Bokeh Lights Photography

Bokeh Lights Photography

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Bokeh Lights Photography – Bokeh, also known as “Boke” is one of the most popular subjects in photography. The reason why it is so popular, is because Bokeh makes photographs visually appealing, forcing us to focus our attention on a particular area of the image. 

Bokeh Lights Photography

Basically, bokeh is the quality of out-of-focus or “blurry” parts of the image rendered by a camera lens – it is NOT the blur itself or the amount of blur in the foreground or the background of a subject. The blur that you are so used to seeing in photography that separates a subject from the background is the result of shallow “depth of field” and is generally simply called “background blur”. The quality and feel of the background/foreground blur and reflected points of light, however, is what photographers call Bokeh. Confused yet? Take a look at the following image:

This flower stem covered with dew is in focus, (which means that it is inside the depth of field), while the background is out of focus (which means that the background is outside the depth of field). The small or “shallow” depth of field is the result of standing relatively close to the subject, while using a large aperture.

What is Aperture?

Aperture can be defined as the opening in a lens through which light passes to enter the camera. It is an easy concept to understand if you just think about how your eyes work. As you move between bright and dark environments, the iris in your eyes either expands or shrinks, controlling the size of your pupil.

In photography, the “pupil” of your lens is called aperture. You can shrink or enlarge the size of the aperture to allow more or less light to reach your camera sensor. The image below shows an aperture in a lens:

Just remember to put your subject between you and the light source and shoot away to get bright bokeh lights in the background.

Bokeh Lights Photography

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

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Spring Art Wildflowers

Spring Art Wildflowers

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Spring Art Wildflowers – in the spring you can find wild flowers growing in the strangest places. The earth is waking up and the plants rise to meet the sunshine.

This small flower below is growing right through a fire pit grate at a campground. It made for an interesting photo.

Spring Art Wildflowers

Dandelions are quite amazing when you look at them really close. Designed to fly in the wind, the seeds are like tiny fireworks busting with silk feathers.

Spring Art Wildflowers

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What’s Up

What’s Up

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What’s Up – with a little head tilt up as this heron fly’s by looking at me. I can just picture it doing the heads up nod that people do to say hay.

That is what I did to him. 🙂

You know what the head nod is? We do it a lot when driving out on country roads. When a car approaches and the person waves at you, you either raise your first finger up as a wave back or the head nod. The shorter version of a wave.

What's Up

What’s Up

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The Blob

The Blob

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The Blob – did you ever see the movie, the Blob, I think it came out back in the 70’s. This first photo reminded me of that movie as these little birds are trying to run away from the foam in the water.

These little sand pipers are made for running, they are such a fast little bird running on the beach.

The Blob

These feet are made for standing, knobby knees and all. The gulls don’t do a lot of running on the beach. They can stand for a long time, just watching and looking for a an opportunity to find some food.

The Blob

The Blob

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Spring Time

Spring Time

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Spring Time and birds scraping for territory. This is one of my favorite shots. Two robins were scraping for territory as I was walking in a park.

A fast shutter speed is a must for stopping things in motion.

Spring Time

Spring Time

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Dancing Ribbons of Light

Dancing Ribbons of Light

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Dancing Ribbons of Light

Northern Lights, the northern lights are an atmospheric phenomenon that is regarded as the Holy Grail of skywatching.  are beautiful dancing ribbons of light that have captivated people for millennia. But for all its beauty, this spectacular light show is a rather violent event.

The northern lights are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million kph), but our planet’s magnetic field protects us from the onslaught.

Dancing Ribbons of Light
Dancing Ribbons of Light

Dancing Ribbons of Light

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Northern Lights in Iowa

Northern Lights in Iowa

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Northern Lights in Iowa – Is this Heaven? No, this is Iowa.

That phrase is from the movie Field of Dreams. I have been very busy lately visiting family in Iowa on our way back north. The one thing I was not expecting this trip was to see Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights in Iowa. People all over the country witnessed this sighting all the way down to Alabama.

I almost missed seeing them entirely. Just so happened my little dog had to go outside at 3 am. I took her out and looked up and saw that the northern lights were still visible, as I had gone to sleep early and missed them when everyone else was out looking at them.

Northern Lights in Iowa

Actually at 3 am, they were not very colorful at all, but I went back in and decided to get my camera out and set it up outside. It is mesmerizing to say the least, to witness this event.

About an hour later, all of a sudden, the colors started to show up and they were lighting up the night sky. Shooting stars along with dancing lights.

I stood in the middle of this country road, no traffic and only the sound of coyotes howling in the distance.

These photos are straight out of the camera, I could see the pinks and greens with the naked eye. But a camera set with a long shutter speed will pick up even more of the colors. I was using 3 to 5 second shutter speed. ISO 4000, f2.8, and a wide angle lens.

Northern Lights in Iowa
Northern Lights in Iowa

Northern Lights in Iowa

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Patience is a Virtue

Patience is a Virtue

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Patience is a Virtue, The Eastern Bluebird – this colorful bird seems to be all over the Midwest, but I have only recently started seeing it more and more.

This first photo I took of this colorful bird over 10 years ago as I was on a walk and it just happened to land on this sign. One takes a picture no matter what the background is or the perch the bird is sitting on, when you get to see a new bird like this one.

Patience is a Virtue

Well, over the years of practice and improving my photography skills. I have learned to be more patient and learned more about birds and their behaviors so I can work at getting just the right shot to highlight the species and not have to many distractions in the photo, when possible.

The Eastern Bluebird

That is not always possible with wildlife. But we do get lucky now and then.

I kept an eye on this Eastern Bluebird as it went from branch to branch. It was perched deep in the tree at first, as new leaves on the branches were blocking my view from getting a nice clear photo.

UNTIL

Patience is a Virtue

It finally landed on a branch that was hanging low under the tree. This is what I was waiting for, a clear view of this beautiful bird on just one branch.

I love it when my patience gives way to a beautiful photo like this. Showcasing the beauty of this little bird. 🙂

Patience is a Virtue

Have a great weekend.

Patience is a Virtue

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Hooded Merganser & MouseBird

Hooded Merganser & MouseBird

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Hooded Merganser – Last of the birds from the Mississippi Aquarium. I almost missed these two. The Hooded merganser you can find at many places throughout the states. Such an interesting duck, it is a fish eating duck.

This one is decked out in its breeding colors. The white areas are so bright, it really catches the eye of the females.

Hooded Merganser

This one is the Speckled Mousebird.

This family was named for their soft fluffy, mousy grey-brown plumage and long, thin tails, and their mouse-like habit of scurrying around in brush as they search for food.

Hooded Merganser & MouseBird

Due to their low-calorie, fruit-based diet, these birds go into torpor (temporary or semi-hibernation) on cold nights to conserve energy. During this time, their heart rate slows down, their body temperature decreases and they remain in a so-called “suspended animation” until it is time for them to wake up and feed again.

The only other groups of birds known to go into temporary hibernation are hummingbirds and nighthawks. These mousebirds generally roost in tight groups of 20 or more birds to prevent heat loss and also to deter nocturnal predators.

Speckled Mousebirds occur naturally in Africa – from Cameroon east through the Central African Republic, southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and south Somalia, south through Kenya (except for the arid northern and eastern lowland areas of Kenya), eastern Africa to southern South Africa.

Hooded Merganser & MouseBird

Hooded Merganser & MouseBird

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Eastern Towhee Bird

Eastern Towhee Bird

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Eastern Towhee Bird – this bird was fun to see here in the mid west. I have only seen one of these before and it was out west in Texas. So to see one in Missouri was so fun.

I only saw the one and it was staying put on this log as I looked out the door of the RV, so I quick went and got my camera and opened the door slowly and took the photo.

Eastern Towhee Bird

This one below is the one I photographed in Texas.

Eastern Towhee Bird

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Pet Portraits

Pet Portraits

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Pet Portraits – I took a lot of pet portraits for folks this past winter. Lots of dogs, a few cats and one bird. We are traveling now, so when I want to take pet photos, my pets are the models. I never get tired of adding photos of my own pets to my collection.

The one thing we all know is that our pets just don’t live long enough. So I love taking their photos and enjoying every minute with them.

Chloee is a great model for still shots. She loves to just sit and look around when we are outside. She has such a beautiful face and expression in her eyes. She is 11 years old this year.

Pet Portraits

This is my little dog named, D-0-G, let me review what her name is. Her name is d o g, not the word dog, the letters d o g. Say it like, d oooo g, a little longer sound on the 0. Or if this spelling helps. Deohgee, I use that spelling at the vets because they don’t understand, d o g. 🙂

They ask me, ” is her name dog?”, I say, ” no, d o g“. They say, ” I know how to spell it”, I say, ” There you go”,

They say, ” Ohhhh, now I get it”,

Pet Portraits

We got her from a shelter when she was 4 years old. She is 17 years old this year. She is still doing really well for that age. She does sleep a lot more, but she still eats great and loves going for walks.

Then there is our cat, her name is Kit Cat, 🙂

What can I say, she is a great cat, gets along great with the dogs and she loves to travel. She does like to punch the dogs now and then when they walk by her. She gives them a wack on the head and hisses at them and takes off running.

Typical cat, 🙂

Pet Portraits

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Chloee Having Fun

Chloee Having Fun

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Chloee Having Fun – Last month my dog Chloee had some dental work done. She had a broken tooth in the back, one of those big teeth in the back. It needed to come out, it was loose. I called a made an appointment for her and the day before she was to go in, the tooth fell out.

But only part of it did, so she went in anyway and had a couple teeth pulled and all her teeth cleaned. She is like a new pup again, playing fetch and running around.

Dogs can get tooth aches as well as we do, never any fun with a tooth ache.

Chloee Having Fun
Chloee Having Fun
Chloee Having Fun

Chloee Having Fun

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The Red Headed Woodpecker

The Red Headed Woodpecker

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The Red Headed Woodpecker – I am still working on getting a good photo of this bird. I only see this one when I am in Illinois. They are a fast bird and easy to spot with the bright red and white feathers.

Of course, I was walking one morning, without a camera, which I have always told myself never to do. This woodpecker landed on a tree right in front of my at eye level. I can only shake my head at how that would have been a great shot.

Normally I am pointing my camera straight up into the trees to photograph this bird. Birding is always a challenge, a fun one at that.

The Red Headed Woodpecker

Have a great weekend.

The Red Headed Woodpecker

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All About the Birds

All About the Birds

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All About the Birds – Spring migration, another thing to enjoy during this time of year. The flowers and trees are beginning to bud and the birds are right here to enjoy the bountiful harvest of seedlings and bugs as well.

The nut hatch bird, or as I like to call them, tree walkers. They are finding a feast of small bugs to eat as they need food for energy to start building nest and raising babies.

All About the Birds

All About the Birds

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Good Ole Song Birds

Good Ole Song Birds

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Good Ole Song Birds, lets start the week with some good ole song birds from the mid west here. One can never go wrong with the cardinals. Spring time means bright red colors for these male cardinals. I have taken many, many photos of these birds, so what keeps me taking more of him?

Well, trying to find a different background to add to the photo. The bird looks about the same in every shot, but it is the background that can be a challenge to change up the photo.

Good Ole Song Birds

There are lots of different trees these birds land in, so I look for a shot where the trees or branches will make for a new and interesting print.

Good Ole Song Birds

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The Scarlet Ibis

The Scarlet Ibis

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The Scarlet Ibis

The scarlet ibis, sometimes called red ibis (Eudocimus ruber), is a species of ibis in the bird family Threskiornithidae. It inhabits tropical South America and part of the Caribbean. In form, it resembles most of the other twenty-seven extant species of ibis, but its remarkably brilliant scarlet coloration makes it unmistakable.

The Scarlet Ibis
The Scarlet Ibis

This picture below is a photo that I took in Louisiana, the white Ibis. My first time seeing an Ibis bird.

Have a great weekend.

The Scarlet Ibis

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Nicobar Pigeon

Nicobar Pigeon

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Nicobar Pigeon – the most brilliant colors I think I have ever seen on a bird.

One of the most beautiful breeds of Columbidae, the Nicobar pigeon is the only remaining living member of the genus Caleonas.

This might not mean anything to a casual bird lover, but it means that the Nicobar pigeon is believed to be the closest living relative of the dodo, the extinct bird that has come to be a symbol of extinct animals all over the world.

Nicobar Pigeon

The Nicobar pigeon, as the name suggests, originated in the Islands of Nicobar.

These islands are a union territory of India along with the Andaman Islands (home of the rare Andaman wood pigeon) and lie in the eastern Indian Ocean.

Nicobar Pigeon

The Nicobar pigeon is known not only in Nicobar but also Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

Nicobar Pigeon

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Guira Cuckoo Birds

Guira Cuckoo Birds

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Guira Cuckoo Birds – South America Birds

Guira Cuckoos are omnivores and groups will forage together for insects, frogs, eggs, large arthropods such as spiders, crabs, etc., and small mammals such as mice, as well as the nestlings of small birds. Their beak is thick and has a downward curve, which is designed for eating meat. They belong to the same family as the Roadrunner.

Guira Cuckoo Birds

They are very noisy birds and make a wide variety of noises, including yodels, guttural calls, gargled trills, and whistles. And, like other cuckoos, they give off a very strong odor.

Guira Cuckoo Birds

Guira Cuckoo Birds

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Unique Cool Birds

Unique Cool Birds

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Unique Cool Birds – My first bird I am going to show you is from Australia, it is called a Masked Lapwing.

The Masked Lapwing gets its name from the bright yellow wattles (the fleshy bit of skin that roosters and turkeys also have) on its face and the ‘lapping’ sound its slow wing beats make.

The Masked Lapwing, also known as a plover, has an eerie call most often heard at night – ‘kekekekekekekek’.

I picked this bird first because I follow a blogger named, aussiebirder

Blogging site link here; Aussiebirder

I love reading is blogs. He is a birder with his wife and he shows the most colorful birds I have ever seen. We have a lot here in the states. But, I think they might have quite a few more over there. Check out his site to see his photos, creative writings and videos of birds from Australia.

These birds coming up next week are from the Mississippi Aquarium, they have an Aviary there, which means all the birds can fly around and swim in the pond, and forage in the grasses. They are not free of course, but they are well fed and taken care of so that they stay healthy and live long lives.

Unique Cool Birds

Birds in the wild have more risk of fatality these days with being hit by cars, windmills and bad weather. Migration routes are in danger because of all the light noise at night. The majority of birds fly at night when they migrate and all the lights on the earth make it harder for them to get where they are going.

Last year I noticed a huge decrease in song birds in the area where I live. Which is one of the farthest regions for a lot of birds to migrate. I hope this summer more song birds will come back to my area.

Have a great weekend. 🙂

Unique Cool Birds

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Well Cared For

Well Cared For

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Well Cared For and well fed these dolphins at the Mississippi Aquarium. They get lots of attention from the trainers and lots of activities to keep them in great shape.

Well Cared For

People are always excited to see dolphins. I am thinking because they look like they are smiling all the time and having fun in the water.

Well Cared For

Here the only photo I took from inside the aquarium. Sometimes one has to put the camera down and just enjoy what it is front of us. Plus shooting through thick glass doesn’t make the best photos. 🙂

Well Cared For

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Dolphins in the Wild

Dolphins in the Wild

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Dolphins in the Wild – I see dolphins a lot when I am on the gulf coast. But, never jumping out of the water when I am just walking on the beach. I mostly see their fin and part of the body is all.

Dolphins in the Wild
Dolphins Rounding Up Fish at a Beach - Blue Heron Standing by Incase they Send Some Fish His Way

Below is a quick video I took of a couple of dolphins rounding up fish next to the beach as a Blue Heron paced back and forth watching them, as if it was trying to tell the dolphins to move the fish just a little closer so he could have one also.

Link to Dolphins on the Gulf Coast

Dolphins in the Wild

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Sandra J

Sandra J

I am a traveling photographer, I like to travel rural America, the roads less traveled when I can. I love the great outdoors, my Photo Galleries contain Landscapes, wild life and a few just for fun photos. Thank you and have a great day.

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