Posted on March 5, 2018 in Birds, Documentary, Nature, Wildlife, Winter
I love images where the subject fills the frame! Being able to accomplish that in wildlife/bird photography is often challenging due to equipment limitations and proximity to the subject. Despite taking sometimes more than 1,000 images in a day of photographing snow geese, I often have only a few images that catch my attention upon review. This one was a favorite from yesterday’s visit to Middle Creek. Thankfully the inner tour road is now open and there was an opportunity to get a little closer to the birds while they were out in the farm fields. I even managed to get all of the wings in the frame….which I tend to mess up on more often than not! Practice, practice, practice!
Posted on February 23, 2018 in Birds, Documentary, Landscape, Nature, Wildlife, Winter
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is like Woodstock for Snow Geese. A vast open area to congregate and party with 200,000 of your feathered friends! On the day that I shot this image, snow geese covered the entire lake and much of the nearby fields. The sights and sounds were amazing! Party on guys!
Posted on February 22, 2018 in Birds, Documentary, Nature, Wildlife, Winter
Someone is hanging with a new crowd! Can you find the bird that is different from the rest? It didn’t matter one bit…he/she took to flight with the snow geese at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Tuesday! Earlier this week, Middle Creek had the highest number of snow geese ever in the park’s history at 200,000! It was AMAZING!
Posted on February 21, 2018 in Birds, Documentary, Landscape, Nature, Wildlife, Winter
This image caught my eye as I was scrolling through the thousands of shots I’ve taken this year at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. It was the simple elements that drew me in to the photo – a few evergreen trees, a tower, and Tundra Swans set against the mountainside. I imagine that this might be the view that the Tundra Swans and Snow Geese have as they soar over the hills surrounding Middle Creek. When I revisited the area, I searched for the spot where my lens was focused when I took this image but I was not able to locate it. I find this image to be very peaceful and it reminds me of the grace and elegance of the Tundra Swans.
Posted on February 19, 2018 in Birds, Documentary, Nature, Painting Effect, Wildlife, Winter
After about 10 years of photographing snow geese at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, I think I have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the geese. Each and every visit, however, provides new surprises! This year I’m photographing on a tripod with a Gimbel pan head which I have only had for several months. It’s taking some getting used to, but is saving my back from the endless pain of holding a heavy camera and lens for hours. Being able to react quickly has been the biggest challenge. On Saturday, the snow geese were on the lake and started to make a lot of noise, which typically happens when they are thinking about taking to flight. Often a bald eagle causes the whole group to blast off en masse. On this day, however, it was a quick fly over by a Great Blue Heron that created all of the ruckus! I was able to track the bird and focus quickly enough for a photo or two! A treat to be sure!