New (Used) Travel Camera

For the past year or so I've been using a Canon EOS Rebel T1i with a 28-200mm lens as my knock around travel camera that I take with me in the car and almost everywhere I go. Sometimes it just didn't have the reach that I needed for birds and other subjects that are further away. Just recently I purchased a little bridge camera that has a zoom range of 28-600mm. I'm hoping this might fill that need for reach once I get used to using it and adapting my self to the change in controls. It's a Canon Powershot G3-X. I'm having a lot of fun and some frustration with it. I didn't buy the optional optical viewfinder so I have to use the screen for composition and focusing. I keep turning it on and trying to shove the camera up to my face before I realize I won't be able to focus that way. It's a nice little camera.I's already in need of a good cleaning with all of the abuse it has already gone through. We will see if I end up keeping it.Here is Papaya the Blasted Cat surveying her domain from the front fence this afternoon, God's blessings upon your week, chris Canon Powershot G3-X, ISO 800, F 5.6 at 1/100th of a sec, handheld at 139mm.#TeamCanon,#teamcanonusa,

Christmas Cat

There may be some value to the Blasted Cat after all. She is pretty photogenic. This morning I wanted to create a Christmas Cat image for Annika. (It's her cat) The thought of hauling out the studio lights and setting up the studio backdrop seemed just too daunting. I grabbed a shop light and a simple gold reflector instead. For a backdrop I set up a red knitted throw on the couch. I grabbed a short string of clear Christmas tree lights and draped them over the back of the couch arm. I set the shop light onto the top of the couch facing downward and leaned the gold reflector against the coffee table facing the couch. With the shop light as my main light and the reflector set up as my secondary. I was set. I let the cat in and gave her the idea it was her decision to settle down onto the throw on the couch. When I could see that she was comfortable I brought my tripod over and got down on my knees with the camera in front of me on the far end of the couch.She was undisturbed as I watched her preening away. Every now and then she would stop to take a break and look around. I clicked the shutter every time she looked up. Of the five best ones this was my favorite and I'm sure it will be Annika's as well. God's love and blessings to all, chris This image was created with a Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera and a Canon EF 28-200mm lens. The camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 800, F 8.0 at 1/13th of a sec.#teamcanonusa

Trying to Look Cute

The "Blasted Cat" is given supervised visits into the house to be petted and sit on the couch or at nighttime in our bedroom with the door shut. Her only other option is her little cat bed in our sunroom. At all other times she is allowed out during the daytime and we bring her in at night so that she doesn't meet the fate of two of our previous pets as Cougar food. Today during her daily visit she decided the couch wasn't comfortable enough and she bolted up to our bedroom. By the time I caught up with her she had made herself quite comfortable on our bed and she was trying to look as cute as possible so she could stay there. I grabbed my camera to document this behavior before I brought her back downstairs where she belonged. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving, chris Image created with a Canon 7D mkII and a Tamron 18-200mm lens. Handheld. The camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 800, f 5.0 at 1/320th of a sec.

Blasted Cat

Papaya the Blasted Cat wanted in to the house really badly the other morning. She just wanted to go up to our bed and snuggle into the covers. As sweet and cute as she is she is also a threat to the wildlife around our home. On Friday afternoon she proudly walked up to me and presented me with a chipmunk she had captured. Luckily when she set it down next to me it promptly ran through the fence and up the nearest tree! I was so happy to see it get away. May you have a blessed day, chris This image was created with a handheld Canon 7D mkII with a 100mm macro lens. Camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 400, F 5.6 at 1/400th of a sec. #TeamCanon

Rockin' It

Yesterday morning I set up a really nice lichen covered rock next to the bird feeder in the backyard. Before I went out of the house I looked for the "Blasted Cat" but I couldn't find her. After sitting in the photoblind for a bit she showed up wanting to be petted. I picked her up and put her into my lap and she settled in purring contentedly. After about five minutes the Band-tailed Pigeons started coming in. I found that it's really hard to photograph birds with a cat in your lap that wants to get off and go eat the pigeons! I created some pretty nice images before she escaped my grasp and attempted to try and leap up onto the feeder and grab the pigeons. Thankfully she failed. God's blessings upon your week, chris This image was created with a Canon 7D mkII and a Tamron 150-600mm lens. The camera was supported with a Manfrotto 190 XPROB tripod with a Bogen 3055 Heavy duty ballhead. Camera settings used were Manual mode,ISO 400, F 5.6 at 1/2,000th of a sec. #TeamCanon

Doesn't Everyone Love a Dust Bath on a Hot Day?

I tried a little hummingbird photography this morning but I was having a problem with two of my flashes not working properly. I ended up with all of my images being underexposed. While I was sitting there pondering the solution to the problem, "The Blasted Cat", Papaya dropped by for a visit and a dust bath. She was really enjoying herself rolling about in the dirt. She finished with a big fanged yawn. God's love to all, chris All images were created with a handheld Canon 7D mkII with a Canon 100-400IS v1 lens. #TeamCanon

The Queen is in Residence

This morning when I was restocking the bird feeders I noticed Queen Papaya the Cat surveying her domain. She was sitting on the corner of the deck as she is wont to do on many mornings. I grabbed my camera with a telephoto lens and took her portrait while she was on her throne. May you have a blessed week, chris Images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400IS v1. #TeamCanon

Blasted Cat!

This morning just after I let Papaya (The Blasted Cat) out I saw her sitting like a queen on one of the benches in our front yard. She was looking out over her domain to see if anything was amiss so she could command that it be corrected to meet her royal needs. I quickly walked back into the house and grabbed my camera and a telepphoto lens. I was prayed that she would stay there for awhile looking out over her kingdom. Luckily she was still there when I returned. I braced the camera against the door sill and made several images of her. This one was my favorite. Blessings upon your weekend, chris Image created with a Canon 7D and a Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD at 250mm, AV mode,ISO 1600, F 8.0 at 1/500th of a sec.

Let Me Tell You a Tale

I haven't done any photography for a couple of days due to travel and poor weather. Last night while the rest of the family was out I sat down and finished off a simple Christmas puzzle by Nicky Bockman. The blasted cat, Papaya seemed very interested in what I was doing and she came over to see if she could help just as I put the last puzzle piece in. Some help you are cat! Knowing her she was inspecting it to see if it was done correctly. She then sat down and swung her tail onto the puzzle. The odd juxtaposition of the cat's tail and the puzzle looked pretty good together so I grabbed my camera from the table and photographed them. "Let me tell you a an unusual tale about a cat from a Christmas long, long ago..." God's love and blessings and Merry Christmas, chris Image created with a hand held Canon 7D and a Canon EFS 17-85mm lens.

Portraits of Papaya

It's been frustrating waiting for the birds to start using the bird feeder at my photoblind out in the Little Lake Valley. Lately at my house which is typical for winter I have been limited to photographing Steller's Jays and chickadees. It will be great to start photographing some new species. Sunday afternoon Papaya Annika's cat was sitting in the living room so I decided she would be fun to photograph. I made a lot of images and boiled them down to an even dozen. Enjoy the many faces of Papaya the cat. God bless, chris Images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon 85mm lens.Camera was set to AV mode, ISO 400, Shutter speed and F stop varied. Natural light hand held.

Cute Little Guy

This morning the little cat Papaya didn't help my photography one bit. Before heading out to the photoblind I made sure that the little white demon was locked up in the house. After settling into the blind the birds and one chipmunk started coming into the bird feeders. I was looking forward to a great morning of bird photography. Suddenly all of the activity stopped. I thought there must be a hawk so I started looking up into the trees to see if I could spot it. Then I heard a rustling noise down by my feet. There was Papaya! I picked her up and brought her back to the house. A few minutes later she was back outside and heading for the bird feeder with Annika hot on her heels trying to capture her. Annika brought her back inside and I thought everything was going to work out just fine. Less than ten minutes later I heard Lenore call out. "Sorry!" Sure enough there was Papaya again. I gave up.Here is my simple offering; a really cute chipmunk that came to the bird feeders right after I got in the blind. May God bless your lives, chris Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens @300 mm, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV mode, ISO 400, F5.6,Shutter speed 1/200th of a sec.

Here is the Blasted Cat

Last night Lenore and I were wrapping Christmas presents so there was a bit of wrapping paper left over. This afternoon I took a piece of it and set it up as a backdrop sweep. I captured my little tormentor "Papaya the Blasted Cat" and placed her on it. With the help of my cat wranglers Jay and Annika I was able to photograph her. She looks like a sweet and gentle cat doesn't she? She really is when she isn't trying to catch birds around the bird feeders when I'm photographing birds. Merry Christmas to all, chris

Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon 28-135 IS at 75mm. Camera Setting- ISO 400, AV Mode, F5.6, 1/10th of a sec.

Little Monster is Getting Bigger

Annika's new kitten, Papaya AKA The Little Monster is getting bigger. She has made fast friends with Badger the Wonder Dog and they sometimes chase each other around the house. Lance the Lab ignores her and acts like she doesn't exist. This afternoon she was napping and preening in one of the chairs in the living room. Annika and I descended upon her with our cameras and she modeled away like a true champ. God's love to all, chris

Mr. Mango the Cat

I was really busy working on projects around the house today. I took a short break and photographed Annika's cat Mr. Mango. He was the consummate professional model. I think he should charge higher rates. God's light and love to all, chris

Cute Little Beast

Today my daughter Annika got a new cat. The best way to really put it would be that we got a new cat. She will be doing most of the care for the little monster but we will be having to watch out for it as well. Her cat Mr. Mango was really unhappy with the new arrival and greeted it with a lot of hissing and growling. So far we are not off to a good start. The dogs took it in stride with a lot of sniffing from Badger. Lance the Labrador was not impressed and he just ignored the little ankle biter. I was on cat sitting duty most of this afternoon. Taking a picture of it was the most logical thing to do. Hopefully things will improve. Annika has decided to call her "Miss Papaya"! God's love and blessings, chris