Morning Rituals

This morning, the yard was a flurry of bird activity - flying around from tree to tree, feeding at the feeders, getting cotton for nests...
(this isn't the sharpest photo, but I liked the light on the front of the male and how he watched "over" her while she got cotton for their nest.)

 The chestnut-backed chickadee was in the plum tree again - and he was busy grooming himself for the day.
He could stretch and scratch - at the same time!

When he was satisfied with his handsome-self, he finally noticed that I was taking pictures of his morning ritual, and he looked down at me and scowled for my impropriety!

However, his appetite got the best of him and off he flew into the cherry tree for breakfast.
Once he landed, his attitude changed. He looked back to see if I was getting his good-side!

  ...and then I was soon ignored for whatever tasty bits he found among the leaves.

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Thank you, Mr. Chickadee! It was delightful watching you this morning!

(Canon Rebel Xsi 250mm - cropping, and adjustment for exposure)
I'm having trouble with this new version of blogger editor - things don't see to line up correctly :(

Happy Mother's Day!

These three little birds came into my yard today. The gold finch sang his heart out. The swallow posed, let me get to within 8 feet of his fence perch, and nodded in conversation while I took his picture. The chickadee came up behind me in the plum tree and, he too, let me get within 4-5 feet away. Then he began flitting from branch to branch like he was playing hide-and-seek. Each time he landed, he made his little chickadee "veeet  -veeet" sound. My heart was fairly dancing inside - it was like I was surrounded by these little creatures and they were coming close to sing to me. It was a wonderful way to start Mother's Day! 

Hope you all have a wonderful day too! 

(click for an enlarged view)

(Canon Rebel Xsi 250mm lens, f7.1, ISO 400 - cropped)

Sweet Sparrows in the Swiss Chalet

A quick shot from this morning.

You can bet I'll be watching this pair!

(you can click for an enlarged view - Canon Rebel Xsi, 250mm lens - hand held)

Practicing and Relaxing

I came home early from class today and found some gold finches at the feeders - eating sunflower seeds and pulling the cotton ball. I thought I would get my camera and just sit by the window for a while (opened, of course) and "practice shooting."
Well....I waited and I waited for almost an hour! The gold finches didn't return, but, in the meantime, a robin came close and could hear the "beep" of the camera focusing and he looked at me with such a scowl! I didn't realize robins had such great eyebrows!

The the house finches flew in and out - they were curious about the sound too.

I thought this was an interesting shot. It hasn't been edited to look like this. The background is the gravel in my driveway. The gray color really fit well with color of the feeder, etc., creating the monochromatic look which makes the red in this little guy really stand out!

Even though I didn't get shots of the gold finches, I did get some practice in and it was a very relaxing way to spend an hour at the end of the day.

I'm trying the "updated" blog editor. It seems to have reformatted my photos to fit - :( 
However, you can choose larger sizes for the photos now. If you'd like, you can click on them to get an enlarged view - Canon Rebel Xsi, 250mm lens F7.1, ISO 400.

New Snow in May

One foot of new snow yesterday on the mountains - another 8 inches forecast for tonight.
Morning minutes are a valuable commodity these days. I looked at the mountains and could not resist getting the camera in spite of my time frame. Two shots was all I had time for this morning - and thankfully, when I checked them this evening, I found they came out ok.
I am registered in the CNA Training Program at Peninsula college -8 intensive weeks and employment almost guaranteed after graduation.

(photo taken 5-4-2010: Canon Rebel Xsi 250mm lens, ISO 400, F 5.6)

Droplets on Dandelion Seeds

(05-01-2010: Canon Rebel Xsi, 1.4 lens, edit in Photoshop)
click to enlarge

Mountains and Goals

(04-30-2010: Canon Rebel Xsi, 1.4 lens, cropped and edited in Photoshop)
click on image for enlarged view

I've been challenged by other blogger photographers. They advocate a rather "easy" formula for improving your photography.

1. Take your camera everywhere and shoot some photos everyday.
2. Read some part of your camera manual everyday.
3. Study the works and writings of the master photographers - past and present.

I am feeling more and more comfortable carrying my camera around - not literally around my neck - but taking it with me whenever I get in the van, such as when I take my daughter to school in the mornings or to functions such as the play my daughter was in the other night. If you don't have your camera with you, you not only miss the shot, you miss "taking the shot." You miss the practice.

Someone said that really good photographers get the shots they want because they know their camera inside and out - like the back of their hand - they don't even have to look at their camera to know what settings they are changing, etc. There's a big difference in performance between someone who types everyday without looking at the keys and someone who types rarely and has to look at the keyboard for every stroke.

Personally, I always enjoy studying the work of masters - music, writing, painting, and now, photography. It is inspiring to see their personality, style, creativity, and even their experiments that have become classics! I've also noticed, across the board in the arts, that the person who "owns" what they do - (the art is really theirs from the inside of their gut) - are the ones who blow everyone, standing around them. out of the water when they present their work.

Can you tell I'm jazzed? I am, and, now, I pass the challenge on to you!