Spoonbill Silhouette
Here is an early morning silhouette of a Roseate Spoonbill at the High Island rookery in Texas. I’m a big fan of silhouettes so you may see a few of them on my blog.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens
1/4000 sec @ F5.0, spot metering, ISO 400, at 250mm.
Mating Terns
Here is a shot of some Terns mating just after sunrise from Bryan Beach, TX. This is where a high frames/sec camera comes in handy. Got several shots but only one with the wings spread like this.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens with ground pod.
1/640 sec @ F5.6, ISO 200, spot metering, no flash
My Back-up 40D Died
Had my back-up camera die this weekend while waiting for my 7D to be repaired. Not unexpected however. The shutter on my 40D was sounding real funky about a year ago which led to my 7D upgrade. I had already replaced the shutter once. It completely crashed this weekend while taking some shorebird photos. Hoping to get my 7D back this week. Still waiting on the e-mail from Canon to say that it shipped. Not sure if I’ll put $216 into the old 40D or not to repair it.
Changing Light – Get There Early!
What a difference 50 minutes can make for morning light. I always encourage everyone to shoot around sunrise or sunset to get the best light for wildlife photos. Here is an example of how quickly light can change early in the morning. The first shot, taken at 7:30 a.m., shows the golden light that you can get around sunrise. The second shot is of the same Great Blue Heron only 50 minutes later. Which one do you like better? My preference is the first one. In order to get a more pleasing shot on the second one, I moved to my left to get more of the sun in the background so that it would be a silhouette shot. Reduced the exposure compensation by -1 stop and got the last picture.
The lighting in your photo’s can make all the difference. So get out and shoot early or stay until sunset and take advantage of the good light while it lasts.
7:30 a.m. around sunrise
8:20 a.m., 50 minutes after the first shot
Just after second shot
Spoke too soon about 7D being fixed
Took my newly repaired 7D to Brazos Bend yesterday to test it out. It was great to be shooting with it again until the mirror started locking up with the same error 20. Sent it back to Canon for another round of repairs. Hopefully second time is the charm.
Mating Laughing Gulls
It’s never good when your partner is laughing during mating activities but apparently these birds can’t help it. Hence the name, Laughing Gulls. Took this shot at San Luis Pass. Lots of gulls, terns and skimmers hanging around with the occasional mating going on. My philosophy is that if they want to do it in front of me, I’m going to take their picture. Circle of life type moment which makes for some good action shots.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens on Skimmer ground pod
Nest Building at High Island
Made another trip to the High Island on 4/17. Hardly no one around and very few skeeters so it was a nice change of pace. I was hoping to get some decent back-lit shots at sunrise but the birds weren’t cooperating except for a couple on the manmade platforms, which make such a lovely perch in the photos. I was going to leave early but decided to stick around. The action got better as the light got worse but it was still all good. There were one pair of Great Egrets that were putting on a good nest building show. One was sitting on the eggs when the other would fly to the ground to pick up what you would think was the largest stick in the world with all of the fanfare when he got back to the nest. This guy wasn’t finding much from a size perspective but it seemed to be all for show anyway. They did this several times in a row and I spent about 1/2 hr focused only on them.
Since my 7D is in the shop getting repaired, these were taken with the ‘ol 40D and my 100-400 lens. I usually use aperature priority but decided to switch to manual mode this time for last half of the morning. Worked very well as the sun got higher in the sky and the lighting changes were less intense than right at sunrise.
1/100 sec at F5.6, ISO 500, spot metering, aperture priority. The red dots is the sun poking through the trees.
1/1250 sec at F5.6, ISO 250, -1/3 exp comp, spot metering, aperture priority
1/800 sec at F6.3, ISO 200, manual mode
1/800 sec at F6.3, ISO 200, manual mode
1/1000 sec at F6.3, ISO 200, manual mode
1/1000 sec at F6.3, ISO 200, manual mode
1/800 sec at F6.3, ISO 200, manual mode
1/800 sec at F7.1, ISO 200, manual mode
Great Egrets in a Fog
I’m a big fan of foggy weather. I love it when the sun comes poking though the fog early in the morning. That was not to be on this outing to High Island rookery in late March. Lots of fog with lots of clouds. Tried to make the best of it with some Great Egret shots. Another nice to have at High Island is a little wind so that the breeding plumage feathers get some movement and definition. It also gives them a “beatnik” look, IMO. Although, I may just be having a flashback from the 60’s…
All taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens on tripod, no flash.
1/320 sec @ F5,6, ISO 250, spot metering, +1 exp compensation
1/400 sec @ F5,6, ISO 400, spot metering, +1 exp compensation
1/320 sec @ F5,6, ISO 320, spot metering, +1 exp compensation
1/400 sec @ F5,6, ISO 320, spot metering, +1 exp compensation
1/500 sec @ F5,6, ISO 320, spot metering, +1 exp compensation
1/640 sec @ F5,6, ISO 320, spot metering, +1 exp compensation
Black Skimmers
I participated in FeatherFest again this year with helping out Larry Ditto on his advanced photography field trip and class. The field trip went to San Luis Pass west of Galveston. I haven’t been there in a few years so it was nice to go back and check it out. The weather wasn’t very cooperative with fog and cloudy sky’s. Typical around here lately. Luckily there were some black skimmers around. I took my ground pod and shot from the prone position most of the time.
Had a great time and got to meet some nice people and to see Larry again. The class room setting the following day included a critique of the photos from the previous day. Larry did a very good job with the critique. The session ran a little long but most everyone stayed to see all of the photos.
Here are a few of my shots, taken in between my lock-up issues with my camera. My first skimmers actually skimming this year.
All taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens
1/400 sec @ F5,6, +1 exp comp, ISO 800, spot metering, fill flash with better beamer
1/640 sec @ F4.5, +1 exp comp, ISO 500, spot metering, fill flash with better beamer
1/1000 sec @ F5,6, +1 exp comp, ISO 400, spot metering, fill flash with better beamer
Flight of the Pelican
Here is a shot of a couple of Brown Pelicans taken from the Bolivar ferry which runs from Galveston Island to the Bolivar peninsula. The ferry is a great place to get up close to pelicans and gulls. The focusing on the 7D came though again on this one.
1/1,000 sec @ F 5.6, +1 exp compensation, ISO 250, spot metering
Nesting Ritual at High Island
The rookery at High Island is my favorite place to go this time of year. Lots of Great Egrets, Spoonbills, Snowy Egrets and a few others right in front of you. The best place around to get up close and personal with the birds. I usually get there way too early before the sun comes up and have to use a flashlight along the trail to get to the platforms. I didn’t used to use a flashlight until I found an alligator on the trail one year. I love the back lighting that you can get in the morning. The sun comes up in your face but the lighting can be magic. Just have to put up with a few thousand mosquitos at that time of day.
The Great Egrets are fun to watch when they build their nests. They make quite the scene when one finds a stick and brings it back to the nest. Lots of squawking ensues and you would have thought that he brought back a gold plated stick, but no, just a stick.
All taken with Canon 7D on tripod.
1/640 sec @F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering, + 1/3 exp compensation
1/250 sec @F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering, + 2/3 exp compensation
Bird Photography Workshop
Had a great time last week hanging out with the Woodlands Photography Club. I was invited to put on a bird photography workshop including a separate class and a field trip to Brazos Bend State Park, thanks Lisa. The class covered equipment, camera settings, techniques, local locations and my golden rules. Topped it off with a slide show with some of my photos. The session ran over the 1 1/2 hour timeframe due to getting lots of questions during the presentation. I’m hoping that they picked up some new information that they can use in their photography outings.
It was a great way to spend my birthday. I’m looking forward to doing this again.
Photo Exhibition at Tommy’s Restaurant
For anyone who wants to eat some great food and check out some of my shore bird pictures, I’ve got 8 of them on display at Tommy’s Restaurant/Oyster Bar in the Clear Lake area on Bay Area Blvd, see link below. Got the opportunity through fellow Bay Area Photo Club member Peter Bowman. Thanks Peter and thanks Tom for allowing me to display my photo’s in your restaurant. All photo’s are mated in 20″ x 24″ frames and are for sale. Took the day off on Tuesday and spent a couple of hours hanging them and ate lunch there as well. The grilled shrimp po boy is to die for. They will be on display for two months until May 23.
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Bathing Long Billed Curlews
A few shots from the archives of a couple of Long Billed Curlews taking a bath at Bolivar Flats. Got fairly close to them as they were splashing away.
All taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens on ground pod
1/1250 sec @ F5.6, +1 exp comp, ISO 250, spot metering
1/800 sec @ F5.6, +1 exp comp, ISO 250, spot metering
1/320 sec @ F7.1, +1 exp comp, ISO 250, spot metering
1/800 sec @ F5.6, +1 exp comp, ISO 200, evaluative metering
1/16000 sec @ F5.6, +1 exp comp, ISO 200, evaluative metering
GRAPHIC – Feeding Raptor
Found this hawk feeding away on a rodent at Anahuac NWR. These shots were taken out the car window and was able to get very close to him. He was more interested in eating breakfast than me taking his picture. I screwed up and had my camera set to +1 exp compensation for flight shots and didn’t adjust it until later in this series. Got several shots that were too blown out on the whites. Should have known better but got a little excited coming upon this scene that I didn’t pay enough attention to what I was doing. Also had to change memory cards. There were lots of weeds around him and some of the best graphic shots have too many weeds in front of him. Still a good time and even got some shots of him cleaning his talons. A car came by and spooked him which allowed for some full frame flight shots.
All taken with Canon 7d and 100-400 lens, hand held out the car window
1/800 sec @ F5.6, +1 exp comp., ISO 320, spot metering, no flash
1/800 sec @ F6.3, +2/3 exp comp., ISO 250, spot metering, no flash
1/800 sec @ F6.3, +2/3 exp comp., ISO 250, spot metering, no flash
1/1600 sec @ F6.3, +1/3 exp comp., ISO 250, spot metering, no flash
1/2,000 sec @ F7.1, +1/3 exp comp., ISO 250, spot metering, no flash
Brazos Bend at Sunrise
Made another road trip to Brazos Bend State Park last weekend. Not much happening there but still a good time to get out. Tried sitting down on the bank with the tripod and was able to get the Grebe with wings spread
All taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens
1/2000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering, no flash
1/2000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering, no flash
1/2500 sec @ F5.6, ISO 250, spot metering, no flash
1/640 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, + 2/3 exposure comp., spot metering, no flash
1/1250 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, + 2/3 exp. comp, spot metering, flash @ -3 stops with better beamer
Snowy Egret Fishing
From the 2010 archives, here is a series of shots taken at Bolivar Flats of a Snowy Egret fishing. This was a great day at Bolivar with Snowy’s and Reddish Egrets everywhere. Haven’t seen this much concentrated activity since then.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens on ground pod
1/3,200 to 1/5,000 sec @F5.6, + 2/3 exp. comp, ISO 200, spot metering, no flash
Willet
A few Willet shots from a recent trip to Bolivar Flats with Sheldon. Trying to go back as much as possible before it gets too warm to wear the waders. Took these shortly after the sun came up. Got a few decent reflection shots from a standing position but liked the colors much better after getting down low. Got good color reflecting from the shoreline.
All taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens on ground pod.
1/16oo sec @ F5.6, +2/3 exp comp, ISO 250, spot metering, no flash (it broke)
1/8oo sec @ F5.6, +2/3 exp comp, ISO 250, spot metering, no flash (it broke)
1/8oo sec @ F5.6, +2/3 exp comp, ISO 250, spot metering, no flash (it broke)
1/16oo sec @ F5.6, +2/3 exp comp, ISO 250, spot metering, no flash (it broke)
Foggy Background
Here are a few more shots of the fog from Bolivar. After the sunrise shots, you could see the tops of the Galveston buildings stick up through the fog along with some ships coming into port.
Foggy Sunrise
The fog was very thick all the way to Bolivar. The sun peaked through the fog just as I had hoped. I laid down to catch the Godwit’s and the moved to the poles to get the Great Blue Heron on its perch. The sun was fairly high up for the GBH shot so I had to use more negative exposure compensation to keep the sun from blowing out too much. Interesting tip about the 7D, you can go beyond the -3 stops in exposure compensation that shows on the camera. If you keep turning the dial, you can get much lower. The 3rd photo was taken at -5.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens
1/6400 sec @ F10, ISO 200, -3 exp. comp., evaluative metering, ground pod
1/1600 sec @ F8, ISO 200, -1 2/3 exp. comp., evaluative metering, ground pod
1/8000 sec @ F7.1, ISO 100, -5 exp. comp., evaluative metering, hand held
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, evaluative metering, hand held
Cooterville
Here are some shots from last weekend at Brazos Bend of the resident coots. Found a decent spot to camp out along 40 acre lake and sat down with my tripod for about 1.5 hrs on Sat and Sun. Around sunrise, the coots come across the trail and head into the water and then the run out into the main part of the lake through the two openings in the far bank. I”ve always like to try to catch them while they are running on the water. Had to switch to the minimum focus distance on the 100-400 on the close up shots as they were very close. They are kind of cute close up with the ivory colored bill and red forehead and eyes.
Sprinting Moorhen
Made my first trip back to Brazos Bend State Park in a few months on Sat and found lots of fog but no sun. I love when it is foggy but it helps to have the sun shining through it. Saturday was just fog and clouds. Tried to make the best of it by sitting on my keester for about 1.5 hrs along the bank at 40 acre lake. Worked on getting some slow shutter speed shots of Coots as they ran by and ended up finding this enthusiastic Moorhen as well.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens, no flash
1/50 sec @ F5.6, +2/3 exposure compensation, spot metering, ISO 500
Galveston Featherfest Photo Contest
It’s that time of year again for the Galveston Featherfest photo contest. I’ve had some success in the contest in recent years and I’d encourage everyone who shoots in Galveston and surrounding counties to enter. It’s a weekly contest so you can enter two photos every week for four weeks. Here is the press release.
Feb. 14, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Photography Now a Big Part of FeatherFest
Bird Photo Contest Call for Entries
GALVESTON ISLAND, Texas (Feb. 14, 2011) – Entries are now being accepted for the FeatherFest Photo Contest held in conjunction with Galveston’s annual birding, nature and photography festival.
Individuals are invited to submit images of birds taken in Galveston or adjacent counties. Entries for Week 1 are due Tuesday, March 1. Contest details are outlined below.
Photographers also have an opportunity to participate in PhotoFest, the track of field trips and workshops held April 7 through 9 during FeatherFest that are designed for photographers of all skill levels.
After last year’s near sell-out debut, PhotoFest 2011 offers new programs led by professional photography instructors. PhotoFest events are presented this year by Houston Camera Exchange.
In addition, a wide variety of cameras and equipment will be featured at Birders’ Bazaar, the festival’s free public trade show and nature arts and crafts market place.
“Photography has become an important part of FeatherFest, and the photo contest gets bigger and better every year,” said Barbara Rabek, co-leader with Steve Upperman of both the competition and PhotoFest.
“Photographers are always taking pictures of the amazing birds that live in the area or migrate through, and this organized competition is a good way to recognize their efforts. This is the contest’s fifth year, and it’s a perfect fit with FeatherFest and PhotoFest.”
First-, second- and third-place winning photos from four weekly contests in March will be published in The Daily News and on the FeatherFest Web site. A Grand Prize winning photo will be
selected from these winners and published in early April.
The photo contest is presented by The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council in partnership with The Daily News and the Bay Area Photo Club. Photo club members will judge the entries, drawing on their photography and competition expertise.
Photo Contest Rules:
- Photos must be of birds from Galveston or adjacent counties.
- Photos must be e-mailed to photofest2011@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, 8, 15 and 22 to be included in photos being judged for the following Tuesday edition of The Daily News.
- Two photos per week may be submitted and must arrive in separate e-mails.
- Photos must be in JPEG format at 300 dpi and not larger than 6 MB.
- Images may be cropped, sharpened, color adjusted and/or altered in other minor ways.
- Images may not be collages or blends of more than one image.
- Photos must be accompanied with the photographer’s name; title of photo; name of bird(s) in photo; and location where photo was taken.
- First-, second- and third-place winners will be selected each week for four weeks. A Grand Prize photo will be selected from the four weekly first-place winners.
- A photographer may not win more than one first, second or third place during the four weeks.
- Photographers who submit an entry grant The Galveston County Daily News and The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Counsel a limited license to publish and display the photo and to use it in promotional materials without compensation.
On the Web: http://www.galvestonfeatherfest.com/PhotoContest.php
Extreme Bird Make Over
So how do give a very ugly bird a make over? Well, I’m not that good at photoshop so I decided to basically blur the crap out of him. The first shot shows a turkey vulture trying to show off his feathers. Very nice try but it’s tough to get past that butt ugly face. Using a very slow shutter speed, 1/6 sec, I was able to wipe the ugly off his face (and everything else for that matter). Even got a little double exposure action.
Tim Timmis Photography 
