A few images

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited August 6, 2009 in Wildlife
Hi Y'all,

I've took off the last few weeks to play granddad. I had the youngsters at Universal Studios when I stepped off a low wall and managed to blow out my right knee. I spent a week or so with a cane until the knee recovered. Its OK on level ground but I have to be careful when I get to uneven areas.

Anyhow here are a few images from my last visit to the rookery in St. Augustine. As I have said before its easy to get lots of mediocre captures there but its tough to get really good captures. You have lots of subjects but the backgrounds are not the best and its tough to isolate a subject. The light was very harsh this season making some drastic EV adjustments necessary.

The rookery is a place of frenetic activity between the breeding, feeding of the chicks and the territorial disputes. The noise level is equivalent to a NYC subway at rush hour. I've tried to capture and convey this sense of activity and energy in my images this season.

a snowy egret feeding its chick. You can see the difficulty with backgrounds as demonstrated by the second chick. D300 and the 70-200mm 2.8.
585726301_W5dbE-XL.jpg

Great egret announcing his arrival as he lands. D3 and the 300mm f/4 and 1.4 TC
585716857_BMfbC-XL.jpg

Great Egret feeding its chicks. Actually it just landed and then the chicks took over. D3 with the 300mm f/4 and 1.4 TC
585710431_FbHn2-XL.jpg

Wood Stork and chicks. D3 with the 300mm f/4 and the 1.7 TC
585705422_MgNBt-XL.jpg
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    I was wondering where you've been Harry. #1 is my favorite here. Nice to see you back.

    Dan
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
    Facebook Fan Page
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    Sorry you hurt your knee, Harry! Good to see your fine images again! clap.gif

    The movers are comming tomorrow so I should be in gainesville in a couple of weeks.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    The grainy bg on the woody shot actually goes quite nicely.

    Sorry about the kneasles!
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    Some nice interaction in these shots and I like the "fly-in" image. Sorry about the knee. I hope it is fully recovered.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    great shots Harry...glad you are better
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited July 30, 2009
    dlplumer wrote:
    I was wondering where you've been Harry. #1 is my favorite here. Nice to see you back.

    Dan

    Thanks Dan. wave.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited July 30, 2009
    Nice set Harry. I really like the 2nd and 3rd shots.
    Hope full recovery of your knee injury comes quickly. When with the grandkids, you will have to remember that you are not as young as you used to be.
    My Photo Gallery
    http://ira-runyan.artistwebsites.com/index.html

    Florida Wildlife & Nature Photography
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Major grins Rockledge, FL on the Space CoastPosts: 0 Major grins
    edited July 31, 2009
    Nice captures Harry thumb.gif

    Remember you can shoot from your car at Viera (or at least nearby it). We'll have to get together down there soon. Take care.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited July 31, 2009
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Sorry you hurt your knee, Harry! Good to see your fine images again! clap.gif

    The movers are comming tomorrow so I should be in gainesville in a couple of weeks.

    Thanks Glenn and good luck on your move.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited July 31, 2009
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    The grainy bg on the woody shot actually goes quite nicely.

    Sorry about the kneasles!

    Thanks Ric. That grainy BG bugged me and I worked on it a bit. The "improvements" always ended up looking funky so I went back to the grainy BG in the end.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • hanseathanseat Registered Users Posts: 125 Major grins
    edited August 1, 2009
    Very nice shots, Harry!!
    Greetings from Germany
    Jan
    Homepage
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited August 1, 2009
    Tasty :eat

    Nice stuff, :harry
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 3, 2009
    Maestro wrote:
    Some nice interaction in these shots and I like the "fly-in" image. Sorry about the knee. I hope it is fully recovered.

    Thanks Stephen. The knee is arthritic so I will always have some problems with it, I jut have to be careful when I'm not on flat ground.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited August 3, 2009
    Harryb wrote:
    Thanks Stephen. The knee is arthritic so I will always have some problems with it, I jut have to be careful when I'm not on flat ground.
    Beautiful shots, beautiful light Harry... I love it when I open pictures and exclaim out loud... "oh my g*d Harry".... I'm missing Florida like crazy... is it so hot? :cry Sorry bout the knee... ICE IT HARRY... it'll feel better, trust me. iloveyou.gif

    p.s. Harry? did you use a tripod? or were these captures handheld..
    website
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited August 4, 2009
    Wow! As always Harry. clap.gif Sorry to hear about the knee. Hope it doesn't keep you away from shooting... :cry
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 4, 2009
    lynnma wrote:
    Beautiful shots, beautiful light Harry... I love it when I open pictures and exclaim out loud... "oh my g*d Harry".... I'm missing Florida like crazy... is it so hot? :cry Sorry bout the knee... ICE IT HARRY... it'll feel better, trust me. iloveyou.gif

    p.s. Harry? did you use a tripod? or were these captures handheld..


    Thanks Lynn, its hot as blazes down here.

    All these images were handheld. The rookery in St Augustine is great because you don't need long glass.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 6, 2009
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    great shots Harry...glad you are better

    Thanks Dave and the knee is much better.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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