Monday, December 10, 2012

Favorites Series VI


I believe I'll end the series with this post. I have more photos I could pick, but I don't wish to belabor the point and we're all going to be busy with the approaching holidays. Choosing photos for this post was the toughest since I knew they would be the last in the series. I hope you've enjoyed the posts and understood my purpose was to share some of my personal favorites and why I like them. It wasn't meant as a bragging exercise.

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I have several photos of female cardinals I really like so it was difficult to choose just one. I like this one because of the feather detail and the overall peaceful look to the shot.




I have two versions of this scene. The one you see here and another with the heron in focus and the gulls blurred. I like them both, but in this photo it is pretty easy to tell the heron is a heron even though it's out of focus. I really like the reflection of the gulls on that narrow patch of ice which isn't as dramatic in the other version because the gulls are out of focus. The distance between the heron and the gulls was actually quite far, but because I used a big lens I was able to compress the distance and make them appear closer.




I have a couple of crow shots that are my personal favorites and it wasn't easy picking which one I was going to post. I like this one because of the way the wing is extended. I think of Ginsu blades. I also like how the crow is looking down and balanced on one leg. Plus, I like the uncluttered look of the photo.




You may or may not have noticed I haven't chosen many landscape or sky photos for the series. As I looked through my shots, I realized there really weren't many that stood out as favorites. Not in the way the wildlife photos do. This storm clouds photo, though, has always been one I really liked. The cloud hanging down in the center looks like a hornets nest which is, ironically, quite appropriate. I also like the area of light near the top and the overall angry look of the clouds.




This is definitely my favorite whitetail deer photo to date even though you can't see much of the deer. I ran into a doe and fawn while out hiking one day and they were curious enough to stick around. The doe walked into the woods and came toward me trying to figure me out. The auto focus was going haywire because of all the branches so I switched to manual and when the doe stopped, I snapped off a few shots. I like how you can see her eyes and ears, but most everything else is covered by the blurry branches. This is a photo where the subject in the center works pretty well.




This photo represents the best shots I have of any bird of prey. I see hawk photos all the time on other blogs, but I rarely see the birds when I'm out, much less get photos of them. This Red-tailed Hawk was sitting in an open field and, if you recall from my original post, I had to pull over and put my camera gear together. I thought for sure the hawk would fly off before I was ready, but it didn't and I got quite a few photos. I like the uncluttered background of the field and the profile of the hawk.




26 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Great set Brian. Truly lovely photography.

Kerri Farley said...

Outstanding! I do hope you will continue next year with more favorites! I LOVE seeing them!!

Deb said...

Your not bragging just sharing your beautiful art with us... I can see why you picked these they are amazing

Elizabeth Edwards said...

just because i'm from VA the cardinal is really my favorite. so gorgeous. great work Brian. hey, any time you wish to share your favorite.... i will enjoy it. no worries. have a great week. ( :

abhinavr said...

All are wonderful! Among them, the photo of deer is a classic. Great job!

Rosemary Aubut said...

Amazing! I can see why the first is your favorite!

Tanya Breese said...

oh my gosh, i don't know which is my favorite, they are all gorgeous!

Amy Burzese said...

All of your shots are my favorites. That bird at the top is beautiful. You do a wonderful job.

Alan Pavey said...

Outstanding Brian :-)

Anonymous said...

Cardinals are my faves, so of course, I'm going to love her... the claws are so tiny & I love that bright red beak & the head feathers.
I didn't know scenes could be compressed like in the 2nd shot... I really must learn more.
I like the wing of the crow, too.
That's one ominous sky & oh so beautiful!
I LOVE the deer shot! I can see the fur in the ear, very cool shot!
And, look at that sharp, pointed beak of the hawk & the color of those feathers. Very nice =)

TexWisGirl said...

ginsu blades made me laugh. :)

i love that sweet female cardinal. the 2nd photo is a view i could look at every day. :) the doe is dreamy - needs to be a wildlife calendar shot.

i hope 2013 you'll start another favorites series.

MTWaggin said...

Awww I'm going to miss your favorites series - and you are entitled to brag but I really like how you tell us why each is a favorite! I like your storm clouds and I have the same issue with the hawks - tons of them around but they don't "play well". The gulls and heron is indeed a neat shot as well. Oh I just like em all!

Pamela Gordon said...

I love the cardinal, the seagulls on the ice, the storm clouds and the deer! The seagulls on the ice is really neat with their reflections. Thanks for sharing all your favourites as I'm sure it was difficult to choose. We're getting our first schools are closed snow storm here today. It's looking very pretty but freezing rain is to follow later in the day. Treacherous driving!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

They are all truly amazing, Brian! My favorite is the cardinal. You can show your favorites anytime. I hope you start them up again in 2013!

Jori said...

Wow! These are incredible! LOVE the cardinal. I keep trying to get a shot of one, but they are too quick for me. That heron with the gulls is also wonderful. You are right, the reflection is awesome! Don't even get me started on that sky! Amazing!

barbara l. hale said...

These are all great and I can see why they are your favorites! I love the female cardinal. Even though they are less flashy than their male counterparts, I think they are more beautiful. And that crow pic! Wow! Of course, I'm biased because crows are my favorite birds.

Bonnie K said...

I thiink the cardinal is my favorite. I love that she looks so peaceful on the thorny branch.

A Colorful World said...

I love all of these so much! They are wonderful!

Shaun said...

Are you sure you haven't done this before?? ha ha ha. Im struggling to find a favorite from your bag of stunning photos. Although i am in awe of that redtail, its a corker. Well done Brian

Lindsjö taxar said...

Hi Brian!!! You are so talented and great...when do you have the exhibiiton :-)
Love the roe...

theconstantwalker said...

Wonderful images Brian... the Cardinal is a bird I probably will never see so many thanks for sharing.

Leenie said...

Photos like these are worth bragging about. It's easy to see you know how to use your equipment and how to be ready with it, then make the opportunity. Good fortune favors the prepared. Like them all for many reasons.

Tammy said...

This is a great set Brian! Awesome shot of the Red-tailed Hawk. The female Cardinal is a beauty also! The stormy skies are very cool also:)

Faye said...

First of all I never perceive you as bragging, Brian. On the contrary, you are very generous and modest about your photography. I learn so much about taking photos from studying your work and reading your observations about a particular shot. This "favorites" series has been a great inspiration to novice photographers like myself. And I echo TexWisGirl, hope there'll be a 2013 series. Thanks!

Nancy J said...

please do this all over again,this is a wonderful series, full of stunning photos, each one ,in my eye, " The Best" The hawk, or the deer??I can see both on a wall,they would captivate any eye for a long long time. Greetings from Jean

Anonymous said...

This is such a wonderful group of photos, Brian. The shot of the deer looking at you through the foliage is just breathtaking.