AlexC Photo Blog

Reflections, Thunder Arm, Diablo Lake

AlexC — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:53:03 GMT

The last time I saw clear skies and the sun was early fall 2007. *Sigh* Summer weather better show up soon.

Photo Gear @ CM

AlexC — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:50:48 GMT

Cedar Wax Wing from CM 07. As I pack up my camera gear for CM 08 I am both excited and perplexed. Each year brings such wonderful distractions and odd occurrences that you really never know what camera gear you’ll need until your on site and can asses the surroundings. In most cases this would mean “bring it all”. However, with coffee camp and other gear/responsibilities there is simply a limit to how much camera gear I can bring. If I whittle my camera gear down too far I may miss out on shots like this. The 100-400L was unlikely to be useful at CM, but last year I brought it anyway, and it allowed me to capture these beautiful uncommon birds perched all the way across the river.

Ah, Summer.

AlexC — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:21:45 GMT

Ah Summer, Finally, and just in time. For me spring/summer/fall/winter has nothing to do with a calendar. Instead it is a physicaly noticeable shift in the weather; critters don’t use wall calendars, or outlook. They just have the weather and their natural instincts to trigger them when its right to do this or that. Thus I work in a similar mind set, been rather sluggish during this past winter and even during some of the calendar spring. Now that the weather is truly shifting, I need to get back up and stretch a bit. It is time to shake off the winter hibernation practice of working on my gadgets indoors, and shift to summer mode... finally =)

Aw' Nuts

AlexC — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:18:58 GMT

I went to Woodland Park on Sunday, when the sun broke out for a bit. I was hoping to find a few rabbits, but not one felt like making an appearance. However, the second I showed up at the rabbit rocks I got swarmed by squirrels looking for a hand out. More = http://www.nwphotographers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5671

Victoria BC Parliament

AlexC — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:49:05 GMT

It’s often when I deviate from the beaten path that I find great opportunities. In this particular instance I had already taken a few dozen photographs of the front of the Victoria BC's Parliament, laden heavy with tourists dotting the entire scene,.. Its when I walked around back and found this smaller fountain and back entrance, that I captured a quieter and les detritus filled environment.

Blast from the past (part 2)

AlexC — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:43:31 GMT

or this one,.. from PDSTWE 2

Blast from the past

AlexC — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:42:29 GMT

Here is an image thats been lurking around my collection for years (from SeaComp03). Now that I have everything organized within Lightroom I can find old gems like this one.

Swans at Sunrise

AlexC — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:29:26 GMT

More images from the Ridgefield outting. A small amout of vinyetting was added to increase the mood.

Red Tail Hawk

AlexC — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:22:56 GMT

I traveled down south to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for the first half of Monday and brought home some really nice shots of red tail hawks. Even though the light was poor I think it actually created some interesting moody shots.

Nobility

AlexC — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:29:25 GMT

I hope I never grow old of observing critters; trying to get into there minds, and see/feel what it is to be yhay Critter. This little fellow was hanging out with the Woodland Park rabbits, hoping for a free meal. Rather than dodging in and out between the rabbits, crows, and people, as the other squirrels were, he chose to climb up on top of this rock and observe the situation. He sat there, quietly observing, and would only dive in if he saw an opening. He struck such a noble pose I had to capture it.

Plain and Simple

AlexC — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:07:26 GMT

I have been trying to do a lot of simple background work in order to keep the focus on the subject and perhaps one other element that the critter is interacting with. I have found that this helps tell a story in a way that is very quick to read by the viewer, and the lack of clutter emphasizes the amount of detail within the subject. Female Red Winged Black Bird, Juanita Bay Park.

The Ever Growing Complexity Spiral

AlexC — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:26:21 GMT

I look at a picture like this, with all its detail and I start wondering about how many office windows are in those buildings; how many offices are in all those buildings; I start wondering about how many staplers are in each of those offices? This then, of course, leads me to think about how many staples are consumed to fuel what I am looking at for an entire day. Even the smallest item has a place in the spiral. At some point, my train of thought just spirals off towards infinity. Then, I am snapped back to my desk and the realization that I just logged on to post to my blog!

Get to the point

AlexC — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:13:34 GMT

I love it when a critter shows itself to me in a way I’ve not seen before. I get quite a few GBH (Great Blue Heron) shots while out on the water. I’ve probably got as many heron photos as Ihave duck captures. This is the first shot that has realy captured the intensity of this birds hunting pose.

Dreamin of warmer days

AlexC — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:05:44 GMT

Just realized I haven’t been out with my camera since October. For me that’s a huge gap in productivity. Too many responsibilities are keeping me from the things I enjoy the most. But its time to get back on track and hopefully get things rolling again.

Duck,.. Duck,.. Duck,.......... Duck,..

AlexC — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:29:13 GMT

Ducks, Ducks and more Ducks, at least I have a knack for finding different species around Seattle. This one is a Buffle Head Duck, one of my favorite fall/winter ducks around these parts. I call them "Orca" or "killer" ducks, due to their coloration; though there demeanor is more of a frightened butterfly. I like this shot for a couple of reasons, but mostly because I caught the iridescent colors in the black crest.

Me Amore

AlexC — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:13:33 GMT

I am a Lucky, Lucky, Lucky man. Moth to the Flame?

Devil Duck

AlexC — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:17:22 GMT

Ok, not a duck, it’s a grebe, but I love the peaceful clean feel of this "Foul" portrait. The bright red demon duck eyes and the bone white bill are natural. If hell has ponds, I’m sure that’s where these spawn from, despite their convincing “nice duck” act. American Grebe - Green Lake

Floating Through Fall

AlexC — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:08:19 GMT

Often the simplest textures and subject blend together just right and are brought to life with vibrant morning light, giving me the results I strive for. Weeding out the clutter and finding that One subject of millions that stands out with its own unique non-perfect-ness can be a challenge in patience.

Kitten

AlexC — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:19:01 GMT

Kittens, how can one go wrong? Totally adorable, a friend just adopted this cute little thing and named her "Dot".

Obstacle course.

AlexC — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:29:48 GMT

The Fremont grassy knoll, being de-constructed to expand the Adobe Mega-plex.

Flower Power

AlexC — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:08:06 GMT

Hidden image stolen from a random flower. This photograph reminds me of a Rorschach test, everyone sees something different. I see tribe’s men dancing inside a fiery ball of energy.

Homeward Bound

AlexC — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:30:57 GMT

My inspirational Photo for Madame Heather, I hope you and your boy find your new nest soon.

Secret Location & Favorite Places

AlexC — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:23:06 GMT

Here I share one of my favorite places to land for lunch or a good leg stretch when I’m out kayaking. It is a little clearing along the waterfront of the arboretum. It’s almost certainly accessible by land, but I like to pretend that its only accessible by water. Despite the busy highway sounds nearby, I like this spot. Deep in the urban jungle, it has gives a wonderful feeling of being somewhere untouched by anything other than ducks and the occasional heron. Secret Location, Seattle Arboretum Waterfront

The Food Chain

AlexC — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:33:15 GMT

This Red Winged Blackbird would not leave this Great Blue Heron alone to fish, every few minuets, almost like clockwork it would fly in, land on the GBH’s rump and start pecking and squawking. This particular attack was right as the GBH had caught a minnow (see bill) and the RWBB was rather ruthless causing the GBH to drop his lunch. I pondered this for a while, but then was told on one of the nature/wildlife sites I lurk on that GBH’s actually steal the eggs from RWBB nests which are at ground level, so if a nest is near by, the faster and more maneuverable RWBB will often harass the GBH till it leaves,..

All The Small Things

AlexC — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:29:11 GMT

I caught this butterfly enjoying itself jumping from one flower to the next at the Maple Leaf Community Garden. Nectar gatherers are a fun bunch to try to capture. They are flighty and always busy at their work gathering, and are always on the move. This little guy was taking his time hanging out on each flower giving me a moment to focus, rather nice of him. for a closer look http://www.nwphotographers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5232 Butterfly, Maple Leaf Community Garden.