Crow Kit - Some Assembly Required #2

Susan and I returned to the crow later in the afternoon to get a softer light, hoping for more detail in the bones.  To tonality is much better, but in color, the scene is still rather deadly because the sidewalk texture overwhelms the the carcass.  In monochrome, it is possible to apply a strong blue filter to darken reddish brown sidewalk for better contrast.  

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.4G

Exposure: ISO 200, f/11 @ 1/60s, handheld

Lighting: Skylight 

Location: GPS

Processing: RAW in Lightroom 3, Nik Silver Efex Pro

Crow Kit - Some Assembly Required

On our way to have lunch at Nadoz Ero Bakery and Cafe, Susan noticed this sight on Spring Avenue across the street from the Contemporary Art Museum.  The bottle and carcass are exactly as we found it.  Had it been 200 ft. farther East, it would have had a $20,000 price tag.

Camera: Nikon D700 

Lens: Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.4G

Exposure: ISO 200, f/11 @ 1/800s, handheld

Lighting: Direct daylight 

Location: GPS

Processing: RAW in Lightroom 3, Nik ColorEfex Pro

Tufted Puffin

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Jan and I had an excellent brunch at the Coronado. Afterwards we headed to the zoo and I found myself in an unusual situation: at the zoo without long lens or flash. So in Penguin/Puffin Cove I ran the 24-70mm out to 70mm, cranked the ISO to 3200, and shot at 1/50th at f/2.8 - and hoped for the best.

This young puffin took an interest in me. I'm not sure if it was the lens or the shutter sound, but the bird was intrigued and came very close, sometimes too close to focus.

I had to increase exposure by a stop in lightroom, but the ISO noise is really not bad.

Nikon D3, Nikon 24-70mm, 1/50 @ f/2.8, ISO 3200, Handheld

Hummingbird in Flight

These are aggressive little guys - buzzing around, dive-bombing each other. Need the ISO of Ray's camera to stop his wings. Canon Digital Rebel, ISO 400, f/4.0, 1/100 sec. and taken with Canon's 300 mm f/4 lens.

Bird at Cliff Cave Park

Not sure what type of bird this is ... let me know in the comments! Taken with a Canon Digital Rebel and Canon's 300 mm lens (handheld).

Red-headed woodpecker (in black and white)

This is a woodpecker that I saw Sunday in Powder Valley park. I shot it with my Canon 300 mm "L" lens. That's my only L lens and I had forgotten how good it is (this photo doesn't do it complete justice - I either slighty moved the lens or didn't have the focus right).