nature

Hide and Seek – American Goldfinch

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I don’t know if he was intentionally trying to hide from the other birds or not, but this little guy sure did give it a good try. So much so, I had a really hard time keeping the lens focused on him. You can tell because these photos aren’t as sharp as I would like.

This is one (1) of three (3) American Goldfinches we have visiting our yard this year.

Field Notes: F Stop 1/3200, AV 5.6, ISO 5000

Did you know the American Goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa, New Jersey and Washington?

Field Notes: F Stop 1/3200, AV 5.6, ISO 5000

They are also strict vegetarians in the bird world, eating an entirely vegetable diet albeit swallowing an occasional insect.

Field Notes: F Stop 1/3200, AV 5.6, ISO 5000

A breeding male Goldfinch can be identified by their bright yellow and black foreheads, black wings and white markings. They also breed later than most North American birds and wait to nest until June or July. This is the optimal time when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which goldfinches build into their nests and to feed their young.

Field Notes: F Stop 1/3200, AV 5.6, ISO 5000

I’m hoping to capture more of these little birds this summer. They always brighten my day.

Until next time,

~donna

Species Information Source: Cornell Lab – All About Birds

Shall we Dance?

/ Donna Robinson Photography / 4 Comments

Spring is finally here and time to begin the afternoon birdwatching. Our backyard is full of all kinds of birds, especially house finches and we’ve made it very attractive for them with our new bird feeders.

I started to caption this “dinner for 2,” but they looked more like they were dancing (probably more like fighting) for their space at the dinner table.

Until next time,

~donna

31 Days of July – Photography Challenge – Day 7

/ Donna Robinson Photography / 3 Comments

Day 7 – Back to the birds. This was a little challenging to shoot. The birds are very skittish and can see me pick up my camera through the back door. The second obstacle is the door is double pane window and casts a reflection if you’re not positioned correctly (hence why the image isn’t as sharp as I would like it to be). Nonetheless, here is the shot for Day 7 – Chipping Sparrow. Apologies for the dirty feeder…….the birds can be quite messy.

Field Notes: Focal Length – 390mm; Exposure – 1/100 sec, f7.1, ISO 1250

Until next time,

~donna

31 Days of July – Photography Challenge Day 4

/ Donna Robinson Photography / 1 Comment

Day 4 – Well, if you live in the U.S. you probably were expecting something other than a squirrel shot for today. What can I tell you? Like life, photography is about the journey and capturing all things unexpected, not necessarily about shooting the predictable.

This squirrel is a regular to our bird feeders. He’s not as feisty as some of the others, but he’s determined to get his daily fill of food.

Field Notes: Focal Length – 105 mm; Exposure 1/100 sec, f6/3, ISO 500; Processing: Cropping, haze removal, Orton effect, conversion to black and white with vignette.

Until next time,

~donna

Macro Monday – Reflections of a Limelight Hydrangea

/ Donna Robinson Photography / 4 Comments
Macro Monday – Reflections of a Limelight Hydrangea

“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cellpic Sunday – Turtle at Flat Creek

/ Donna Robinson Photography / 9 Comments

I may have mentioned that I rarely take my camera with me on our daily walks. They’re long and the camera gets to be a little much to carry at times, especially when it’s hot. Thankfully, I always have my cell phone to capture our encounters with Mother Nature.

One day, a couple of weeks ago as we were heading back to the car, I heard a rustling noise. I knew it wasn’t a squirrel or bird because it was more of a slow-moving rustling and sounded like something crawling over and through the brush. I looked to my right and saw a huge turtle. The huge kind of turtle you approach cautiously. I pulled out my phone and snapped off a couple of photos. He just sat there, patiently not moving.

“Take a walk with a turtle and behold the world in pause.”

~Bruce Feiler

The original photos were fine, but I knew I could make them a little better in Photoshop Elements.

With both photos I first cropped them and then removed the haze. This made them a little sharper and gave them each more defined/richer colors. I then used the Depth of Field Tool, the Orton Tool, the Vignette Tool, added a few color corrections and eliminated some brush that was a distraction to the eye (I’ve used the “compare slider” to help you see the before and after).

I really like how these turned out as the turtle has a “fairy tale” look about him. What do you think?

Posted for Journeys with John Cell Pic Sunday.

Until next time,

~donna

Lens Artist Challenge #345 – My Go to Places

/ Donna Robinson Photography / 9 Comments

It’s a new week of the Lens Artist Challenge and John from Travels with JohnBo has us sharing our “Go to Places” for photography (you can read John’s original post here). It’s a wonderful theme and one that I didn’t have to think too much about, because really any place I have my camera becomes my “go to place.” But specifically, my “go to place” is anywhere I can be outside connecting with nature.

It can be in a garden enjoying the blooms and color while watching the birds and insects gathering food and nectar:

Macro Photography of a Sunflower with a Bug
Bee Pollenating on Rododendron

It can be a walk in the park on a Fall Day enjoying the crisp air and changing colors of the leaves:

IMG 8175

Or walks along the beach taking in the salt air and ocean breezes.

So where is your “Go to Place” when you need inspiration?

Many thanks to John for this wonderful challenge. Next week, Sofia will host. Be sure to follow her here so you don’t miss her post, which will go live next Saturday at noon Eastern time. 

Until next time.

~donna