"Mallards @ Mackey Island"

Every winter I spend quite amount of time photographing landscapes and wildlife. I've grown to have a passion for birds in flight but I also love the challenge the ducks give us here. Don't get me wrong I do wish I could mossy up close and real off dozens of frames but that's not the case here on the Outer Banks. Thanks to telephoto lens, fast cameras, ground blinds, and a lot of work we get as close as we can. This image of two pairs of Mallards was the only shot I was able to pull off, the rest of my attempts came up way short. That's duck hunting with the lens of course!!!

Enjoy

"Mackey Island"

There's an old saying here on the Outer Banks, if you don't like the weather wait 24 hours and let me know how it works out for you. This weekend was no exception as the winter air entered our region with temps in the low 30's for the highs, which if your a wildlife photographer it's time to seek out the birds and ducks. A group of us headed for Mackey Island Wildlife Refuge for just that purpose. Swans, eagles, five or six species of ducks, and hawks gave us a challenge as we endured the cold morning air. Here is an image I captured as a flock of Swans flew overhead along with an airliner soaring southward to a warmer location.

I liken the image to man's continuing pursuit of flight along with natures best, giving way to an interesting photograph.

Enjoy!

"Merry Christmas"

Before the holiday's slip by I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from my family to all of you and your families. Our weather has been very nice but I believe it's going to be changing for the colder here soon by all reports. I 'm beginning to feel that Christmas spirit as I saw these bulbs in Wal-Mart, so I scarfed them up and headed to the beach this evening to capture this image. Just might turn it into a Christmas card!!!!

God bless you all

"Good Morning Lake Mattamuskeet"

Saturday the 21st I took a little R&R and headed west to meet up with some CNPA photographers for a much long and anticipated "Wildlife Photography" session. Arriving a bit early I found myself waking up just in time to get off the above shot, any longer and I would have been bummed out to say the least. A few minutes later I changed to my fisheye lens as the morning sky opened up giving way to some interesting prospectives of sky and landscape.

"Fish Eye View"

Then came the real fun, hunting down a good location to capture this two frame sequence shot of a immature bald eagle. There were actually three eagles including one mature. I was concentrating and trying to get the older bird in focus when the two immature eagles began to fight over a kill(a duck) in the water. As luck would have it I snapped off these two frames, neither bird took the duck after they saw me stand up in the reeds that I had made my cover in earlier. As you can see in the first shot the young eagle is looking straight into my lens.

I have to be honest here, no matter how long I get to live on this earth some of the best moments are when I'm alone hiding as if a spy in a world that humans are not invited into yet being able to witness such beauty and record it for others who let it pass by day after day.

One man's loss is another man's gain.

Enjoy

"First Frame"

"Second Frame"

"Three Dog Night"

Well here we are finally getting a little spark of sun rays and a touch of blue in our skies after countless days of rain. I was shooting a few surfers this evening at sunset when these little guys showed up for a walk on the beach. I've always had a soft spot for pups, so I couldn't resist this opportunity when they pooped up from the beach side of the bulkhead.

Enjoy