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    • Image of the Day – Pied Kingfisher

    Pied Kingfisher perched on a log, Lake Manyara, Tanzania.

    Does your life follow a certain pattern?  Do you get up in the morning, go through the same routine, leave for work at a predictable time?  If someone was looking for you, would they have a good chance of knowing where to look?  Like humans, wildlife often repeats patterns.  The more you know about these patterns, the better your chances of capturing the image you are after.  Lets take Kingfishers as an example.  Kingfishers are one of the the most difficult birds to photograph.  They are extremely cautious and usually respond to the unknown by flying away.  Chasing after a Kingfisher is bound to end in disappointment rather then a success.  The world is full of images of Kingfishers flying away.  Our goal is to capture something better.

    So, how did I capture the Pied Kingfisher in the image above?  I watched from a distance and found the Kingfisher’s favorite perch.  It was a lone stick next to the water.  Ever few minutes, the bird would fly over and perch as it looked for fish.  After seeing two landings, I set myself up for the next pass.  Staying in the vehicle (this was in Africa where lions are a reality), I focused my lens on the empty stick, leaving enough room for the Kingfisher at the top.  In less the 10 minutes, the bird returned and the image was complete.

    Can you thing of a time when preplanning helped you get the image you were after?  If so, please share your story in the comments section.

    The Pied Kingfisher image was created at Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania.  The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 2x teleconverter attached, at 800 ISO.  The image was taken from a vehicle with the lens supported using a beanbag.

    Written on March 21st, 2011 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Image of the Day – Elephant Trio

    Three young African elephants walking together, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

    Anytime an elephant herd approaches you know there are going to be a ton of photographic opportunities.  On just such an occasion, these three young elephants walked pasted our vehicle acting as if we weren’t there.  It is a great feeling when an animal is so comfortable with your presence that they just go about their business.  Of course, the fact that we were surrounded by the entire herd might have had something to do with it.

    The image was captured in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 200 ISO.  The image was shot from a vehicle  with a beanbag used to support the camera.  The low angle was created by photographing out of the side window rather then the roof opening.

    Written on March 7th, 2011 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Image of the Day – Timing

    Cheetah lying in the grass while yawning, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    Cats sleep almost 20 hours a day.  This makes it challenging to get a picture of them doing much of anything.  Capturing a cheetah in mid-yawn is cause for excitement, even if it signaled his plan to go right back to sleep.

    This cheetah was photographed in the Serengeti during a recent African photo safari.  The image was captured using a Canon 1D mark 4, 500mm IS lens, at 200 ISO.  The image was shot from a vehicle and the camera and lens were supported using a beanbag.

    Written on February 28th, 2011 , Africa, Animal Behavior, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Image of the Day – Hippo Fight

    Male hippopotamus fighting in the water, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    I wanted to touch base with everyone and let you know that I haven’t forgotten about the blog.  The combination of high school class trips, end of the grade term, and visiting relatives, hasn’t given me much opportunity to get any blog posts up.  I expect for things to be back to normal next week.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the above image of two male hippos settling their differences.

    The image was captured using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens, at 400 ISO.  The image was shot from a cliff overlooking the Mara River in the northern Serengeti, Tanzania.  There were almost a hundred hippos in the section of the river we were watching and I was constantly scanning the pods in an attempt to predict fights before they started.  By handholding the lens (a very heavy lens), I was able to react fast enough to capture the action before it ended (usually only a few seconds after it began).  Wildlife photography at its finest.

    Written on February 25th, 2011 , Africa, Animal Behavior, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Image of the Day – Elephant Curiosity
    Young elephant with his trunk raised in the middle of the herd, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
    (click on the image to see larger version)
    Humans are rare in the Northern Serengeti, and it is entirely possible that we were the first humans this young elephant ever encountered.  While his herd continued to feed, this little guy stopped what he was doing and took an interest in us.  Unlike humans, which rely primarily on sight, elephants often use their other senses to support what their eye tell them (there is a reason their ears and trunks are so large).  By raising his trunk high in the air, this young elephant was trying to get a better idea about who and what we were.  Once his curiosity was satisfied, he rejoined the herd and continue on his way.
    In the end, I am not sure if he was comforted in the knowledge that we did not pose a threat, or is he decided we were boring.
    The image was created using a Canon 1Ds mark 3, 120-300mm Sigma lens with a 1.4 teleconverter (set to 310mm), at 400 ISO.  The image was taken from a vehicle and the lens was supported using a beanbag.
    Written on February 14th, 2011 , Africa, Image of the Day, Tanzania
    Image of the Day – Feathered Love

    Northern Gannets in courtship display, Cape St. mary's, Newfoundland, Canada.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    These two Northern Gannets were photographed performing their courtship display at Cape St. Mary’s, Newfoundland.  The image was captured using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 200 ISO.  The lens was mounted on a Gitzo tripod with a Wimberly tripod head.

    Written on February 11th, 2011 , Animal Behavior, Image of the Day
    Image of the Day – Ice Ride

    Boy spinning on ice while riding his green monster bigwheel.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    Friday morning found San Antonio covered is a blanket of freshly fallen snow, an almost unheard of occurrence.  As I woke up, I heard the kids getting their warm clothes on and getting ready to head outside.  At that moment, I was presented with a choice.  I could curl back up and go back to sleep or I could get out of bed and share their experience.  I am happy to say that I got out of bed and followed the kids outside.  Of course, I also took my camera with me.

    When I got outside, I found children and parents enjoying our rare winter wonderland.  Snowballs were being made, snow angles were being created, and snow was being eaten.  Everyone was having fun.  It wasn’t long before everyone had figured out where the ice covered patches were.  Did that mean they avoided them?  Heck No!  Minutes after their discovery, the boys brought out their big wheels and started riding across the ice.  Did you know that with enough speed you can spin around at least four times before your ride ends (I submit the picture above as evidence)?

    All of this begs the question, how does this relate to photography?    Let me answer that question with another one.  How many times have you thought to yourself, “Cool shot, I better come back and take a picture”?  How many times have you actually gone back and taken the picture?  Photography is about capturing moments in time and often those moments do not repeat themselves.  If I had gone back to sleep, I would have missed my son playing in the snow for the first time.  I would have missed the entire experience except for the stories.  Once these moments are gone, they are gone forever.

    On the surface, this sounds like a bad thing.  A missed chance can’t be recaptured.  The reality, however, it wonderful.  Life is full of unique moments, each of which is waiting to be captured with your camera.  Even when something repeats itself, it will be different.  The light will be different, the expressions will be different, or the energy will be different.  The differences are what keep me pulling out my camera and going back for more.  How about you?

    The image of the boy riding across the ice was captured using a Canon 1D mark 4, 24-105mm lens (set to 32mm), at 400 ISO.  The group of riders were happy to go where I asked and I was able to time my shots for the peak action.  The camera was handheld.

    Written on February 7th, 2011 , Image of the Day
    Image of the Day – Northern Gannett in Flight

    Northern Gannett in flight, Cape St. mary's, NewFoundland, Canada.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    This image of a Northern gannett in flight was captured Cape St. Mary’s in Newfoundland, Canada.  The image was created with a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens, at 200 ISO.  The camera was mounted on a Gitzo tripod and a Wimberly tripod head was used to track the birds as they flew by.

    Written on February 2nd, 2011 , Image of the Day
    Image of the Day – Gannett in Flight

    Closeup of a Northern Gannett in flight, Newfoundland, Canada.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    Stand at the top of a cliff near a Northern gannett colony and you are guaranteed flight shots.  With thousands of birds coming and going, the opportunities are endless.  Sometimes you even get lucky enough that one of the Gannetts flies by at eye level.

    This image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, at 640 ISO.  The camera was mounted on a Gitzo tripod and a Wimberly tripod head.

    Written on January 27th, 2011 , Image of the Day
    Image of the Day – Gannett in the fog

    Northern gannett stretching its wings in the fog, Cape St. Mary's, Newfoundland, Canada.

    (click on the image to see larger version)

    Always shoot, even if conditions seem less then ideal.  During a visit to Cape St. Mary’s Northern Gannett colony in Newfoundland, Canada the entire colony was covered in a deep fog.  Visibility was extremely limited and we were tempted to pack up and head back to the hotel.  Fortunately, we stayed and produced some great images of the Gannetts in the fog.  This is one of my favorites from that morning.

    The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500 mm IS lens, at 400 ISO.  The lens was supported on a Gitzo tripod with a Wimberly tripod head.  The image underwent a variety of tonal adjustments and contrast enhancements to bring out the details in the bird.

    Written on January 24th, 2011 , Image of the Day
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    Through the lens with Chris Gamel

    Musings of a photographic educator.