Two Outta Three

Two Outta Three, a photo by Jim Arnold (jga154) on Flickr.

Frank and I spent the evening a couple of nights ago shooting owls. I only got these two of three owlets at one time. To view more owl shots visit my Flickr Photostream.

Owls Too

Great Horned Owl on her nest.

More Turkey Shoot

What Turkey?

Shooting turkey's in Palo Cedro today. They are so common and prolific these days that it is hard to believe they weren't 20-30 years ago. Perfect cloud cover for rich saturated color too.

Lemon Tonic

Lemon Tonic

If you like lemonade, if you like tonic water, try this. Refreshing.

Grape Salad Dessert

Grape Salad Dessert

The ingredients sound strange together, but it is knock your socks off good, extra rich, mostly unhealthy, etc.

Burney Falls in the Winter

Burney Falls

I took this photo a few years ago in December. It had snowed the night before so I thought I might catch a good snow scene at the falls. As you can see there is a little snow on the right side of the falls but definitely not a snow scene.

The area was so contrasty with white falls, light sky, and dark rocks and trees that I decided to try HDR. I also wanted a very high resolution image so I took four overlapping vertical shots at three different exposures each. After combining all these images (12) this is what I got. I also took numerous single shots at various exposures, none of which could render all the contrast.

Usually a photo from this spot, especially twelve exposures is not possible due to mist and spray. I had just the right wind conditions on this morning.

Roaring Creek Falls

Roaring Creek Falls, a photo by Jim Arnold (jga154) on Flickr.
Garry and I decided not to go to the bottom this trip. Maybe we can talk Frank into going with us and going to the bottom. He has another rope and we might need two. There are two falls on roaring creek (at least). The maps I have don't name them. Garry decided to call this one the lower falls for one obvious reason.

It is a nice falls, similar to Potem Creek Falls, but a little smaller. Not too hard to get to this point, but on down requires a rope for hand holds even without camera gear.

Roaring Creek Falls

Roaring Creek Falls, a photo by Jim Arnold (jga154) on Flickr.

Garry wanted to go up and photograph this falls. It was an adventure. Pretty difficult to get to due to berry briars, downed tree branches, huge rocks, slick leaves, steep side hills, and the list goes on. This was the only view I could get to this time of the year. The rocks were too slippery to navigate much closer.

Garry wants to go back with a rope to lower ourselves down the even steeper other side. Then we will have better access to the falls...he thinks.

Blind Bird Photography

I spent the morning with Frank again making birds perch where we wanted them to. It is quite a chore but baiting them helps. Figuring out how to get a bird to pose just right is another problem that is just...well, left up to the bird.

We also have to be sure the background is good. Nothing that looks architectural, even though our lenses do a good job with bokah (blurring the background). Large very light areas are out also as they pull your eye to them and away from the bird.

Shooting from a blind lets us get fairly close (15 to 20 feet) which is where we need to be for these close-up shots.

Here are a couple of keepers from this morning. I posted a few few more on Flickr and Facebook.

An Oak Titmouse on a Sugarpine cone.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Downy Playing Hid-n-Seek

A Downy Woodpecker staying behind the Bark Butter laden pine cone.