This is a moon shot I took seven months ago with a Century Plant. I ran out of space on my current SD card, so I went through some in my camera case to look for one with space. I enjoyed looking back on photography from my “intro” class. I was surprised with some decent shots, which I will share here.
I found this photo of Red as a slim young guy.
Three hawks on the same Century Plant as in the moon photo.
A fluffed up Harris’s Hawk.
Another Harris’s Hawk. I heard a hawk yesterday. They have a distinctive call. I realized that it’s been a long time since one visited our yard. I do see them swooping overhead every time I drive.
Then wouldn’t you know it? Just as I thought I haven’t seen one for a while, one flew into a tree in our backyard. I tried to get a good photo, but he is behind some twigs and leaves.
Here’s the photo I took yesterday:
I have a better lens now then the one I used for most of the earlier photos. I don’t know if you can tell the difference or not.
Happy Friday! What exciting plans to you have for the weekend?
Beautiful birds and the moon is just amazing.
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Your work is very good.. I praise you for this.
Great shots. I like the shot of the three hawks on the Century plant, best.
Without a side-by-side comparison, I can’t tell the difference between your lenses. With such a comparison, I suspect that I still wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
Thanks! The one I started with came with the camera and has half the zoom power as the new one. I was surprised at how well they did turn out.
When I changed cameras to a Nikon with 60X zoom, it made a big difference in my photography, as I was able to get better shots of things that were far away. Although I sacrificed some macro capability, with such a powerful zoom.
That makes sense. I got a macro lens for Christmas two years ago and only learned how to use it in this last class.
You can get some beautiful macro shots with the right lens. You can’t swap out lenses with my camera, so I just stick with the big, long, zoom.
I got my camera from Costco more than ten years ago and only learned how to use it lately through my class. I had a friend give me two lenses this summer. He said he’s hasn’t used them in years. Then my husband got me the macro and the telephoto. It takes a lot of time to figure out how to use different lenses. The professor told us a website to help, that tells you what settings work best for each.
If I didn’t have this camera already, I’d have gone with yours.
National Geographic is calling. They want to know if you’re available for a six month wildlife photo assignment! 👍🏼👍🏼😎😎😎
Thanks! My DIL’s sister is on assignment with them now as a journalist. Maybe I’ll run into her 😅
Two professionals on assignment. Ha ha! Love the shots. 🤣🤣😎😎
Thanks again! 😊
Great shots!! Hmmm….watching my daughter in a half marathon tomorrow. Tentative plans to see a movie with a friend. My tea society luncheon. Husbands birthday. Should be fun!!
Thanks! That sounds like a whole lot more fun than me. I’m getting my dad to sign a POA and checking out assisted living.
Ugh. Good luck
Really enjoyed seeing the three hawks up in the tree.
I’m glad you enjoyed them. At one time there were six!
Maybe the other three will be back. It’s Christmas.
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Great photos Elizabeth! No plans for the weekend…and it feels good! 🙂
I wish I had your weekend. I’m visiting my dad to get power of attorney, go to his house and meet realtors, etc.
Good luck with all of that! I have done that myself before and for me, it was better when I took my time and just allowed them to come to grips with the idea.
I did get a few big things done. POA, his house listed and today the movers are coming to give an estimate. I have a few things on the list that he won’t do, so it will have to wait. I think you’re correct, they need to come around on their own.
sometimes with a gentle or not so gentle nudge…sounds like a great accomplishment so far! 🙂
The realtors called me and said my dad told them that he is in charge and not to do anything I say! 😅
Ah…the fun of parenting your parents….yes, I understand – especially as a daughter! Hugs
Thanks!
Those are great shots of the hawks! We used to have hawks next to our home. We are near a wooded park area but haven’t seen them for awhile. One would peer at us working in the garden. No plans but to enjoy the weekend and the cooler weather.
Thanks! I used to have hawks every day. It’s at least six months since I’ve seen them.
Yes, it has been awhile for us, also. About the time, we got a new neighbor, and the hawks moved out.
I wonder what the hawks know about the neighbor?
Funny! Yeah, well he is a good neighbor to us. We have a little Christmas present for him.
👍🏼
The difference is noticeable between the earlier and later pictures. The new pictures have more detail and vivid colors.
Thank you for your good eyes!
Lol! Most welcome dear friend
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The three hawks together is such a neat shot. I wouldn’t expect the century plan to support all their weight! I just saw a trio this morning–an adult and two juveniles–enjoying some breakfast. They are pretty majestic creatures.
It’s such a statement when they fly into the yard and land. Also the takeoff is so dramatic, but it’s rare for me to get that shot! I’m glad you saw some hawks too.
Beautiful photos, Elizabeth!!! Hawks are beautiful. I had to look up what a Century Plant is, I’ve seen them but never knew the history. Happy Friday!!
Thank you! It’s fun to look back at older photos. Once in a while I see some good ones. I’m surprised you don’t have century plants in Vegas.
If we do I’ve not seen them.
I didn’t see them in Palm Springs either.
Hmm, they aren’t so common… one or two would look great in my backyard.
We have areas where we own the property but it’s wild. It’s the space outside the fences. Interesting we can’t touch the plants but that’s where most the century plants are. The only change we can make is to remove invasive species.
I see. Invasive species seem to be everywhere but maybe this is just plant evolution.
True.
Wow, Mr Red is slimmer. 🙂
Lovely shot of the moon.
Thanks. It was fun to find that photo of a young, slim Red. Maybe I’ve been feeding him too much?
Haha! He looks good a little fuller, and I know he is happy, for he keeps coming back. 🙂
Plus he now has the Mrs. When I took this photo he was a fly alone guy.
That’s right! Another reason he is happy and plump. She probably gives him a lot of juicy worms!
Ha! 😅
Your hawk shots are wonderful. We never see more than one at a time here.
Thanks! We’ve had six or seven! Almost scary. Then we haven’t seen any for months. Here in the desert, they hunt in packs like wolves.
Wonderful shots!
Thank you!
Awww! The pic of “slim Red” made me smile! Love! Sending big hugs! ❤️🥰❤️
Thank you! 💕
Xo! ❤️
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Wow, those hawks were very close. The new lens made a difference. I noticed the feathers were more defined.
Yes! I notice it in the feathers, too!
Cool! What camera were you using?
I have a Nikon DSLR I got from Costco 10 years ago with two “kit” lenses. I learned that term from my beginning photography class last January, which means they aren’t great quality. The lenses were 50 mm and 200 mm. I took these photos with the 200 mm but enhanced the photos with Adobe Camera Raw.
Thank you. I have an old Nikon Coolpix that I need to resurrect. I’m going to check out Adobe Camera Raw with some of the photos I have.
You can access Adobe Camera Raw through Adobe Bridge which is an organizing program and free. I learned how to use Bridge through YouTube. You open up a photo in Bridge, control click on it and a menu pops up that includes “open in Adobe Camera Raw.”
Found it! Thank you for sharing that. I’m watching a video now.
Great! I had to watch a few videos. Some are better than others.
I’m sure it’s going to take me a while, but I’m looking forward to learning this.
What my professor advised first in Camera Raw is to click on the “auto” button first. You can click it again to get back to the original. Sometimes that’s all you need to do. Or you can try the individual things to enhance from there. Then click “done” before you export.
Funny that you mention that, because they covered it in the short video I just watched. I’ll be watching more videos and playing with it over the holidays. Thank you so much for sharing this information.
I’m glad I could help. It’s much easier than Photoshop.