TWIP Canon Telephoto Taking on Butterflies

My vehicle has been having trouble for a couple weeks, so I decided to try and play mechanic and fix it.  So far so good.  I decided to run to Heron Haven on my drive around town to make sure everything was working, and thought it was about butterfly season...just maybe there would be some there.

Well, I wasn't as lucky as I thought I would be but I did see my three favorite midwestern flyers.  I saw a monarch butterfly, a black swallowtail, and a tiger swallowtail.  I was able to catch up to and capture the first two but the latter always was one step ahead of me.  He would either be out of the butterfly garden or inside, depending on where I was not.  He was sneaky to say the least.  I did get another photo to add to my collection of flowers.  I have something planned for those, so all was not lost.

Today, I shot butterflies with the Canon 300mm f/4L IS and my 6D.  I really like the clean crisp files of the 6D over any other camera I have and from initial reviews, may stick with this for at least one more camera iteration.  While the new 6D has all of the focus fixes I was looking for, I just love the images that come from the 6D sensor.  Taking photos of butterflies with a Telephoto lens like the 300 can be a challenge.  You have to be a little ways back from them, so there has to be a lot of room to move.  The bonus is you can be a ways back from them and let them do their thing.  I prefer it this way as I don't like to disturb nature when photographing it.  Shooting the photos of the flowers held a whole new issue, but I won't go into that.

Enough talk, here are some photos.

As you can see, the swallowtail seem to be a pecking piece for the nearby birds.  Poor guy is missing half of his cool wings.

TWIP Creating A Solar Filter DIY

I looked on line for solar filters for the upcoming eclipse and they were either top of the line filters that I would probably only use once in my lifetime or super cheap that got horrible reviews.  So, I started looking around at DIY possibilities.  I came across a guy that had built his own using a pair of UV filters and an order of solar paper.  He actually cut the paper and stuck it in between two UV filters, no glue.  (That could work, but I didn't want Vignette, but in hind sight, probably wouldn't have matter as it is going to be crazy dark anyway.)  I looked online and located a sheet of solar paper that was made by the same brand as a lot of the filters out there and decided to give it a go myself with a slightly modified idea.

Here is what you need:

I'll put a link to where I got these at the bottom of the post. If you get the 6x6 should be around $22.

Sheet of solar filter paper - I purchased the 12x12 sheet, however, I am planning on making three of these so I needed extra space.  

Step up filter ring - My lens has a front element of 77mm.  I decided to get the biggest step up I could find to have ample space for miscues.  I haven't been in kindergarten for a while and haven't practiced cutting with scissors in some time.  

Super Glue - preferably one with the little paint brush inside so you can just paint on the glue to the extra space of the ring.  

Now time to spend the 5 minutes and make one.

Do not take your filter paper out of the cardboard.  If you do, it is going to suck.  

The filter paper is neatly placed inside of two pieces of cardboard and you are going to use that to hold the paper in place as you cut.  It will make it easier and you will not fingerprint the heck out of the paper.  Finger prints are really hard to get off solar paper without causing other damage.

How I made mine.  

I took the step up filter and drew a circle around the filter on the cardboard as a cut out guide.  When you cut around the filter, be sure that the papers doesn't sneak out of the cardboard.  You also want to cut inside your circle a little ways as remember, you are putting it inside that circle.  

Next, take you put on some gloves or use a piece of lens cloth to remove the filter from the cardboard.  Place it in the filter to make sure that it is still not too big.  If so, trim accordingly.    Now that you have your paper and filter ready to go, it is time to start the gluing process.

I spaced my glue around the filter and didn't do a continuous path.  Not sure if that was the right route, but it is the one I took.  Now time to place the paper on the filter.  Make sure that the mirror side of the paper is facing out.  It will be the side that faces the sun.  Place the paper into the step up ring and let it dry for 10 or 15 minutes.  Please keep in mind that if you don't get the paper flat and smooth before it drys, you can take if back off and try again.  It comes off pretty easy.  Once dry, screw it onto your camera and go give it a shot.

Short story.  I attempted to wipe off the fingerprints while it was on the filter and it buckled which is why it looks like a bubble on the front of the filter.  Don't do that.  Use the lens cloth as instructed and you should be good.  Also, be careful with the filter as you can move, pop off, or smudge the paper.  The glue doesn't hold super strong.

 

SOLAR FILTER PAPER

77mm to 95mm STEP UP RING

TWIP - Who Knew Opossums Like Pizza Hut

So, I was lazy and set the pizza box on the deck table with a couple pieces of crust left over.  A few hours later we heard rustling on the deck.  The dogs and I were confused, so we went to check it out.  Much to our surprise was a visitor finishing off the leftovers.  You wouldn't believe how we were no more than 7 or 8 feet from each other, me and the drooling canines behind the patio door and him just hanging out on the table.  This baby opossum continued his meal watching our every move as I snapped away.  Once he finished up, he climbed off the table, left the deck and over the fence.  

That time at Heron Haven

An adventure to Heron Haven this spring revealed some very interesting little creatures.  I was initially going to view the baby goslings but their mommies were a little more aggressive than I wanted to deal with being with my 4 year old.  We kept our distance and instead investigated snails, frogs, and turtles.  I didn't come very equipped, just my trusty 300mm f/4 so macro photos were very challenging.  I think we had a good adventure and learned a few things as well.

TWIP Steam Trains are COOL!

Having missed the first trip to town for the College World Series by a mere 2 minutes, I made sure I was in my spot in plenty of time to see the famous 844 steam engine of Union Pacific on its way back home.  Scouting spots along the railway turned out to be a good thing instead of the usual fly by the pants approach I tend to make most of the time when shooting things.  I reviewed spots along the line to get the best location, with little to no distractions in the background, and off the beaten path.  The first time around, there were cars lining the roadway and I knew this time wouldn't be any different as this was happening on a weekend instead of late during a work week.  That meant everyone and their dog with a camera were going to be out.  

I grabbed a location where it was a semi straight away just off the main road by a railroad crossing.  This way, as they were approaching the crossing they would have to blow the steam whistle.  This would cause steam to shoot up into the air from the front of the train.  I knew that it was warm, so the steam coming off the engine wouldn't be as dramatic as some of the photos everyone has seen as these are usually in the fall and winter when the weather is very cool.

So, I turned down my road and already there were multiple cars, video cameras, and kids hanging out to see the train. Luckily they were just off the main road and not in the area I wanted to be.  Pulling to my location, a couple other seasoned train photographers were there waiting as well.  Finding my spot, opposite of the others due to the clutter of the background, I set up the tripod, video, and got my telephoto ready to shoot.  Not knowing what to expect as this was my first time trying to shoot this engine, I didn't know of the speed or rate in which I was going to get an opportunity.

You can see from the video, this baby came fast.  I didn't have nearly as much time as I planned for  and the blew the horn a little sooner than I thought as well.  However, I came home with 3 shots that I am really happy with.  I have included those below.  

Canadian Wildfires

I have been reading about the Canadian Wildfires and it appears that there is no end in sight for the trouble and struggles they are going through up there.  We have seen many of the after effects with many days of sub par air quality due to the jet stream bringing the smoke into our area.  One of the only positives I can think of that has come from the fires is the amazing sunsets we have been receiving here at home.  I have compiled a couple of photos from the past couple of weeks to document the smoke and haze which has invaded the area.

The photos below were taken with a variety of lenses and circumstances.  Some were taken during a very smokey day, while other were taken with just a hint of it on the horizon.  I have tried my best to document the beauty the sky has brought, but remember the situation that those to our north are dealing with.  May they receive relief soon.

To view more photos from the amazing sunsets this situation has brought us, visit my website at AlderImages.com.

Duckings

I've been caught up in so many other things that I have neglected my blog for the last couple of weeks.  A friend of mine said there were some ducklings messing around in a pond that had been drained close to his office, so I had to go have a look.  I'm sure glad I did.  These little guys were really enjoying the safety and freedom the secluded area provided.  There was plenty of grass and moss to feed them for a while.  They were hopping in and out of the water and exploring.  Jumping in the mud and blowing bubbles all under Mom's watchful eye.  One thing I noticed is they sure do like the mud.  View more of the little guys on my website http://www.alderimages.com/wildlifeinnature.  Thanks for looking! Enjoy and share!  Thank you again to Derrald for showing me the little guys and letting me try your bazooka.  You can view his photos at http://www.journeyoflight.com/blog/2015/05/29/photo-friday-ducklings/

Raptor Season

It technically isn't raptor season as they are around all year long.  I consider this raptor season based on the ease of seeing these beautiful creatures.  With the trees free of leaves that usually camouflage these majestic animals, they are easy to spot and sometimes easy to photograph.  This particular Red-Tail had taken a rest while scanning for his next meal on a tree very close to the main parking lot at Standing Bear Lake.  I stopped in a parking stall to show my youngest this amazing creature since he is very into wildlife.  I was only able to snap a couple of photos of him as he saw something right as I was firing off a few.  Not being prepared for the encounter, I only had my camera on continuous shooting instead of high speed.  3 frames per second compared to 8 really limits the amount of captures to get that perfect picture.  Even with shooting 3 frames, I was still able to capture the shots that I wanted.  Hope you enjoy!  

As always, if you would like to see a bigger version of this photo, click on the photo to be taken to my website at Alder Images.  

First Blue Jay

I have captured many Blue Jays before, but never in my front yard.  I have often set food out waiting to see these beautiful yet bossy birds.  It took snow for one of them to finally find his way here.  I didn't want to chance him flying away before I got my camera on him, so I ended up taking this through the front door window.  It definitely degrades the photo from what the bare glass of my lens would have done, but it still turned out pretty good with a little deeper post-processing.

Birds of a Feather

I spilled some seed in the yard filling while making a DIY bird feeder with the littlest.  The snow came through and the spillage was covered.  Yesterday, it was finally warm enough for the snow to melt ever so slightly.  It sure didn't take long for the scavengers to stop by and start cleaning it up.  I even caught glimpse of a Blue Jay.  I haven't had one of these in my yard as long as I can remember.  All I needed was a Cardinal, but I think they have moved from the neighborhood for the winter.  Who knows, maybe they will be here tomorrow.

The first couple birds are Dark-Eyed Junco.  They are usually around all winter long and are pretty cool little birds.  They are very skittish however and very difficult to get your lens on up close.  The others are House Sparrows which are much more comfortable with people.  They may fly away at the slightest movement, but if you sit still they will make their way back to the food.

As always, if you would like to see a bigger version of this photo, click on the photo to be taken to my website at Alder Images.

Super Moon 2014

I told myself that I wasn't going to give in to the pressure of photographing the Super Moon this time around.  I have taken photos of the gigantic moon in the past and have always come out with some results that just made me yawn.  Nothing was too exciting about it.  Last night the dog was taking a little longer than normal to get ready for bed and I had my camera right inside the door so what do you do.

Here are a couple snaps to satisfy this years Super Moon fix.  Now if I could somehow keep myself awake enough to try and catch the meteor shower.

Click on the photos to be taken to my website to view larger.