Great stuff everyone! Some tough acts to follow. My laid-back contribution...
chose this for the colors and comp. but gonna "gobble" down to the Bosque
on Thurs for some airtime and see if I get lucky
I was struggling to pick a favourite as I have taken so many this year but have always liked this shot of two vultures that look like they are up to no good.
And I've got a lot of owl and raptor shooting to do in the next month or so, but as far as my most fun and enjoyable shots of the year so far, it would have to be....
"One that got Away"....greater yellow legs feeding....
Wow... first of all, amazing shots here. Thanks Laura for starting this thread. It's a real privilege to post here with fantastic nature and wildlife photographers. Visiting this forum and seeing the work posted here has definitely lead to success in my own photography and has increased my standards. Posting here has been an invaluable tool in my creative and learning process. Thanks to everyone.
Now what shot to post... There have been many over the past year that are special for a number of resaons. I really haven't even owned my camera for a whole year yet. In keeping with the Raptor and Bird trend (for the most part) I have decided to post a shot of one of the local Osprey's. This is one of a local pair that nests in the lights of the athletic fields at Ft. Lewis, WA. The nested again this year and raised two new Osprey's. They didn't always enjoy me being around but sometimes they would pose for me. The evening light was always best for them and in this pic it is drenching my subject. Hopefully next summer I can spend some more time with them. Thanks again to everyone...
I consider this my best shot of 2006, not because of any technical merits, but because of the uniqueness of the shot and the adrenalin rush I got while taking it.
It is rare to see Bald Eagles bathing, even rarer to photograph it, and exciting to be in a blind, within forty feet of them, taking their photograph. It is also unusual for an eagle to take off directly out of the water, as this one is doing, because the excess weight of the water will often cause them to fall into the water, and then they must swim.
They can hear the clicking of my camera and will look directly at my lens, which is sticking out through the blind, but they pay no attention to it unless it moves. One Tamron zoom lens that I had was too noisy when auto-focusing and the slight buzz would scare them away.
It may have been a better shot if the wing tips had not been cropped off, but I really care more about having captured the close-up action, rather than all of the bird.
all these photos are so excellent! as for my image i could have picked more but i just really enjoyed these two pelicans working in pairs during a feeding frenzy. so i choose this one.
Hey Laura, thanks for starting the topic--my goodness you guys have fantastic pictures!! This mom/cub was taken in Alaska this summer. Special because it's my first experience photographing grizzlies in the wild. Hope to make many more trips to Alaska!
Great shots everyone. Some tough acts to follow...
I don't know that this is my best wildlife image of the year but this year I took my first wildlife photography trip and it was a great experience so I thought I would post one from this trip. This was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Thanks to this site my game as improved a lot, still need lots of work.
Here's a couple of mine, Laura you have not only been intrumental in wowing me to death
You have inspired me along with all of the fabulous Photographers, Thanks all
This mom/cub was taken in Alaska this summer. Special because it's my first experience photographing grizzlies in the wild. Hope to make many more trips to Alaska!
