Raptors at Nature Visions Expo

We attended the Nature Visions Photography Expo in Manassas last week.  Joe McNally was the most well known presenter this year, a photographic generalist.  

Besides learning some interesting photogrsphic lessons, we signed up to photograph some disabled refuge birds.  The birds can no longer live in the wild due to injuries and mental difficulties.  1 pm wasn't exactly prime photography time,  so I tried to reduce the harsh shadows on the birds with a neutral density filter (darkens the bright sun) and a fill flash to lighten the shadows.

Here are the best results:

     Red tailed hawk

     Red tailed hawk

     Harris hawk

   Harris hawk

     Peregrine falcon

     Peregrine Falcon

     Peregrine Falcon

     Peregrine Falcon

     North American Kestrel

     North American Kestrel

     North American Kestrel

The Kestrel was my favorite, only about 6-8 inches tall or so.  

Which ones do you like the best?

Winning photos for the St Mary's County Camera Club

I got 5 winners this year!

Congratulations to all the End of Year photo winners from the St.Mary's County Camera Club! 

Digital – Novice

1^st – “Socks At Loch Buie” – Steven Thoman

2^nd – “Back In Black” – James Kwong

3^rd – “Bryce Sunrise Pano” – Steven Thoman

HM – “Niagara Falls” – Kimberley Tomlinson

 Digital – Intermediate

1^st –  “Lisa” – Warren Salmon

2^nd – “Vintage Silk” – Katherine Norris

3^rd – “Angel” – Dave Briggs

HM – “Landscape” – Dave Briggs

HM – “Strawberry” – Dave Briggs

HM – “Chapel” – Dave Briggs

Digital – Advanced

 1^st – “Baby Gorilla” – Joanna Macaulay📸

2^nd – “Windansea Sunset” – Anh Nguyen

3^rd – “Bald Eagle Pair” – Joanna Macaulay📸

HM – “Boardwalk” – Jack Goodman

HM – “Brooklyn Bridge” – Anh Nguyen

HM – “Halawa Beach” – Joanna Macaulay📸

HM – “Niagara Ice” – Emily Baldwin

Digital – Theme

1^st – “Fire Orbs” – Dave Briggs

2^nd – “Pink Waterlily” – Joanna Macaulay📸

3^rd – “Rick” – Nikki Goodman

HM – “TIMEs Square” – Stefie Bartley

HM – “Snow Mail” – Tonya Freed

HM – “Taking a Ride” – Dave Briggs

HM – “Night Bloomer” Joanna Macaulay 📸

HM – “Sand of Time” – Anh Nguyen

Print – Advance/Intermediate

1^st – “TJ Memorial”- Stefie Bartley

Hollywood VFD Craft Fair (St Mary's County)

Please come see me at the upcoming craft Fair on Sunday, Nov 22nd.  All the crafts are home made.  I think I will be right near the entrance door again.  You can get some lovely Christmas gifts for family and friends.  I will be selling cards, photo trays, cups, prints and other photo crafts.

Autumn in St. Mary's County

More autumn photos, from St. Mary's County , MD this time.

And fun with morning light...

Autumn in Virginia 2

I noticed some pictures from our Virginia trip were missing and found my missing SD card.  Here's some more lovely autumn pictures from Shenandoah.

     Fell cottage at Skyland

     Masanutten Lodge 1

     Masanutten Lodge 2

     Overlook sunset 1

      Overlook sunset 2

     Gray Eastern screech owl 1

     Gray Eastern screech owl 2

     Gray Eastern screech owl 3

Autumn in Virginia and PA

We drove up to the Skyline drive last week to do some leaf peeping.  Skies were mostly blue and warm.  The colors were lovely.  Here are my favorites:

     Shenandoah River

     Deer on the Big Meadow

     Big Meadow sunset

     Red tree

     Skyland Sunset

     River leaf

      PA afternoon 

Annapolis Power Boat Show

Jim dragged me to the boat show on a chilly windy day.  (Not really, since I could take pictures).  We visited every tent with boat gadgets and spent too much money.  I bought some kewl custom made clipon blue sunglasses after stating earlier that I could only wear contacts with colored sunglasses, so I would never have them.

Interesting sights included a small yellow submersible, a Tesla (a Lamborgini and Ferrari too), a bag pipe marching band  LOTS of boats and a lovely sunset.

         Cute little yellow submersible

     White Tesla reflection

     Push and Shove!!!!

      Art deco boat

      Reflection

     I hope they paid her well to do this!

     Relaxed candid

     Boats at sunset

     Loved the clouds

     Blue boat lights

     Last light

     The end of a nice cold day