Flocks of these sparrows passed through our area last fall before migrating south. I find them a challenge to photograph as they forage in the underbrush often in large groups. They don’t remain in one spot for long either and all seem to take off at once. So I was happy to spot this individual in the open and he stuck around just long enough for me to take this shot.
We’re lucky to have very distinct seasons but I think fall is my favourite. The changing of the leaves can make for wonderful photo opportunities. When I sat down to process this photo I cropped it quite closely to highlight the goose. I continued with my usual edits but wasn’t happy with the results. Looking at the photo again I knew that the goose wasn’t the subject of the photo, but an important element of it. The colour, the light, and the mood the scene evoked were key.
It seemed like a long wait last spring before we finally saw the young appear. We came upon this gosling in late May. He had swum over to the log and it seems we spotted each other at the very same instant. He was a distance from the adults so I was glad that he had climbed up onto the log. The lake can be a dangerous place for the new born with its fair share of snapping turtles and mink. Shortly after I took this shot he swam off to join his parents!
We had been watching the pileated woodpeckers excavate the nesting hole for several weeks. Seeing the male chip away from the inside was a sign that the work was almost complete. Later in the summer we saw three chicks pop their heads through the opening (subject for a future post). These woodpeckers are striking birds and hard to miss given their loud calls and the drumming sounds they make as they drill away at trees. The woodpecker in these photos was in a dense stand of trees so it was impossible to move in close. As he was intent on his task I had time to find an opening in the branches to get some clear shots. It’s always a good day when you come across these birds in the woods!
Walking along one of our favourite trails we came across some photographers with their cameras pointed upwards. If there had been no one else on the trail we would have walked right by as the owl was silent and its colouring provided perfect camouflage. The eastern screech is a small owl with a big head and almost no neck and it seemed to fit snuggly in the cavity of the tree. Out of camera the owl and tree were quite dark. I made contrast and shadow adjustments and added luminance to give more definition to the sky (all done in Lightroom) to show off this fine little bird.
The mallard’s mates were out of site and she captured my attention alone on the log. I took this shot just as the duck had taken a drink from the lake, I think she looks kind of wistful! I made some contrast and exposure adjustments in Lightroom to brighten the photograph and enhanced the detail in Nik.
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.
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.
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.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 