p.4 #1 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
Gorgeous shots Kenny, the backgrounds rock and the birds are super sharp, great work!!!
Dorian we can always expect a rarity or something none of us but you can ID from you, this is a super set, the VR out in the open is a rare treat and you nailed it! Excellent work all around
Great selection of spot on shot John, I'm loving the Bunting
Wow Gordon that is a stunner Probably the only one we'll see here with that glass!!! I'm sooooo jealous!!
Welcome to the club Brian You did a spectacular job adjusting to the big gun, killer shots!!!
Oh my Paul you did pull out the "A" work The Fox is the stuff of dreams wow!!!!
Chris, I always enjoy seeing the world through your eyes and this selection demonstrates why, superb work. I'm too partial to your fungal work, going with that one I had a tie between about a dozen I'm betting that number is way higher than a dozen Brian. I would LOVE to have PW like that one, they have eluded me. Excellent choices, stunners!
2 - Kalahari Salt Pans, Botswana - two males came into the area the day before we left.
Only two of us went on the final game drive the morning we were leaving which gave us a great
opportunity to track down the two males. This male was laying down and our guide thought
he should stand for a pic. Good thing I was wearing quick dry underwear
3 - Taken by the Kwai River in Botswana, the fight for the harem.
It was very quiet except for the thrashing of the battle. The breeding male
held his ground, at least for that day.
p.4 #7 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
Everyone's photos on here are so great. Some make mine look like cell phone shots. Its a bit humbling, but each person is at a different place in their journey.
It is difficult to pick 3 but here are 3 I can say Im proud of. I wish we could do 5.
p.4 #8 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
jhayesvw wrote:
Everyone's photos on here are so great. Some make mine look like cell phone shots. Its a bit humbling, but each person is at a different place in their journey.
It is difficult to pick 3 but here are 3 I can say Im proud of. I wish we could do 5.
p.4 #9 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
2 real beauties MrC, the Hummer hitting the brakes looks like it is on the edge of disaster!
Nick your work is always a treat and these 3 are a clear demonstration of that. I can almost smell the drying leaves in 2 What a scene!
Tough set to pick a favorite from Celbrett but I might have to go with greatly unappreciated Impala
Super set and a great variety Jeremy, I looked at your set and smiled thinking that this is what great wildlife is about, catching the critters doing what they do naturally
Tim
Dec 15, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Herb Houghton Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.4 #10 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
Wow ! There are some incredible images posted so far. Thanks to Tim for starting the thread this year and posting the past year's Holiday threads. And also a big thanks to everyone who shares and critiques on my posts and helps keep the bar up high on this forum. This year was a great year for owls for me and it seems that there is to be another great owl season upcoming. As much fun and time I spend with the eagles, peregrines and skimmers, I have a very special place in my heart for the wintering owls. I had 17 short eared owls up at once a few nights ago before dusk, but they were all way too far away. I captured an 800mm landscape shot with 4 owls in it. : Anyways, here's 3 of my faves, all of them are owls as you may have guessed. Two of them are new, never posted before. The reasons are in my captions. Thanks again and Happy Holidays to everyone.
Herb
my first barn owl
my first great gray owl, never posted before
a short eared owl that I have never posted...
which became the latest magazine cover for NJAS :)
p.4 #12 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
More excellent images from all contributors! Keep them coming folks! We know there are lots of posters out there (and probably "lurkers" too) who have exceptional images galore to share.
p.4 #14 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
Thanks Tim for getting this thread in motion...............should be pretty darn spectacular!
What an impressive thread that we have going here, I gotta think that there will be a handful of folks that stumble upon this thread that normally don't visit or get directed here for their first time that will be blown away
I did not shoot a lot this year but I plan to change that for next year
#1 Earlier in 2013 on a cold outing along the lakefront I was gifted this trio lifting off at a distance and racing by me........I don't have many in flight shots this year, this is my favorite!
#2 My local haunt Sandy Ridge Reservation has always been good to me, I really like the capture of light and pose on this one.......
#3 Yes I still dabble in florals.................after all those are my 'roots' of photography
David Leask Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.4 #15 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
This is such an enjoyable thread. It continues to get better and better every year. I love it!
2013 was a pretty good year for me in terms of wildlife photography. Firstly and most importantly, I learned that I have a long way to go to match you guys and gals here! I invested heavily (heavily for me at least ) in equipment for wildlife shooting and this has just given me even more of an appetite. My knowledge of bird species continues to improve. I have a decent number of shots to pick my best 3 from (in years gone by I would have struggled to find 3!). So .... roll on 2014, I'm ready for ya!
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support and encouragement as I strive to improve. I wish you all the best for the coming festive season and I look forward to more fun, frolics, leg-pulling, gobsmacking imagery and learning in 2014
p.4 #17 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
My three as I learn more about shooting critters!
Eye contact is the key I figured out.
That's why the young elk's eyes are bugging out when he realized I wasn't a tree!
Western Diamondback in Arizona:
I had been 4-wheeling around with my friend all day in the superstition mountains. All the time joking about finding a giant rattlesnake. Because I'd never seen a large one before. We stopped for a break, and as I was admiring a big cottonwood tree I happened to look down at my feet... Well, I got my wish! And haven't moved that fast in years!!
Young Elk in Utah:
I had discovered a spot this summer that was inhabited by a herd of elk. Way up in the mountains. So I was trying to figure out how to photograph them. There was a valley they were fond of, so I positioned myself way up on a ridgeline. I then stood behind a large aspen tree trunk and waited. In about an hour a mother and this young one came cautiously out of the woods. The mother stayed by the trees, but for an unknown reason this baby walked directly along the ridge toward me. And kept getting closer and closer. When he was around 10 feet away I started clicking away. And that's when the elk's eyes bugged out!
River Otter in the Colorado River:
The population is unknown in the river they are so rare. Estimates are around 100 or maybe 150 total. When I first spotted them I thought they were Canadian geese laying on the ice. Then I figured out they were otters. So for the next two days I did my best photographing them. They even went out of their way to offer me fish. And then, suddenly, they all jumped into the icy water and swam away. Never to be seen again.
(Can't figure out if he's curious about me, or looking at himself in the lens!)
p.4 #18 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
In November 2012 a gift from a friend enabled me to acquire my first DSLR with a set of accompanying lenses. Then a fellow FMer introduced me to this forum a few weeks later. The journey of learning over the past little more than a year has been fast and furious, yet inspiring and energizing - I have had great fun.
There are many that deserve special mention for appreciation (but that may cause rivalry, so just a few names) - Tim for getting the thread started, Wolf for introducing me to a collegiate and supportive forum, and the many active FM posters for the images that inspired me to higher standards and the assistance I received on sharing post processing techniques. I am also very appreciative of those that are posting to this thread - it is not only a treat to see the outstanding images, but very interesting to hear to your reasons and stories. Further, as others have already mentioned, it will become a source of inspiration during the dull days.
I am humbly submitting my selection of 3 images for the following reasons (besides being some of my favorites of 2013):
1. Posted a few days ago - selected for the rim light and intense captivating look. The image has me wondering at what the cat is looking.
2. Not posted before - selected for it's peacefulness and restfulness. Like a grandpa on the veranda just casually observing the world pass by.
3. Not posted before - selected for the full frontal view of full flap breaking while maintaining eye contact. Almost as if the heron is surprised.
p.4 #19 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
Wow! The photography here is just phenomenal!
Thought I'd put a few in as well.
First shot is one of my all time favorites, we had a visit from a Great Grey in WI this past winter and after spending many hours trying to get a good flight shot I came away with a few I was really happy with.
Second shot here is from this fall when I went out looking for some fall color and waterfalls.
p.4 #20 · Best of 2013 Nature & Wildlife:: Round 3 and final round is OPEN::
Oh my Herb an excellent set my friend. Congrats on the cover
Your offering is nothing to be shy about Rick, I would love to have that owl but the bear strolling along the waters edge is awfully nice
Well Karl, you finally waded through 2013 Where did the menage a duck come from I don't recall you posting that, what else do you have hiding!!! The angelic feel of 2 is superb and the color and feel of the last may make that one the winner in my book!! I wish you the best for 14 my long time forum mate
I love the enthusiasm David, wow that's what this post is about Even more so I love the squirrel, you are the master of their domain, you already know I love that shot!!! I love grebes so you know I have to like that one and crested does indeed give the great tit a run for its punk rock money!!! Super work!
Great stories and fantastic shots Craig. The snake is enough to get any of us moving I did get a chuckle out of the elk but the otter takes the cake for me, what a fun wonderfully fun and super shot!!
Wow Braam, I didn't realize you were such a neophyte! You sure are posting some rocking shots for being so new at this. The cheetah is superb, you know that lighting rocks! Old man lion sure has seen some battles along the way. Great set!!!!
Beautiful work Mike, these are marvelous! I don't recall seeing your work, you need to post more often
Probably the only one we'll see here with that glass!!! I'm sooooo jealous!! 
There isn't anything special about this thread you should be able to upload as usual. 
but they were all way too far away. 
to you all at FM N&W!!
I don't recall you posting that, what else do you have hiding!!! The angelic feel of 2 is superb and the color and feel of the last may make that one the winner in my book!! I wish you the best for 14 my long time forum mate