2011-06-27

ISO 400, f/5.3, 1/160s, 18-55mm lens with 10X macro filter

Three of our caterpillars formed their chrysalises while we were away, so this is our last one left so far.  He's getting huge also.  It is hard to believe he was this tiny when we first brought him home.  He will be forming his chrysalis in the next day or so.  Soon we will have beautiful Monarch butterflies!

2011-06-26

ISO 200, f/8, 1/320s, 18-105mm lens

This photo is also from the 25th because I literally only took one photo on the 26th on the way home from Massachusetts and it didn't turn out very well through the van window.  :)  Exhaustion will do that, I guess.

This photo shows all the dead jellyfish along the coast at Quincy Bay, MA.  We had to be careful walking around so we didn't step on them and all their squishyness.  :)  I really only took this photo to show my son, Nick, because he likes stuff like this.  :)

2011-06-22

ISO 1600, f/8, 1/40s, 18-105mm lens

While walking around our property tonight, I noticed this little bird struggling among some trees/brush.  The kids took on the challenge of trying to catch it to see why it was struggling.  I was very surprised when they succeeded.  They put it in a big cardboard box and gave it some bird seed, which it refused to eat.  It just wanted out of the box.  They only kept him captive for a few minutes.  (Mean mom wouldn't let them keep it.)  :)  He managed to fly into some nearby pine trees where he stayed for quite a while.  I haven't researched what kind of bird it is yet, so if you happen to know, you could save me some time by leaving a comment.  :)  I thought it might be a juvenile robin?

2011-06-18

ISO 800, f/8.0, 1/800, 18-105mm lens

Yeah, I probably should have lowered my ISO, but I had to move quickly to capture this mama turkey and her two babies on the bike trail this morning.  So glad I decided to bring my camera along.  Although I do wish now that I had brought the 55-200mm zoom lens.  As it was, I really had to crop to get them this close.  If I crop anymore, they just get fuzzy.  :(

2011-05-28

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/60s, 18-105mm lens

My boys are always finding some critter to show me.  This morning when I returned from my run, Nick was so excited to show me a toad.  Apparently the dog tried to eat him, but realized that toads don't taste very good and spit him out.  Which is a good thing because I read that toads can make dogs really sick.  Oh, and Nick's hand is so dirty because he's been digging for worms all morning since we're going fishing later.  Besides, aren't all little boy's hand dirty?  :)

2011-05-22

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600s, 18-105mm lens

Finally caught a bumble bee in flight!  But you can only see one wing clearly.  I guess it is because of the angle and my aperture.  Anyway, he was going absolutely crazy on these azaleas.  Look at all that pollen he collected!

2011-05-13

ISO 3200, f/4.0, 1/10s, 55-200mm lens

I am sick with strep throat today, so the camera stayed put.  This photo is from our zoo trip on Tuesday.  I know it is a little blurry, but I still thought it was cool looking.  Hopefully next time we go to the zoo, it won't be so busy and I'll get to take more time photographing in the aquarium.


Hoping to be around to visit everyone tomorrow!  Between enjoying the beautiful weather and now being sick (not to mention Blogger being down most of yesterday), I haven't been visiting.  But there is a lot of rain in the forecast :( ... so I'll be over to visit soon!

2011-05-10

ISO 400, f/9, 1/320s, 55-200mm lens (SOOC except for sharpening and cropping slightly)

My friend, Laura, invited Alex and me to join her family at the Pittsburgh Zoo today.  It was a beautiful day and we had a very nice time.  The elephants are my favorite part of the zoo.

(BTW, Laura has some incredible photos on her blog of another local zoo.  Go check them out!)

2011-05-04

ISO 400, f/5.3, 1/500s, D3100 w/55-200mm lens

On the way home from preschool today, we drove past a local water reservoir, as we often do ... looking for geese and other birds and seeing how high/low the water is.  We saw what we think is a Blue Heron as we drove over the bridge, so we parked the car, I changed to my 55-200mm zoom lens, and we quietly walked back to the bridge.  However, we weren't quiet enough because he flew away before I could even get a shot off (too many bushes/trees in the way).  So we went back to the car disappointed.  

While I was putting my camera back in the bag, Alex says, "Look Mommy!" because this little guy had appeared in the woods right beside where we were parked.  I believe it is a Ruffed Grouse, which is Pennsylvania's state bird.  He was pretty curious about us as we sat there for a few minutes and watched him and took pictures.  When I finally started my car to leave, he quickly made his way over to check us out.  I had to wait to drive away until I could see him again, as he had gone in front of/under my car.  I thought that was odd. You would think the car starting would have sent him running.  Anyway, I was excited that he came so near because I got some really close shots of him.

2011-04-14

ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/160s, D3100 w/55-200mm lens

Alex and I went for a walk down to our neighbor's pond again today.  While there we saw this beautiful Canadian goose swimming in the pond.  I thought it was strange that he was there alone since Canadian geese don't typically travel alone.  After a few minutes I happened to glance over and saw ...

ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/160s, D3100 w/55-200mm lens

 this Mama goose sitting on a nest right beside the pond.   As you can see, she doesn't look too happy to see us.  She sat like this the entire time we were there ... giving me the evil eye.



ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/160s, D3100 w/55-200mm lens
But Papa goose stayed pretty close to her while we were there ... doing a good job protecting her and the eggs.  We plan to check back frequently to hopefully catch a glimpse of the goslings.

(And, yes, I realize that I'm breaking my one-photo-a-day rule.  But there was a story to be told.  Thanks for your patience.)  :)


Linking up with Texture Thursday.  Lots of texture going on with the feathers, nest, leaves, and seaweed on the pond.  :)