Ok - I know... no one wants to look at snow for a while - especially with the nice weather we've been having (which incidentally is why I haven't been posting as much because I started some yard work projects). Here's a couple more from visit we got from this deer last week.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 400mm, 1/1000 sec at f/8. ISO 200. IS Mode 1. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 321mm with Canon Extender EF 1.4x III, 1/500 sec at f/11. ISO 400. IS Mode 1. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

I'm playing hooky from work tomorrow in the hopes of getting out and getting some photos, so hopefully I come back with something good to share.

- Bill

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 560mm with Canon Extender EF 1.4x III, 1/320 sec at f/1. ISO 400. IS Mode 1. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

So it looks like, given the right conditions, I can indeed get some good results with the 1.4x teleconverter. I do have a bit more of a challenge with composition, but more on that later.

- Bill

Another from when we were seeing the Greater White-fronted Geese stopping by in the fields next to our house. I tried to sneak up on them as slowly and quietly as I could. But both times, they took flight without warning. The second time, I was a bit more prepared to fire off a couple shots of them taking wing...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 400mm, 1/400 sec at f/8. ISO 800. IS Mode 1. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw

We haven't seen them for several days, so I assume they have continued on their migration. It was still cool getting to see them when we did.

- Bill

So we've seen the Greater White-fronted Geese everyday for the past four days. Thankfully, they haven't been too deterred by me scaring them off twice, but they certainly didn't allow me to get any closer. I did get this shot the second time I tried though...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 400mm, 1/640 sec at f/8. ISO 800. IS Mode 1. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

- Bill

Ok - I was going to post a photo of a chicadee today, but then yesterday I looked out the window and saw something much much cooler...

I guess let me back up a little. Recently we've had a flock of turkeys wandering around the area (yes, I do have a couple photos I'll share of them soon), and so when I first looked out the window, I saw a bunch of dark spots in the corn field next to our house I just assumed they were the turkeys. Regardless, I went and got the binoculars for a closer look, and imagine my surprise when the birds I saw were something I've never seen before!

Anya had to grab one of our bigger bird ID books, because these are definitely native to this area. In fact, their normal migration route doesn't even show them as coming through here... so this truly was something interesting. Even more interesting was the fact that she somehow opened the book right to the page that identified what we were looking at - Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons).

I inched my way as close as I could trying to get the best photos I could (unfortunately, I probably should have taken the 1.4x teleconverter off for crisper photos)...

I am honestly disappointed with the results the 1.4x teleconverter gave me in these conditions (unfortunately, just as I went out, the already setting sun went behind a cloud, so lighting wasn't the greatest). At full size, these images are a bit soft for my liking, but for sharing here, even cropped, I guess they are ok...

I was amazed with how close I was getting (though honestly, according to the camera I was still more than 500 feet away from them). The geese appeared to be pretty unconcerned with me approaching. I would move up slightly, then stop and kneel (yeah - my knees were *freezing* from kneeling in the snow in single digit temperatures). A couple times the geese got up and moved around a little, but then settled right back into their spots.

Then without any hint that I had come too close or too quickly, the entire flock took wing. This is where I really regret having the 1.4x teleconverter on because focusing was much slower and the resulting images are much softer than I would have liked. I had just started thinking that I was close enough to consider taking the teleconverter back off, but I was too slow in making the decision to do so.

All told, we counted a maximum of fourteen geese in one of the shots, but I think there were probably more. A lot of them were hidden from view in the corn stalks and only seven of them were out in the front that I was able to take photos of.

Normally I would be more disappointed with these kinds of results from my photography, but considering the rarity of the subject, I decided to keep them to share anyway...

It did teach me a few more lessons though (hopefully ones I will remember)... I do need to do more test photos with the teleconverter to see if I get better results at higher apertures (I was at f/8 to get a decent shutter speed), but when in doubt, I should only use the teleconverter when absolutely necessary and get back to the regular lens as quickly as possible. Honestly, based on the results I got from my first images, I probably should have just continued with the lens by itself the whole time, but it is difficult not to give in to that temptation to want a little more magnification when your subject is so far away.

I will definitely keep looking to see if these geese stop by again, and if they do I'll hopefully be able to get some better photos. But to be completely honest, I can't say I expect to ever get to see these geese ever again unless I head to Texas or Alaska at some point! I am incredibly pleased that I did get the encounter that I did... seeing awesome stuff like this is precisely why Anya and I bought this property, and it is a privilege to experience stuff like this!

- Bill

Here's a couple more from out little adventure this past weekend...

This first one is of Slippery Rock Creek from the Eckert Bridge. With much of the areas south of us getting slammed with snow, I anticipated that we would get at least a little snow. As it turns out, we got absolutely none! Not a single flake! Unfortunately, I was really hoping for a couple inches of fresh snow to cover the scene and really give it that bit of pop that only comes from fresh snow... So what do you do when the snow doesn't arrive? Well, in this case, I managed to process the shot in black and white in such a way that makes it kind of look like there is more snow than there was.

Mouseover the photo for the original color version to see the difference...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM at 47mm, 1/160th second at f/11. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw, B&W conversion in Adobe Photoshop CS5 with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Here's also a B&W conversion of the semi-frozen Kildoo Falls. The transformation here isn't as dramatic, but it still brings out more detail in the photo. I'm a little torn as to which version of this one I like better...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM at 18mm, 1/4th second at f/16. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw, B&W conversion in Adobe Photoshop CS5 with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

As I type this and look at these cool (pun intended) winter photos, I am also excitedly looking forward to this summer when we will be taking a trip north to Maine to see puffins! I just made our reservations with the boat today, so now I can start planning the other pieces of our trip soon!

I've also been thinking a bit more about the other styles of photography that I've been neglecting in my pursuit of wildlife photography recently, and I have a couple ideas forming in my head for a couple interesting shots. We'll see if they come to fruition.

- Bill

Well, the Horseshoe Falls never really freeze (well, neither set of falls at Niagara Falls freeze completely, but there is much less ice build-up on the larger Horseshow Falls.

That doesn't mean it is any less impressive...

This first view I liked because of the ominous feel to it. The heavy mist, the hint of that huge boulder of ice at the bottom peaking through...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 27mm, 1/250th second at f/11.0. ISO 100. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

And this one shows off a nice contrast of the fast rushing water and the ice coated cliff-side next to it.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 42mm, 1/500th second at f/11.0. ISO 100. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

These next two show off some weird igloo shaped mount of snow and ice sitting off to the one side of the main pool under the Horseshoe Falls. I have no clue how or why it formed like that, or if it is a typical formation. I was extra curious about the "tunnel" that seemed to be burrowed into it, and the enormous cracks running down its sides. Of course, there's no point of reference for size here, but it was massive. You can also see the churning ice down in the water... most of those pieces looked to be about the size of cars.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 21mm, 1/250th second at f/11.0. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 37mm, 1/250th second at f/11.0. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw.

And lastly, another overall shot just showing that absolutely impressive waterfall...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 18mm, 1/500th second at f/11.0. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw.

- Bill

Ok, I usually don't go in for panoramic photographs, but Niagara Falls was really a subject that begged for the treatment. I was amazed with how simple Photoshop CS5 made stitching the images together. I'd tried panoramic images in the past and the results were always less than stellar, but these turned out nice... and literally all I had to do was point PS:CS5 at the set of images and it did the rest. All I had to do was decide how I wanted to crop the image after it was stitched together. I then had the challenge of getting my gallery website software to accept some pretty large photos (the biggest of which is over 70MP!).

I also don't know what the best way to display these is, but here goes...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM AF at 10mm, 1/200th sec at f/16. ISO 100. Raw conversion Adobe Camera Raw, Composite image built in Photoshop CS5.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 53mm, 1/250th second at f/11.0. ISO 100. RAW processing Adobe Camera Raw, Composite image built in Photoshop CS5.

I'll see if I can come up with a better way to display these as they really are much more impressive if you can see them larger where the panoramic effects are really illustrated.

- Bill

Well, as I sit here I look out the window and I am quite literally in a cloud. The weather is warming up and everything is starting to melt, but the combination of warmer air and the foot of melting snow everywhere is combining to make everything a thick soup of fog. I can barely see the stand of trees across the way, but I can definitely see spring coming.

However, the other day, Anya and I played hookey from work to take a day trip up to Niagara Falls to see it while it was still frozen. Reports say they expect the ice to last into May, but we figured we didn't want to risk waiting that long, so with decent weather (no snow, and warmer temperatures) we took the drive up. We were rewarded with 35F temperatures and a blazing bright sun that made it feel even warmer. The sun did end up producing a challenge with the exposure (very harsh whites and drastic shadows), but I still enjoyed the day.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 30mm, 1/250th second at f/11.0. ISO 100. RAW processing Adobe Camera Raw.

I've still got a ton more photos to process, so definitely stay tuned and I'll try getting more up as soon as possible!

- Bill

We've seen this little fella (or gal, not sure which to be honest) wandering around the yard during the day recently. I figure it is just too cold for it at night when it normally would be out and active. I did some quick research and it said that opossums are highly resistant to rabies, so I think it is unlikely that would be why it is out during the day.

Either way, it stopped by the bird feeders today to get a bite to eat of any seeds the birds may have dropped in the snow, so I took the opportunity to get some photos. Honestly, though, he better be careful or one of the resident hawks or even a passing bald eagle (yeah - we saw one of them the other day) is going to decide to make a meal of him instead!

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (borrowed) at 400mm, various shutter speeds at f/6.3. ISO 320. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw.

Thanks for stopping by!

- Bill