Hare today

I went out on Sunday for a few hours, hoping for birds or a deer. But I spotted, and was spotted by, this nosey little chap. I had seen him mooching around some trees and positioned myself in the only clear path available. Still quite cluttered however.

A lesson in flexibility

I will not fib, I tend to overlook that which does not interest me. Take landscapes for example, I began taking pictures because of them. Waterfalls and the hills of Yorkshire, breathtaking scenery which had me going back every week, for more. Then my old love came back to haunt me, wildlife. I used to draw things from books and watch Survival and Life on Earth on TV, I loved it. Now I have the chance to not only capture but to see first hand natures beauty. But this constant desire for living things has meant I don't use half the lenses I own, nor the filters and remote release cables...

So stood atop a viewpoint in Mauritius, admiring the Chamarel Falls (despite the lack of water), I had to think back on how I took a wide shot. Low ISO, mirror lockup, f16!!! Even got the old CPL out and blew off some dust. Need to frame with foreground, middle and background. I even got some clouds to gather to finish things off ;)

Never leave home without it

Whilst in Mauritius we spent a few hours at Pamplemousses botanical garden. Of course, I did not want to lug the 300 2.8 around if all we were doing was looking at trees. But my other (better) half convinced me to take it, after all I had lugged half way around the globe (well, nearly). So I did and boy was I glad I did.

7D, 300 2.8 IS

Not only have I never seen an Amazonian lilly pad, I have never seen a green-backed heron on an Amazonian lilly pad. Come to think of it I have never seen a green-back heron before.

Just one shot

I visited my small spot in the forest today, leave some seeds and fat out for the birds. On my way back, fortunate to have the 7D and 500 with me, I managed one quick shot before the roe deer was off. 

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate grass? ;)

All inclusive

As a wildlife tog I am always looking to take a new species, or an old one in a new way. Recently on holiday I had to get up really early to find time, family comes first, to look around the hotel and area. Birds were in abundance but mostly sparrows and minahs, and mostly they were in the dining room stealing from your plate! But those early morning strolls with my 300 2.8 proved worthwhile and I did get the odd new species (for me at least). Here is a Madagascar fody (at least I think it is) which got a bit close while searching for crumbs on the beach.

Now isn't he a pretty bird then!?

Too close for comfort...

....or a decent shot?

So there you are are, lying on my stomach with 600mm of lens in your hands and a nervous lizzard before you. You look through the viewfinder and....you got too damn close! What to do? In this example I was actually after another lizard in the grass when I spotted this fellow basking on an electrical outlet. At 600mm all I could get was his head and moving or removing the TC would have scared him off. So thinking on my feet I focussed on the eye and pressed focus lock on my 7D. I then took three shots which I later stitched together in Photoshop.
These lizards do not move much so it was a simple job. The advantage here is that I can now print this BIG if I want ;)

Another weapon in the nature togs arsenal, sometimes too close can be advantageous.

7D, 300 2.8 IS, 2xTC, f8