Posts for: rangersteve
Feb 25, 2018 20:21:56 #
Meow, actually I have been shooting since 1969, but only film on old Pentax and Nikon until about a year and a half ago. With the new do everything cameras with auto focus, high resolution, high ISO and vibration reduction it's nice to have it do the work and clean it up in photoshop. Unfortunately when the camera does all the heavy lifting you give up artistic decisions regarding depth of field, stop motion, exposure etc. It's quick to let the camera do the work, but you can create the pictures you want if you learn to control the camera yourself. I'm just learning too.
Steve
Steve
Feb 25, 2018 17:34:01 #
Good call Meowmix, and thanks for the comment. I saw the action and ran out the door with little time for preparation. It all took place in less than a minute, and I didn't have time to make things right. That's one reason it's a little out of focus. I have not yet become one with my camera, but it will happen!
Steve
Steve
Feb 25, 2018 17:16:02 #
BB4A, yes the male has a russet back, grey cap, grey wings and spotted russet underside. Much fancier than the female.
Feb 25, 2018 17:00:34 #
Gary, This was Reno, Nevada in October. Not so green now.
Feb 25, 2018 16:44:46 #
This is a thirteen picture series of a Red Tail Hawk hunting on the ground. This is the first time I have been able to get a fair photo (a little out of focus) of a hawk actively hunting on the ground. Mice usually run fairly fast when in the open and would be difficult to catch, but it appears that the hawk created a shadow cover with his wings and waited for the mouse to poke his head out to catch him. The hawk continued his hunt as I approached and gave me a satisfied look before he flew off with his dinner. The images were captured by a Nikon D810 with a Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 lens at 200mm f/5.6 - f/8 and at 1/125 - 1/250 sec.
Feb 25, 2018 14:24:58 #
Thanks Goldwinger! This Nikkor 80-200 2.8 is new to me, and I'm impressed with its speed and accuracy. No VR, so I shoot fast handheld.
Feb 25, 2018 14:11:56 #
I saw this beautiful Kestrel sitting on one of my antenna masts and he was kind enough to sit still for a photo shoot. The first picture was shot with my Nikon D810 at 1/000 sec with a Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 set at 200mm f/9 ISO 800. The second at 1/000 sec with the same lens set at 200mm f/10 ISO 800. The images have been cropped for framing.
Feb 25, 2018 06:54:32 #
Geezer Bill, that's amazing! I didn't know they did that! You learn something new every day. Thanks for the heads up... or foots up. Here's a blow-up of the resting foot.
Feb 25, 2018 00:09:01 #
Feb 24, 2018 17:36:29 #
BB4A, my wife wanted a rabbit for a pet, so we went to the local pet store to buy one. A young boy about 10 years old was there, also buying a rabbit. My wife asked him what he was going to name him, and he responded "We're not going to name him, we're going to eat him." true story.
Feb 24, 2018 16:42:07 #
This Red Tail Hawk shows up from time to time at my bird feeder, but he doesn't take birds. He likes mice and voles, and he is always a welcome visitor. I shot this using a Nikon D810 with a Nikkor 80-200 lens. The first image of the mouse for lunch was shot at 200mm f/22 1/40 sec and ISO 100. The after lunch pic of the hawk resting after eating was shot at 200mm, f/22 at 1/50 sec with ISO 100. The third pic is the hawk leaving his perch shot, at 200mm, f/2.8 1/3200 sec with ISO 100. Note the black patagium or shoulder area of the wing, distinctive for the red tail hawk. Also the wing is primarily white, but outlined in black.
Feb 23, 2018 19:22:00 #
Your right Chaman. But this is Nevada, and a lot of old school ranchers don't understand the role that these predators play in helping us to live in a healthy environment. Tonight I'll post a few more pics of these hard working rodent catchers doing their job.
Feb 23, 2018 17:17:02 #
Early in February I photographed a young hawk perched on my ham radio antenna, and when I viewed the photos I saw that its abdomen had been pierced with a stick or arrow. Due to the location and extent of the wound, I didn't think the animal would survive. Today it again landed on my antenna, and it's plumage had matured to the point that I could tentatively identify it as a Coopers Hawk. They are hard to distinguish from the Sharp Shinned Hawk, but based on the size of the bird and the grey cap on the head, I believe to be a Coopers. I saw in the photo that the wound still existed, but was healing. The third photo, slightly out of focus, shows that the wound is not visible when in flight. The first photo was taken with a Nikon D810 using a Nikkor 24-120 mm f/4G VR lens with ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/200 sec at 120mm. The second and third pictures were taken with a Nikkor 80-200 mm f/2.8 lens with ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/1000 sec at 200 mm. All photos have been cropped to comply with size restrictions.
