Second Verse Same as the First

This will be the last set of bathing birds I will post for awhile. This is the second set of images from yesterday's outing outing to the Little lake Valley in Northern California. The soft morning lighting was just superb. There were Golden Crowned Sparrows, Dark eyed Juncos, Goldfinches and Scrub Jays coming to bathe in abundance. I had a beautiful morning photographing the birds. All images were created with a Canon EOS 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings used- AV mode,ISO 800,F5.6,shutter speed varied. A Manfotto 055XB tripod and a Bogen 3055 ballhead was used to support the camera. If you are interested in learning how to create images like these please check out my new book Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography.The book is the perfect Christmas gift for someone wanting to learn backyard bird photography. http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559 God's precious light and love to all, chris

Lemons Into Lemonade

Today didn't start very well. Early this morning I went out to the ranch in the Little Lake Valley Valley to do some bird photography at the water feature I had built. Sometime during the night a deer or several of them decided they wanted some water just like the birds. Now deer aren't nearly as light as birds so in the process of trying to get a drink they broke one of the saw horses and the whole thing came crashing down. I arrived to find a mess. It took me about an hour to rebuild it. I didn't have enough water with me to refill it so it ended up being a little low. This was problem was compounded by the fact that it was now leaking water. The birds didn't seem to notice. They were just happy to have a place to come and eat and have a drink. There were Jays, Sparrows and Goldfinches coming in close to non stop to get drinks and bathe. At one point there were three birds bathing at the same time. It ended up being a fantastic day for photography. Now I just need to find some time to go out and rebuild it so it won't leak. All images created with a Canon EOS 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings used- AV mode,ISO 800,F5.6,shutter speed varied. A Manfotto 055XB tripod and a Bogen 3055 ballhead was used to support the camera. If you are interested in learning how to build a water feature to create images like these please check out my new book Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography which includes the plans to build both large and small water features to photograph birds. http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559 God's precious light and love to all, chris

Crazy Day at the Coast

Late this morning I decided to drive out to the Mendocino Coast. It was raining off and on here and I thought just maybe I could catch some good breaking light over there. On the way I stopped a couple of times and it was still raining off and on. I had forgotten my big photo umbrella and all I had was a plastic bag to cover my camera with. When I hit Ft. Bragg I headed north. When I got to Kabiselah it was clearing and I photographed some of the incoming rain. By the time I had driven up towards Westport to the Fingers it had cleared even more. I decided to risk it and walk down to the ocean. I wasn't there very long before the rains returned and I questioned my sanity. Soon I was photographing in the rain and most of my images weren't coming out due to the raindrops on the lens. When I got ready to leave the sun came out and it turned out to be the most glorious day. I stopped off at McKerricher State Park and the sun was shining bright. It made for a much easier drive home. God's blessings to all, chris All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 10-22mm wide angle lens. Camera Settings varied.

Time for a Cool One

This morning the birds came out in force to the water feature I built out in the Little Lake Valley a few days ago. I even got my blind bounced by a Steller's Jay. Right after I climbed into the blind and closed the zipper I heard a Steller's call and then bam it bounced into the top of the blind and flew off screeching. They are quite an intelligent bird! Several times over the years I have had them slam into the blind when I'm in it. Sometimes they will do it right next to the camera port. That will wake you up in a hurry! Today there were House Finches, Golden Crowned Sparrows, Dark Eyed Juncos, both Scrub and Steller's Jays and one American Goldfinch that didn't stay around for very long.God's tender love and blessings to all,chris All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings used- AV mode,ISO 800,F5.6,shutter speed varied. A Manfotto 055XB tripod and a Bogen 3055 ballhead was used to support the camera. If you are interested in how to build a water feature please check out my new book new book Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography which includes the plans to build both large and small water features to photograph birds. http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559

Splish Splash...

I was excited to photograph a Sooty Grouse on my drive down to the valley this morning. I used to have several in the yard when I first moved up here many years ago but predators got them one by one as evidenced by the piles of feathers I have found. This mornings photography was a little slow at the pond feature I built yesterday out in the Little Lake Valley. As of yet not too many birds have discovered it. Especially since I just put it up yesterday. My visitor count for the morning was two Dark Eyed Juncos, one Steller's Jay and three Scrub Jays. Hopefully I will have more birds tomorrow. Winter is just around the corner as the leaves on the trees are starting to change color. Enjoy and God bless, chris All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings used- AV mode,ISO 800,F5.6,shutter speed varied. A Manfotto 055XB tripod and a Bogen 3055 ballhead was used to support the camera. If you are interested in how to build a water feature please check out my new book new book Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography which includes the plans to build both large and small water features to photograph birds. http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559

All in a Day's Work

I got up early and spent all morning working out at the Burris Ranch in the little Lake Valley. I was hauling rocks and building a large water feature to photograph the birds. Because it is so dry I'm sure that a little water will be a big draw to photograph them. I ended up making a very shallow pond that is perfect for the birds. It is four feet by eight feet and is less than an eighth of an inch deep on the shallow end and just a little less than four inches deep on the other end. Just perfect for most any kind of bird to take a bath in or get a drink. Now I just need to add some interesting perches for catching birds reflections in the water. This afternoon I worked on getting ready for the book signing on my new book Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography which includes by the way the plans for build both large and small water features to photograph birds. God's love and blessings to all, chris

Phantom!

Lenore and I had a wonderful breakfast this morning together in the small town of Ukiah to the south of us. Afterwards we went to the farmers market. Then we donated some of our children's old bikes to a worthy cause. Next it was off to the nursery where I scoured the selection of flowers looking for some new flowers to photograph hummingbirds with. I really wanted a nice looking fuschia. But they didn't have any as they were out of them. I trooped up and down the aisles looking and looking and nothing caught my fancy until I found some petunias surprisingly called "Phantoms". At first I thought they would be too dark until I found a variegated pot of them in the middle of the flat. When I got home I immediately took them into the backyard and did some hummingbird photography with the one remaining Anna's Hummingbird. I loved the result! If you are interested in learning how to do hummingbird photography like this please check out Chapter six of my new book, "Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography" It explains in detail the equipment needed and how to set it up your backyard. The book is available on Amazon and other fine book sellers as well as on Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559 Image created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings used Manual mode, ISO 200, F16.0 at 1/160th of a sec. (4) Canon 540 EZ flashes were used set to 1/16th power. A Manfotto 055XB tripod and a Bogen 3055 ballhead was used to support the camera.

Momma's Watching You

Yesterday afternoon on my way home from running errands I ran across this Blacktail doe and her two fawns just as I turned up our road. They were all busy searching the leaf duff for acorns and sprouts. The fawns weren't very nervous at all but the mom was ever on the alert. She lifted up her head quite frequently for a good listen and a a look around. Just as I was getting ready to leave one fawn looked up with a leaf on its nose. That was pretty cute. God's precious love to all, chris All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings used- AV mode, ISO 400,F5.6, shutter speed varied.

Announcing the Official Release of My New Book Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography

Finally it is here! I'm so excited to announce that Secrets of Backyard bird Photography is available and it is shipping to readers. I have gotten a ton of positive responses from people who have read it. I seldom ask the followers of this blog for anything but I'm asking you now. Will you please share this book title with everyone you know? Help me get the word out about my new book. Thank you and God bless, chris Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography is from Rocky Nook, INC. Rocky Nook publishes books about digital photography, imaging, and work flow. The new book is available for sale at Amazon and other fine book retailers.It is also available for Kindle. The book is a step by step comprehensive guide to photographing birds in the convenience of your own backyard. Topics covered in this book include hummingbird photography, recommended photographic equipment, camera set-ups, backgrounds and photo blinds. It has numerous photos and illustrations that show composition styles, step-by-step projects for the do-it-yourselfer and techniques used to attract birds using feeders and perches. This book covers all aspects of backyard bird photography used to create outstanding backyard bird images.

I Love Those Anna's

With fall just around the corner I'm left mostly with just the local hummingbirds. There are always one or two Anna's Hummingbirds that will stay all the way through until next summer. We do get snow where I live and Anna's can survive the cold for short periods by going into torpor. In torpor they suspend their high rate of metabolism by entering a sort of hibernation, where heart rate and body temperature are reduced to a bare minimum. Their breathing and heart rate slow, and their body temperature can drop as low as 48 F. When the cold weather clears, the hummingbirds return to being active again in a few minutes. It's pretty amazing! Here are a few images of hummingbirds from this morning in the backyard. I had a great time photographing them. They are such gorgeous little birds! God bless, chris My new book "Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography" includes a chapter on how to do hummingbird photography. It is available from Amazon and other fine book sellers and for Kindle as well. All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings used Manual mode, ISO 200, F18.0 at 1/200th of a sec. (4) Canon 540 EZ flashes were used set to 1/16th power. A Manfotto 055XB tripod and a Bogen 3055 ballhead was used to support the camera.

Sunrise and Some Hummingbirds

I awoke just a few minutes after sunrise this morning. A quick glance at the horizon as I rolled out of bed told me I had better hurry if I wanted to catch the sun before it got too high in the sky. Luckily it wasn't too high above the horizon by the time I grabbed my camera and composed a few images. The sun was a giant red orb climbing over the Mendocino Range through the smoke. It looked realy cool. Later on after breakfast I did some hummingbird photography out in the backyard. It was a little slow as only a few local Anna's Hummingbirds are hanging around the feeder at this point. It sure isn't like early spring when there were eight or nine of them fighting for the feeder at one time. God's love and blessings to all, chris My new book "Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography" is being released on Thursday,Sept.11th. Many who preordered the book are already receiving their copies. I'm excited! Please check it out on Amazon and other fine book sellers. Get your Christmas shopping done early as it is the perfect Christmas present for a birder or photographer you may know. You can also just buy it for yourself! It is available for Kindle as well. All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS lens. Camera settings for the sunrise images were AV mode,ISO 800, Shutter speed 1/1,000th of a sec at F 7.1 and the vertical image F5.6 at 1/1,600th of a sec. Camera settings for the hummingbirds Manual mode, ISO 200, F18.0 at 1/200th of a sec. (4) Canon 540 EZ flashes were used set to 1/16th power. A Manfotto 055XB tripod and a Bogen 3055 ballhead was used to support the camera.

Steamy Saturday

Saturday morning I went to the Roots Of Motive Powers "Steam Up"in Willits where I live in Northern California. They had an incredible display of working steam equipment up and running from steam locomotives to steam cranes and a shovel. They also had several steam donkeys and a stationary steam engine in operation. In addition to steam equipment they have an impressive display of both logging and railroad equipment as well. To the crowds delight they were offering train rides on their loop track around the property with vintage cars pulled by a steam locomotive. All of the Roots volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable about the equipment they were operating. It was a great look at the industrial might of a time gone by. God bless, chris All images created with a Canon 7D. Camera was in AV mode, ISO 400 shutter speeds and F stops varied.