birding Archives • Page 3 of 23 • Into the Light Adventures

Photo Manipulation

By Sandra | November 17, 2023 | Comments 34 comments

Photo Manipulation also called composites. which means two or more photos put together as one. I occasionally make composites, when my imagination seems to be sparking an idea.

Take for instance these two swans. When I look at a photo, I always crop in 100% to check the quality of the photo and check to see if there are any defects that need attention.

When I crop in on a photo, my mind will wonder off as I picture the subject in a different light

I cropped in even further on this photo so I can actually see how clear the face is and the eyes. I always want to see if the eyes are crisp sharp, in this case they are just to dark, but the feathers around the face look pretty sharp.

Then I crop in one more time and the water in the background makes my imagination start to turn, it looks as though the swan is sticking its head up out of the water as if its body is underwater.

So then I just have to see if I can make it look like it is peaking out of the water at me and because it appears that the swan is looking right at me, the words Navy Seal runs through my mind.

Well, all I could do is add some goggles that I found on the internet, just for a fun photo. Now I know why it takes me forever to edit photos, I can’t help but to try and create what my imagination is throwing at me. Then I just turn the computer off and go outside for awhile, laughing of course. 🙂

Have a great weekend.

Oh, on Monday I will show you the other swan I photographed when we were out west, a swan that is only suppose to be found in Australia.

Photo Manipulation

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

The Trumpeter Swan

By Sandra | November 16, 2023 | Comments 23 comments

The Trumpeter Swan – There are 6 swans species and I have photographed two of them. This one here being the trumpeter swan.

I went for years never seeing a swan anywhere, but now do to conservation efforts these swans have been taken off of the endangered species list and are found in many states including Iowa. Where I photographed these here.

I added the snow effect on this bottom photo.

This photo below has a soft white vignette.

This photo below has some sparkling water effects around the swans. I do like this one below.

The Trumpeter Swan

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Happy Winter Chickadees

By Sandra | October 16, 2023 | Comments 25 comments

Happy Winter Chickadees – I only took a couple of photos of these little ones this year. They always bring a smile to my face. Just so cute. I don’t see them down south, so I do enjoy their visits at home.

Happy Winter Chickadees

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

23 Woodpecker Species

By Sandra | September 29, 2023 | Comments 34 comments

23 Woodpecker Species native to the United States and I have photographed 9 of them so far.

Starting with the Pileated Woodpecker

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker photographed in Washington

Northern Flicker photographed in Michigan

Red Headed Woodpecker photographed in Illinois

Gila Woodpecker photographed in Arizona

Golden Fronted Woodpecker photographed in Texas

Red Bellied Woodpecker photographed in Iowa

Hairy Woodpecker photographed in Iowa

Downy Woodpecker photographed in the woods somewhere. I can’t remember where I found this one. 🙂

Have a great weekend, September is almost over. Autumn is here, I hope you all get to go outdoors and enjoy the fall weather.

23 Woodpecker Species

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Pileated Woodpecker Speed

By Sandra | September 28, 2023 | Comments 24 comments

Pileated Woodpecker Speed – Pileated Woodpeckers are known for their speed, agility, and power. They are able to fly up to 30 miles per hour and sustain speeds of over 60 miles per hour when diving.

Additionally, Pileated Woodpeckers have been known to use their strong bills to chip away at tree trunks at a rate of up to 20 times per second. This combination of speed and strength makes Pileated Woodpeckers one of the most impressive birds in the Pileated woodpecker family.

I took a lot of photos to get these 4 good ones of this bird in flight. I am using a 600 mm lens and the weight of this camera is about 6 lbs. and moving it back and forth tilted up at the bird is a challenge by itself.

But I always like a good challenge. 🙂

Pileated Woodpecker Speed

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

The Pileated Woodpecker

By Sandra | September 27, 2023 | Comments 24 comments

The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest.

Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens.

I normally see 4 of these gorgeous birds around my place all summer long. They are easy to find because of their size and they are actually very fast birds in flight. I actually got a couple photos of them flying I will share on tomorrows post.

I photographed this one below in Montana.

The Pileated Woodpecker

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Such a Cool Looking Bird

By Sandra | September 26, 2023 | Comments 32 comments

Such a Cool Looking Bird – Many people consider the loon a symbol of wilderness; its rich yodeling and moaning calls, heard by day or night, are characteristic sounds of early summer in the north woods. In winter, silent and more subtly marked.

Common Loons inhabit coastal waters and large southern lakes. In such places they are solitary while feeding, but may gather in loose flocks at night.

The Common Loon video;

Sounds of the Common Loon Bird, Striking Colors, Young Loons Preparing to Fly from Water, Sparkles

Loons are water birds, only going ashore to mate and incubate eggs. Their legs are placed far back on their bodies, allowing efficient swimming but only awkward movement on land.

Loons are like airplanes in that they need a runway for takeoff. In the case of loons, they need from 30 yards up to a quarter-mile (depending on the wind) for flapping their wings and running across the top of the water in order to gain enough speed for lift-off.

Like many young birds, juvenile loons are really on their own after mom and dad leave at about 12 weeks. The parents head off on migration in the fall, leaving juveniles to gather into flocks on northern lakes and make their own journey south a few weeks later. Once the juveniles reach coastal waters on the ocean, they stay there for the next two years. In the third year, young loons return north.

Such a Cool Looking Bird

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Hummingbirds and Flowers

By Sandra | September 21, 2023 | Comments 21 comments

Hummingbirds and Flowers -This was the best summer I have had with my flower gardens and seeing the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies using them was such a treat. I will be doing this again next year for sure. The hummingbirds are gone now for this year.

We have had a couple of frost already up here and some of the flowers did not do so well. Except these below and my sunflowers, the frost did not bother them.

I am not sure what to make of this photo below. Does it not look like the hummingbird on top is sticking its tongue out at the hummingbird below.

Crazy kids. 🙂

Until next year hummingbirds, can’t wait to see you in the spring again.

Hummingbirds and Flowers

Sandra J

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

Daran the Heron

By Sandra | September 19, 2023 | Comments 19 comments

Daron the Heron – I have just a couple of photos left of this beautiful bird that I took down south last winter. I actually took enough photos of them to be able to share with you all summer off and on. I never get tired of looking at their amazing colors and long flowing feathers.

One thing I noticed when I look at the videos I take of these birds is that they have a lot of patience and they can go along time without blinking. Yes they blink, they actually have 3 eyelids.

This video below is an example of one not blinking for 30 seconds. Click here, Heron Staring Contest