CAN’T DO THIS ONE ANYMORE…

February 18, 2018

On February 18, 2018 I crossed for the first time the new bridge over the Mississippi River between Sabula, Iowa and Savannah, Illinois. I thought it was interesting to see both, the old truss bridge and the new one, side by side and so I stopped and made a few clicks. Since around 10:30AM today the same picture cannot be made anymore because the old bridge was demolished and imploded with a big BOOM and clouds of smoke and sits now in the river. I read that cutting apart the remains started immediately and the pieces will be transported away by barges.

I didn’t really plan to publish this photo here in the blog. I was a little sloppy while taking the picture, not paying enough attention to the details around the edges and a different view point would have been probably better. After reviewing my photos on the computer screen I thought even about going back and shoot it again. Well, it is too late now…😏

Below are a couple pictures I took almost three years ago when I heard for the first time that the old truss bridge will be replaced. I even wrote a blog post about it. http://www.exnerimages.net/blog/2015/4/7/mississippi-river-stories-2015-5

It’s good to have these images!

April 5, 2015

DIGGIN’ FOR AN OLD STORY ABOUT LIGHT…

Lobster boat leaving harbor at sunrise ------   

Commitments kept me grounded today, at least photographically seen, but there is always the chance to go into the photo library and dig out an image that has not seen the light of the day yet. I have created a book about the coast of Maine some time ago, sure sign that I’m in love with this area, and I like to return to the photos I made in 2013 at the Atlantic coast of the United States.

I can ensure you this is not just nostalgic thoughts of an aging man. It was the incredible light Joan and I have experienced during early morning and late afternoon hours that made us fell in love with Maine. Well, Joan may add that 50% was the limitless availability of fresh lobster and I have a hard time to argue about that…😉

Back to the light, I think during our visit in Maine it was the first time that I started really to understand what the term “quality of light” means. The photo above is not in my “coffee-table book” (Deutsch: Bildband), but if there is ever a second edition, I will consider this picture. Light as seen makes story telling a breeze…

NATURE CLICKS #390 - AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (FIRST SIGHTING)

During a short trip to the Mississippi this evening I saw a pair of ducks that got my utmost attention. The American Black Duck is a first for me. It is not a bird you can see here in eastern Iowa every day, not even during migration. It has been on my “most wanted” list since a long time. This was a solitary pair, seen just south of the Deere Marsh behind the John Deere factory in Dubuque. This duck is not black as the name suggests but appears so at a distance.

The photography is less than mediocre but for a first sighting I will make an exception 😉. The distance between the car, which I used as a blind, and the ducks was way too big. The railroad tracks and a lot of water between us left no chance to get closer to the subject. For any other species that is more common I wouldn’t even have unpacked the camera. I don’t think I have ever cropped a photo that much to make it work. The loss of detail is obvious but the joy about today’s encounter outweighs the lament about the photographic results…

BY THE THOUSANDS

Oh boy, we had two days without any sun in the sky. It rained and snowed again but even that wasn’t fun. Reflecting the gray from the sky is just not desirable for bird photography. It’s good that we had a great weekend with lots of sun and that’s why these low flying Mallards are the stars in my blog today. They are currently present by the thousands in the Green Island Wetlands. Some may breed there this summer but most of them will migrate further north.

SANDHILL CRANES AND OTHER ENCOUNTERS

It was another great afternoon and evening along the Mississippi in the Green Island Wetlands. The big migration continues and I had a few more “first of the year” encounters today. Beside thousands of Mallards I saw about 20 Northern Pintails, 4 Northern Shovelers, and 2 American Wigeons. There are still large numbers of Greater White-fronted Geese flying in before sunset.

I was happy to see three Sandhill Cranes a couple days ago but was even happier today when a pair of cranes within shooting range foraged just in front of me. I heard some frogs earlier this week and I’m sure the cranes find what they are looking for. This photo shows a typical scene, while one bird is observing the surrounding area, the other one can search for food. These cranes are omnivorous and exploit subsurface food by probing with their bills. This is why we can see the bill covered with mud quite often. By the way, while I’m writing these lines and look at my pictures I realized how good the grasses and reeds from last year look. I guess this is due to the fact that we didn’t have huge amounts of heavy snow that pushed everything to the ground for weeks.

My excitement grew a little later, just before sunset, when another swoop of 12 Sandhill Cranes flew in for the night. Last year we had way over a hundred cranes in the wetlands in March and I hope the numbers will grow this year again.

THE PICTURES FOR OURSELVES

Greater White-fronted Geese, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa

Over the years I have tried to grow as a photographer and have developed some standards for myself about what goes into the trash can immediately, what stays in the library for documentary reasons, but is never seen by the public eye, and what can be printed as big as the pixel count allows. Of course, the aim is always the latter but it doesn’t always work out that way.

I made a lot of clicks last night in the Green Island Wetlands and in my post from yesterday I showed a couple photos that tell together the story of this evening. And if I want to print them, I don’t have to think twice. Well, my favorite picture is nevertheless the one I show you today. It lacks sharpness and it is heavily cropped (down to 55%), to make it work. So, what’s the point? It’s the gesture of the geese in front of that superb cloud that tells the story about bird migration and the great light last night in just a single image. Usually I keep this kind of picture (heavily cropped) for myself, but I know that some other photographers who follow my blog, try to answer the same question (Where do I stand with my image quality?). Let’s keep our favorite photos, even if the technical side is not perfect. It’s the emotional part that makes us happy!

VOGELZUG

Greater White-fronted Geese in search for a resting place during their migration to the arctic. -----------

Since over a week now I’m reading in the Iowa bird forum that the geese are on the move. People report hundred-thousands of Snow, Ross, and Greater White-fronted Geese flying over or resting in marshes and wetlands here in Iowa. I saw photos and videos and the number of birds are just stunning. Yesterday I finally saw for the first time a flock of Snow Geese flying over our house and later in the evening Joan and I heard Greater White-fronted Geese in the sky. Their calls are different from the Canada Geese that we have here in the valley all year long.

Parts of the Green Island Wetlands in “killer light” this evening. These grasslands and fields around the wetlands provide food and resting places for many migrating birds.

For several reasons I haven’t been able to go out and watch the migration of the geese to the arctic and I got really antsy about it. Today I had enough and left my office a little earlier than I’m supposed to and drove down south to the Green Island Wetlands.

What a change since the last time I was there on February 18th! The snow is gone completely and probably 80% of the water is open and without ice cover. I saw thousands of Mallards and among them a few Northern Pintails. Too far away for a good photo. A dozen Trumpeter Swans were feeding or rested on the remaining ice. Three Sandhill Cranes took off just in front of me and suddenly I heard the sound of the Red-winged Blackbirds and saw them taking possession of their breeding grounds again. These are all sure signs that the worst part of winter lies behind us.

However, I didn’t see a single Snow Goose. But I met Forest, a nice gentleman who works for the Iowa DNR (Department of Natural Resources), and he gave me a hint where he had seen the Greater White-fronted Geese fly in around sunset during the last few days. And this was exactly what happened. Large numbers of geese flew in and searched for a good place to rest. Forest told me he works in the wetlands and spends a lot of time out there but still likes to watch the migrating birds after his work is done. I call this real passion and I’m always thankful for people like him, who share their encounters and knowledge with others.

GEAR TALK: UPDATED GEAR LIST

I have quietly updated my gear list here on the website during the last few days.

WHAT’S IN THE CAMERA BAG?

I didn’t buy a lot of new gear lately but added some items that were previously missing. I do not like to rave about a new tool in the camera bag or write a negative statement until I have used a piece of photography gear for some time and can voice my opinion with facts that evolved from time spent behind the camera or from actively using the equipment. My gear list is here to help other photographers to find the right tools for their own photography and is not influenced and sponsored by any of the brands I mention. Feel free to check it out!

STAYING LATE AND GETTING REWARDED

In the Green Island wetlands before sunset --------------

This photo is from yesterday and could not have been made today, because we had rain pouring down most of the day. The gravel road that goes through the Green Island Wetlands area is on the left and one of the levees that separate the different ponds and wetlands is on the right. But most important is the light from the low sitting sun that puts a warm glow on the ice and reflects in the spots with open water. It’s always worth to hang out until sunset or at least the hour before and if things line up you might get rewarded with a good picture. You don’t get this kind of shot at noon or in the early afternoon.

IT WAS ABOUT TIME

Virginia Opossum -----------

It was time to go down south today. I haven’t been in the Green Island Wetlands for quite some time and understandably during the winter the expectations to see a lot of wildlife are on a lower level. I enjoyed being away from the “cabin” and just wanted to get a feeling for the landscape again. To my surprise I found some critters and one of them was this Virginia Opossum. This solitary and mostly nocturnal animal is the only marsupial found north of Mexico.

This possum was in search for food between the dry reeds and along the iced over canals in Green Island. They are opportunists and eat a wide range of plants and animals. Opossums are very resistant to rabies, most likely due to a low body temperature. They also limit the spread of lyme disease, as they successfully kill off most disease-carrying ticks that feed on them (source: Wikipedia). I wish the deer would do the same...😏

My photo library shows that the last time I had a Virginia Opossum in front of the camera was already nine years ago. With other words, it was about time to make a few clicks of this actually not so uncommon critter.

FINALLY THE CARDINALS

Male Northern Cardinal ------------

There is one bird I really wanted to make of some new photos this winter but had no opportunity until now. This changed today when we got some fresh snow fall and a conclave of Northern Cardinals occupied the elm tree in our backyard. Usually they show up not much before sunset and this is of course not a good time for aiming a lens at them. I just read that cardinals can live up to 15 years in the wild and now I wonder if there is any of them still alive who was already here when we moved in our house…

Female Northern Cardinal

Because the birds never sat in the same spot for more than 1-2 seconds I decided to shoot not in “sniper mode”, one shot at a time with the flash light and flash extender for better color rendition. I usually do that if we have an overcast but the snow reflected enough light to get some color and keep exposure between 1/100 s and 1/400 s. It is more difficult to shoot the long exposure but it renders a nicer background and the snow flakes look like trails as you can see in the photo of the female cardinal.

REVEALING THE RED BELLY

This week flew by fast and I only have been out one evening with the camera. It was warm during the last few days and the snow, the “giant reflector”, melted down quite a bit. I still like to show another photo I made last Sunday in crisp winter light. This female Red-bellied Woodpecker is one of our regulars. She was born in 2016, at least I believe it is still the same bird we see here.

This was actually my favorite shot from last Sunday. Not just because of the great light but I also like the gesture of the woodpecker and the fact that you can see the orange-red belly, that obviously played a role when the Red-bellied woodpecker received its name. Most of the time we can’t see it in our pictures because the woodpeckers hang on to a tree trunk and the belly is hidden.

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Nikon SB 800 speed light, MAGMOD MagBeam flash extender, @600 mm, 1/640 s, f/6.3, ISO 200, image cropped

 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORIES 2018 #01 - SNOW COVERED

Mississippi River, Mud Lake, Iowa --------       

Of course in 2018 I will continue my story telling about wildlife and nature in the Mississippi Valley with some photos. It still fascinates me that the big river is never twice the same, no matter how often I drive down to the valley and visit even well known places. This evening it wasn’t as cold as during the last week and daylight lasts a lot longer already as in January.

Canada Geese, Deere Marsh, Dubuque, Iowa

The ice on the Mississippi has a solid snow cover at the moment but this can change very quickly. Nothing is static at this river. There was a spot with open water south of the Deere Marsh today and hundreds of Canada Geese used it for feeding and resting. It was a constant coming and going and I had some good opportunities to practice my panning technique.

Mississippi backwaters at Deere Marsh, Dubuque, Iowa

I only took the Nikon Nikkor 70-200, f/4 lens with me today and it was a good choice. I acquired this lens mainly for my landscape photography but it will definitely be used for wildlife as well. I love how I can now separate a scene from surrounding and distracting elements. This is where I often have seen the limits of my Nikon Nikkor 24-120, f/4. The 24-120 is a great “walk around lens” but the maximum focal length of 120 mm is quite often too short for separation. Well, I can hear you, why don’t you zoom with your feet and get closer? This is a valid question but in a terrain with natural barriers, like water between the camera and the subject or a canyon just below my feet, a longer focal length is sometimes the only way to exceed these limits. And no, I’m not a fool and walk out onto the ice of the crazy river…😉

All images: Nikon D750, Nikon Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm, f/4G ED VR

SHOOTING IN LOTS OF SNOW

Winter doesn’t get much better here in eastern Iowa as we had it this weekend. Plenty of sunshine, lots of powder snow, and temperatures that were manageable. The camera was out on the tripod several times and it was fun to shoot with an abundance of light the large numbers of birds that choose our woods as their headquarter at this time of the season. So, who was here? Since a few days a single White-throated Sparrow uses the amenities we provide for the birds, water, food, and protection by bushes, trees, and shrubs. This is not an uncommon bird but usually we see them in early spring.

The Dark-eyed Juncos are here in large numbers all winter long. They prefer to feed on the ground but since competition is very high we see them sometimes picking at suet feeders as well. Because of their dark upper body it is not easy to photograph them under low light conditions. Today it was easy to make the click and many pictures made it onto the hard drive.

We always have some Mourning Doves around the house. At least one couple breeds during the summer here. This winter I have seen up to twelve doves sitting in the trees together and warming up in the sun. This one hit me by surprise and just landed in front of me while I aimed at another junco.

All images: Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Nikon SB 800 speed light, MAGMOD MagBeam flash extender

GEAR TALK: MINDSHIFT MOOSE PETERSON BACKPACK SERIES / MP-3 V.2

I haven’t done a “Gear Talk” since a while and today I like to give you some thoughts about a piece of equipment that is in my possession since August 2016 and has been tested and used in many situations and all kinds of weather. The Moose Peterson backpack MP-3 V.2 is made by MindShift Gear ® and I want to tell you upfront, there is nothing about this great backpack what I dislike. This water resistant pack is well made and is mainly designed for wildlife and outdoor photographers. After 18 months of using it I can tell that MindShift’s partnership with renowned wildlife photographer Moose Peterson has led to a product that provides excellent protection for the gear from water, snow, dust, sand, and physical impact. Here are the features that I really like:

  • 3 compartments with easy and quick access. The big one holds the Sigma 150-600 with camera attached. All the gear you see in the photo above will fit into the MP-3 V.2 backpack.
  • Auto-close compartment flaps (“Moose Ears”) protect the interior from water, dust, and snow even if the zippers are not closed.
  • Handles on top and on the side.
  • Harness system that can be tucked-away, very practical while traveling by airplane or car.
  • Removable waist belt for shoulder relief during a longer hiking tour.
  • Rain cover included.
  • Large, robust zippers that can be opened and closed with gloves on.
  • Interior divider system allows for many configurations and that can fit a lot of different workflow styles.
  • Top pocket with zipper for easy access to memory cards, business cards, etc.
  • Stretchable pocket for water bottle on the side.
  • Mounting system for tripod.

Moose Peterson MP-3 V.2 fits in the overhead compartment of a regional jet

The Moose Peterson backpack MP-3 V.2 is sized for carry-on luggage and as you can see it fits even in the overhead compartment of a small regional jet, like the Embraer ERJ-145. The fabric and material is very robust and takes a lot of abuse. After using mine during the last year and a half it still looks like new, although it has been in contact with rain, mud, dust, and snow many times. Nevertheless, cleaning is mandatory after a “dirty shoot”, at least for me.

There are two other versions of this backpack available from MindShift Gear ®. The slightly longer MP-1 V.2 holds the camera with an 800 mm lens attached in the big compartment. The shorter MP-7 V.2 is long enough for a camera body with a big 200 mm lens.

Padded shoulder straps that can be tucked-away (great when going through security at the airport)

Verdict:

After going through two different cheaper packs over the years I found finally a backpack that I really love and that hasn’t disappointed a single time during heavy use in all kinds of weather. I can recommend the MP-3 V.2 for everybody who moves around in the great outdoors and wants quick access to camera gear and accessories and for everybody who needs to travel by airplane or car and wants upmost protection for their gear in extreme weather situations and harsh environments.

If my little article has triggered your interest you can find more technical details and pricing HERE.