A few more Least Terns (flight and nesting).

[Canon_Bob]

Hi All,

Our rainy season is definitely upon us here in Soutwest Florida. Definitely makes for interesting photography outings. These images were captured in heavy morning fog. Most folks would've gone back home, but I always look at difficult conditions as an opportunity to practice and hone skills. Anyone can capture great images when condiditons are perfect, but good photographers learn how to "make" great images when the conditions are less than perfect. I like the white on white flight shots here. They were not easy to get, and may not be comparable to some of my best stuff under perfect conditions...but I love the results based on the conditions and technique required to pull off the shots.

[CaraRose]

Wow.

That first one is great, Bob. I actually think the grey/white sky aids in the shot, because it makes the darker tips of the feathers really stand out.

I feel bad for the cute minnow in the third shot though, because I'm a sentimental sucker

[Eric D]

Nice shots with the white backgrounds......but that last one is awesome.

[AgingEyes]

Love the first and the third one. Especially the third one...talk about ATTITUDE,

[Canon_Bob]

The third one is actually kinda funny in it's true context. Basically, when one Tern is on the nest (note the egg in the lower right corner), the other goes out and brings back food for the one on the egg. In this case, the mate waited on the egg for a long time, and finally got tired and took off on her own to find some food. Shortly after she left, our hero here showed up with breakfast! I'm not sure that look is "attitude", or "uh-oh....I'm in deep **** now!". Anyway, he ate the fish, sat on the egg, and next thing you know, she came back with a big fish and gave it to him!

[Loupey]

Great imagery as usual, Bob.

I love the third one (although not technically as challenging as the other two) for the delicate way the fish (pipefish?) is being held and the pristene condition of the fish itself.

Very unlike the gulls with emerald minnows that are the usual sight on the Great Lakes.

[paulnj]

It takes alot of know how to get those images in that situation. Awesome shots as always Bob.

[SARtech]

wow... nice! I'm glad I'm not you because I would need a HUGE house with HUGE walls to put up my "great" shots.

[Canon_Bob]

wow... nice! I'm glad I'm not you because I would need a HUGE house with HUGE walls to put up my "great" shots.

LOL - This may freak some folks out, but the fact is that I don't have a single one of my images on display in my home. In fact, I didn't own a printer, and I had never even printed one of my images until I won that really nice Canon printer in the Canon contest last year! I've had that printer for 6 months now, and have used it to print about 4 or 5 images (which I signed and gave to other people!). Most of my friends, family, and co-workers don't even know I'm a photographer!

For me, the fun is in the creation! I really don't dwell on the things I've already created....I just want to move on to the next! I know that seems really weird. I do have a website (that is always many months out-of-date), and I do put together an Acrobat "slide show" quarterly that I carry on a thumb drive, so when I get the occasional request from someone to see my most recent work, and can show them that small quarterly sampler. I do sell my images through stock photography agencies, but they are mostly used for editorial purposes, textbooks, etc.. Rarely ever do I sell an avian image as fine art. I may have jsut not found the proper representation yet, and I'm still looking for that side of my photography to emerge.

Now, it's obviously coming out more now because of some high profile attention to some of my imagery, but it's actually very awkward for me! I don't do this for fame or fortune. I do this for the theraputic and relaxation purposes of allowing my creative side to create! Nothing more. I compete within myself, always trying to improve. Photography to me is almost Zen-like.

My workplace has found out about my photography (thanks to the Canon contest), and has made a big deal of it. I work for a large multi-billion dollar retail chain (1000+ stores nationwide), and they have a full blown production center that prints all the catalogs, etc.. They have now printed (with permission, of course) and are displaying some of my work in GIGANTIC prints. In the 4 years I've worked here, no one really had any idea that I was a photographer. Even the ones who knew had never seen my work. Now I get e-mails and comments all the time from people who see the display. It's nice, and I appreciate the compliments...but it is a bit awkward just the same. My day job has nothing to do with photography!

I just don't make a big deal of it, and always look at my past images as "been there...done that". I just keep trying to make better ones. I compete with myself, and always push to be better than the last image I captured.

I post some of my images on a few forums just to get some critique/feedback from other photographers, and to set an example and share techniques with others who are learning. I always study the work of great photographers (not to emulate, per se, but to examine the details of how they achieved the effect of an image). I am an old film photographer who was a late convert to digital. I used to specialize in landscape, and special effects (night) photogroaphy in my film days. What I do have is a very good understanding of photographic theory (as I learned in an all-manual world of cameras). My biggest weakness by far is my underdeveloped skills in post processing (something which I am addressing now through a rigourous self-training process). I am also VERY new to wildlife photography! Most people don't know that just 2 short years ago, I couldn't tell you the name of most of the birds I photograph....let alone the intricate details like head angle, light angle, catchlight, POV, etc... These are all new skills to me, learned within the past 2 years. Basically, my images are pretty much the way they came out of the camera, because I lack the skills yet to make them better thought post processing! I think that just goes to show that it's probably more important to know HOW to take a picture than it is to know how to FIX a picture :-)

I guess I post this just to let even the newest of beginners know that you are only limited by your own drive and attitude. You can become as good as you want in a fairly short period of time if you're willing to swallow your ego, study the work of others who YOU feel are better than yourself, open yourself up to honest critique (there are forums which specialize in this), and don't be discouraged by what anyone else thinks of your work. Passion will drive you to excellece if you don't let anyone else effect you. Push yourself. If you feel "comfortable" in your photography, then you are not growing. Rejections from stock photography agencies DRIVE me, they don't discourage me. I only have a 75% acceptance rate (up from 40% 18 months ago) at the various agencies I contribute to. They are BRUTALLY honest to say thre least. Last, but most important....Don't be too hard on yourself. I love photography, and look forward to it every weekend.

[SARtech]

Wow Bob, except for, in my opinion, superb quality photography, and the fact that no agencies will even accept my images, we have much in common...

I too am an old film shooter. I sold cameras for many years in a camera shop and its only been the last year or so that I have gotten into wildlife photography.

I also work for a large arts and crafts chain (the largest) at one of their DC warehouses. They've seen my work on my desktops and comment... "you should do this for a living!" (LOL). "Why don't you shoot weddings?" Oh, ya... give me MORE stress!

Shooting wildlife is zen-like for me too. I think I would have a nervous breakdown if I didn't have my 2nd job on Sundays where I shoot most of the time.

I feel stuck now because I'm hitting somekind of wall with the quality. I need more magnification, but can't afford it and I'm still frustrated with grain. Oh well, I'm still having fun and someday something will "click" (excuse the expression) and I will obtain the quality I see from you everytime I view your work. :thumbsup:

Oh, there is one other difference between us... I'm in the process of trying to pick out 4 of my best shots to enlarge for my walls. After my divorce years ago, I'm still working on my self esteem and insecurity. I even think that the reason I post on here is yes, to get feedback that helps me (and it has!), but also to get pats on the back honestly. So, putting some of my goodies on the wall to remind me that I can do something fairly well is my reason... as vein as it might be.

Thanks Bob for all of your awesome photos and help. Below is one of my shots that I'm going to blow-up-really-really-big!

[Martin Brazil]

First off, beautiful pictures, especially the first in my opinion. Thanks for the words of encouragement too Bob.
I understand exactly where you are SARtech, I'm in the same place regarding my photography. I am starting to get a little frustrated with my set up, I need more reach (300mm at the moment) and more lens speed. The problem, as always, is not having $10,000 sitting around to lay out on a top quality lens. I am hoping that by trying to work around my equipment limitations my technique is slowly improving.