I do this every December and go back and look back on the image taken, and number of keepers, etc. and post some of the highlights of the year.
Much to my dismay, it really has been a slow birding year for me this year. Many things got in the way, including our new farm, the weather, my personal effort, retirement from public school education, job hunting. The list could get endless.
I did take over 18,000 shots this year (a low number for me in a year, I usually run about double that) but even my event work was down without any dance recitals and fewer other gigs.
In looking back on the bird pics, my new years resolution is to get outdoors more, and take more pics.
My highlights of 2010 won't compare to many others here on the cafe, and when Jason (our best small bird shooter in the midwest in my humble opinion) gets around to his best of 2010, mine will pale in comparison on the birding front. (however, I will state I have the best graduation pics and prom pics of any father around! Ha! :biggrin
I guess that is one reason why I sold the D300 and one D3 to upgrade to a D3s, I wasn't using the D300 much, and still was shooting a lot of indoor events, and could use the abilities of the D3s. I need to shoot more subjects that will cause my to lust after another crop body, (birds!) if and when Nikon ever introduces a new one with at least 8 fps in a pro body. (that is another story for another day.......)
Anyway,
On to my pics.
Only one eagle pic taken at the new year, my in-flight sushi shot sequence, from a long long long long way away, couldn't have done this with the D3, this was a near 80% or more crop on the D300 and 500 with 1.4 TC.
After that, I have not kept one eagle shot for the files, sure I took a few from hundreds of yards away, but they all went in the trash can.
The pels cooperated this past summer/spring and during the flood season where in a nice location for shooting:
This pel shot may be one of my favorites of the year:
and some pel landing shots:
and from a technical standpoint this pel shot is the best of the ones I have:
I had my usual number of trumpeter shots early last year and this year too
about the only thing I took a ton of keepers on were the trumpeter swans, and guess what, I was out shooting to get those shots........
In closing,
Sure I have some other bird type shots, distant shots, not portfolio worthy, but looking back in hindsight, it really was a down year. But, just as in baseball and everything else, there is always hope for the next year!
All my best and happy new year!
Wade
Much to my dismay, it really has been a slow birding year for me this year. Many things got in the way, including our new farm, the weather, my personal effort, retirement from public school education, job hunting. The list could get endless.
I did take over 18,000 shots this year (a low number for me in a year, I usually run about double that) but even my event work was down without any dance recitals and fewer other gigs.
In looking back on the bird pics, my new years resolution is to get outdoors more, and take more pics.
My highlights of 2010 won't compare to many others here on the cafe, and when Jason (our best small bird shooter in the midwest in my humble opinion) gets around to his best of 2010, mine will pale in comparison on the birding front. (however, I will state I have the best graduation pics and prom pics of any father around! Ha! :biggrin
I guess that is one reason why I sold the D300 and one D3 to upgrade to a D3s, I wasn't using the D300 much, and still was shooting a lot of indoor events, and could use the abilities of the D3s. I need to shoot more subjects that will cause my to lust after another crop body, (birds!) if and when Nikon ever introduces a new one with at least 8 fps in a pro body. (that is another story for another day.......)
Anyway,
On to my pics.
Only one eagle pic taken at the new year, my in-flight sushi shot sequence, from a long long long long way away, couldn't have done this with the D3, this was a near 80% or more crop on the D300 and 500 with 1.4 TC.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
After that, I have not kept one eagle shot for the files, sure I took a few from hundreds of yards away, but they all went in the trash can.
The pels cooperated this past summer/spring and during the flood season where in a nice location for shooting:
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
This pel shot may be one of my favorites of the year:
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
and some pel landing shots:
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
and from a technical standpoint this pel shot is the best of the ones I have:
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I had my usual number of trumpeter shots early last year and this year too
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
about the only thing I took a ton of keepers on were the trumpeter swans, and guess what, I was out shooting to get those shots........
In closing,
Sure I have some other bird type shots, distant shots, not portfolio worthy, but looking back in hindsight, it really was a down year. But, just as in baseball and everything else, there is always hope for the next year!
All my best and happy new year!
Wade
