White-winged Dove : Juvenile

1/320 | f/8 | ISO 800

Here is another image of a White-winged Dove taken from the backyard several weeks ago. I believe this is a juvenile and there were two of them feeding at the same time as two adults. This was a setup with the perch attached to a tripod above a ground feeder tray. Photographed under overcast conditions. I still have not had any time to get new photographs, I have been very busy with work and family visiting. Hopefully I can brave the 100+ degree heat get out again soon.

click image to view larger size.

Painted Bunting Again

1/200 | f/8 | ISO 250 | Fill Flash

Since I haven't had any time for photography lately due to family in town for the past 2 weeks, I thought I would post another image of the Painted Bunting photographed earlier this month. Photographed under cloudy skies, so fill flash was used on this image. 

click image to view larger size.

Some Backyard Regulars

 1/160 | f/8 | ISO 800

1/200 | f/8 | ISO 800

Here are some shots from my backyard of a couple common visitors that come to my feeders daily. It was raining most of the day yesterday, which I always love for photography, so I set up this perch above a ground feeder filled with seed and peanuts and quickly had 2 Blue Jays come followed by several White-winged Dove, who loved to perch above the feeder before dropping down. Both photos were taken with the tripod mounted Canon 7D and 100-400 lens. I have a specific set up in mind for the doves that I will try to work on this weekend. I love doing backyard set ups!

Click on images to view larger size.

Another Painted Bunting

1/320 | f/8 | ISO 640 | Fill Flash

Another image from the fantastic outing I had photographing this beautiful bird last week. I am hoping to get out again sometime this week and work on the Indigo Buntings (the are so tough to photograph!) and maybe one or two more photos of the Painted that I have in mind, so stay tuned!

click image to view larger size. 

Painted Bunting

 1/400 | f/8 | ISO 800

1/800 | f/8 | ISO 640 | Fill Flash

Success at last! After several unsuccessful attempts in the last couple of weeks to photograph Indigo and Painted buntings at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, I finally got some images I am happy with from this morning's shoot of a very cooperative male painted. I have to give credit to another photographer that my mom and I met on Tuesday at the refuge who pointed us to this spot. It is just fantastic and filled with both species of bunting as well as other birds. Although the Indigo's are still alluding me, I hold out a lot of hope of getting some shots soon from this spot. Photographed under overcast light from a storm that passed through early this morning. The soft light really helped to bring out the vibrant colors of this bird. Both images were taken with a tripod mounted Canon 7D and 100-400mm lens.

click images to view larger size.

Great Egret

1/500 | f/8 | ISO 160

Nothing special here, just a quick shot of a Great Egret fishing at the lake close to my home in evening light. Taken this past Tuesday, I was trying to photograph some sparrows and was having terrible luck, this guy was kind enough to make sure I didn't go home empty handed!

Click image to view larger size.

Scissor-Tail Flycatcher in Habitat

1/1600s | f/8 | ISO 200 | Fill 

Here is a image from Wednesday taken at the reservoir close to my home. I was trying to approach 2 Great Egrets that were fishing in the shallows of the lake by crouching low and slowly moving through the reeds and grass when this scissor-tail landed close by. I was able to get a couple of shots before it went off in pursuit of a insect. I really liked how this one turned out with the sense of habitat and loose comp.

click image to view larger size.