Perfect Perch

I'm always one for finding things and then putting them to use. This one isn't a great stretch of intelligence but it does give a slight insight of how my mind works. Yesterday while walking through the dining room I noticed that the flowers I got Lenore were starting to get droopy. The Chrysanthemum still looked pretty decent. "Why it would make a marvelous perch", I thought to myself. This morning with a Chrysanthemum in hand I went out to the backyard photoblind and created an image of a Chestnut backed Chickadee on a Chrysanthemum as a perch. God gives us simple gifts every day. We just have to be on the look out for them as they are all around us. chris

Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM at 400 mm, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 400, F5.6 at 1/200th of a sec. E.V. -1

Sweet Little Chickadee

I have been working on my book so I managed to squeeze in a little bird photography this morning. Here is a little Chestnut Backed Chickadee on a Sorghum seed head. When I was a kid in Colorado this was grown as a feed crop for livestock on the plains. Then it was called Milo. Some must have been in some spilled bird seed because it grew in my backyard this summer.I didn't mind because it can be used for some great bird photography! God's blessings and precious love to all, chris Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM at 400 mm, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 800, F5.6 at 1/1,000 of a sec. E.V. -1

Checking Things Out

I spent a short time photographing in the backyard this morning. My favorite image was this one of a chipmunk standing up on the flagstones checking things out. God's light and love to all, chris

Squirrel and a Jay

Yesterday morning I went out into the backyard photoblind to create a few set up images. First thing I noticed was that the feeder was empty. I quickly refilled it with black sunflower seeds and settled into the blind.I didn't have to wait very long before a few chipmunks arrived started chomping away on the seeds. I made a few images but none of them were that promising. Next came the Steller's Jays in force! Sometimes there were five or more of them trying to get to the feeder at the same time. Later on a Western Gray Squirrel arrived and everything cleared out as they can really dominate the feeder.By then the lighting was pretty much gone and i was done for the morning. Great way to start the day. God's precious love to all, chris Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM at 285 mm, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 800, Exposure varied.

How Delightful

This morning I went out into the backyard to photograph some bird set ups but the rain drove me back inside. Thank you Lord for a little rain. This afternoon I went back out to try again. I wasn't very successful with the birds but I photographed a Chipmunk and a Douglas Tree Squirrel that were both positively delightful. The lighting was perfect as every single detail of there whiskers and fur stood out. What a wonderful afternoon. It's best to look at them full size. God's love and blessings to all, chris Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM at 285 mm, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 800, F 5.6 at 1/60th of a sec.

Sticking with the Jays

Spent a short time in the backyard today. Photographing set ups and Steller's Jays. They are an overlooked and really beautiful bird. Now back to the salt mines. God's blessings to all, chris Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM at 235 mm, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Settings- AV Mode,ISO 400, F 5.0 at 1/2,000th of a sec.

Touch of Rain

Where I live in Northern California we are in a drought. The little community I live in has between sixty and eighty days of water left in its reservoirs. Last night we got a small bit of rain which hopefully knocked down the fire danger a little bit. Over the past month there were a few small forest fires here in Mendocino County and some larger ones in Humboldt County to the north so any rain is welcome. This afternoon I went for a short walk to get away from the computer. I noticed that the mosses on the trees had spread out. They were sucking in as much moisture as they could get. When it is dry the mosses are plastered flat against the tree trunk. When they sense moisture they branch outward from the tree trunk to capture it. I also photographed a long dead Bracken Fern on a carpet of moss on the ground. After more rain new shoots will be pushing up from the ground from spores dropped before the rain. God's love and blessings to all, chris

Camera Equipment Used- Canon 7D, 100 mm Macro Lens, Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod with a 3055 Ballhead. Camera Setting- ISO 400, AV Mode, Exposure varied