I love to watch birds fish. Especially with the right conditions. Soft light and still water. I could spend all day watching them poke their heads into the water then lift them out only to dance across the water to do it again and again. A relaxing way to spend the day.
Soft Light
The Great Egret above was photographed several years ago in Florida. I liked the three different poses and they were all captured within minutes of each other. They were processed slightly differently. I enhanced the strip of reddish/pink at the top of the one image.
But what I liked most about all three images is the soft light. Soft light and white birds…nothing better IMHO. The green lores that are usually the main attraction for me take a second seat to the soft lighting. Which image do you like best and why?
Thanks, denise
Tap ’Er Light
My workshop schedule continues to be interrupted and I am hoping for a break in all of that very soon. I know many of you can’t wait to travel again and I am at the top of that list! Speaking of schedules, my EVENT PAGE (scroll down) has a full listing of my upcoming workshops or dates that are TBA (to be announced).
I have new trips being added to my schedule all the time. Japan in Winter for 2023 is now open for registration as well as my first Badlands Tour. One spot for a female participant on my Polar Bear trip for 2021 is available. My Workshop Page has details about these trips and more.
A few exciting new trips that Paul McKenzie and I have added for 2023 are Lake Baikal in Siberia, Madagascar via chartered flights, Western Ireland, and an aerial photo tour of the African Soda Lakes. All to be announced soon. Those especially interested can drop me an email .
“Tap ‘er Light” is a phrase that dates back to mining times and comes from the task of packing explosives into holes drilled into rock. The miners would have to carefully tap them with a hammer into place—too hard or a missed strike could cause a spark off the rock… BOOM!!
Nowadays, the phrase pretty much means, “take it easy”. I interpret it to mean, take it easy with a hint of caution… It is in this spirit that I say to each of you, Tap ‘er Light as we head into the new year.
Piping Plover chick, Seagirt NJ.
Happy Holidays To You!!!
I am always dreaming of a White Christmas; I adore the snow and the quiet serenity that it brings. Time seems to stand still; the hustle and bustle slows and there is time for reflection. But beyond the joy that snow brings, I hope for world peace, happiness and good health, and a much brighter future for everyone.
My immediate family will celebrate Christmas together but my sister, brother and their kids will be celebrating without us this year. We are so close to getting our lives back on track, that it just isn’t worth the risk for just one day. We are a family and we love each other whether we are sitting next to each other or miles away. Stay safe and well and enjoy every single minute of life. My mother always reminded me that tomorrow is promised to no one.
I ‘d like to take this time to thank all of you for your continued support of my work, blog and my business. You have been patient, kind and generous with your understanding and support -and for that I thank you.
All the best for this Holiday Season,
Big, hugs,
denise
The above image is a colony of King Penguins and was captured during my 2015 trip to South Georgia Island.
* I won’t be posting again until after the New Year to respect everyone’s family time.
Top 20 for '20
Below are my top 20 images from this past year. It was difficult to find 20 images that I felt worthy of my top for the year but considering the year we’ve had…these are my favorites.
Click on the smaller images for a full frame view.
Traffic Jam, Tanzania
Turning the corner and seeing this Wildebeest herd standing in awe of us was a super big treat for me. It was as if they were thinking the exact same thing we were all thinking-where did you come from? Every safari run is unique, you just never know what images and experiences you will come away with.
Zion National Park
The image above was captured in Zion National Park just as the sun was setting. I almost missed it as my friend and I started to leave thinking the show was over but at the every last second the sky became alive. I felt so small -yet so alive. I fell in love with Zion this year, my memory of that evening will last me forever.
Red-crowned Cranes
This year I was extremely lucky at the crane sanctuary in Hokkaido, Japan. My hopes of capturing two birds dancing with wings extended finally came to fruition. The falling snow and the kicked up snow was a bonus. Immediately, I knew I had captured an image that would make me smile the size of Texas! Of course I checked the back of my camera right away to make sure it was sharp, it was. The Sony a9 did a great job of capturing a great series with each and every shot tack sharp!
Peacock, creative edit
The peacock image above was originally captured a few years ago in NY. I finally got around to processing it in a creative way. The virus allowed me the time to work and rework a few of my neglected images. I loved the way this one came out and it sold the first time I shared it on my blog.