Hank – Page 82

March 27, 2010January 14, 2013

Trumpeter Swan (Photo of the week)

Trumpeter Swan and Juvenile — A trumpeter swan spreads its wings in a green, wetland field.

On a recent trip up to Seattle, my wife and I came across a large green field full of resting trumpeter swans on their way up north during spring migration. With around 200 swans, their honking created quite a din.

Reaching a wing span of 8 feet and weighing as much as 30 pounds, these are North America’s largest native bird. Like many large birds, trumpeter swans were hunted close to extinction in the 1920’s, primarily used for their feathers with which to decorate women’s hats. At one point, the world’s known population had fallen to 69 birds. Due to conservation efforts, the species population as grown to about 34,000 birds today.

March 22, 2010January 14, 2013

Ocean Dawn (Photo of the week)

Winter and early spring is a great time to shoot sunrise out at the coast – there are fewer mornings of the dense fog common in the summer. It can be quite frustrating to get out of bed 1 to 1 1/2 hours before sunrise (it is best to be in place at least 30 minutes before sunrise), drive out to the coast, only to find a thick marine layer obscuring your view and all of the good light. However, those special mornings when everything seems to click make it all worth the effort.

Realistically, many people only shoot sunsets, and usually only serendipitously. It can be a great way to capture being in a special place at a special time. The next time you see a beautiful sunset, take a few moments to point your lens at your surroundings, especially if the western horizon is clear of clouds. Sometimes the most glorious (reflected) light will be directly behind you.

March 15, 2010January 14, 2013

City By The Bay (Photo of the week)

Note: Click image below to view a larger size.

This week’s photo is a slight departure from the usual natural history themed shot. This panorama of San Francisco was taken from the Marin Headlands with a 400mm telephoto lens. Shots were taken vertically and stitched together, creating an image in excess of 70 megapixels. A low fog had settled over the bay, hiding the water and giving the city the look of floating, as it so often has.

This image worked well as a black and white, as the tonality of the fog below the city and the sky above matched well, balancing the top and bottom of the image. The high contrast of the buildings partnered with the natural feathering provided by the fog is reminiscent of a pencil sketch.

March 7, 2010January 14, 2013

Meal Time (Photo of the week)

This week’s photo was taken last month in Moss Landing, California. Sea otters can frequently be seen here floating in the small harbor, usually eating or grooming. This area is also home to the Elkhorn Slough – famous for its many birding opportunities. The Elkhorn Slough Foundation boasts a checklist of 346 species of resident and migratory birds.

Sea otters are fascinating to watch due to their displays of anthropomorphism and (sometimes comical) interactions with each other. By floating on their backs as they eat, they appear very relaxed and laid back. I always imagine a big smile on their face, as if they are about to tell a great joke.