Favorites… So Far!
A changeable “Top Ten” of my work.
I will strive to update this whenever an image has come out that people like. Hopefully this happens often enough to be interesting and fun!
Image #16847 March 2024 in Bodega Bay California. The timing of this shot came together nicely. I was looking for a combination of a seabird flying above exciting surf. It captured the wings in an interesting position at the same time as the gull was flying over some crashing waves and foamy surf. Getting the gull in focus and the surf shooting up was difficult to be sure. The seabirds were flying parallel to the beach in search of fish. They would cruise in low and then suddenly dive out of site as they found prey. If no luck on this round, they would turn around and fly back the other way, but further out from shore. It was as if they had air traffic control as they all did the same pattern. This was taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 600mm, 1/2500 of a second, f / 20, ISO 2000.
Image #9771 May 2022 Chino California. This female Anna's Hummingbird is adorable. She was showing up in our back yard only for a minute or so two to three times a day. I had to sit for hours and wait. She finally came to the neighbor's flowering Jasmine bush on a cloudy day. She had pollen on top of her head and spider web remnants on her beak. This was taken about 22 feet away with the Canon 90D and the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens; 600mm, 1/2000 of a second, f /6.3, ISO 3200.
Image #9256 April 2022 in Chino California. This is a backyard shot of an Anna's Hummingbird drinking at a bougainvillea bush. You can see that she has pollen on top of her head. I have some other shots with her tongue sticking out as well. Again, waiting for hours for activity that lasts only seconds of time. I know that I could set up a feeder and get a lot more activity in a known location... however, the challenge of catching them doing what they do naturally is really worth the trouble in my mind. This was taken from about 14 feet away. I used the Canon 90D with the Sigma 150/600mm Contemporary lens; 388mm, 1/2000 of a second, f /7.1, ISO 3200.
Image #9407 April 2022 Chino California. First let me say that even as an entomologist, I can't believe how fast and agile butterflies are with those thin wings. This shot was a minor miracle! I was waiting, for a long long time, for my favorite hummingbird to show up at the aloe flowers that they so dearly love to visit. Without warning, out of the corner of my eye, I see this Monarch butterfly swoop down to the Bougainvillea in another part of the yard about 14 feet away. Its total time at the flower was less than 10 seconds! I whipped the camera around and pushed the back button focus with the current manual settings I had ready for my other intended shot. I hit the shutter at high speed and got only 20 frames before it flew off at sonic speed again. I just KNEW that I didn't get any good shots. How could I?! The focusing setting was set to "spot" and I would have had to nail the exact center for such a small target. Not only that, the manual settings for aperture and speed were not even considered in the seconds that I had to work it. Later, when I viewed the loaded images on the computer screen, I said "Oh my god!" multiple times. Somehow it worked! This was taken with the Canon 90D with the Sigma 150/600mm Contemporary lens; 531mm, 1/2500 of a second, f /7.1, ISO 1600.
Image #sx1327 April 2024 in Fullerton California. Amazingly, I caught this while waiting for a hummingbird. Using the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS. Doesn't do too badly for a point-n-shoot.
Image #2182 August 2023 in Fullerton California. I was trying to get one in flight, and got lucky once with an orange one, but it was of lower quality. Saw this one resting on a reed over the water. Couldn't get close, however the lens did pretty well for me. If you ever want to invite dragonflies to your garden to help with mosquitoes and other pests, set up small vertical stakes about the size of this reed. They will be attracted to the resting spot and then start hunting. Taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 546mm, 1/320 of a second, f / 8, ISO 400.
Image #14034 March 2024 in Bodega Bay California. Tried to get the old shipwreck with some interesting waves. I found that it is impossible to predict when waves would break. So... I just set it up on a tripod and guessed as I took many many pictures. This was taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 200mm, 1/2000 of a second, f / 16, ISO 500.
Image #17286 April 2024 in Fullerton California. I try to get out to the park in the spring and see the babies walking around. I didn't realize that this great interaction had taken place until I got the images downloaded to the computer. I keep the shutter speed high in case there is a flying shot and I forget to slow it down for these types of scenes. I really need to remember to correct with a lower speed so that the ISO can come down and reduce the noise in the image. Taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 435mm, 1/1000 of a second, f / 14, ISO 3200.
Image #17720 April 2024 in Fullerton California. I love the derpy expression on the last gosling! Taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 200mm, 1/1000 of a second, f / 8, ISO 500.
Image #17926 April 2024 in Fullerton California. Spotted these two (the lady is behind and to the right of this handsome gentleman) just chilling in the reeds on the creek. Didn't want to disturb them, however, after some long distance photos, he swam out into the clear and turned and posed for me. He must be used to all the attention in the park I'm sure. This was taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 600mm, 1/1000 of a second, f / 16, ISO 3200. Again, way too fast a shutter speed for the conditions.
Image #18202 April 2024 in Placentia California. Caught this goose taking a bath in the lake. The spray that was kicked up was amazing. Taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 600mm, 1/2000 of a second, f / 18, ISO 12800.
Image #8813 March 2022 in Chino California. I was watching various birds when I caught a glimpse of activity of this Double Crested Cormorant and just fired away. Even with shooting at high speed, in just a second any evidence of this fish being lunch was just a bulge in the birds throat! Taken with the Canon 90D; Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens at 600mm, 1/1000 of a second, f / 16, ISO 1250.