Animals caught in the act

I love just taking walks with my camera and seeing what nature presents to me. Over the last week and especially on Saturday I had a lot of interesting encounters with animals. It was definitely using a lot of patience and being in the right place at the right time. I  love what I am shown and able to capture sometimes -- animals do some fun and amazing things 

I took this one because of the morning light -- it was so pretty and I think the birds  were enjoying it too -- I had to move around a couple of times to get the right angle with the wires but it was worth the wait to have them both facing to the right.  I was going to take an even closer shot, but they flew away as I stepped in

When I went to take this photo I didn't even know it was a cardinal because the sunlight was so bright -- I saw it sitting in the tree and I love to try to get the birds when they are in the branches.  It flew away just as I was snapping the shutter and this is the result. I love the way the light is on its wing ... 

This is a red tailed hawk from Shavers Creek. I caught this beauty on Saturday. Many of the birds are kept in cages and it can be difficult to get a good shot through the wires -- luckily we were walking around and one of the volunteers had this one out on display. I love that it was looking right at my camera

And then I got this as it turned to the side. I love how it really highlights the beak -- makes it look so strong and fierce

And of course I had to get the bald eagle. This was through the cage using manual focus. I loved how it had just raised its head for this one and I caught the sparkle in its eye

This was a little more subdued but I like that I got it away from the cage with the brown background-- and the little fluff of feathers on its nose makes me smile 

This peregrin falcon was hiding in the corner of its habitat and was very difficult to get a clear shot of. I moved around a lot and I think it noticed me because it finally turned and looked at me. This was the last shot of it and the best one that I took

This photo exemplifies my earlier statements about patience and being in the right place at the right time. I was out on Saturday afternoon with my camera and was looking at some of the daffodils on campus and saw some of the stems moving around and was wondering what it was. As I was standing there I saw this squirrel pop out with the plastic egg. I was far enough away and it was focused enough on its prize that it let me get a bunch of photos 

It took some time and effort but the squirrel finally broke through the egg and got the prize -- jelly beans -- you can see them on the ground -- it was persistent and so was I waiting till I could get this picture -- it had made a decent size hole in the plastic at this point.. 

Luckily for me I was just far enough away and quiet enough that the squirrel did not mind my picture taking. It was pretty intent on trying to eat the orange jelly bean ... 

I mean seriously how often do you see a squirrel eating a jelly bean -- and I got to capture the whole series of images -- such a great surprise ... 

And it let me get one last shot -- I stepped a little closer to get this angle and was only able to get this shot because it was so focused on the orange jelly bean -- after that it scampered away 

I spent a lot of time among the daffodils with the squirrels on Saturday. They were definitely aware of my presence but didn't seem to mind too much. This one was watching me but stayed there long enough for me to get this shot. 

Then of course they had enough of me and went into the trees -- the one I was watching must have been pretty hungry because it keep munching away on its seeds. I am very happy to have my zoom lens sometimes and just loved this shot 

It even let me get the full on close up -- the seed was just too good to be disturbed by me and my camera. Such a fun session with the squirrels -- of course it helps that our campus squirrels are very used to people ... 

And switching gears now to the ducks -- another of my favorite subjects. As I said Saturday was just a great afternoon for catching them in the act. This guy was on the duck pond (where I always go) just swimming around and letting me watch him.  He was swimming and stretching his wings when I got this shot -- I love how the water was so reflective also 

I loved the shape of the feathers as he was folding them back -- and then his colors are just so bright and beautiful. You can understand why I stayed and watched for a while .. 

And he knew I was there. I was sitting on the side just enjoying the place and how calm it was and he turned to look at me with just the perfect expression 

I don't even remember what these two ducks were looking at but it was so funny to see them do it at exactly the same time. This is one of my favorites from the day and it makes me laugh. So glad I had my camera ready 

They started quaking at other ducks and luckily I was able to catch the male mid quack.  Makes the photo more interesting 

This was all about the lighting and it was really interesting how the duck just decided to sleep in top of the rock in the shallow water. I have to agree that the sunshine was pretty nice -- he really seemed to be enjoying it 

If I remember correctly another duck landed on the pond and this duck raised its head to get a good view. I loved how far it stretched its neck 

and then the after picture when it looked back in my direction -- such nice shape and form and again the beautifully lit water .. 

and last but not least -- a few more squirrel pictures -- this one was digging for seeds and sat up -- I find it funny how many times I find squirrels sitting up like that 

and then it turned to look at me -- definitely striking a pose and so cute (and I think it knows it) 

by this point of the day I think the squirrels had enough of me -- it was scampering away into the trees -- I was lucky enough to catch it as it was right between  the branches -- and it looks like it was trying to escape . 

Thanks as always for  looking at my photos. I really had a lot of fun watching the animals and catching the moments. It will always be one of my favorite parts of photography and one of the main reasons that I carry my camera with me most days. 

Sunsets and Silhouettes

We have had some unusually warm and beautiful weather so far in March and I have taken full advantage of it on some nights after work. I have been trying to play a little more with night photography so this post is devoted to the sunsets and silhouettes that I captured.

One thing I love about the light from both sunrises and sunsets is seeing it reflected in windows or water. I love how this window has lines of light that are opposite the lines of the stairs...

The sky was just starting to turn pink and I love the silhouette of the tree against those colors

Of course the birds were flying around. I was lucky to catch this one against the dusky sky

The clouds were much more orange in this one and I loved the textures...

Not much sunset or silhouette in this one, but I really loved the slight shape of the clouds 

I really love the shape of these branches and also loved the fact that I could get the color to fall in the middle 

All about the shape of the mountains and the texture and color of the clouds 

I loved the shape of the branches in this one

A silhouette of the tree in the water, and because it is evening, the water has the dusky blue color which made me like it even more

I loved all the lines in this one, from the branches and the clouds 

More reflections of a sunset in the windows. I loved the added lines of the crane above them

I really love the different colors and the swirls of the clouds and then the silhouette of the buildings and trees at the bottom

Took this one as I was walking up the overpass. I really liked the patterns made by the over head lights and then once again the dusky blue of evening reflected in the windows 

Again I like this one for the swirls of the clouds and the fact that some of the light peeks through the middle of the tree 

I really love this for the patterns of the street lights and the way the sky is not only streaked, but reflected in the bank of windows in the building. 

Now we switch gears. This is not a total silhouette, It was just starting to get dark and the water was getting still and reflective which I liked 

I thought this one was pretty interesting because I have some of the reflection from the building lights in the water and then the ducks right in the middle 

Another mostly silhouette -- I think seeing some of the white of the feathers makes it more interesting -- I also like that it is swimming away 

Much more silhouetted -- still not perfect but better and I kept trying 

And voila here is what I was aiming for. The ducks are dark but you can still see the water very well. I also like how the duck in the front has its head lowered

And another shot of them swimming away .. 

And then I got this guy. I was happy how clear the reflection still is too 

And one last night photo. I loved how the gazebo was lit and reflected in the water. 

Thanks as always for sharing my photos with me. None of these are long exposure or used a tripod so I am pretty happy with the results. I think this summer I would like to try some long exposure sky photography, but who knows. I do know that I will keep exploring and sharing ... 

Its all about the ice and the light ....

Wednesdays seem to be good days for new blog posts  and here I am doing another one. These photos are from the weekend of  the 20th and 21st when we had the first really warm and sunny days. It was my first time out with the camera after being sick and then a really really cold weekend. I tool lots of photos that weekend. The light was beautiful and the ice on the pond was breaking up. I caputured most of these in the mid to late afternoon and as the sun was sinking -- I really love playing with light and reflections and had so much fun taking these. 

Ice on ice: this piece of ice was sitting on top of a larger patch that was melting/ breaking. (and no I did not stage this) I loved the shapes and the colors -- the blue and the white -- so pretty

I loved different textures so much I had to get a closer shot of it. I really love the striations on the right side 

I love how the light makes this chunk of ice sparkle and then I get the cool reflection to boot --  I think this is one of my favorites from the whole day 

This is definitly more about the contrast and reflection then the actual piece of ice. It definitely puts me in mind of an ice berg and not knowing what lies below the surface ... 

And the same piece of ice taken from another angle. I love how the piece of ice is glowing from the light and then you get to see all the texture of it in the reclection

I love how translucent this piece of ice became because of the way the light hit it. Also the scratches in it really give it depth and sthe shape of the block was fun too 

I liked the placement of these pieces of ice. The first is flat and smaller, the second is on its side and the third is larger and wider -- and then the color of the water and the reflections of the branches behind them just added to the scene 

More ice groupings. What sold this one for me is the bigger piece in the middle and the way it almost glows yellow 

And another view of the same pieces of ice -- still have the yellow glow and then I like the reflection of the branches in front of them. 

Love the contrast on this one -- the darks and lights together were a lot of fun and then I really like the angles created by the piece of ice 

I loved how these pieces were rising out of the water -- I got all the colors from the blue sky and then the interesting shape and shadows from he ice pieces itself. Lots of fun elements in this one 

This one really captured the breakng up of the ice for me -- I like how the sun was making the dead plants glow and then how the reflection/ colors flowed through the cracks in the ice 

This is another of my favorites from that afternoon. The moon was rising and I just happened to see the reflection of it in the water. I had to move around to catch it just right but I love how it turned out. I had to be at just the right angle and yes the little piece of ice is almost the same size as the reflection of the moon but I promise it really is the moon. Makes you wonder though .... 

This one was another fun scene that caught my eye. It is a place I would sit and relax -- I love the shadows on the dead plants and the fact that the color of the plants and the bench is similar.  The light was just beautiful and then is the added bonus of the differt pieces of ice and patchs of reflection. 

And another angle of the same scene. Focusing a little more on the ice and also showing some of the blue sky in he background. I love the shadowy blue of the ice in the front. 

And last but not least -- I moved around so that the water really looks like a mirror and I love the reflection of the trees and also the waves created by the breeze. 

It really is amazing how many different ways you that ice can look and how much the angle and the light can change the image. I really do enjoy looking in different ways and trying different things. One of the reasons I can spend hours with my camera and not get sick of it. Thanks as always for sharing my photos with me. Not sure what I will be sharing next -- but I know I will continue to be capture the world with my camera and share it with you :D