2019 Year End Review

Well, another year has come and passed.  This year has been a different year photographically.  I have shot way more sports than I have anything else.  This is due to kids being involved in way more sports than usual.  I don't share those as those are for me mostly, but it's awesome to try and compare your shots to those in the sports illustrated magazine.  Someday, I will reach another goal of shooting a Nebraska game.  While I didn't get to shoot as much wildlife and sunsets as before, it was rewarding just the same.  I am also noticing from my review that I shot a lot of birds this year which is surprising as I view myself as more of a landscape first type of photographer.

I also began something that I have been dreaming of doing since I was a kid, shooting deep sky objects and trying to document my own Messier catalog.  I have tried many subjects and am still learning, but it is a joy to see Andromeda and other wonders of night sky taken with my camera on screen.  It is really something completely different to process and I am still learning, but am looking forward to getting better and producing some amazing night sky shots.

I also started a new Instagram group of Nebraska for everyone.  All types of photos are welcome.  Please visit Its_Awesome_Nebraska. Please tag it or use the hashtags noted to be featured.

As always, follow me on the socials:
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TWIP Raptors and Foliage at Fontenelle

Warning...massive photo post!!!

Last weekend a couple of photographer friends and I made our way to Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue for a walk about.  I had never been, so I thought it would be a very interesting to say the least.  One of the things I really wanted to see was the Raptor Recovery of the area.  I have seen many demonstrations of the magnificent birds they have at the location, but never actually visited.  This was a great opportunity.  

Carrying my trust camera I was able to capture some fun images of the birds and also happened to catch a couple of interesting finds along the walking trail of the wilderness as well.  

Taking photos of the birds was a little difficult as most that have tried can tell you, that you have to take the photos through a cage.  The rule of thumb is the closer you get your lens to the cage, the less you see.  So I used a telephoto as close to the cage as allowable to get these shots of the birds.  While the birds are located in a cage, you don't get the beautiful backgrounds and sweeping skies that go with most of the wildlife photos, but you do get the opportunity to see close up what these birds actually look like.  Looking into their eyes, you get a sense of their personality.  

Here are a couple shots from Raptor Recovery followed by a couple of nature shots from around the forest.

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.