Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Showing posts with label pelican. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pelican. Show all posts
Friday, June 20, 2014
2014, Day 171 - Alight
Photographing birds in flight is extremely difficult. Most birds are both small and fast moving so tracking them is difficult. Using a telephoto lens is the best way to get close but the field of vision is so narrow it is easy to lose track of your subject. Fortunately pelicans are big birds and they're not especially graceful so they're a good bird to practice with. I love the shape of the wings as this bird prepares to land.
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Friday, December 13, 2013
2013, Day 346 - Fling
Puerto Vallarta was a boring place. I don't travel to sit on the beach drinking all day and that is the primary reason people go there. It didn't help that it was the only place I was served bad food that made me sick for days. The best part of our visit was the morning we saw a small fishing boat in the bay surrounded by pelicans. We made our way down to the beach and onto the stone breakwater close to where the pelicans were congregating and stayed until our obligations in town took us away. They are so beautiful while flying and hunting but rather awkward when they have their feet on the ground.
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Saturday, November 2, 2013
2013, Day 304 - Drag
I know, I am a day late with my blog update. While I am not dead I did get sick and I blame the dodgy eggs I had for breakfast on Thursday. By Thursday evening I was feeling a little off but generally okay and then through the night I started getting chills and frequent bathroom breaks.
Since Araceli was arriving yesterday we had planned to stay around the hotel until she arrived anyway and I spent much of that time laying down feeling achy and reading my book. Araceli arrived at about noon and after getting her stuff dropped off in the room she joined us on a bouncy bus ride into town. Rather stupidly we sat in the last row and with my achy body and bad suspension I felt pretty beat up when we arrive.
Fortunately there was a good restaurant right where we hopped off the bus so we stopped in for some lunch. I ordered the tortilla soup and was going to split an order of fish tacos with Francene but struggled to eat even half the soup. Too bad because it was tasty just too much for me. After eating we stopped off a the place that sells the frozen chocolate bananas that have a candy filling and walked down to the beach so Araceli could get an idea of what the town is like.
Soon after I was really dragging and they kindly suggested we go back to the hotel. After chatting and catching up for a bit I took a showed and crawled into bed. The rest of the afternoon I spent resting fitfully and making trips to the bathroom after which I worked of staying hydrated.
That was the rest of my evening, sleeping or resting on and off and making trips to the bathroom. Now you are completely caught up on my Friday. Below I included another picture of a pelican because I took absolutely no photos yesterday and I really like this image of her in flight. Although it looked good in color there is such a richness in texture that I prefer it in black and white.
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Since Araceli was arriving yesterday we had planned to stay around the hotel until she arrived anyway and I spent much of that time laying down feeling achy and reading my book. Araceli arrived at about noon and after getting her stuff dropped off in the room she joined us on a bouncy bus ride into town. Rather stupidly we sat in the last row and with my achy body and bad suspension I felt pretty beat up when we arrive.
Fortunately there was a good restaurant right where we hopped off the bus so we stopped in for some lunch. I ordered the tortilla soup and was going to split an order of fish tacos with Francene but struggled to eat even half the soup. Too bad because it was tasty just too much for me. After eating we stopped off a the place that sells the frozen chocolate bananas that have a candy filling and walked down to the beach so Araceli could get an idea of what the town is like.
Soon after I was really dragging and they kindly suggested we go back to the hotel. After chatting and catching up for a bit I took a showed and crawled into bed. The rest of the afternoon I spent resting fitfully and making trips to the bathroom after which I worked of staying hydrated.
That was the rest of my evening, sleeping or resting on and off and making trips to the bathroom. Now you are completely caught up on my Friday. Below I included another picture of a pelican because I took absolutely no photos yesterday and I really like this image of her in flight. Although it looked good in color there is such a richness in texture that I prefer it in black and white.
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Thursday, October 31, 2013
2013, Day 303 - Preening
This morning we got off to a sunny start. From our seventh story windows we could see men fishing just off the beach of our hotel so we both put on some clothes and wandered down. When we arrived it was clear that they have an eager flock of pelicans waiting for their rejects to be tossed back into the water. Why work when someone practically hands you a meal?
After watching them work for a while Francene found a piled rock breakwater further down the beach where the pelicans were congregating. It was still early and most were just standing quietly in the shade but as the sun rose they began to hold our their wings to the warming light and to groom themselves. Birds came and went and I captured a few good frames but I liked this guy grooming his head on his back. It looks so awkward and uncomfortable that I had to share.
We stayed too long watching the bird but it was so much fun. As other people began to come see what we were looking at Francene and I decided that was our queue to leave so we went back to our room to get cleaned up so we could head into town to meet her friends for breakfast.
Our arrival was a little late as it took us some time to walk from where the bus dropped us to the restaurant. It was rather unremarkable but we caught up with everyone so it was nice none-the-less. Afterwards we wandered around the old part of the city center looking at shops and checking the menus at restaurants. Soon we were sweating pretty heavily so we ducked into a little coffee shop for a drink, some air conditioning, and a bit of internet access.
By now it was well past noon so we decided to head back to the hotel for a little rest. That means another harrowing ride on one of the local busses where the drivers race every car on the street and each other as well. Still, it is a bit of a rush.
Much of the afternoon was spent enjoying the air conditioning, reading, and relaxing. It was peaceful and by about four o'clock we agreed we were hungry so we went back into town where we wandered for a while before finding a place that specializes in Mexican cuisine heavily accented with mole, a rich savory sweet sauce. It was delicious and very filling but no so much that we couldn't split a frozen banana with a caramel center dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in almonds.
By this time it was dark and there were lots of little kids trick-or-treating along the waterfront. We walked its length where we reunited with some of Francene's friends briefly before deciding the sprinkles of rain combined with the hot weather was encouraging us to retreat for the evening.
Tomorrow my friend Araceli arrives so we will probably sleep in and hang around the hotel until she gets here. I am looking forward to a lazy morning!
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
After watching them work for a while Francene found a piled rock breakwater further down the beach where the pelicans were congregating. It was still early and most were just standing quietly in the shade but as the sun rose they began to hold our their wings to the warming light and to groom themselves. Birds came and went and I captured a few good frames but I liked this guy grooming his head on his back. It looks so awkward and uncomfortable that I had to share.
We stayed too long watching the bird but it was so much fun. As other people began to come see what we were looking at Francene and I decided that was our queue to leave so we went back to our room to get cleaned up so we could head into town to meet her friends for breakfast.
Our arrival was a little late as it took us some time to walk from where the bus dropped us to the restaurant. It was rather unremarkable but we caught up with everyone so it was nice none-the-less. Afterwards we wandered around the old part of the city center looking at shops and checking the menus at restaurants. Soon we were sweating pretty heavily so we ducked into a little coffee shop for a drink, some air conditioning, and a bit of internet access.
By now it was well past noon so we decided to head back to the hotel for a little rest. That means another harrowing ride on one of the local busses where the drivers race every car on the street and each other as well. Still, it is a bit of a rush.
Much of the afternoon was spent enjoying the air conditioning, reading, and relaxing. It was peaceful and by about four o'clock we agreed we were hungry so we went back into town where we wandered for a while before finding a place that specializes in Mexican cuisine heavily accented with mole, a rich savory sweet sauce. It was delicious and very filling but no so much that we couldn't split a frozen banana with a caramel center dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in almonds.
By this time it was dark and there were lots of little kids trick-or-treating along the waterfront. We walked its length where we reunited with some of Francene's friends briefly before deciding the sprinkles of rain combined with the hot weather was encouraging us to retreat for the evening.
Tomorrow my friend Araceli arrives so we will probably sleep in and hang around the hotel until she gets here. I am looking forward to a lazy morning!
Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
2010, Day 68 - Venice
Another day and I have it mostly to myself. Laura is busy and Araceli started a new job today which is great, I'm glad that both are getting stuff done but it meant going solo today.
I had no idea what I should do so I looked at a couple of guidebooks and opted to drive out to Venice Beach. It seems that people have very strong reactions to the atmosphere, they either find it to be frightening or friendly,it just depends on your view of earthy hippy types. Hell, I'm from Portland so I figured it might be familiar.
The canals of Venice lined with some pretty, if relatively small, homes.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
43mm, f5.6, 1/800 sec @ 100 ISO
Generally I like more traditional architecture but I love the mix of materials (and the reflection).
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
40mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 100 ISO
The Venice Fishing Pier.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 100 ISO
Facing north on the Venice Fishing Pier.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 100 ISO
A brown pelican doing his morning calisthenics.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
63mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 100 ISO
Fishing for perch.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO
Relaxing on the pier throwing the sign for Venice.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
34mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 100 ISO
Sand, sun and song.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
43mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO
Life guard on duty.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
54mm, f5.6, 1/640 sec @ 100 ISO
Keeping an eye on the surfers and swimmers though the former told me that the surf was pretty poor today.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
43mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO
There's a skate park at the beach. When I arrived I was scoping out the talent and the most impressive skater there was a little Asian girl whose father was looking on but right as I decided I had the measure of her she started removing her pads and packing to leave. These guys were the best of those remaining.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1600 sec @ 200 ISO
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1600 sec @ 200 ISO
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 200 ISO
The Venice Beach Boardwalk.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/2000 sec @ 200 ISO
As I was getting myself together the kind folks from Canon called to let me know my lenses were ready to be picked up so with the help of handy Mr. Garmin I drove to Irvine and collected my wayward children. By the time I battled traffic back to the hotel it was almost 4:30 so I decided to relax for a bit before getting ready for dinner with Araceli.
We met up with Betty, Cheryl and David for dinner at Stuff I Eat. It was a very good vegan place with well made food and a great atmosphere.
The crew from Stuff I Eat.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 50/f1.4
50mm, f1.4, 1/25 sec @ 800 ISO
Stuffed with vegan goodness Araceli and I then set out for Griffith Observatory. Despite some earlier clouds the sky cleared and we hoped for an opportunity to use their eyeball extenders to check out the stars.
The front entrance to Griffith Observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 50/f1.4
50mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 1250 ISO
The fresco on the ceiling of the entry into the observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 50/f1.4
50mm, f1.6, 1/640 sec @ 800 ISO
An art deco window of the observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 35/f1.4
35mm, f1.4, 1/400 sec @ 1000 ISO
There were all kinds of educational exhibits inside but the only one that I read was about a woman who was sleeping on her couch when a meteor fell from the sky, through her roof and burned part of her stomach. Nothing else was about pain so it wasn't really worth reading.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 35/f1.4
35mm, f1.4, 1/250 sec @ 1000 ISO
The view of the city from the observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
145mm, f2.8, 1/13 sec @ 1000 ISO
The biggest disappointment of the evening was the discovery that the telescopes were not available for us so we didn't get to star gaze. What's the point of an observatory if they don't let you observe?!?
Frustrated, Araceli and I headed back to the hotel. On the way we stopped for frozen yogurt and then called it a night.
Our rooftop neighbors camping out of the upper level of the parking complex next to the hotel.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100-400/f4.5-5.6L IS
350mm, f5.6, 1/6 sec @ 3200 ISO
I had no idea what I should do so I looked at a couple of guidebooks and opted to drive out to Venice Beach. It seems that people have very strong reactions to the atmosphere, they either find it to be frightening or friendly,it just depends on your view of earthy hippy types. Hell, I'm from Portland so I figured it might be familiar.
The canals of Venice lined with some pretty, if relatively small, homes.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
43mm, f5.6, 1/800 sec @ 100 ISO
Generally I like more traditional architecture but I love the mix of materials (and the reflection).
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
40mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 100 ISO
The Venice Fishing Pier.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 100 ISO
Facing north on the Venice Fishing Pier.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 100 ISO
A brown pelican doing his morning calisthenics.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
63mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 100 ISO
Fishing for perch.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO
Relaxing on the pier throwing the sign for Venice.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
34mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 100 ISO
Sand, sun and song.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
43mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO
Life guard on duty.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
54mm, f5.6, 1/640 sec @ 100 ISO
Keeping an eye on the surfers and swimmers though the former told me that the surf was pretty poor today.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
43mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO
There's a skate park at the beach. When I arrived I was scoping out the talent and the most impressive skater there was a little Asian girl whose father was looking on but right as I decided I had the measure of her she started removing her pads and packing to leave. These guys were the best of those remaining.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1600 sec @ 200 ISO
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1600 sec @ 200 ISO
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 200 ISO
The Venice Beach Boardwalk.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/2000 sec @ 200 ISO
As I was getting myself together the kind folks from Canon called to let me know my lenses were ready to be picked up so with the help of handy Mr. Garmin I drove to Irvine and collected my wayward children. By the time I battled traffic back to the hotel it was almost 4:30 so I decided to relax for a bit before getting ready for dinner with Araceli.
We met up with Betty, Cheryl and David for dinner at Stuff I Eat. It was a very good vegan place with well made food and a great atmosphere.
The crew from Stuff I Eat.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 50/f1.4
50mm, f1.4, 1/25 sec @ 800 ISO
Stuffed with vegan goodness Araceli and I then set out for Griffith Observatory. Despite some earlier clouds the sky cleared and we hoped for an opportunity to use their eyeball extenders to check out the stars.
The front entrance to Griffith Observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 50/f1.4
50mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 1250 ISO
The fresco on the ceiling of the entry into the observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 50/f1.4
50mm, f1.6, 1/640 sec @ 800 ISO
An art deco window of the observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 35/f1.4
35mm, f1.4, 1/400 sec @ 1000 ISO
There were all kinds of educational exhibits inside but the only one that I read was about a woman who was sleeping on her couch when a meteor fell from the sky, through her roof and burned part of her stomach. Nothing else was about pain so it wasn't really worth reading.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 35/f1.4
35mm, f1.4, 1/250 sec @ 1000 ISO
The view of the city from the observatory.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
145mm, f2.8, 1/13 sec @ 1000 ISO
The biggest disappointment of the evening was the discovery that the telescopes were not available for us so we didn't get to star gaze. What's the point of an observatory if they don't let you observe?!?
Frustrated, Araceli and I headed back to the hotel. On the way we stopped for frozen yogurt and then called it a night.
Our rooftop neighbors camping out of the upper level of the parking complex next to the hotel.
Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100-400/f4.5-5.6L IS
350mm, f5.6, 1/6 sec @ 3200 ISO
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