Proper Preening....Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane Preens by Sheen's Nature Photography

The sights of summer are in full glory. Flowers are in bloom, the heat has finally arrived for a few days here in Michigan.  Trail hikes occur almost every weekend.

A highlight of this state is our Sandhill Cranes. Flocks of thousands congregate in open fields and
marshy woodland areas.

While photographing a Sandhill, a heavy beating noise whooshed in from behind.  The pounding sounded like deer running through the forest.  It was the wingbeats of another Sandhill as he flew in to greet the two walking on the trail.

This past Saturday a preening Sandhill enjoyed the early morning sunshine.   He (or she) will be heading south for the winter in late fall.

Until then, another a forty five minute drive for a hike in the woods to see this huge, majestic bird again is on the horizon.

Happy Shooting!



 

Time - Life Lesson from Behind the Lens

Our personal interests can teach many life lessons.  Nature photography is no different.  Some lessons in photography are probably obvious, such as looking at your image as well as business challenges from multiple perspectives.

However some lessons are not so apparent, until you see them taking hold in both your photography and your approach to life.   One lesson is the use of time, it's definition quite elusive depending on your perspective.  It's the one thing that cannot be bought, shortened, or extended.  A precious, precious commodity.

In nature photography, each day has a limited amount of time that maximizes the quality of a given type of image we are shooting for.

The minutes before and after a sunrise where the soft rich rose hues cascade across our landscape.

The World Awaits by ©Sheen's Nature Photography

The early to mid-morning time frame where bees, other insects and birds start off by moving slowly before elevating to a darting, rapid pace.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning! ©Sheen's Nature Photography

The midday sun where direct overhead light can be made to work for areas where you don't want shadows.

Don't Forget the Sunscreen.... ©Sheen's Nature Photography

And then sunset, where glowing red to amethyst skies sweep in before nightfall.

So Long, Farewell Until Tomorrow.....©Sheen's Nature Photography

Nature Photography awakened the need to be more aware and in some cases, a bit selfish with time.  Family, fur-children will always take priority.

All aspects of nature - birds, foliage, landscapes, nightscapes - have their individual peaks in each of the four seasons.  These peaks become guideposts as to how and where we will spend our personal time.

The result?  Wonderful memories in the mind, the heart and forever on digital that serve as visible reminders of time joyously spent.

How will you spend your free time today?  Happy Shooting!

It's Not Just About Our Back Yard

Summer highways, fields and forests are filled with brilliant yellows, pinks and blues. Gardens ebb and flow with color as perennials peak and give way to the next round in the blooming season.  A host of songbirds, butterflies, bees and insects take delight in savoring their region's balanced food chain.  

Black-eyed Susans at Quarton Lake
Nikon 600, 105mm, ISO 250, f/5, 1/60 sec

Sustaining our beautiful, colorful native plants is easy.  Talk to your local nursery, ask them to carry native plants and plant them in your backyard.  Just as important, asking your local communities, city parks and business parks to plant native versus ornamentals also can make a difference. Many of these groups are already headed this direction.

Avoiding and eliminating invasive plants is crucial to maintaining a healthy food chain. The newsletter "Why Should I Care About Invasive Plants?" provides a brief, descriptive review of invasive plants and species.

Butterfly Savoring Breakfast at Quarton Lake
Nikon 600, 105mm, ISO 250, f/6.3, 1/640 sec

Not all non-native plants are harmful. Roses, tulips and many garden favorites are safe for your garden and the environment.  

"Invasive" represents those aggressive plant species that grow and reproduce rapidly and causing disruptive, major changes to the areas they start to take over.  

In my hometown, Birmingham, Michigan's City Government has taken a very active role in eliminating invasive plants.  They use native plants in restoration projects and new developments, educate the community and provide tips on their website about being environmentally savvy. 

Whether in a large metropolitan area, small community or rural environment, planting native plants makes a difference.  Native plants save water and prevent high maintenance costs caused by invasive plants. 

Check your local area website to see what's been accomplished and what's planned. You may find that you can positively impact both your local community and local environment.

 Happy Shooting!

Your Camera is not Exercise Equipment

What does exercise equipment such as a treadmill have to do with a camera?  How many treadmills are either gathering dust or being used as a great place to hang clothes? 

Kestrel's Poised Pose
Nikon 7100,  Nikon 70 - 300mm, IS) 400, f/8, 1/640 sec

Many of us have had or have intentions of getting in to photography.  We think about it, talk about it and buy our first 'real' camera.  The cameras that have dials, buttons, lots of features and capabilities.  

We take it out of the box and start reading the manual.  

Impatient to get through the details, we grab the camera, go outside and start taking pictures.  One of a squirrel, a couple of the kids, the dog and maybe a flower or two.  

We go back inside to find that the picture on the screen looks so....tiny, blurred, washed out, etc.  Definitely not the vision of what we thought our work would look like. 

This is it!  This is where many cameras are gently tossed back to their box to be used another day.  Instead, it gathers dust and takes up precious closet space.  

Why?  Pick one or all of the following or add your own to the list: 

Summer's Color
Nikon 5100, Nikon 105mm, ISO 250, f/5, 1/200 sec  

Not enough reading.  

Not as easy as we thought it would be.  

Not enough time.

No one to ask questions.

No plan.

Here are some simple recommendations to getting started and progressing as a photographer:

1. Talk to another photographer or your local camera dealer to understand the time commitment, what it takes to learn what you want to do.  It could be a simple as an hour or two.  Or depending of your goals, could require extensive practice.
2. Have a general idea of what you'll enjoy taking pictures of behind the camera before you make your purchase.
3. Buy a good camera (I use Nikon) from your local camera dealer and take it out of the box. 
4. Commit to a few hours of reading the manual, a how-to-use the camera book and an easy to follow photography book.  Refer to blog "Finding the Photographer Within Us" for examples of each.
5. Explore other's images on Google, Facebook (Facebook page example: Sheen's Nature Photography), Flickr, etc. to inspire your own style.
6. Get out there and take many pictures. Close up, far away, looking down, looking up, different settings.
7. Google 'how to' photography tips for your specific interest
8. Recognize that you will only really be thrilled with a small percentage of your images - that's normal.  
9. Don't take yourself too seriously. You will evolve with experience. If you're having fun, it will be reflected in your work.

HAPPY SHOOTING!

Egret in Reflection
Nikon 7100, Nikon 70 - 300mm, ISO 320, f/6.3, 1/1000 sec

Watching the World Wake Up...Sunrise Photography

Sunrise Sun-Puddles by Sheen's Nature Photography
Nikon D600,  24-85mm,  f/16 ISO 50 1/40sec

It's 5:30 a.m.  Your corner of the world is still chasing dreams.  Except for you.

The coffee is brewing while you're filling your cameras with fully charged batteries. You need to be out of the door and at your destination by 6:15 since sunrise is at 6:33.  Hurry up.

Hurry up only to watch, breath and wait.

Wait for the world to wake up.  Digital Photography Schools' 15 Minute Exercise to Improve Your Photography can be easily applied during the waiting for the sunrise window.  Our best, most creative images happen as a result of watching for the moments versus planning perfect shot.

Velvety hues of color drift in just before the sun rises. Midnight blue skies are mirrored on sapphire blue waters.  Colors of gold dance across the lake.  Cormorants fly across rosy blue waters.   Great Blue Herons stroll along the pier taking in morning's glow.

Synchronized Morning Wing Plan by Sheen's Nature Photography
Nikon 7100, 70-300mm, f/5.6, ISO 250 1/1250sec

Your time and timing is crucial.  A few minutes of missed sunrise considerably changes color and composition.  Wunderground accurately tracks sunrises on your laptop or smartphone so you can set your schedule the evening before.

What you see and feel in the moment of capturing the photo is not always translated to the image.  Sunrises can look flat or simply like a yellow spot on a dark background. Boring!  Having a foreground focal point along with trying different exposures can quickly change sunrise images from "nice" to "Wow".

Great Blue Heron:  Watching the World Wake Up, Sheen's Nature Photography
Nikon 600, 24-85mm, f/9, ISO 250 1/100sec

Whether we're just beginning in photography or have a lot of experience, having your own mental tip checklist can make the difference from a nice picture to an image that draws the viewer in to the moment.

There are many articles and tips from talented photographers to help guide all levels.  A few standard must-haves include a good tripod, shoot in RAW and manual mode, use Lightroom or other high quality image processing software.

A reference page that's a quick read, filled with lovely images and their settings, tools of the trade and lenses used is Nikon's Shooting Spectacular Sunrises and Sunsets.

The sun has risen, many images have been captured and the beach chair beckons for a partner.  Time to rest as the sunset is just hours away.  Happy Shooting!

After the Sunrise by Sheen's Nature Photography
Nikon 600, 24 - 85mm, f/22, ISO 80 1/10sec

Invading the Invasive

The bright buzzing bee tickles the chicory flowers as she moves from stem to stem in the abandoned, wild garden.  In the background, a red winged blackbird sings its' sharp screech while perched on a low branch.  The moment of making the big decision of the morning arises.  Do I use my telephoto for the audaciously loud blackbird?  Or, do I stay with my macro to capture the bees?

Sweet sweat bee enjoying some morning Chicory
Nikon 600, 105mm

Both wild and cultivated gardens have flowers, insects, birds and other natural gifts offering a changing pallet for the photographer.  The natural order and food chain that provides this pallet needs to be protected and preserved.  Our understanding of how native plantings, compatible plantings and invasive plants impact nature's gardens is necessary for balanced environments.

Native plants are adapted to the combination of water, soil, temperatures and nutrients.  As a result, they are energy efficient, require less maintenance and enhance the food chain.  Natives easily fill gardens, fields, roadsides with color that returns year after year.

The Lady Bird John Wildflower Center site has a quick guide to finding out if your favorites are considered native along with other event and conservation information.

Red-winged Blackbird
Nikon 7100, Sigma 150 - 500mm

Invasive plants do just the opposite.  They consume more water.  They require chemicals and potentially radical methods to destroy.  They can become aggressive and destructive weeds to the local habitat and ultimately, nature's order.  Natives are basically choked out of their habitat.  Invasive plants' resistance to local bugs and insects cause insect decline or disappearance.  When local insects decline, sadly, other's in the food chain follow.

Our call to action: invade the invasive plants and take them out of our gardens, landscapes by the roots!

Information and warnings of invasive plants can readily be found on the internet.  Check out Cornell University's Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants Program to see a listing of invasive plants and the research work Cornell is performing.

Going "native" does not mean that you get rid of your beautiful, well-tended compatibles. Compatibles coexist nicely with our natives.  Rose bushes, hydrangeas, hostas, annuals and other plants while require a commitment for care, do not tear down native habitats.  It's important to understand your non-native plants behavior before planting.

Today, more nursery's are carrying more native plant inventories.  A nursery that is leading by example is Four Season Nursery in Traverse City, Michigan.   They are very active members of organizations that promote native planting habitats including Saving Birds Thru Habitat.

So whether we are gardening, birding or capturing images...knowing and nurturing our native plants and what they attract will protect and enrich our environment.

Happy Shooting!

About the Birds and the Bees....the Pollinators

The 'birds and the bees' and the 'flowers and the trees' can have multiple meanings, depending on who you ask.  For nature photographers (and gardeners), they represent amazing wonders to be shared.

Lunching Goldfinch image
 Nikon 5100 55-300mm

Let's start with our birds.  They need protein-rich foods that come from seeds and insects.  When we plant native flowers and trees we are supporting and sustaining their food chain.   Learn more about Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants through the website and informational book.

The female goldfinch pictured to the right efficiently uses the thistle-seed for nutrition and the thistledown (soft fibers) for nesting material.  Thistle flowers are a beautiful, vibrant purple and their downy material provides wonderful, artful interest in the fall.  If you like goldfinches - plant thistle in your garden!

You and the birds will be rewarded with a frenzy of cheerful, colorful activity.  Since their food and nesting source blooms later in the season, you may also have another round of bird families in your own personal habitat.

Little bluebird of happiness, Nikon 70 - 300mm

Eastern bluebirds enjoy insects and
invertebrates. 2/3 of their diet comes from grasshoppers, crickets, katydids and beetles.  The other 1/3 is made up of wild fruits.  Pesticides, insecticides can take away their food sources quickly.


For additional insight into habitat trends and planting native plants visit Saving Birds Thru Habitat, where Kay Charter and the volunteer group live by example in "Helping to improve habitat for migrating birds one backyard at a time."

And now for our precious, life-sustaining bees.  There are many described species of native bees that pollinate wildflowers and crops.  The bad news is that the population, the honey-bee in particular, is on a serious decline.  The global impact to crop growers and ultimately consumers is and will continue to be costly.  National Geographic's article The Plight of the Honeybee shares our current state and actions being taken.

Honeybee savoring breakfast on spring morning
Nikon 105mm

There's a website where you can learn more about these colorful pollinators and how you can help including planting native plants in your garden and neighborhoods:  www.pollinator.org Also, check out 18 different species of bees on this Identifying Native Bees Poster.

Sweet Sweat Bee enjoying a native Chicory flower
Nikon 600 105mm

Nature photographers have the privilege of sharing birds, animals and insects in action.

Skills of patience, discipline, creativity and anticipation of the 'next move' are crucial for images that pull the viewer in to the environment.  

Before we capture an image, the fundamental element, our environment must be managed and protected by all of us.  Let's all do our part and plant native plants this summer and fall.

So What's in Your Camera Bag?

Whether new or established in photography, one thing is for sure.  What's in your camera bag is important.  No, we're not talking about Nikon vs. Canon, lenses, or other camera gear.  This is a bit more fundamental.  Outdoor photographers do not go out for a few minutes to take a few images and head back into the house.  We easily can spend one half hour on one tiny bird, bee or flower.

Wonderful warbler nest building discovery during 4 hour photo walk

This is about being able to stay in the field energized with the long term ability to focus on your subject and make snap (pardon the pun) decisions on f/stops, shutter speeds, ISO, aperture, etc.

This is about snacks.  Seriously?  Absolutely.

You wouldn't go out for a long hike without water and food.  With nature photography, hiking is a almost a given. Our equipment can be heavy - multiple cameras, lenses, tripods.  We exert a lot of energy before capturing our first image.

With many food products out on the market for endurance athletes, there are many snacks that are suited for endurance photographers too. They are tasty, fast to eat and help extend your energy without needing to drink caffeine multiple times per day.  Additionally, being easy to pack and not easily torn as to get ooey-gooey food on any of your gear is another important factor.  So here are some recommendations of products you can find just about anywhere.

Small compact snacks:
Sport beans are fun and you only need a few, Shot bloks - while chewy are also good. 1 or 2 will help provide sustained energy - both of these should be consumed with water to be effective.  Luna bars also work great and are a bit more fillling if you have that 'I need something substantial' feeling.  A new product ERG is a recent find, my current go-to bar  and one of my all-time favorites from a Michigan-based company - gluten free, natural ingredients, no preservatives and terrific flavors.

Female bluebird busy with her spring home

Pack your own snacks:
If you have a Trader Joe's or something similar -  there are buy in bulk fruit/nut snacks of all combinations that allow you to load your choices in a zip lock bag - reuse these whenever possible!  Dry cereal - frosted mini-wheats, your favorites - can work in a pinch.  Costco offers rice crackers that are gluten free and have a low glycemic index (which means our energy lasts longer check out Low Glycemic Information, Nutrition Data).

A snack that could defy Dr's Orders:
Beef Jerky while loaded with sodium is protein packed, comes in resealable packages and is just plain good.  Be careful, you could attract a bear or two.

And for those of us who convince our partners to join our journey for the day - a nice touch is to pack an ice-cooler of a light lunch and beverages for a surprise picnic to reward them for their patience with us.

Happy shooting!

Protect It....and They Will Come...Back...

Pure Sweetness , a Piping Plover photo by Sheen's Nature Photography on Flickr.

Nature photographers love to get up close and personal with their subjects. In addition to lighting and location there is one crucial element that has to happen before we even get started. The thriving and surviving of our subjects' habitat.

Many articles, documentaries and environmentalists have so much information that it can be overwhelming. Throughout all of their research there is a common thread - awareness and protection.

Let's take the precious Piping Plover which has been on the Michigan endangered list since 1986.  Natural predators are foxes, crows, gulls, etc. combined with human disturbance.

Additionally, to quote Kay Charter, founder of Saving Birds Thru Habitat "It's not only humans that cause problems, an increase in many other species that predate on these ground nesters take an incredible toll. We can all help by giving them their space and by keeping our pets away from their nesting and foraging areas." The Piping Plover's protection is their camouflage - with their nests being on the ground they are exposed to many hazards. If disturbed too much, they will abandon their nests.

The Piping Plover has not been seen in the Northern Leelanau Michigan area for 8 years. Yet this year there are 2 families about 5 miles apart with chicks being born just last week.

Nap Time - Piping Plover Chick,  Sheen's Nature Photography 

So what brought them back? Hopefully, it's the optimal environment for breeding for sustained livelihood on the peninsula!

For many years, dedicated organizations like The Leelanau Conservancy are intentional about every action they take with regard to protecting land and the environment.  Over the course of time they have forever protected 10,000 acres of spectacular views, sensitive wetlands and working farms.

Members of  The Leelanau Conservancy have also been communicating frequently with Saving Birds Thru Habitat and the Department of Natural Resources on the recent return of the Piping Plover. It takes multiple organizations and individuals partnering to document activities, safeguard their environment to bring future returns.                                                                                                                

These little juveniles have a 30% chance of survival to adulthood - they need a lot of help!

Proud Papa Piping Plover, by Sheen's Nature Photography

The Not So Obvious Destinations....

Pretty In Pink Dragonfly, a photo by Sheen's Nature Photography on Flickr.

We all have our favorite go-to places for nature & bird photography. When seeking photo subjects it's also energizing to find new places through travel or local jaunts. What the years of birding (before diving in to photography) taught was that some of the best nature sights are not always in the 'destination wedding' locations.

Take the Pretty In Pink dragonfly....brilliant colors along side a beautiful blue water setting. Yet, this image was captured at the Hornsby Bend Water Treatment facility in Austin, Texas. Check out the Hornsby Bend Observatory website.

Of all the lovely places to visit in the Live Music Capital of the World...a few hours were spent amidst slightly odorous waters, muddy, buggy, yet very safe conditions. Other sitings here have included Glossy Ibis, Pintail Ducks, Yellow-headed blackbirds, Black Noddy, Sora rails and amazing insects and butterflies. A definite go-to spot for nature enthusiasts.

In a Marietta business park near Atlanta last fall, there were hundreds of monarchs just flitting and hanging out in the beautiful landscapes - tremendous photo opportunities. (Sadly, a business trip so no camera). Typically, we don't think of going to a business park on the weekend. Your neighboring business parks may have created nature friendly areas filled with flowers, shrubs that attract beautiful subjects. In Birmingham, Alabama it was a pleasant walk through another business park's landscaping watching Brown Thrashers and Eastern Towhee's flitting about closely as they are not shy of the daily influx of people.

Grooved-bill Ani's hang out in a "Dump" site in SouthTexas near the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.   Check out Friends of South Texas National Wildlife Refuges where you'll see Great Kiskadee's, Chachalaca's, etc..   On the Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan, Snowy Owls are seen on farmlands in winter.  Now, that was an awesome, chill-bump experience!  I'll share that one in a later blog.

Recently at a baseball diamond beside Crescent Lake, Monk Parakeets fussed and groomed on the chain link fence in St. Petersburg, FL.

It takes a little detective work on the internet, networking with other photographers and reaching out to local birders and nature groups. Just this week via Google+ photography networking, I discovered a nature area one hour away that is on my radar for this weekend.

You can readily find new local gems where nature all but waits for the camera. Happy shooting!