Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Streams in the Sand

Been trying to get more exercise. The best place to do that is the beach of course. (I feel like we are wasting the beautiful place we live when we don't spend enough time on the beach.) This week has been particularly fun because the low tides have been extremely low and at a good time in the afternoon to get there after the heat and for the good evening light.

I'm starting to experiment with an underwater housing for my camera and I'll get some of the shots from that online in the next couple of days. But there was something interesting going on that did not require any special equipment. The tide was so low, that ground water or just extra sea water was flowing from the sand for about four feet up from the water line. That slow flow lined most of the beach with these beautiful patterns.

Saturday, December 22, 2007
Carmel Valley Hummer

Today we took a nice trip to a nursery in Carmel Valley. It's one of my favorite places to chase humming birds. There are always a bunch of them but there is one in particular that seems to like to play. He keeps buzzing me and then sitting and waiting for me to get almost close enough for the shot I want before taking off again. I'm sure he's having as much fun with me as I am with him. Fortunately, he usually takes pity on the big lumbering beast with the 300 millimeter nose and lets me get a few nice shots.

Saturday, September 8, 2007
Fuzzy Contemplation

Like I've said before, the subject is important but the background can really make or break the image. The pink around the hummingbird is from the flowers (or more technically the bracts) of the Bougainvillea he is resting in. I love the contrast with his beautiful feathers.

This is actually an older shot, it was in my first show. The show was a flower theme, but interspersed in the flowers were small shots of hummingbirds. Seemed fitting to me. :-D

Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Hummer in the Bush

It's taken a while but we have built up some nice traffic to our hummingbird feeders in the back yard. Originally I thought our umbrella was blocking their view of potential threats and scaring them away. When we put it down for a while they came closer and started eating at our feeder that is hung the highest. Now that they are more comfortable, the umbrella is back up and they seem to like the seclusion of it. We have two lower feeders that are almost under the umbrella and they are emptied the fastest. I even got scolded today when the lower feeders were empty!

Friday, July 27, 2007
Reflective Hummer

This was at the same nursery as the hummer from the other day. This guy was just being thoughtful in the filtered light. He was watching me intently as I got closer. He did not seem scared. He was more curious I think. He kept tilting his head from side to side. He probably knew the big lumbering beast that was stuck on the ground could never get close enough to bother him.

I love the way the side lighting shows every feather on his face.

Saturday, July 14, 2007
Beak Cleaning

Hummers seem to like to clean their beaks after they eat. For that matter, my finch seems to like to do that too.

Friday, June 3, 2005
Thoughtful Hummer

You don't often find them sitting thoughtfully. Perhaps the 113° F Heat had something to do with it. This guy had just finished a big meal at a huge feeder not far from the Bougainvillea, and this was about as far as he could get after his feast.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Hummer Tongue

Hummers are very interesting. One of the things I find interesting is their habit of licking their beak after eating. This shot only got about half of his tongue.

Or maybe... they just don't like their pictures taken? This guy lives in the garden area of a Nursery in Carpinteria. Pretty cool place to live if you're a hummer. I have another shot of him online here.

Monday, March 21, 2005
First Blossom of Spring

I thought this was a fitting image for the beginning of spring. Of course, with the crazy weather we have had, it looks more like the middle of spring here. Most things are already in full bloom.

Sunday, February 13, 2005
Isla Vista Hummer

The day I took this I was supposed to be practicing pastels in a class at Island View Nursery in Carpinteria. But once there is a hummingbird around I can't think of doing anything but taking pictures.

Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Encina Finches

Our area had voluntary evacuations the night before last. So we stayed at our favorite place downtown, Encina Lodge. They have an aviary outside with a flock of Finches. This is a photo from an earlier trip.

Monday, January 3, 2005
Morning Salutation

Humming birds are incredible to watch, this guy was sitting in a huge Bougainvillea above my head. They have a habit of making a sound that makes you think they are dive-bombing you but they are usually sitting still when they make that sound. When they call they put their beak in the air and the feathers on their throat stick straight out. This photo was taken just after he had made the call and he was in the middle of a good post-breakfast stretch.