MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Wilson’s Snipe, Mississippi Valley, Green Island Wetlands, 12/22/2024

There wasn’t much going on here in the blog lately. We had family over here from Germany during the last few weeks and that took priority over photography efforts besides some shots that captured memorable moments of the good time we had together.

However, I still can’t get over that we found a Wilson’s Snipe in the Green Island Wetlands during a hike two days before Christmas and that’s why I came up with another photo from this series of shots.

So here is a little more input about the shooting conditions. It was a low light situation shortly before sunset. The bird was mostly probing with its long bill in the mud below the edge of the thin ice. I needed some speed to freeze the fast movements and cranked up the ISO settings to 10000 (yikes!!) but also used the technique of ”peak of action”, the brief moments when the snipe stopped and lifted the head out of the water for a second or so. I also was hiding behind some grass that swayed in the wind, leaving only a small gap for a clean view at the bird. I finally cropped the image so the grass was kept out of the frame.

Well, the other family members stood and waited in a respectful distance, watching my excitement about this bird and the efforts to get a shot. It was a memorable moment in any way and this photo will always remind me about just that.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S,    @ 600mm, 1/800 s, f/6.3, ISO 10000, image cropped

MAY THE LIGHT BE IN YOUR FAVOR

Left: 311 South Wacker / Right: Willis Tower (former Sears Tower), Chicago, Illinois

The Field Museum in Chicago doesn’t have a lot of windows, but when I walked by at one of them, the setting sun touched the sky scrapers of the skyline downtown. Moments like that don’t last very long and I took the shot through the glass quickly.

I wish my friends and followers of the website all the best for 2025 and if you are a photographer, may the light be always in your favor!

AFTER THE SNOW

Sycamore and fog, Little Maquoketa Valley, Iowa

The snow we got the week before Christmas melted or was washed away by the rain we had lately. Today, on the way back from Dubuque, we stopped briefly down in the Little Maquoketa Valley below our bluffs. Fog had started to develop on the valley floor and with the American Sycamore tree (German: Westliche Platane) standing out at the other side of the valley, I knew I had an image I wanted to make since a long time.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon FTZ adapter, Nikon Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm, f/4,  @ 200mm, 1/200s, f/4, ISO 5000, RAW processed in Adobe LR Classic with denoise in Topaz Photo AI

A BIG SURPRISE - WILSON’S SNIPE

Wilson’s Snipe, Mississippi Valley, Green Island Wetlands, 12/22/2024

We have part of my family over here from Germany for Christmas and today we made a trip down south in the Mississippi Valley to Sabula to watch some Bald Eagles. On the way back we still had time for a brief visit in the Green Island Wetlands. Not all water is frozen and to my big surprise we found a Wilson’s Snipe probing with its long bill in shallow water and feeding on mollusks or whatever else it found. I know here in eastern Iowa we are in migration territory for this bird, but I have seen this species before only in early spring or October. Can you tell that we were excited?

Having the edge of the ice in both photos is a helpful element to tell the story about a not so common bird sighting two days before Christmas.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S

NATURE CLICKS #590 - BROWN CREEPER

Brown Creeper, Little Maquoketa Valley, Iowa

I’m very, very happy about this photo of this tiny little bird. The fast moving Brown Creeper started at the base of this oak and spiraled upwards, looking for insects in the cracks of the bark. It’s hard to follow them with the lens and their plumage is such a perfect camouflage, making it difficult to obtain a sharp focus. Here in eastern Iowa they can be found throughout the year but most of the time we see them during the cold season.

DID SOMEONE SAY ”NASTY WEATHER”?

Eastern Bluebirds

I’m not a big fan of the term ”nasty weather”. It was probably invented by couch potatoes that never set a step outside their doors when the sun is not shining… Well, today I don’t mind to use the term (sorry my fellow couch potatoes!), because the day started with sleet, followed by rain, and a snowy mix, and within a half an hour it led to an ice cover wherever the eye went.

It was a good reason to stay home all day and try to capture what’s around bird feeders or who visits the heated bird baths in the front or backyard.

I’m sometimes puzzled by what the so called ”influencers” post on their websites, blogs, or podcasts on the internet. Just recently I came across an article about having a clear glass filter in front of the lens leads to a significant decrease in picture quality. Not supported by any real facts. I’m not the only one (some real famous photographers do it as well) that attach a clear glass filter to their expensive lenses in order to protect the front element of the lens against any unpredictable physical impact. Most of us still have to work hard for our equipment…

Well, today an additional sheet of glass was between the sensor of the camera and the subject of interest. I had to shoot through the glass of the balcony door here at home.

The Eastern Bluebird in the back was in focus when the second one in the front spoiled the party and landed on the rim of the bird bath. First I wasn’t happy but finally accepted that it adds to the story. A little more subtle is the streak of rain near the upper right corner of the photo. Who will doubt that this was shot in ”nasty weather”?

Here is a little trick for dealing with the slight blur of a glass window. Use the ”Dehaze” slider in Adobe Lightroom or ACR, just with a slight increase by +2 - 4 steps. It works wonder! Other, non-Adobe software has probably a similar feature under a different name.

While everything around, the boards of the balcony, trees, or of course our drive way were covered with a layer of ice, the only place that wasn’t you can see in this picture. The heated bird bath prevents the stone at it’s edge from freezing over in such a weather. The bluebirds love this spot, and so does the photographer…

RETROSPECTS 2024 #4 - GREAT SKIES OVER THE VALLEY

After sunset, Green Island, Upper Mississippi Valley, Iowa, February 25, 2024

While digging through my photos from 2024 I got reminded that we had quite a few days with overcast or just a boring sky. Nevertheless, we also had our good share of great sunrises or sunsets here in eastern Iowa. This day at the end of February I mad a couple shots of a Rough-legged Hawk and a Sandhill Crane flying across the Green Island Wetlands in the afternoon, but they were not filling the frame, so more less just documentary shots for myself. I stayed late in hope to see maybe an owl but this didn’t happen. The clouds and setting sun came to my rescue and after capturing a few moments during the blue hour with the Z 24-70 f/4, I changed lens quickly when the day ended with a nice glow above the rocky bluffs of the Mississippi Valley.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon FTZ adapter, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S,   @ 150 mm, 1/2000 s, f/8, ISO 1600

HAVE TO LOVE THOSE BLUEBIRDS

Male Eastern Bluebird

My photography friend Kevin had invited me every year to his backyard during the breeding season of Eastern Bluebirds and many good shots are in my photo library due to his generous sharing of the location. I would like to do the same, inviting him for a shooting session during the winter season. Kevin knows when the bluebirds hatch in the nest boxes that he puts out at the edge near the woods of his property and the chances are always high to come home with a decent image of a parent bird with food in their bills. Well, I would like to return his favor but the visits of Eastern Bluebirds at any of our three bird baths are not predictable. Yesterday I had eight birds coming to the water bowl on our balcony, but today, with even more time on hand to watch, none of them showed up.

We didn’t see any bluebirds during last winter season but the bird droppings beside the bird bath tell me this time, we have a good crop of juniper berries in the eastern cedar trees that grow here on top of the bluffs of the Little Maquoketa Valley. The short appearance of two Cedar Waxwings yesterday, another bird that feeds on juniper berries during the winter, seems to confirm my observations. Well, enough of bird biology. I hope you enjoy my photo of this male Eastern Bluebird today and have a wonderful weekend.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORIES 2024 #6 - BACK TO BROWNSVILLE AGAIN

Juvenile Bald Eagle, Mississippi River, Brownsville, Minnesota

It was quite cold during the last nights and as a result the Mississippi River and all the other bodies of water started to freeze over, at least at places without much current. I had planned to go back up north to Brownsville, Minnesota again for the Tundra Swans but was wondering if the swans had taken off towards the Atlantic coast already. They will definitely do, if there is no access to food anymore due to an ice cover. Luckily my concerns were unfounded and this part of the river was not frozen over and several large schools, like the one in the picture below, were still present.

Tundra Swans on the Mississippi River. The main channel of the river is way back behind the islands at the Wisconsin side of the river, but the current of the water was still strong enough here to keep this part without an ice cover last Saturday.

I’m happy to witness this part of the great migration almost every year in November, even if the birds are too far out for a photo. Well, there are other things to look at and the most exciting were a large number of Bald Eagles. It’s always fun to watch how they chase each other after one gets a fish out of the water, drops it, and the game starts all over again. It takes a little patience because most of the hunting happens further away from the overlook, but I had my share of chances with the eagles within shooting range of the camera.

Canada Geese, Brownsville overlook, Mississippi River, Minnesota

I talked about it before already, shooting from an overlook and a bit above the water level leads not always to a desirable photo. However, it’s a good place to be if you have a flock of Canada Geese flying by and they honk at you at eye level. Great day, good times!

All photos: Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S

NATURE CLICKS #589 - EASTERN BLUEBIRDS

Eastern Bluebird, male

Much colder temperatures and a bit of sun today have increased the activities around the feeders and bird baths in the front yard. It was only a couple days ago that finally the water bowls had to be connected to a power supply for the heaters. Later than any other year before.

We see a lot of goldfinches and sparrows beside the regular birds, like titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, or all the woodpeckers at the moment, but the most exciting visitors were six Eastern Bluebirds today. I never see them eating any seeds but they seem to love the warm water of the water bowls. We had bluebirds during other winters before but never so many at the same time.

Despite the cold air it was fun to shoot with some nice light after all the dark and gray skies we had lately. I didn’t bother to set up the tripod and just enjoyed handholding the Nikon Z600/f6.3. The light weight of this new lens allows for quick changes of my position and for trying to keep up with the birds.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S

Eastern Bluebird, female

RETROSPECTS 2024 #3 - PACIFIC FORESTS

Lush forest, Oswald West State Park, Pacific Coast, Oregon

Part of my love for the Pacific Northwest is due to magnificent trees and vegetation we can find there. The lush forest, including the remaining parts of pacific rainforest, is just beautiful. Trees can be found in sizes rarely seen in the rest of the country. Like here in Iowa, there is always some dead wood laying on the ground that turns me away from making the click. When I find a spot with a promising outcome and light that supports the story about the location, I want at least give it a try. Well, part of the story can’t be told through a photo, and that’s about how wonderful it smells in these woods. So, let’s at least try to tell the visual story as good as we can…😉

RETROSPECTS 2024 - #2 - MARITIME SUBJECTS

Port of Newport, Oregon during the Blue Hour

Already in my childhood I was fascinated by anything that had to do with boats, harbors, and coastal life. Maybe no surprise for a guy who grew up in a hilly and wooded area… Well, I still get a kick out of it and whenever there is a chance to shoot in an harbor, I have no problems to find something to aim my lens at.

The Port of Newport, Oregon was the perfect playground at different times of the day. I focussed mostly on details during the days with an overcast. Going out for dinner during the blue hour to a seafood restaurant right at the harbor provided other opportunities and walking back to the car long after sunset wasn’t without charm either.

Containers full of crabs shortly after unloaded from a boat

Maritime details are a great subject for a day with an overcast sky

The port at night with hardly any wind blowing from the Pacific Ocean

RETROSPECTS 2024 - #1 - OREGON COAST

Surf, Ecola State Park, Oregon

I know, it’s a little early to start with retrospects for 2024 already but some other projects kept me away from the camera lately. I still have been out in the Great Outdoors this weekend but sometimes we just have to let it sink in and admit that the pictures we brought home do not tell the story as we thought they would.

So here we go with a photo, created in late March, from the coast of Oregon at the Pacific Ocean. Ecola State Park has some great vistas, like the view to Tillamook Lighthouse, and watching and listening to the surf below was just great.

I used a 2 second exposure to give the surf a sense of motion but without making it a ”milky puddle”. Each image was different and the surf really dictated how the photo was perceived. This one I liked the best…