Fire and Ice

Shot of the Month – January 2024

This month we travel to Glacier National Park in northern Montana for an iconic view of Swiftcurrent Lake.  I shot this image on the rocky edge of the lake looking west toward Grinnell Point – the tall peak in the center of the image.  Grinnell Point is part of the Lewis Range of mountains.  This spot is also the site of Many Glacier Hotel – this historic hotel was built in 1914 and commands epic views of the lake.

This image makes up the “Fire” part of this post.  I arrived at the water’s edge long before sunrise and set up my tripod and camera.  As I sat in the dark for the second morning in a row I had to wait for the sun to slowly climb above the mountains behind me.  My heart began to jump when I sat the first orange beams light up the clouds.  With each moment the light got warmer and slowly painted the scene from top to bottom.  First, the clouds caught fire and then eventually the mountain began reflecting back that glorious warm glow.  I kept shooting feverishly until the color began to fade.  Success!

In the image below we see the “Ice” part of this post.  I am at the same spot along the water’s edge, this time in late afternoon with the sun setting behind the mountain in our view.  This time the clouds were a bit too dense to light up dramatically with the sunbeams.  For this image, I used a very long exposure (90 seconds) to allow the clouds to move across the sky and smooth out the surface of the water of the lake.  The tone and color of the image couldn’t be more opposite than the sunrise shot.  This shot is dark and brooding and feels and looks ice cold.

It is always fun to revisit a scene over and over to explore how the look, feel, and tone can change dramatically with the time of day.  With the change in weather.  With the change in seasons.  At any given moment Mother Nature offers the proverbial box of chocolate with each scene —  you are never sure what delight you will get.

 

Until next month…..m

 

 

Nikon Z9, Nikon 17-35 mm (@17 mm), f/11, 1/5 sec, ISO 64

 

 

 

Top “10” for 2023

Time to revisit some of my favorite images from 2023.  I was a bit lazy this year and we ended up with a top 17…

My photography began in earnest in May with the annual congregation of bald eagles along the Washington coastline.  Alas, the action was not as dramatic as in previous years and we rarely (e.g. never) got the desired combination of great light with good action but we had fun trying.

I made a quick trip to look for foxes too late in the season but managed to get one of my best shots of the year.  One great shot can make a whole trip worthwhile.

Our big trip of the year was to Tanzania where we visited the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park.  It is always a joy to be back in Africa and it was my first trip back to Tanzania in 18 years!  The photography was only so-so but the memories are top notch.

In December I made a trip to Yellowstone National Park – pretty much a photographic disaster.  I had some beautiful days but there was almost no snow (!!!) and few animals.

And just before the end of the year I made a quick trip in search of Short-eared owls and managed to get one of my best shots of the year.  This year it seems that the short trips were the most productive.

On with the show, in chronological order:

1.   One of the few air battles we saw in 2023.  The guy on the bottom makes the shot.  The outrage!

Bald Eagle, Washington (2915)

 

2.  Bald eagle at work catching a fish.  I like the peek-a-boo wing effect.

Bald Eagle, Washington (1835))

 

3.  We went too late in the season to photograph foxes and there was very little action.  Yet, somehow, I got this one shot that made the whole trip worthwhile.  I had to lay on my stomach to get this eye contact.  And the light….this shot is all about the light!  You can read about the shot here.

Red Fox, Washington (5502)

 

4.  And while waiting for foxes I managed to get my best shot ever of a California Quail.  More on that here.

California Quail, Washington (6110)

 

5.  While in Tanzania we had the good fortune of finding a leopard at a tree with a recent kill.  We were able to visit this magnificent male multiple times over a 3 day period as he continued to dine on the carcass at the same location.  This may be my favorite image from the entire trip.  B&W or Color?  I couldn’t decide soooo…

Leopard, Serengeti NP (1750-BW)

 

Leopard, Serengeti NP (1750)

 

6.  Same leopard, same rock, another day.  But those eyes…..

Leopard, Serengeti NP (2370)

 

7.  Yep, same leopard.  Mood….

Leopard, Serengeti NP (3570)

 

8.  Lion in a tree?  What’s up with that?  I think this shot is ok, but it seems to be a crowd favorite so it makes the list.

Lion, Tarangire NP (8450)

 

9.  Adorable lion cubs.  Check. Dramatic back and side lighting (sunrise).  Check.  Add it to the list.  Check.    What a way to start the day…

Lion, Tarangire NP (5967)

 

10.  A lion on the Serengeti plain.  What safari dreams are made of.  In B&W this image feels like it could have been shot in 1950…

Lion, Serengeti NP (1791-BW)

 

For those who prefer color:

Lion, Serengeti NP (1791)

 

11.  I am a sucker for color and Yellow-collared Lovebirds have it for days (Tarangire NP).  The extra drama with the bird in flight takes it to the next level….

Yellow-collard Lovebirds, Tarangire NP (8456)

 

12.  The Agama lizard.  I mean just look at him.  He is magnificent!  The colors!  The angles.  The spikey ear things. Those crazy feet.  The attitude…

Agama Lizard, Serengeti NP (7670)

 

13.  While in Yellowstone I had the most luck with coyotes.  I like how his coloration matches the sage brush.  And the raised paw with the flying snow give a bit of action.

Coyote, Yellowstone NP (1671)

 

14.  Such a luscious coat.  I lied on my stomach to capture this nice coyote portrait.

Coyote, Yellowstone NP (1824)

 

15.  A nice “Yellowstone in Winter” scene.

Bison, Yellowstone NP (2905)

 

16.  I love the layers and depth of this image and how the bison dominates the horizon.

Bison, Yellowstone NP (3202))

 

17.  A short-eared owl flying into the setting sun.  The dramatic lighting, the colors and razor’s edge sharpness make this one the best shots of this or any of my years…

Short-eared Owl, Washington (0124)

 

Pulled back a bit…

Short-eared Owl, Washington (0124-wider)

 

What are your favorite 3 images?

 

Hope you have a wonderful 2024

 

….michael

Freeze Frame

Shot of the Month – December 2023

Short-eared Owl, Washington State (0124)

I have talked in the past about how getting a great shot often requires a chain of miracles…for wildlife photography that list of miracles can include:

  1. Just finding the ^%%# animal!!
  2. Getting close enough to said animal
  3. Great light
  4. Great behavior
  5. Correct camera settings for the given scene

This stunning image of a Short-eared Owl (SEO) is proof that miracles, plural, can happen every so often.

#1 Finding the ^%%# animal!!

SEOs often migrate into Washington State each winter from the Arctic.  They love to hunt for mice and voles in the flat farmland found in parts of the state.  So there are known locations where one can find these owls.   So you’re telling me there’s a chance…? (Any Dumb and Dumber fans out there?)

2.  Getting close enough to said animal

The owls don’t take much notice of us humans but they often hunt in fields that are too far away.  If you are patient, they will usually, eventually, hunt in a field near you before moving on.  On some days they do.  On some days, they don’t.  Long lenses are still often needed to “get close enough.”

3.  Great light 

4.  Great behavior

Good light in the Pacific Northwest in the winter is in SHORT supply.  Most days are grey and filled with rain.  I specifically traveled to the site on this day as a bit of sun was in the forecast.

In the LAST hour of this day, the sun was painting the field in GLORIOUS light (Miracle #3).  And then, a SEO flew close to my location and began to hunt!!  (Miracle #4).

I began to tremble with excitement – it was all coming together.

5.  Correct camera settings for the given scene

Fortunately, I have enough practice with SEOs to know that their white faces will easily become overexposed in direct light.  I underexposed my shots by 1.33 EV (That is A LOT!)  And I knew how insanely fast these birds fly so I increased my shutter speed to 1/3200 sec to stop the action and avoid blurry images.

Time to get to work…

The owl was hunting in a field that faced the sun.  The lighting was therefore stunning but also, incredibly harsh.  The shadows and intensity of the light would change dramatically depending on the angle of the bird relative to the sun.  Given how fast she was flying by me the lighting changed every fraction of a second.  And with the sun so low in the sky the glare blinded my left eye (my shooting eye) as I looked into the viewfinder.  The bird flew multiple sorties – doing small loops up and down the field.  As she arrived to my far right I would start shooting until she arrived to my far left, where, at this point, I was now looking directly into the sun – leaving me partially blinded for a few seconds.

Shooting into the sun…

Short-eared Owl, Washington State (0046)

The SEO would bank right, fly back up the field, eventually bank right again and the shooting would begin anew.  We did this for close to an hour as tears ran down my face from the stress on my eyes.

Another fly-by…

Short-eared Owl, Washington State (9596)

Having the owl relatively “close” allowed the possibility of getting an image.  But given how fast they fly, and how erratic their flight is, it was almost impossible to keep them in the viewfinder with a 600 mm lens.  The angle of view on this lens is 2 degrees, offering a very tiny view of the world.  I would often track the bird and then she would just vanish as she banked sharply to dive toward prey.  With my 12-pound camera/lens combo on a tripod, I was jumping around like I was shooting a Gatling gun as I spun from one side to the other to try and keep focus on this juking, banking, diving, chaotic bird.  Ever seen the crazy flight pattern of a butterfly or a moth?  Yeah, like that but much, much faster.

I realize that is a lot of photo techno-babble to non-photographers, but in short, photographing these little flying rockets, in this extreme light, at close quarters, is tough.

Ten years ago it would have been almost impossible to get this shot.  The camera technology was just not there yet.  But with each year the equipment gets better and allows for images like this, even from amateurs like me.

What is most shocking to me, is the absolute clarity and sharpness of the image.  A true MIRACLE given how fast she was moving – in this one instance, I managed to pan at just the right speed to match the speed of the bird.  You can see every little feather on her face and beak.

And the lighting….on those eyes….the drama.  The rim of light on the wings! Mwah (Chef’s kiss)!

Here is the first image, re-cropped to show more of the scene.  Mother Nature at her finest…

Short-eared Owl, Washington State (0124)

I love how photography allows us to capture and hold on to these moments that would otherwise be lost in the blink of an eye.

 

Until next month…..m

 

Nikon Z9, Nikon 600 mm, f/4, 1/3200 sec, ISO 640, EV -1.333

 

One in the Corner

Shot of the Month – November 2023

Northern Hawk Owl, Vermont (8078)

What can I say, some days you just gotta mix it up a little….

In this unorthodox composition we have a Northern Hawk Owl peering up from the corner.  This image makes me smile each time I see it — hopefully it brought a grin to your face also.

In a previous post (Center of Attention) I talked about the “rules” of composition.  Well, let’s call them guidelines.  Suggestions perhaps.  And I usually do follow the recommended “rule of thirds” for most of my images.

But not always:

Atlantic Puffin, Maine (9252)

In the first image I like how the owl seems to be peering in, as if engaging me – “Hellllooo, Mr. photographer.  Are you looking for meeee?”

In the second image it seems that I caught this Atlantic Puffin as he was just on his way out.  Makes me ponder, “Where is he going”?  This second image is really breaking the rules as you normally want your subject to be looking into the image — with the owl we at least have the subject making eye contact with us.

But with the puffin, he is looking out, looking outside of the space of the image.  This creates all that negative space behind him which is normally verboten.  But given the space is a deep black, it creates a powerful contrast to the dramatic lighting and coloring of the puffin.  I think it works and the emptiness actually has a presence that is compelling for the image.  What is going on back there?  Why did he leave it behind?

It’s also recommended to not cut off part of your subject…

Bald Eagle, Washington State (9566)

I would like to say that I made an artistic decision here to purposely cut off the Bald Eagle’s wing but in this case I was just having a hard time keeping up with the eagle as he suddenly slowed down to begin banking back in the opposite direction from where he was flying.  But when editing the image I leaned into my mistake and cropped the image even more to create a compelling image.  Our eye is drawn to the upper edge of the photo where the wing leaves the image.  From there our eye will tend to naturally follow the wing down until BAM, a close-up view of that stunningly beautiful and menacing face.  That beak is terrifying.

Bottom line, try different approaches and find the angle or view that works for the situation at hand.  As a famous artist once said:

 

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

― Pablo Picasso

 

Until next month….michael

 

 

 

Nikon D200, Nikon 200-400mm (@360mm), f/4, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400, +1.0 EV

White-fronted Bee-eater

Shot of the Month – October 2023

White-fronted Bee-eater, Kruger National Park (5150)

This month a dash of color provided by the White-fronted Bee-eater (WFBE).  I photographed this fellow in Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Bee-eaters (BEs) are a colorful family of birds with most having a predominance of green feathers highlighted or accented with of broad range of other hues depending on the species.   These other colors can include red, white, cinnamon, rose, black, yellow, brown, gold, turquoise, olive, purple, grey, orchre and many others.

Our WFBE fits this mold in that his upper parts are green while he has a distinctive white forehead and bright red patch on his throat with cinnamon underparts.  And like most bee-eaters the WFBE has a black mask across his eyes. The naming of bee-eaters, if not very imaginative, often indicates the color highlights for a given species.  A few examples to give you a sense: Red-throated BE, Blue-headed BE, Black-headed BE, Red-bearded BE, Purple-bearded BE, Blue-cheeked BE, Cinnamon Chested BE, White-fronted BE, Rosy BE, Little Green BE.  A few others are named based on their location: Australian BE, European BE, and Somali BE.

WFBEs can be found across most of sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, DR Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

All bee-eaters forgo building nests but rather dig holes in the side of cliffs or river banks.   To create the nest the birds dig a long tunnel with an oval chamber at the end for the eggs.

Most bee-eaters are gregarious and often hang out together in large colonies.  WFBE take this to the next level and their social structures are often described as some of the most complex found in the avian world.  First, they gather in large colonies that can contain 100 individuals (or about 50 burrows).  When conditions are good these colonies can reach 200 birds at a site.  The colony is made up of socially monogamous, extended family groups with overlapping generations known as “clans.”  The clans are usually made up of two to three related breeding pairs.

Non-breeding individuals, typically male offspring from previous years, become helpers to relatives and assist to raise their brood.   A nest may have 1 to 5 helpers though only about half of the nests in the colony get this support.  These helpers may contribute to digging the roosting or nesting chamber, to allofeeding the female, and incubating and feeding the young.

This intricate, and multi-layered social and support system significantly improves the likelihood that the chicks will survive to adulthood.

 

The White-fronted Bee-eater – a colorful, gregarious bird that really takes the saying  “Birds of a feather flock together” to heart with great success.

 

Until next month….michael

 

See more beautiful bee-eaters in my previous posts:

Hey Carmine (Carmine Bee-eater)

One (or three) for the Road (Blue-cheeked Bee-eater)

A Dandy Little Flyer (Little Bee-eater)

 

 

Sources

Bee-eater (Wikipedia)

Bee-eater (San Diego Zoo)

White-fronted bee-eater (Wikipedia)

White-fronted bee-eater (Animalia)

 

 

Nikon D500, Nikon 200-400 mm (@400mm), f/4, 1/640 sec, ISO 500