WTB:thermals for Socal guy

jeff lapoint

I'm grinding through my first Syracuse winter and the wildlife shooting ain't easy. I used to get up at the crack o dawn to this scene...



Now I wake up to this before I go shooting





:dunno


I really miss the terns of Bolsa and I've been thinking of a trip to Niagra in hopes of finding some there. Until then I have managed to find some gulls feeding in the icy cold waterways around Montezuma NWR.

The location change has not been the only one for me. I recently shuffled all my gear around again and am now giving an old canon 600mm f4 non IS a go to see if I can make it work. This is my first outing with it and the 40D I just started using.

I had a hellava time handling the highlights on some of these...















And a hawk for good measure:D




Thanks for looking and I hope to show some more winter shots soon:thumb

-j

DoctorIt

Ah, the good 'ol Northeast!!!

You seem to be doing pretty alright with what you have though, this shot is awesome - the detail in the bird on the black menacing water is great!



We should have worked out some sort of time-share - I get your surfboards and you get all my skis and jackets/layers!

Jack'll do

The gull seems to be swimming in a sea of asphalt in #2... great contrast. All real nice captures.
thumb

jeff lapoint

DoctorIt wrote:

Ah, the good 'ol Northeast!!!

You seem to be doing pretty alright with what you have though, this shot is awesome - the detail in the bird on the black menacing water is great!



We should have worked out some sort of time-share - I get your surfboards and you get all my skis and jackets/layers!

Thanks Doc. You can borrow a surfboard but I'll need to personally deliver it so I at least get to experience the Aus surf. Any place that lists the country's official sport as surfing is automatically in my top 5 places on the planet to live:D

jeff lapoint

Jack'll do wrote:

The gull seems to be swimming in a sea of asphalt in #2... great contrast. All real nice captures.
thumb

Thanks Jack! I feel like it was an ok first run, but the contrast and dynamic range will take some getting used to for me. I went back yesterday to try again and the gulls were nowhere to be found:cry

Maybe I'll try the Ithaca area tomorrow...

-j

Cracker

I love your gull captures, lots of action and color. One of my favorite birding spots is in NY, the Iriqouis Nature Preserves between Bufallo and Rochester, especially the Swallow Hollow bird watching trails through the swamps. But I've never been there in winter.

Happy New Year,
Graham

DoctorIt

jeff lapoint wrote:

Thanks Doc. You can borrow a surfboard but I'll need to personally deliver it so I at least get to experience the Aus surf.

Anytime, mate! Qantas accepts surfboards as luggage at no extra charge

SloYerRoll

If the baggage handlers are anything like the guerrillas at other airports. You may want to put insurance on your board before you check it though!

jwear

Happy new year Doc --went to bolsa today about 75 so I wore a sweatshirt nice shots

jeff lapoint

Cracker wrote:

I love your gull captures, lots of action and color. One of my favorite birding spots is in NY, the Iriqouis Nature Preserves between Bufallo and Rochester, especially the Swallow Hollow bird watching trails through the swamps. But I've never been there in winter.

Happy New Year,
Graham

Thanks so much Graham!

So...where would you say is a good spot to shoot in the winter?(Not in Florida or CA)

I just got totally skunked for the second day in a row...this time in the Ithaca area

-j

PrescottPhotog

jeff lapoint wrote:

I'm grinding through my first Syracuse winter and the wildlife shooting ain't easy.

Hi Jeff.. After living in Ohio most of my younger years and then the Colorado Mtns. for 20 years I can feel your pain.. man that second shot sent shivers all the way through me.

I'll bet after the snow goes away you will have some great shooting up that way though. Hang in there, it will be over in about 6 months... (sorry, I couldn't resist).

raptorcaptor

Looks really cold Jeff! Like the hawk shot!

Harryb

Excellent set Jeff. I was wondering how you were doing in Syracuse. That's one hell of a change for a left coaster.

gluwater

So you're still alive huh? Didn't the Chicago winter prep you for the New York winter? For the new year I drove to Tennessee and on the way back hit lousy weather. The day started off in the 30's and by the time I was through Indianapolis it was 8 with ferocious wind. 1 jack-knifed semi, a dozen cars in the ditch, the windshield wiper fluid freezing, and a white out later we were home. I feel your pain. I hope to see you in Florida this February.

Osprey Whisperer

I feel your cold frozen pain Jeff. Well...for a couple days anyway. It's dropped to freezing this a.m. and will stay cold through today. Only got up to the low 50's yesterday and no better today. The cold weather presents all new kinds of problems when shooting. You can only make the most of it and dream of hot sunny beach front days. Nice job with the pics and keep thinking warm and posting the goods.

riddim_maker

BRRRRRRRRR!
That 2nd shot makes me shiver and it's not even that cold here in L.A.:D
Hope things warm up for you soon Jeff
BTW, you seem to be finding the subjects in spite of the weather
Good captures

jeff lapoint

jwear wrote:

Happy new year Doc --went to bolsa today about 75 so I wore a sweatshirt nice shots

Dude...thats just plain mean

Hope all is going well for you Jeff--judging by your recent work you've posted I can tell your photography is going great!

-j

jeff lapoint

PrescottPhotog wrote:

Hang in there, it will be over in about 6 months... (sorry, I couldn't resist).

Worst.Peptalk.Ever:cry

jk Chris. Thanks for the comments and for reminding me winter never freaking ends

jeff lapoint

raptorcaptor wrote:

Looks really cold Jeff! Like the hawk shot!

Thanks Glen! I just need to find him and the sun again