Larry at Larry's Images.com: 5/8/11

Friday, May 13, 2011

Common Horsetail

Horsetail Shoots

I saw this one the other day for, I believe, the first time. I wondered what to call it. I noticed some Common Horsetail plants growing nearby and wondered if it might be related or a different stage of the same. That is exactly what it was.

Common Horsetail

I have been aware of this plant for maybe 10 years but did not know what it was called or could not remember. Thanks to Wikipedia for help with this dilemma. It seems that they grow in infertile soil. It is a prehistoric plant that grew over a hundred million years ago. It reproduces by spores. You can read more at Wikipedia.

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Video vs Panorama

Gorman Nature Center Panorama

I recently shot this 2 tier panorama at Gorman. It is the largest file I have ever saved. It could easily be printed at 18" x 97". I really don't know if anyone would want such a thing in their home. I have been trying to decide whether the panorama is better or Video scan of the same scene.

Video panorama

Take a look at this video and let me know what you think. I have two versions so that iPhones can also view it. I feel that I need to know what people think.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

My beginnings in photography in recent history

Red-winged Blackbird Female

About 12 years ago I received a Barns & Noble gift certificate for Christmas. With it, I bought Wild Bird Photography by Tim Fitzharris. I liked it so much that I decided I would like to photograph birds. I bought a film camera and long lens, all I could afford and set out. It was great fun!

Tree Swallow

I realized just recently that I am finally starting to realize that dream of photographing birds. That is how I got started in this phase of my photographic life. The tree swallow, above, is an exposure challenge. On even a cloudy day, it requires and exposure compensation from the meter reading of -1 stops. If I don't make that compensation, I find that the white breast becomes over exposed enough to lose the detail.

Red-shouldered Hawk

I am seeing this hawk, often this year. Last year I was unaware of any Red-shoulders at Gorman. I heard them on adjacent properties, though. He is pretty aware of his surroundings. It is difficult to "sneak" up on him. He hears me step on twigs and splash in puddle and flies away.

Song Sparrow

When I started processing the shots of this bird, I realized that I wanted one without the tail crossing the limb. This was the only one meeting that requirement where he had the correct pose for a good catch-light in the eye.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Goslings at Gorman!

They were born!

You may remember my discussion about the empty nest in a previous blog. The eggs disappeared and I had given up hope in photographing the little ones. The other morning, I walked to the pond and there they were, the whole family!

I am wondering what happened to the eggs. I doubt that the geese could have moved them. I suspect a human. But I still have questions. Would the geese follow a next relocation! To where was it moved? At my last observation, I counted 5 eggs. I counted 7 goslings in this picture.

I have not observed any geese on the pond since the nest disappeared. Where have they been? There is a pond on the property next to the nature center. I think that I saw them walking around that pond later the same day I made this shot. They, as I assume, will be around for a while. I don't know how old the little ones must be before they can fly.

I want to talk to Jan Ferrell about this mystery!