My high school geography teacher

Brooke from the volleyball team came by to present a volleyball to a teacher from Bennington.  Joyce called and asked if I could come over and take a picture for them.  I'm so glad I could.  I really like the picture of the two of them.  17-55+Flash+Fong diffuser ISO 800 

Morning #2 with the Sandhill Cranes - dark & high ISO

Woke up to a lot of cranes right outside our window this morning.  I have never seen so many.  They stayed until 10:30 - which is also the longest that I have ever experienced.  They were happy, dancing, throwing sticks and not in any hurry to find food today.  Shot at ISO 1,600 - 2,000 most of the morning.  The first 3 pictures were taken on a tripod, with a long exposure.

Night #2 Sandhill Cranes - cloudy & high ISO

 Not cranes - pelicans!

It was dark & gray.  I shot everything at +2/3 Eval Comp.....to push it to the right.  Worked just grand.  The last 2 pictures are at ISO 5,000. 

Snowy Afternoon with the Cranes.....in the warm pickup

Night #1 with the Sandhill Cranes - 1D classic

A few more from the first evening.  70-200 F4

Morning #1 with the Sandhill Cranes

Deb & I had very poor light on Thursday morning.  But still, there were a lot of birds around.  I just love watching them fly together.  Check out the wings on the last picture, it looks like they are overlapping.  It is almost unbelievable if you know the story of these birds.  They will fly thousands and thousands of miles from here, just to lay 2 eggs, raise them over the summer and then take them thousands of miles back south for next winter.  Then they head back to Nebraska....and start the entire process over again.

Night #1 with the Sandhill Cranes

Deb & I stopped at a wetland area by Grand Island.  Saw a mass flyoff.  That is so fun to see.

Next, Deb & I went into the blind.  It was about a 25 mph headwind from the north, coming right at us in the blind.  IT WAS FREEZING!!!  It was also overcast.  But, right before the sunset, the weather broke. The birds had not come in yet at sunset, but then all at once, they were there.   

There were 3 juvenile eagles that were trying there hand at fishing this morning.  It appeared that they all went away hungry.

St Patrick's Day - Bread & Cup

This is what happens when a Guinness is poured into a glass - it's like a fuzzy beer!

I've been waiting for Guinness Beef Stew all year.  Wow, was it worth the wait!

And chocolate bread pudding to top it off.  What a fun lunch!

 

Pilates - Take 2

This is a 4 shot panarama, combined in CS5.  Turned out pretty well!

Birds at the lake

I went to the lake for sunrise this morning.  Shot with my 100-400 and 2x, so the focusing was all manual.  It actually works pretty well.  I'm very pleased with the results when I nail the focus.  When I miss....it's pretty bad!