DesertRat71 Loc: Arizona

My wife and I caught the first few episodes of the BBC One production of Life Story on the Discovery Channel this weekend. The photography is simply spectacular. Inspired, I checked our bank accounts and was immediately deflated to learn that I had nowhere near the resources required for a trip to Africa or to purchase a Sony PMW-F55 CineAlta 4K Ultra HD Digital motion picture camera. Sigh.

As a viable alternative (for now), my wife suggested I continue my backyard safari from the kitchen window and capture the visitors to her feeder. With coffee at hand and a comfortable chair for a shooting blind, neither I nor our checkbook could put up much of an argument. Then again, things weren’t exactly dull and I didn’t need a Professional Hunter or high powered armament in case any of the locals took exception to being photographed. Enjoy!

The blue eye shadow was a tasteful choice:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49807e11#h49807e11

And apparently a popular one:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49807e11#h4980781e

This “Fly”-by was a hair-raising experience!
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49807e11#h49808031

The getaway:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h4980835d#h4980835d

It’s all MINE!
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h4980835d#h498085b2

W-h-e-e-e-e-e…:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49808d95#h49808d95

Dive bomb practice:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49808d95#h49808dec

Looks like someone needs a bath…:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49808d95#h49809067

Who you callin' a red-headed stepchild?
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49808d95#h499390dd

Life is sweet:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49808d95#h499393bc

The entire album:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds

My gear:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizonabirds/h49a352c4#h49a352c4

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

Left a comment on your photo site. Great photos. I've spent many hours at the AZ CAF wing. Love watching those old planes.

DesertRat71 Loc: Arizona

Thank you for your kind words, both here and on my site:
http://outrider.darrows.org/arizona_wing_of_the_commemorative_air_force

Unfortunately I didn't get to see any of the big birds in the air. I do know that they occasionally offer rides and I'll be in line for one of those!

I see from your tagline that you too use a Nikon D810. After about a year of being impressed with a D7100 I was compelled to make the leap! I hope you're enjoying yours and its capabilities as much as I enjoy mine.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

http://sdwind.zenfolio.com/p664161028

http://sdwind.zenfolio.com/p1031687214

http://sdwind.zenfolio.com/p166608191

Here are 3 links to just a few we took at Falcon Field. I spent one afternoon inside the B-17. How they survived, I'm not sure! Another time I also paid to get in the museum and took more pix of the B-17 and B-25 flying. I haven't posted any of them, but now that we have better internet I could.

We had plans to go back to Mesa next winter but I injured my foot and will have to stay home this year for surgery and recoup time. If we would have gone back next Nov, I would have joined CAF and volunteered there (so I could get in the gate any time and take all the pix I wanted...LOL)

The war birds go on tour in the summer but are back in the winter. We saw them do the annual on the B-17 and what a job. You can sign up for rides but they are pricy! $850.00 for the nose seat on the B-17 but after watching some videos on You Tube of that fight, it would be one of a life time as long as no one was shooting at you!

Yes, I love the 810! It compares to my old D2H in smoothness and responsiveness. My only problem is keeping the sensor clean. I have cleaning kit but not having much luck. I'm probably going to have to send it to Nikon I think for there isn't anyone even close to Rapid City that would do that.

DesertRat71 Loc: Arizona

Sue,

There are some very nicely done photographs on your site. I hope you ate at the Anzio restaurant during your Falcon Field visit, they cook up a good meal!

I don't like changing lenses in the field. Someone wrote that a shortcoming of a prime lens (vs. a zoom) is that you have to move around more to get the best distance to the subject. I apply that same maxim to my 70-200 and 80-400 lenses to minimize swapping them out.

The 80-400 has become my go-to lens for most outings. It's massive and heavy but extremely fast focusing and sharp.

BTW, thanks for reminding me that we're coming up on 139 years since the massacre at the Lakota's Greasy Grass:
http://sdwind.zenfolio.com/p230249242/h21898d88#h21898d88

Thanks for sharing.

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

Thanks for looking and your compliment on my photos. Just a hobby for us, but sure fun.

I hate changing lenses in the field too. If Bob and I go out usually one of us has a longer lens and one of us has the shorter one.

I have found I get better results with the 70-200 than the 80-400 but mainly because I haven't had the 80-400 for too long. If I get to where I can walk again and go places to take pix, I'm sure the more I work with it the better it will get.