Gorgeous Sunrise

While lazing about in bed this morning I noticed the wall opposite our bed was awash in a soft pink light. I roused myself to get up and look out the window. My eyes were met with a glorious sunrise. Thank you Lord for such a beautiful way to start the day. Image created with a handheld Canon 7D MkII camera and a Canon 17-85mm EF-S- F 1:4-5.6 lens. The camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 400, F 11.0 at 1/60th of a sec.#TeamCanon

The Chickadee is on the Pumpkin

Nope no frost this morning. It looks to be an inside kind of day with the rainstorm clearing up today. Here are a couple of Chestnut Backed Chickadees. One on a pumpkin as suggested by Lenore (continuing with that orange theme) and one on a knothole feeder from last week showing off its trademark chestnut back. Have a great weekend and God bless, chris Both images were created with a canon 7D MkII camera and a Canon 100-400 L IS USM V.1 lens. #TeamCanon

Scarfing it Up!

Yesterday I came up with the idea of creating an orange background to really emphasize the fall colors. I searched through my backgrounds and low and behold I didn't have a single orange one. During dinner I asked Lenore if she had anything orange that I could use as a background. She thought for a moment and replied that she had just bought an orange and green scarf. I looked at the scarf after dinner sure enough one side of the scarf was a solid dark orange. This morning I placed the scarf behind some fall covered leaves and it was just perfect! I set up a very slender manzanita branch for a perch next to the bird feeder. Then I climbed into the photoblind and waited. It took awhile to get the image that I was looking for. I had a lot of missed images and quite a few with either chopped off tails or missing beaks. I really, really like the final image. God's tender love and blessings upon your day, chris This image was created with a Canon 7D MkII camera and Canon 100-400L IS USM V.1 lens. Lighting was provided by four Canon 540 EZ flashes set to 1/128th power. The camera settings used were Manual mode, ISO 400, F 5.6 at 1/200th of a sec. The camera and lens were supported by a Manfrotto 190 XPROB tripod with a Bogen Heavy duty ballhead. It was heavily overcast and starting to mist. Thank you Lord for the coming rain.#TeamCanon

I'm Lichen It!!

Last night I created a quick set up using a lichen covered branch for a perch. this morning I was up at sunrise photographing the Chestnut Backed Chickadees. I used four Canon 540EZ flashes set to 1/128th power for lighting. Two were focused on the perch and two were focused on the fall colored background. I really like the end result. God's love and blessings upon your day, chris As you can see I reversed one image in processing to face the other way. Action for western viewers tends to look better going from left to right. These images were created with a Canon 7D MkII camera and a Canon 100-400 L IS USM V.1 lens supported by a Manfrotto 190 XPROB tripod. #TeamCanon

More Images for the Thrifty Fifty Challenge

Yesterday morning I decided to challenge myself and create some more images for the Thrifty Fifty Challenge. Many of my followers already know that the challenge is to create an uncropped image of a sparrow sized bird or smaller with a 50mm lens. Also no undue image processing of the image is allowed. I had a really fun time photographing the chickadees as they came and went. I got some really great images. My set up was a knothole feeder filled with black sunflower seeds. I used my Canon 7D MkII camera and a Canon 50mm F 1.8 lens all set on a Manfrotto Tripod with a Bogen ballhead.. The camera settings used were Manual mode, ISO 800, F 10.0 at 1/200th of a sec. Lighting was provided by three Canon 540 EZ flashes set to 1/128th power.God's love and blessings upon your day, chris #TeamCanon

I've Got My Eye On You!

Douglas Tree Squirrel peering out from inside one of my knothole bird feeders on Saturday afternoon. It could barely squeeze itself in. It stayed inside there for close to half an hour gorging itself on black sunflower seeds. Climbing back out it got stuck and was grunting and squeaking before it finally extricated itself. God's blessings and comfort to all, chris Image created with a canon 7d MkII and a Canon 100-400L IS USM V.1 lens at 400mm.

Sad Reminder

The smoke remains as sad evidence of the fiery disaster that struck Northern California and is still not over yet. In the late hours of Sunday night and early hours of Monday morning devastating fires swept through many areas of Northern California and the wine country. Where I live in Willits the fire came to within about eight miles from where I live. We voluntarily evacuated as we could see the flames on the ridge tops to the east of us. We spent four days voluntarily evacuated to the small town of Laytonville to the north of us. It feels great to be back home though our cars are still packed and ready to go should the winds whip up the fire in our direction. Please pray for the victims of these fires. Those who have lost family members, friends,houses and pets in this horrific event. God blessings and comfort to all those affected by these fires, chris