Your Favorites from 2010

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited January 3, 2011 in Wildlife
Hey Y'all,

I hope y'all had a fine year. Since its de rigueur at this time to have a favorite shots thread this is the one for us wildlife shooters. Let's see what kind of year you had. No more than 4 images please.

Here are my faves from the past year

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OK, I know this ain't wildlife but I am the mod you know. This is from my Alaska trip.

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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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Comments

  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    AWESOME idea, H. And you don't disappoint, of course :D

    These are all from my workshop in Sitka, Alaska.

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    The last guy looks a little bit like our Moderator, no?

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    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Harry and Andy clap.gifclapclap.gif

    Here are a few of my favorites:D

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    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
    Facebook Fan Page
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Nice photos folks. I always enjoy viewing other photos. Great idea for a post H. I had a productive 2010 as far as photos went. Far far too many images to pick 4 and exclude the others so instead of posting the "best" I'm going to share a "best" story and a "snapshot" to back it up.

    I had been taking a few of my friends out to a local osprey nest by boat. We had been following the ospreys for weeks and enjoying the chicks growing up. We all captured many wonderful images but this particular day something amazing took place. I took my friend Marina up early this morning and we noticed the nest was empty with the exception of one chick. This was the youngest chick and obviously the last one to fledge. We were shooting this bird for quite a while as it practiced "flying" over the nest. It would hover above the nest and then land. It did this for quite some time and finally... it took off. It took off directly at us. This first flight was coming directly at us and we were firing away like crazy. The maiden voyage of this beautiful bird and we had front row seats.

    This young osprey kept coming closer and closer and closer. Then...IT HAPPENED. The bird started dropping with talons out for a landing. It was heading right as us. The bird LANDED ON MY FRIEND MARINA'S HEAD. yes...right on here head. How amazing. To my surprise she didn't scream..but calmly whispered "quick get a shot". You have to appreciate my situation. I am not even 10' from this bird standing on my friends head. I have a telephoto lens on and I'm not sure how long the bird will stick around. Being unable to get the whole bird in the frame I quickly start shooting the bird..then Marina..then the bird..then Marina. I kept the talons and the top of her head in both shots and figured I would combine the two shots when I got back in Photoshop. I got off a few shots before the osprey finaly took off. Truly amazing experience and one I'll NEVER FORGET. Definitely the most amazing thing I've seen so far shooting wildlife. it's not every day you see a wild osprey fledge and then come over and land on one's head.

    Here are the pics i fired off. Not art but at least photographic evidence that would hold up in a court of law. I told Marina she has to be nice to me from here on out or I'll deny ever witnessing this amazing event and tell everyone I photoshpped the images. (no I didn't..full sized RAW files for the right price lol)

    Happy New Years folks.

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    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Mike, you truly are the osprey whisperer
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
    Facebook Fan Page
  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Truly amazing, good thing she is of good heart most people would have lost it if that happened.
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    dlplumer wrote: »
    Mike, you truly are the osprey whisperer

    15524779-Ti.gif Truly unbelievable!!!!!
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    awesome osprey on head pics
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    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • psycchic1psycchic1 Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    There are truly beautiful photos here! Nice work for those who posted thus far! I adore the sea lions as they leap into the water---that's one of my favorites! I also love all of the bird photographs!!!! Well done!
    Lisa Langell
    LangellPhotography.com
    Honorable Mention (2010) National Wildlife Federation
    "Photographing the world isn't simply documenting that you saw it...
    ...it's capturing how you experienced it!"
  • psycchic1psycchic1 Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Here's a Blue-Gray Gnatcather that looked too sweet for words in this shot!
    I'll post my other 3 "entries" separately.
    Lisa Langell
    LangellPhotography.com
    Honorable Mention (2010) National Wildlife Federation
    "Photographing the world isn't simply documenting that you saw it...
    ...it's capturing how you experienced it!"
  • psycchic1psycchic1 Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Attachment not found.#2: Great Blue Heron takes flight...
    Lisa Langell
    LangellPhotography.com
    Honorable Mention (2010) National Wildlife Federation
    "Photographing the world isn't simply documenting that you saw it...
    ...it's capturing how you experienced it!"
  • psycchic1psycchic1 Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Just resting...
    Lisa Langell
    LangellPhotography.com
    Honorable Mention (2010) National Wildlife Federation
    "Photographing the world isn't simply documenting that you saw it...
    ...it's capturing how you experienced it!"
  • psycchic1psycchic1 Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Switching it up...frog UNDER the lily pad!
    Lisa Langell
    LangellPhotography.com
    Honorable Mention (2010) National Wildlife Federation
    "Photographing the world isn't simply documenting that you saw it...
    ...it's capturing how you experienced it!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Just Four.......
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Outstanding work y'all

    I see that good ole Andy pulled out a pic from our time together in NYC. At least his pics show that he absorbed some of the knowledge I passed on to him. When I met Andy he didn't even own a DSLR yet.
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    Have a happy New Year wings.giffreaky:seamusbeer.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!"
  • rtronickrtronick Registered Users Posts: 22 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2010
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    http://rtronick.smugmug.com/
  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    Well I think I can put these in the mix.

    Mr Cranky bird as my grandson calls him. Won third place at Lodi Crane Festival Art Show in the Wildlife division.
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    This one will probably be submitted next year. It was taken the weekend of the festival.
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    Sandhill jump
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    I have finally got a good shot of this species. They are tough to get in the open and get near enough.
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    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    Fantastic shots folks.

    My four.

    1) This shot won a local photo art contest in the town that it was taken.
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    2) Three weeks later I got this years entry.
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    3) We made a few trips to the badlands this year, it's becoming one of my favorite parks for wildlife in the winter.
    Here a ram is teaching the kid a few things.
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    4) This was taken in the Grand Tetons. He's really enjoying his meal.
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    That's it for me.
    Have a great new year everyone.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    Mike a great story nice pictures but all together a great post and I will follow your lead with a photo story that has happened to all of us that chase wildlife with a camera . Happy new year
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    Wow...everyone's pics are just spectacular! I love that spoonbill pic Harry and Ric your barnswallow is incredible. I can not believe that an osprey plopped on Marina's head Mike. Dan, your pintail is tack sharp! I love that peregrine from DsrtVW!

    If I had to narrow my pics down, it would probably be these.

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    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    I will keep it to 4 not my best but I did like Mikes story so this is what happens to all that shoot wildlife!!eek7.gif
    I was out shooting w/tripod and a long lens ,when you have a long lens you need a short and visa versa
    I was looking for a better angle to shoot the coopers hawk in the tree .I thought it was looking at me headscratch.gif--but no in a split second it flew and landed 2 feet from me on the ground . That is when I saw the gopher next to us .
    NO shot way to closedeal.gif --- the coopers back to the tree and me thinking the only reason it was not meal time was because I was way to close . I backup and hide in some brush and wait
    and wait:ivarwings.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    and this is after I have moved focus on the gopher and waiting for a great kill shot .The gopher never moved away from me or the hawk it just did not carerolleyes1.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    and now this shot shows what I saw when we all stood with in 2 feet of each other .The coppers being a young one I guess the gopher was just too much for it . This is the second time [never got a shot the first time] and I know there is to be no breakfast and just then it fly's back to the tree:cry:cry good for the gopher and well I should have worked on the take off rolleyes1.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    so I take 1 more shot of Mr Gopher ,who has not moved or even looked up but has I take the last shot ---this is what I get [did not see it until I got home] yep this is gods way of saying Jeff I let you get that really nice turkey vulture shot now you are just getting greedy and the gopher well we know what it is saying but this is a family thread so no 4 letter words mwink.gif It was just one of those days rolleyes1.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • FisheadFishead Registered Users Posts: 130 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Four from Maryland.
    Well, fish photography is my speciality, but they were scarce this year so I was forced to shoot an occaisional bird.....Don't have a long lens only a twenty five year old 80-200. Starting to like bird photography! Click for a larger image.


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    allen sklar
    www.allensklar.smugmug.com
  • fldspringerfldspringer Registered Users Posts: 69 Big grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Not up to the standard, but the better of my collection for the year.

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    Greg

    www.spanielsport.com
  • Maxis GamezMaxis Gamez Registered Users Posts: 89 Big grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Here is my contribution....

    Happy New Year to all!

    Thanks!

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    Maxis Gamez
    New Bird Photography Blog
    Spoonbills Boat Workshop | Owls | Nesting Birds | Bosque | Newsletter
    www.facebook.com/Maxis.Gamez
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2011
    I'd call that a good year, Stephen!
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2011
    All are beautiful, Maxis, but I especially love the last 3.
  • moose135moose135 Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2011
    I don't shoot much wildlife, but I'll add a few...

    I guess this one depends on your definition of "wild". :D

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    When it's too foggy to shoot aircraft, you shoot the birds waiting out the fog.

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    And finally...

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    The Moose is Loose!
    http://www.moose135photography.com
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2011
    Fishead wrote: »


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    My new favorite Baldy shot....terrific! thumb.gif
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