BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY

STOPS ALONG THE WAY


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COMMON GRACKLE (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)

Common Grackle-1

The common grackle is a member of the blackbird family although larger with iridescent feathering and striking yellow eyes. Grackles are resourceful and opportunistic foragers. The two shots of this grackle were taken moments apart and show the difference a well lit subject can make to a photograph. In the first photo the position of the bird caught the light to advantage, showing off its spectacular colouring; less so in the second example as the bird changed position. However, capturing the bird with a snack in its bill added some interest and made up for the less than perfect lighting.

Common Grackle-2

 


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RACCOON

Raccoon

There are several spots we always check on as we make our way through the woods. The raccoon was having a nap in a tree where we have spotted raccoons before. The tree is located a fair distance off the path in a dark wooded area. Out of camera the shot was a bit grainy (it was taken at a high ISO) and given how far I was from the subject I had to crop the image significantly. I processed the shot with Macphun’s Noiseless Pro and Nik detail extractor. Another issue was the white balance which I corrected in Lightroom.


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MALLARD ON THIN ICE

Mallard on Thin Ice

On the days when the wildlife in the nature reserve makes itself scarce, you can always count on some mallards to show up. They are a lively bunch and I enjoy their antics. While the majority migrate south during the winter months some remain. I took this photograph in mid-November as the ice was just beginning to form on the lake. The duck obliged for a few shots then walked over to an opening in the ice and swam away.


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CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLY (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)

Cabbage White 1

This variety of butterfly is one of the first we see in the spring and remains well into the fall which is one of the reasons I like it so much. I’ve found that cabbage whites often stay in place longer than other butterflies so I’m able to take several shots before they move on to another flower. This butterfly ignored me completely but the bee’s presence certainly got it’s attention. It was a brilliantly sunny day when I took these photos and the flower in the shot was blown out. In order to add some detail and tone down the harshness, I applied a radial mask in Lightroom, inverted it and adjusted the exposure. As both pictures were taken within minutes of each other under identical conditions, I used the copy and paste feature in Lightroom to adjust the white balance, contrast, shadows and exposure. A new tool in my kit.

Cabbage White 2


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NORTHERN CARDINAL

Cardinal

I spotted this cardinal in a dense grove of trees and waited for him to emerge. Away from feeders they are shy birds. Often all you see of them is a flash of crimson in the woods. I took many photographs before I got a clear shot not obscured by branches. The background was closer than I would have liked and a narrower depth of field wouldn’t have made much difference. Despite this I think the brilliant fellow stands out.


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DANCING BEE

Dancing Bee

I was happy to see that the bumblebees were plentiful in our area this year. I never cared much for insects or bugs and bees used to send me running in the opposite direction! However, since I became interested in photography and started observing their behaviour, I learned that when left undisturbed bees tend to ignore everything around them and just go about their business. I love the challenge of trying to photograph insects in flight, anticipating their movements. Taken at 200mm, at 1/640th of a second I managed to capture the bee in motion. I made contrast, shadow and exposure adjustments in Lightroom and sharpened and enhanced detail in Photoshop.


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SINGLE-MINDED HERON

Great Blue Heron

This is my first blog post.  I picked up a camera several years back as I thought it would add to my enjoyment of exploring the trails and green spaces that exist outside my front door.  It has done that and so much more.  Looking at the natural world through the lens of a camera gives me a new appreciation of light, context, detail and the story of the creatures I photograph.  I do my editing in Lightroom and Photoshop. Photography has meant learning new skills, all part of the journey.  I hope to see you along the way.

About the photo: the Great Blue Heron arrives in Ottawa as soon as the ice melts and usually remains until the ice returns. These birds were not seen in large numbers this year so when I caught sight of this heron I was pretty pleased. I was able to take a lot of shots as the bird was focussed on finding a meal. The conditions were ideal.  I stood on a small bridge close by which put me at eye level with the heron wading in the rushes.  The bird, the warm sunshine … I couldn’t ask for much more.