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Friday, August 31, 2012

A few photos from August 26, 2012

Henry flying low over the Planetarium


Chasing each other around False Creek

The Three Amigos

The view from Burrard Bridge.

Rock Pigeon hanging out at the Sheraton - Wall Centre.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Night Shooting at Holland Park - August 29, 2012



Shooting at Holland Park at night has been one of my "things to do" since I got the D300s and I haven't managed to do it until now. Here are some of the first results of my shooting at night. This makes me realize that I need a steadier tripod. Unfortunately, I find that my Manfrotto 190XB is too unsteady of a tripod to put a heavy body on it. It is meant for a lighter point and shoot or a consumer grade super-zoom style camera. However that will be remedied by the purchase of a nice Gitzo GT5562GTS tripod, meant to hold the 600mm f/4 that I plan to get in several years. In the meantime, I'll just have to make do with this thing.

Great Blue Heron Shots - August 26, 2012

Great Blue Heron at False Creek near the Telus World of Science (Science World)


Monday, August 27, 2012

"Henry" Plays Peekaboo - August 26, 2012

Henry, the resident False Creek Great Blue Heron plays peekaboo with the photographer. He has gorgeous yellow eyes.

Friday, August 24, 2012

More Seagulls



Seagulls & Cormorants - August 24, 2012

Met up with my friend from real estate days, Ed Lai of elaiphoto.com. Had lunch together and talked over old times. It was great seeing him. Before we met up, I had the chance to walk along the Seawall. Came across some pelagic cormorants, sitting on the rocks on the north side of False Creek. Evidently they were within 15 feet of me. So I was able to snag a few shots with the 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.



Had a few fun photo ops with some seagulls too.



Had to admonish a parent to not let their kids chase and kick stones at the birds at Lost Lagoon since that sort of behavior could stress and quite possibly injure the birds. Was just about ready to pitch those kids in the lagoon myself.

Fall Colors - August 22, 2012

Already seeing the colors turn on some maple trees in Holland Park. Where the heck did summer go? Seems like we had an abbreviated one.



Monday, August 20, 2012

Inflight and Swimming Photos - August 9, 2012

Here's a few more from my trip to Green Timbers. The ducks were extremely active that day and they were fun to watch. I still have some more to edit from July 31, 2012, but I will at a later date.

Looks like he's hovering in mid-air.

This one was looking for a place to land.

Love how they curiously look at you to see if you're taking their photo. These ducks are well acclimated to human contact.

How to give a poor duck a lobotomy. The upper duck got half her head cut off and the male mallard got a butt-tuck.

A popular "I'm checking you out..." pose from a swimming female.

The whole confounded flock or brace of ducks.

Well, looks like someone's makin' a ruckus.

If there is one thing about the ducks at Green Timbers is that they have character. They certainly will "ham it up" for the camera. Hopefully I'll head back down to Green Timbers sometime in the next week. And a bit more regularly once I have the access to the vehicle. I don't know exactly which vehicle (we're trying to decide between a Chevy Impala (2004) and a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. We'll see what happens at the start of next month. We should have it by the 1st. And I plan to make a trip down to Serpentine Fen as of the third or fourth of September.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

iPhone Photos - August 17, 2012

Despite the fact that the iPhone has a smaller sensor than a compact camera, there is no reason why a person cannot get a decent photograph out of it.

Friday, August 17, 2012

I'm Still Watching You! - August 9, 2012

This female mallard was watching me as I was behind her and she didn't like that fact. I'm sure she would have preferred that I was more at her 9 o'clock where she could see me. But it provided for a nice photo where her beak was half buried by her feathers.

I will be reverting back to a "post when there is something important to post about" scheme for this blog come December 31, 2012. This year of 1 post a day is just too strenuous. I will do what I can to make certain that the posts that I put up are of interest to those who view this blog. Thanks for reading my attmept at "a post a day" and I'm hoping that you're enjoying it.

As we draw closer to the fall, I've been thinking of several ideas of how to expand the user content of my blog "FalconRose Photography" & "Maniac With Camera" at Blogger next year. One of these is uploading videos of my wildlife photoshoots at the different wildlife sanctuaries around the Lower Mainland. When we have the vehicle at the beginning of next month (think the 1st or the 2nd of September), I will be making a point for my family and I to go shooting at these different sanctuaries and giving you all a taste of what I do when I pull my camera out to photograph. This is going to require the purchase of Photoshop Premiere Elements into which I will dub sound in a different track. This will mean that I will be taking some development time between video posts...and my photography posts. Hope to see your feedback...and to my fellow photographers and photo-enthusiasts:

"Happy Shooting."


Male Mallard; Summer Head Plumage - July 31, 2012

Ducks Flying - July 31, 2012

Damn, these suckers fly fast.


Three ducks coming inbound towards the camera. Oh, how I wish I had the 2X teleconverter on my 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Tunnel of Green - August 9, 2012

I'm glad to have this wonderful little place to get away from it all with the Green Timbers Lake. This is on the path leading from the north parking lot down to the lake and this photo is what you get when you come out of a tunnel of intersecting overhead tree branches enveloping you in green.

Surrey Memorial Hospital Construction - August 9, 2012 - iPhone 4s Photo

Orange Daylily - August 3, 2012 - iPhone 4s Photo

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Ducks and Other Flying Things - August 9, 2012

Had the opportunity after I picked my daughter up from the daycare that she goes to, to go to the park and photograph. So I grabbed my D300s and AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII G ED and went out. The ducks were extremely plentiful there today and I had a fun time there. Of course I did have to tell one lady to "Please short-leash your dog" when her playful pit-bull was eagerly trying to go after the ducks. Being a good owner, she complied immediately as soon as she was told.

There's nothing like having a wildlife area not too far away from one's home. It's always great to go and despite not seeing my favorite red winged blackbird there today, it was extremely productive.







Caption for this photo is: "There's always one in every crowd"

The ducks were definitely flying again today which was convenient as I had the right settings this time around. I really do need to check my settings before I lift lens to shoot, but sometimes you get caught up in the heat of the moment and just fire off several rounds of photos.


Saw some of the practicing for the Abbotsford International Airshow taking place and a West Jet B737 while getting ready to head home from the park


All in all, it was a great day today at Green Timbers. Flying ducks, practicing airshow warbirds and a big metal cargo-hauler bound for YVR. Got to love it.