For some time I have been using Picasa to host photo galleries. I have run into several limitations (size, number of photos, etc). I have been looking for an alternative for quite a while.
I recently picked a new tool to help. It is SmugMug. It is a very nice tool. It allows me to host all of my shots (or those that I am willing to let see the light of day). It also has a relationship with a professional photolab for printing.
I have finished posting most of my images. You can find them at http://photos.feikema.org. I have enabled printing so that any of the images can be ordered and paid for on-line. This is a highly reputable firm and trustworthy.
I will continue to post new pictures to both the blog and the galleries but there will always be more images in the galleries.
I hope you enjoy.
It was a bit overcast this afternoon (actually all weekend). I decided that it was time for a spin in the Kayak.
Overcast is good sometimes. In this case it means that the whites in Egret pictures are less likely to get blown out.
They were busy fishing this afternoon.
Step one, go to where the fish are.
Step two, sneak up on them.
Step three, attack!
Step four, keep your eye on it so that it doesn’t get away.
On our last evening, we ventured to the Sandia Tram, had a ride up, dinner and a the ride down.
Here are a couple of shots from the top.
It was a little hazy but not too bad. We are at about 10,000ft.
The base was 80 degrees, the summit was 45. I don’t mind it when it gets a little chilly…
The trip down was nearing sunset. It made for very warm colors, and lots of defining shadows.
Sometimes nature frames photos better than we ever could.
At the base, there were still opportunities for cool images. Lynn is having fun with this succulent.
And Mary got some great images with the Point and Shoot. She has the eye, that is for sure (I am glad she doesn’t like lugging heavy cameras).
Another Egret, this time eating. I am not sure what the critter is eating but my appetite is not stimulated.
This is a Turkey Vulture. Speaking of lack of appetite, this guy isn’t helping.
This is a Double-crested Cormorant. Quite interesting, but talk about a Stoic. He barely moved.
Well it certainly wasn’t prime time in the Bosque. I did not see any Sandhills, Swans, or the other typical migratory fowl. However I was expecting that. My day excursion to the Bosque (and the Roadway Inn…eww) was a convenient day trip. I also wanted to check it out prior to a prime time visit.
In prime time, there are 17,000 cranes a day that stop at the bosque. I am guessing that I’ll be back.
While I didn’t see Sandies, I did see many other species. One was the Gambel Quail.
In this shot two male Pheasants, are fighting for more territory. You can tell by the feathers only view of the second who is winning.
After a bit of a tussle, this male was the victor. Interestingly, this is not a ringtail – which was introduced +25 years ago. This is a combo of a ringtail and an afghani pheasant (introduced in the last ten). The white wing was a giveaway.
Our time in Santa Fe at an end, we decided to take Hwy. 14 (aka the Turquoise trail) to Albuquerque. Along the way we spotted a wanna be park. Lots of interesting statues and sculptures. In the end it was this gate that caught my attention. It was in the middle of nowhere (a bit of Blazing Saddles esq).
Along the way we spotted a ‘wanna be’ park. Lots of interesting statues and sculptures. In the end it was this gate that caught my attention. It was in the middle of nowhere (a bit of Blazing Saddles esq).
The colors and the textures were great. I wish I had built this.
A short while later we stopped in Madrid (a location in the movie Wild Hogs). This old house is nearby, and more interesting than any of the set locations.
This old house is nearby, and more interesting than any of the set locations.
While I was shooting, a local stopped to chat. He said that the owner (who had lived there longer than he had – 34 years vs. 33 years) wanted the house to be a symbol of “where we have come from and where we are going.
On the road back to Santa Fe (from our visit in Taos) we spotted this cool junkyard.There was only one real subject (at least outside the fence – and I wasn’t willing to go inside the fence – with the dogs).
The colors on the truck were fantastic.
Really fantastic.
I am not sure that this running board can be trusted.
I wonder if you could order a custom paint job like this.
After the drive, we ate lunch in downtown Taos and toured the square. Nothing really caught my eye. It was quaint, but I thought that the square in Santa Fe was better. We left and headed towards the Taos Pueblo.
After you enter the pueblo this set of homes is just west of the cemetery. The buildings have been there for a thousand years. There is NO running water (the river runs through town), and there is NO electricity. The most recent development are the doors. Traditionally the entry is a hole in the roof, hence all of the ladders. It was more secure to raise a ladder than do secure a door.
A couple of minutes later we emerged from one of the narrow avenues into the main square. I was not prepared for what I saw. This image is the main north building of the Pueblo with the Taos ski area in the background.
Here is the San Geronimo (St. Jerome) Church. It is one of the newer buildings, constructed in 1850. It replaced the original church which was first built in the 1600s.
This is an Eagle feather staff. It caught my eye as the wind picked up. It was blowing so hard that the elm seeds were blowing horizontally and it almost looked like it was snowing.
Our first trip to Taos. The route wound along the Rio Grande.
The terrain became rugged quickly as we left Santa Fe.
Early on near Santa Fe, the river was close at hand and slow moving.
Up near Taos, the river cut a mighty gorge. It was (is) beautiful. This is looking north. It was quite windy on the bridge (called the Gorge Bridge). I am not sure how fast it was but I would guess at least 50 MPH. I would guess that someone will find quite a few hats, etc. upwind.
The bridge has pedestrian walkways on both sides with a number of lookouts. This is taken from the middle now looking south towards Santa Fe.
This is a view of the bridge looking west. In 1966 it was awarded “Most Beautiful Steel Bridge” in the “Long Span” category. The bridge has appeared in several films, including Natural Born Killers, Twins, She’s Having a Baby, Wild Hogs and Terminator Salvation.
Post number two.
The colors and textures are so cool, I couldn’t help my self.
I just loved the colors…
I don’t think that this bike will go very fast, but I am sure that you’ll get lots of looks.
Moonrise Over Wagon Seat. Not quite Ansel’s Moonrise Over Hernandez but oh well.
Springtime brings new colors and fresh flowers.
With homage to Robert James Waller’s character – Robert Kincaid.
It has been a beautiful couple of days in Santa Fe with Lynn and Bill. We’ve been exploring the 400 year old Plaza, sampling wonderful food and the quaint architecture. Later today, we’re going to Canyon Road. The local art is amazing. I’ve also been wandering the neighborhoods, taking pictures and exploring.
This is the first of two posts today. In this one, I’ve selected some of my favorite doors/entryways. Wonderful texture, earthy colors and always something different.
Adobe, adobe everywhere.
Even when they age, the doors look great.
Especially when they age, they look great.
I wonder if the backside of the mailbox is open.
Nicely manicured.
Chili peppers against turquoise.
We had a feeding frenzy this weekend. I think the birds reveled in the sunshine and warm weather just like we did. I caught this daddy Grosbeak waiting for his turn on the feeders.
This finch was also patient, but he decided that right on top was the best place to make sure that no one butted in line.
Finally!! Mary has been making sure to keep the grape jelly full (even though the chipmunks have been raiding it) so that the Orioles stay near. It works. They are really noisy once they take their place at the feeder. I have snapped Orioles here before but the “Finally!!” is that I have been able to catch one in its natural surroundings rather than on a plastic feeder.
Sue Irby told me about a great spot for shooting Woodies. This Saturday AM I went to the WoodLake Wildlife Center in Richfield MN.
Great spot with beautiful Wood Ducks.
I think he got too close…
There were also feeding egrets…
Roosting Redwing Blackbirds…
And what we think is a solo Pine Siskin
There was so much going on there that it took four posts to get the feel for the overall wildlife. I have posted many of my images on the photos tab.
These are my last images on the main page.
This Sandhill Crane dropped in on us and decided that he didn’t mind company while he had breakfast.
He let me get quite close.
In my first Venice Rookery posting I had a photo of a mail Anhinga. Strange birds. This female decided to roost in tree directly above my. It made for two interesting shots.
Here is another male. I am not used to be this close to the subject.
When they get mad, I think it is time to back away.
This is a Great Egret – the green around the eyes is the giveaway. Having been working on catching Egrets in flight, I was pleased to get a couple of nice shots.
Sometimes when they come in for a landing, it is necessary to put the flaps all the way down or they miss the runway.
At first I thought that this was a salute –
- but after this shot I think that he lost something and couldn’t figure out which wing it was under.
This one caught me off guard. I thought it was another Great Egret into I saw the red near his eyes. Also much smaller than the others, 8 inches tall.
I learned a new two part secret for taking good wildlife pictures. Part 1: Go to where the wildlife is. Part 2: Take a lot of pictures. I had meetings most of this week on the road ending in Jacksonville FL. I decided that while I was there I would visit the crew in Bonita Springs (Mom, Bill, Mary and Lynn).
Having heard about the Venice Rookery, I opted for a slight diversion along the way. I stayed overnight in Venice FL, a couple of miles from the Rookery. Rising at dawn Saturday, I headed down for a morning of shooting. Between the couple of shots Friday evening in the harsh light to check it out, and those from 6:55 to about 9:55, I took about 500 pictures. I’ll show four in this post, plus a snapshot of the rookery.
The rookery itself is a small area behind the local Audubon Society. There are species everywhere (I saw about 15) and many nest on this small island. It is packed.
The first picture of the morning was a Great Egret coming in for a landing. It is not sharp, and is a little grainy since it was just getting light but I really love the feel of it.
The Male Anhinga is striking, and strange. I looks really strange as it flies. It was a new one for me.
This Glossy Ibis was an unusual find for me here. Much different than the birds I am used to in Minnesota.
This great egret was beautiful and I think she knew it. You can see her chick in the nest below, not getting much attention.
It was a blast. At the peak there were 12-15 photographers there, snapping away. I have many more shots, Great Blue Herons, more Egrets and even some Sandhill Cranes. I’ll probably just post one more set and then post an album in the selected photos tab.
It was a beautiful sunny day in Lake Elmo. I spotted this guy from the deck, and grabbed this shot.
As he wandered off, I grabbed my camera and headed for the Kayak to pursue him. I am glad I did. I got a couple of nice shots.
I think he decided that preening was in order.
Perhaps he knew he was headed for the pedestal.
I love this time of year. New flowers pop out of the ground every week. Here are a couple of fun shots of the Spring Croci that have just emerged.
The new kayak arrived. I have been anticipating spring for too long. Yesterday it arrived. This afternoon, I took it out for a maiden voyage. Here are a couple of shots.
The Kayak with the tripod and the rig.
I’ve got the rock, get in line behind me.
Why do I feel so alone?
You’re going out again? Did you finish your homework?
On the briny, well ok it is freshwater. But we are out in the environment.
i hope you enjoy.
