Random Useppa Shots

As I am posting four images today, I am skipping the exif panels.

The first is a sunrise over the "beach". This is not on the Gulf, so the sand has been imported.



Number 2 is looking through the restaurant window shortly after sunrise.



Using a laptop without a calibrated monitor is frustrating. I really do not know what the viewer is seeing as far as color and tone.

The last two are of a VERY nice house on the waterfront. I tried to get the pathway as a leading line, but this made me include some sky that is nearly blown out.



I had to move to the right and lose the winding path to get rid of the sky.



Bob

The Osprey Place

Useppa Island has its share of Ospreys. Many seem almost tame. Often when I shoot Ospreys overhead, I am surprised to see that they are looking right at me. I mean RIGHT at me. And they don't seem to like what they see.










Bob

One Good Tern Deserves Another

Now here's a mug shot if ever there was one. This is obviously a Tern, I THINK a Royal Tern. In any event, these guys are niosy!





Bob

Fishing Pier - Sundown

Yea! My first post made from a different location. We're on our boat at Useppa Island, FL. there is have WiFi in the main cabin - Life is Good.

Here are two versions of the Venice Fishing Pier at sundown. If anyone actually sees this post, I would really like to know which version you like best (or hate least).









Thanks.

Bob

Patriotic?

Here is the flag at the Venice Fishing Pier in the late afternoon. I liked the lighting on the flag, that seems selective. Surrounding lighting is just blah.





This is the first post using my laptop. It is SLOW compated to the relatively new desktop. I'll be on the road for the next week, so I will just have to get used to it.

Bob

Another Pelican

Another pleasure of shooting into back lit subjects is the unexpected translucency of some materials. Numerous files have feathers that are translucent. I did not notice this while photographing, and I probably would not see it in a video. This is the power of the still image.





Bob

Watching it Go

I am really enjoying the just-before-sunset shots. Getting someone in front of the setting sun makes a nice back lighting effect, and flare is minimized.





As the sun almost disappears, the sun blockers are not needed.





I'll be looking for other ways to capture a sunset without blowing out the entire image.

Bob

The Juvenile

At the Venice Rookery, Juvenile Great Blue Herons are beginning to fly. This ones Mom forgot to tell him (her) to straighten the neck. It's hard to believe that one can fly in that position.





Bob

The Evening Band

On Tuesday evenings, a musical group often plays at the Venice Beach Pavilion, drawing a nice crowd.





The late afternoon light works well, sifting through the pavilion shadows.





Bob

Sundown Pelicans (Part 1)

Photographing pelicans into the sun has been fun.





I just kept clicking as they flew near, or in front of, the sun - hoping that something would be in focus. The back lighting created interesting effects. Some birds were surrounded by a halo, while others has splashes of sunlight reflecting off of various body parts. I've got quite a few variations.





Bob

Strawberry Rose

The mature blooms from this rosebush aren't all that pretty. But, I liked this bud, so I got out the trusty spray bottle and went to work. After downloading into the computer, I realized how the water droplets make this look like a strawberry. To me, anyway.





I will probably try some sort of filter on this bud to get a different effect.

Bob

Two More Birdies

A Venice Camera Club member, GH, is trying his best to teach me about the joy of shooting the little birdies. Well, I'll do my best, but 300 mm doesn't buy you much in this game.

This Kingfisher was in the next county: I had to crop the daylights out of this file. They are known for being very fast and skiddish, so this is probably the best that I'll get for a while. Maybe a long while.





I have several shots of Killdeer walking in grass. They really are IN the grass and they're difficult (for me) to isolate. I was very lucky to catch one in flight. The double collar makes identification easy.





Bob

Last From the Rookery Shoot

This is one of the technically better Great Blue Heron in-flight shots that I've gotten.





I don't know what this little fellow is.





Bob

Jack Be Nimble...

Once you've gotten a few decent Great Blue Heron pictures, I guess that the challenge is to capture funny/compromising positions. Well, here is one.





It's not exactly a candlestick, but I wouldn't want my jump to be short.

Bob

Goooo...GATORS!

Bob

Last From the Beach

OK, here's the last from this shoot. That's the good thing about my vow to only use photos captured within the past week. A week rolls by pretty quickly. Time to get out clicking again.









More and more I enjoy back lighting. It is a challenge to find opportunities without TOO much lens flash.

Bob