Spent a morning near “dog beach” – Ocean Beach, CA.
I had visited earlier in the year to familiarize myself with a new lens. This location empties into the ocean. Channels of rock and concrete have been constructed to direct water flow. The channels are essentially at the end of the San Diego River. The real estate there is under constant human pressure, but the sand bars are rich with bird life.
Bridge work under current construction, just west of my location
I noticed a sign on the south bank that indicated that parts of the channel are considered a reserve and no boat traffic is allowed. It’s interesting that a Google search does not include this area as “wildlife reserve.” The morning was terrible for light as-per-usual. Morning cloud cover made for haze and high ISO for my little apsc camera. When this happens, you just make the adjustments and move forward. Here is what I found:
Yellow crowned night heron with crab. (soft focus/low light)Breaching MulletPelicanLittle Blue HeronSandpipersApparently, this hawk had been banded. (soft focus)Tern catches small mulletThe other terns wanted some of that catchGodwit, curlew
What’s more interesting is that the “reserve” has no sandbars breaching the surface. When I inspected the area, there was little wildlife activity. I’m hoping my next trek will have some better lighting.
So small is your world Quickly passes your lovely face Can I catch you amid the tumult?
It has been some time that I have uploaded a new project to my Blue Marble Photography site. This new representational project with swallows has intrigued and piqued my sense of “rising to the challenge” to make some representational images of these birds in flight. The process pushes my camera to its limits and I’ve come to learn its limitations. In the process, I’ve also learned to integrate with the erratic “rhythms” of these little birds. Their constant change of direction is typically a symptom of locating food, gaining a little altitude, then using that height to gain momentum onto the prey. All the while, they incorporate small and large circles to cover the most area in he shortest amount of time. This piece is one of my favorites. The bird is sighting in a potential meal. Look at that beautiful little face…adorable.
It’s ironic The nearest nature refuge Has a freeway running through it
Humans in a hurry Making background audio For the freeway on the lake
Yes, I am obsessed with this project….fourteen years and running at this location. At some point, I might make all the work I can discover and will shift my focus.
This post is strictly photographic blather, so, I apologize if you clicked for something else. Before you leave, here are a few not-so-sharp renderings. (Early work) Early as in a month ago.
Recently, I picked up the effort for representational bird photography. I’ve always made bird photographs, but typically within an impressionistic rendering in mind. Or, in other words I didn’t care much for detail. This new pursuit has challenged my sensibilities in ways I could not have foreseen in the fledgling years of serious photo making. My subject has become the family of swallows that visit our little Lake Kumeyaay. They are fast, small, and rarely if ever, fly in a straight line for very long. Here is what I love and hate about the journey: Love: 1. Getting out into the wild to make these photographs 2. The challenge of finding the fastest way to get focus with as many decent results as possible 3. The Sony 200-600mm. It just fits into my side-carry sling bag. 4. Benro A48FD monopod 5. When focus is hit and I see a series develop in the viewfinder as I shoot (10FPS). When focus hits right, it feels great! 6. Reviewing (quickly) the results, especially the ones I knew were good.
Hate: 1. Shooting out of focus (10FPS)…the majority of the time. This has become better as I progress. 2. Culling. I throw away images that are not worth my time. This is good to do if you can’t fall asleep. 3. Editing. If images could just come SOOC, I would be a happy man. If you’re like me, the experience of capturing the photo far outweighs computer time. 4. Using a lackluster camera. For this endeavor, I decided to support my Sony (mirrorless) gear for focus speed. For longer reach, I have been using the APSC sensor A6500. Even with that, I end up cropping down and my files are at 2006 resolutions. When pixel-peeping, the A6500 reveals terrible noise and little true detail. It requires clean up and, you know, Editing. (see #3)
Don’t get me wrong, I am very grateful for the gear I have. At some point, I will use the A7iii to see if the quality improves. I just need to make sure I can get ’em when they’re in close! I am holding out hope that Nikon will up their game with auto focus response times. Their colors and detail rendering is simply superb! Come on Nikon!
What about you? Is there anything about photography you “hate?”
Walking near dead grass, dust from the trail speaks a language of ages. Sage and buckwheat shout the joy of summer’s calling. This year, it will be short, but splendor will splash the air.
Bees frantically work, supporting the hive. Descending into enchanted realms. Local universes. Do they worry or fret? Counting flowers and days without rain.
Those things, considered “dead.” Speak loudest of all. About days gone by. Three weeks of glory for some. Others, like the oak, masters of maternal care. Spent years of reliable service. Never wavering. Strong, sure and fast. Shading rabbit and coyote alike. Their roots, were once alive with the harmonics of the beating heart called earth. Now waiting patiently. For rebirth.
Had to do a little impression work yesterday. Photos are edited for contrast. Russian 44-2 Modified Lens.
Photographic Impressionistic Illusionistic 