Moon's amateur photos

[moon/Laura]

I got a "real" camera about 6 months ago. One where the body and lenses are separate, which I've never had before. It's also the first time I've used the manual settings, so I have a lot to learn.

This is a link to my pics on flickr - I usually add new stuff just about every week right now, depending on weather conditions and opportunity.

www.flickr.com/photos/188129705@N03/

[ners]

Thanks for sharing.  

[taz157]

Great pictures!! 👍😁

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

May 3, 2020 20:14:16 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I got a "real" camera about 6 months ago. One where the body and lenses are separate, which I've never had before. It's also the first time I've used the manual settings, so I have a lot to learn.

This is a link to my pics on flickr - I usually add new stuff just about every week right now, depending on weather conditions and opportunity.

www.flickr.com/photos/188129705@N03/

A gal after my own heart! Fantastic! I recognize about half of the birds, but if I remember, you are in the west, so there are many I am not familiar with. 

[moon/Laura]

I've titled all of them that I can,  but depending on how they're viewed,  you may not see them. 

I'd like to eventually get into macro work as well. 

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

May 3, 2020 20:29:03 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I've titled all of them that I can,  but depending on how they're viewed,  you may not see them. 

I'd like to eventually get into macro work as well. 

I went back to look again. I am on my iPad and all I needed to do is touch the image to see the description. 

[Tennesseer]

Nice pictures, Moon. Your water bird pictures-is there a body of water close to you where you took the pictures?

On one of my last days working in New Jersey in 1992, I went to a co-worker's home for dinner. But before dinner, she took me to a great blue/grey heron rookery. There were probably about 100 plus nests in the trees (it was early May). The herons were flying in and out of the nests. Lots of squawking and such. I would have sworn I came across a hidden colony of pterodactyls.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

May 3, 2020 20:35:52 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nice pictures, Moon. Your water bird pictures-is there a body of water close to you where you took the pictures?

On one of my last days working in New Jersey in 1992, I went to a co-worker's home for dinner. But before dinner, she took me to a great blue/grey heron rookery. There were probably about 100 plus nests in the trees (it was early May). The herons were flying in and out of the nests. Lots of squawking and such. I would have sworn I came across a hidden colony of pterodactyls.

Have you ever heard sandhill cranes? They sound prehistoric.

[moon/Laura]

May 3, 2020 20:35:52 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nice pictures, Moon. Your water bird pictures-is there a body of water close to you where you took the pictures?

On one of my last days working in New Jersey in 1992, I went to a co-worker's home for dinner. But before dinner, she took me to a great blue/grey heron rookery. There were probably about 100 plus nests in the trees (it was early May). The herons were flying in and out of the nests. Lots of squawking and such. I would have sworn I came across a hidden colony of pterodactyls.

There are many bodies of water within an hour's drive, if not less, so these photos are from all over the place. Actually, 5 min away is a small pond where great blue herons nest every year. Another place about 30 min away has a rookery shared by herons and cormorants and I had said they sounded like something out of Jurassic Park, lol.

[moon/Laura]

May 3, 2020 20:38:41 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Have you ever heard sandhill cranes? They sound prehistoric.

I have seen/heard videos of them, but haven't seen them myself. They have a festival every year during migration but it's about 5 hrs drive south of me. Considering I work every Saturday until 6 pm, I'm not sure if I'll ever make it.

The next thing I'd like to see is burrowing owls. There are some at a refuge not far away, but it's a huge place and I don't know exactly where they are there, other than near prairie dog colonies.

[Tennesseer]

May 3, 2020 20:38:41 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

May 3, 2020 20:35:52 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nice pictures, Moon. Your water bird pictures-is there a body of water close to you where you took the pictures?

On one of my last days working in New Jersey in 1992, I went to a co-worker's home for dinner. But before dinner, she took me to a great blue/grey heron rookery. There were probably about 100 plus nests in the trees (it was early May). The herons were flying in and out of the nests. Lots of squawking and such. I would have sworn I came across a hidden colony of pterodactyls.

Have you ever heard sandhill cranes? They sound prehistoric.

I have not had the pleasure but my sister has. She lives in New Mexico.

If you ever find youself in Baraboo, Wisconsin, stop by the International Crane Foundation. There scientists are doing research on the cranes in the back while in the from and open to the general public, there are exhibits of every species of crane from around the world, always in pairs in each natural exhibit.

When I visited there in the late 1990s, there were two female cranes of the same species bonded as a pair, both sitting on an egg one of the females laid. The guide told us the center tried to introduce a male into their exhibit but the two females beat the crap out of him so they had to rescue him.

There was an older gentleman there and he got angry hearing about two females bonding and bonded.

[mmhmm]

Great pics! Really good composition. Glad you were able to get a good camera so you can stretch your photographer's wings. 

[NoNamePerson]

WOW! Thanks for sharing. 

[msventoux]

That’s awesome, you have some really good shots. Thanks for sharing!

[weltschmerz]

May 3, 2020 20:14:16 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I got a "real" camera about 6 months ago. One where the body and lenses are separate, which I've never had before. It's also the first time I've used the manual settings, so I have a lot to learn.

This is a link to my pics on flickr - I usually add new stuff just about every week right now, depending on weather conditions and opportunity.

www.flickr.com/photos/188129705@N03/

Those are great, Moon! Isn't it fun to play with speed and depth of field?

[busymom]

Nice pictures!  I especially liked the picture of the red tulips, as my Mom used to have that same type in her flower garden.  

[moon/Laura]

Thanks everyone!

Yes,  weltschmerz, I'm having a great time playing around with settings. The flying bee with the grape hyacinth was shot at 1/4000. Could probably have gotten even better results if I'd used a faster shutter speed,  so I'll definitely be trying again. 

[ken a.k.a OMK]

moon/Laura Great pictures. Love having them in a collection instead of a few at a time on fb. 

[irishpad]

Beautiful photography!   You have some great talent.   Thanks for sharing Laura.  

[weltschmerz]

May 4, 2020 6:45:43 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

Thanks everyone!

Yes,  weltschmerz , I'm having a great time playing around with settings. The flying bee with the grape hyacinth was shot at 1/4000. Could probably have gotten even better results if I'd used a faster shutter speed,  so I'll definitely be trying again. 

I was impressed with the bee picture. You could see the detail in its wings. Nice work!

[Tennesseer]

May 3, 2020 20:38:41 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

May 3, 2020 20:35:52 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nice pictures, Moon. Your water bird pictures-is there a body of water close to you where you took the pictures?

On one of my last days working in New Jersey in 1992, I went to a co-worker's home for dinner. But before dinner, she took me to a great blue/grey heron rookery. There were probably about 100 plus nests in the trees (it was early May). The herons were flying in and out of the nests. Lots of squawking and such. I would have sworn I came across a hidden colony of pterodactyls.

Have you ever heard sandhill cranes? They sound prehistoric.

On Facebook, my brother just posted a few pictures of 4 sandhill cranes raising their young on the golf course where he belongs. Here are a couple:



Chick resting within mom/dad's wings:

[moon/Laura]

Those are awesome, Tenn! Thank you (and your brother) for sharing those.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

May 4, 2020 15:43:06 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

May 3, 2020 20:38:41 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Have you ever heard sandhill cranes? They sound prehistoric.

On Facebook, my brother just posted a few pictures of 4 sandhill cranes raising their young on the golf course where he belongs. Here are a couple:



Chick resting within mom/dad's wings:

I love the sandhills. They are a permanent year-round fixture in FL.    I will miss them.

[moon/Laura]

May 4, 2020 7:28:09 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

moon/Laura Great pictures. Love having them in a collection instead of a few at a time on fb. 

I thought it was easier, too.

[moon/Laura]

I added a few more pics. Some of them are so far away that the quality is really lacking. Sometimes, though, you just can't get that close.

This one isn't super well focused, but my goal was simply to try and get a stop action shot of it flying.

dragonfly by Laura M, on Flickr

[kadee79]

Thank you soooooooooooo much!  I really enjoyed going along with you while you took photos of all the critters!  

You are doing exceptional with your camera....have fun!

[NoNamePerson]

All right Moon, if I go out and buy a camera it will be your fault. I have to pass a local camera business on my way to Sam's. I need to stop by there and get pricing on doing some DVD's of all this WWII stuff I have of my fathers. Want to send it off to 390th Bomber Squadron Museum. Yes I know I can do it myself but they will do a much more professional job than me. Original stuff goes to kiddo. But now I know if I go to the store I will come out with a camera.

A pox on you!! 

OH and glad you listened to us about posting your pictures.

[moon/Laura]

I had wanted a new camera for a long time, so I know the struggle!

Went out again this evening and shot great blue herons, mostly. Here a a couple of my favorites. I probably watched this one try (and fail) to catch dinner for 45 min or so. I found its appearance to be comical when it shook the water off.


great blue heron by Laura M, on Flickr

great blue heron by Laura M, on Flickr

[moon/Laura]

New photos in the flickr album.

red winged blackbird (male) by Laura M, on Flickr

bald eagle by Laura M, on Flickr

orange poppy by Laura M, on Flickr

[msventoux]

Those are some great shots. I missed the great blue heron ones before. It took me a minute to figure out what end and exactly what I was looking at...so much for the majesty of nature, they have bad hair/feather days too!