this lens. Until the next post… go take more photos!

Do You See What I See…

Little Mushrooms

Posted on September 20, 2015 by PC PHOTO

Do You See What I See…

In a hammock

Posted on August 30, 2015 by PC PHOTO

On the boardwalk

Posted on August 23, 2015 by PC PHOTO

Do You See What I See…

Night Sky Valles Caldera

Posted on August 16, 2015 by PC PHOTO

Valles Caldera volcano bowl, Jemez Springs, New Mexico
We drove up at sunset hoping to see elk feeding in the volcano bowl. We saw one elk coming down a ridge on the ride back to the hotel, it was too dark for a photo.