The Great Horned Owl

My Summer Evening Visitor

 This summer of 2011, in the late afternoons, I have had the pleasure of watching a rare visitor to my yard .  A great horned owl has taken up residence in my tallest elm tree.  Just about every afternoon when the sun drops to a lazy angle, the owl moves to an open branch and begins to preen. Then as dusk descends, off it flies  to begin its nocturnal activities. 

One morning the owl happened to be on a branch where the sun light was catching it so I quickly grabbed my Nikon 500mm 4.0 lens.  Upon focusing in on the owl's face, I noticed that the right eye socket appeared to be empty.  I took several more photos and sure enough, this was a one-eyed owl!  After carefully examining the photos in Lightroom, I saw that the eye socket was hollow.  In amazement, I wondered how this owl could have lost the eye ball.   

 

I have seen great horned owls around this area before and have heard them vocalizing at night with the familiar "who, who, who" sounds.  Curiosity got the better of me, so I went to Google to look for more information.   So far, I haven't been able to find anything that might explain the eye loss, but I did uncover some interesting facts. 

On the website, "About Falconry", I learned that 95% of an owl's brain power is taken up simply for its eyes and that the eyes of owls are larger than other birds of prey.  Bearing this in mind, I wondered how my owl was able to adapt with just the one eye.  

Every afternoon when I am home, I've made it a ritual to go out and watch my friend.  Great horned owls are amazing hunters that strike from above with their powerful talons.  Their diet consist of reptiles, smaller mammals, birds and rodents but they have been known to prey on larger animals including cats, dogs, other raptors and even owls.  After looking around on the ground, I've come to realize that my owl is eating quite well.  I found a large number of  castings or pellets that were regurgitated from the indigestible material of bones, fur and beaks. 

The owls in North America have always carried great lore and superstition.  Many people are afraid of the beautiful birds and I have been told by some that the hoot of an owl means there will soon be a death.  I grew up watching 2 white owls that lived in my Aunt's windmill tank and on many a southern night, listened  to their screech.  I feel very fortunate that my one-eyed owl has taken up residence in my yard.  We each peacefully coexist and go our separate ways and enjoy watching each other from a distance.

For additional information:

http://www.about-falconry.com/owl-species.html

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Photographing Spider Webs

Nature's Weavings

A walk through the yard on a September morning with my D90 and Nikon 150mm 2.8 macro lens finds just the right type of lighting for photographing spider webs.

From my experience, early morning seems to have the best lighting to catch the sun's reflection on the delicate strands.  If you live in an area where there is humidity, you might also find drops of dew accenting the web, however this is a very rare phenomenon  in the high desert of Nevada.  

A wide aperture helps to blur the background so that the focus remains sharp on the web.  I find that auto focus does not work as well as manual focusing to bring out the small strands.

   

As with most of my macro, I will use a tripod which holds the camera steady so I can concentrate on setting up my shot for the best composition.

Firing the flash when the area is in shadows can bring out some interesting details.

Please remember when out photographing nature to take only photos and leave only memories.  Always be respectful of the creatures that make their home in the wild.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Cropping the Photograph

To Crop or Not to Crop

When I was first learning the basics about photography, I was taught to crop the scene within the camera by moving closer or changing physical position.  Zoom lenses were considered inferior so a serious photographer would only use a fixed length lens.  With advances in technology, zoom lenses became sharper which made it easier to crop in the camera.  As a last resort a certain amount of cropping could be done in the dark room, if the negative was sharp enough. 

Enter the digital age with processing software and voilà cropping is made so much easier.  However the original image still needs to be sharp and have the maximum number of pixels. 

So if we have a sharp image with 300ppi, how much do we crop.  With my Nikon D90 set for Image Quality: RAW, after processing I will have a finished photo that is 4288 X 3848 or 14.293" X 9.493", giving me a 34.9M file.  The photo will also be saved as a TIFF and not as a JPG.  And the difference between those two will be for a future blog. 

 The image size is especially crucial when you are cropping in on a photo to get a secondary clear sharp image. 

 Before the photo is cropped, a decision also may arise on whether it should be a vertical or horizontal.   By rotating the photo in Photoshop, I can get a good idea of which format would give the subject a more interesting appearance.   Once that decision is made, I will crop and re-size as needed.

One thing you must consider when cropping is how tight on the subject to go.  Leaving a neutral space around the subject creates a more pleasing image, otherwise the subject becomes confined.  An additional factor to consider if the photo will be framed  is to allow enough space so that the subject will not be confined or covered up with a mat.

Experimenting with cropping in Photoshop is fun and can be very rewarding when you find those hidden images in a photograph.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Mount Grant, Nevada

 One of Nevada's Tallest Peaks

Towering as a back drop to Walker Lake on the southwestern side, Mount Grant stands at an elevation of 11,270' (3435.096 m) and is one of the 25 tallest peaks in Nevada.

 

Located in west-central Nevada, the picturesque Mount Grant is the highest point on the Wassuk Range.  After 9/11, access to the public was restricted and Mount Grant has been used predominately for military operations. 

  

Standing above piñon treeline, the higher elevations of Mount Grant are covered in snow during the winter months and support various high altitude conifers.

During the short summers, native grass and wildflowers thrive in the various micro-climates along the slopes and in the meadows. 

With its abundant water sources, Mount Grant is home to a number of wildlife including the Desert Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Cougar and Black Bear.  

On a clear day at Mount Grant, you can see for approximately 130 miles.  However the weather can be subject to violent and fast changes with systems moving in from the east, north and west.  Strong winds, reaching gale force are as common as the clear blue skies.

Walker Lake lies on the lee side of Mount Grant and covers approximately 50.3 mi² (130 km²). Walker Lake is a natural high desert lake, fed by the Walker River and was once a remnant of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan that covered most of the western U.S. during the Ice Age. 

The summit of Mount Grant is a sharp ridge of 3rd. Class talus, stretching for several hundred meters.

Mount Grant with its natural streams, cottonwoods, plentiful vegetation and wildlife is a sacred area to the Walker River Paiute Tribe.    

 For additional information:

http://www.walkerlakenv.ogr

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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The Bird of Paradise Bush

Caesalpinia Gilliesii

My favorite shrub that brings color and wildlife to my yard in summer is an unusual tropical plant commonly known as the bird of paradise bush or technically the Caesalpinia gilliesii.  I am particularly fond of this plant not only for the color and softness it brings to the high desert, but also for its drought-tolerance.

A member of the legume family, the Caesalpinia gilliesii originates from Argentina and Uruguay.  Also known as the desert bird of paradise, yellow bird of paradise and barba de chivo, it is not related to the tropical bird  of paradise genus Sterlitzia.

During the hot, dry summers, a small amount of water will keep the flowers  in bloom and the shrub will continue to grow, possible reaching from 3-4  meters tall.  Extending from the yellow flowers are the long red stamens  that give the bird of paradise bush its unique appeal.

The seed pods will ripen in the fall where the dry seeds will pop out with a  loud sound and fly for great distance.  If one lands in the soft soil, a new  plant will start to grow.  This plant is very prolific and to keep it from  growing all over my yard, I transplant the young shoots to small containers where I can share them with friends.

The seed pods and seeds are very toxic, producing severe vomiting and  abdominal distress, however it is noted that the plant is used as a medicine  to cure fever, coughs and sores by indigenous people of the Amazon  Rainforest.

The delicate leaf patterns remind me of the mimosa tree and the faint sweet fragrance smells so nice in the summer air.  Hummingbirds, bees and  butterflies are attracted to the nectar, but not deer, the bird of paradise  bush is resistant to deer.

For additional information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesalpinia_gilliesii

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Perseid Meteor Showers

 

 Catch a Falling Star Over Walker Lake

The week of August 8th, the Perseid meteor show is due to peak between August 12th and 13th, becoming more spectacular in the early morning hours before dawn.  The greatest difficulty with this spectacular meteor show is the light from a Waxing Gibbous or nearly full moon and of course favorable meteorological conditions  with clear skies and calm winds. 

I chose to take my chances with the meteors on the morning of August 11th. because the moon was due to set around 3am.  I arose at 2:35am and when I went outside, the sky was very light even though the moon had already dropped behind the mountains to the west.  Just as I was setting up my camera, I saw several brilliant star trails streak across the northeastern sky. 

To try and photo the meteors, I selected my wide angle Nikon 24mm 2.8 lens.  Using a cable release on the Nikon D90, I set the program on manual and the shutter on bulb so that I could control the speed.  From past experience, I can get a 10-20 second exposure with the D90 without too much digital noise.  For these night photos, I set the aperture at f/8 and the ISO was on 200.  I also used my heaviest Bogan tripod to prevent as much camera as possible.

  

Around 3:35am, the sky to the northeast began to darken and I was all set up, ready for action.  The radius point where the meteors will originate is in the constellation Perseus, just below the Cassiopeia's W in the Northeast sky. However in the early dawn, I noticed shooting stars in all directions of the sky.  The problem is being able to catch the meteor trail during a 10-20 second shutter opening.  

I did manage to capture one nice meteor trail to the east just before dawn. 

 Once the eastern sky began to lighten with dawn quickly approaching, I could not resist to take more photos in the starlit sky.

 

 With dawn's light accenting Walker Lake, I walked to get a closer image of the early morning light.

 

For more information:
http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Sacred Datura

American Desert Thorn Apple

One of the most beautiful fragrant white trumpet-shaped desert wildflowers   also has a dark and deadly side. The Sacred Datura is an exotic  looking plant that grows from  Nevada to northern Mexico in lose sand and on dry wash banks. It can reach up to 5' (1.5 m) in height and circumstance.

The sweet smelling Sacred Datura’s sinister side comes from the narcotic and  lethal effects produced by its extracts.  Its narcotic properties have been  used in religious ceremonies by southwestern Native Americans since recorded  history.  However the hallucinogenic effects of the Datura are known to be  stronger than Peyote, Psyillicibin, or LSD and can cause permanent  psychosis.

 Unfortunately all parts of the Datura contain dangerous levels of poison if  ingested by animals or humans.  In some areas it is prohibited to buy, sell  or cultivate Datura plants.

The corollas or flowers protrude 6" (15 cm) from the foliage on a flared  trumpet, opening in the late afternoon, they bloom during the night or on cloudy days. At the end of the flare, five slender teeth form a spiral on the rim.

 The 11/2" (3.8 cm) prickly fruit which also gives the Datura one of its  common names, the Thorn Apple, has many slender spines that when dry will cause painful punctures to the skin.  In the fall the dry Throne Apple will  open, expelling numerous seeds.
 

Regardless of the Datura's dark and deadly side, it is a most beautiful  pollinating plant, often used in  xeriscapes.  I have several growing in my  yard that attract nocturnal visitors like the sphinx or hawk moths.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Northern Bluet Damselfly

 Walker Lake Water Fairies

During the month of July, the lapis blue of the Northern Bluet Damselfly accents green bushes and shallow waters around Walker Lake.

These strikingly delicate creatures are insects similar to dragonflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera.  However the Damselfly is smaller than a dragonfly and its wings are held along the body when at rest. 

 The male is a striking blue. 

While the female is a duller slate color. 

Damselflies have a life cycle of one to two years and can often be seen mating in flight or by clinging to plants. 

After copulation, the female will lay her eggs in submerged vegetation.  Once the eggs are laid, she will continue this process.
  

Upon hatching, the damselfly does not go through the larva and pupa transformation.  It will emerge in to a nymph as a smaller version of the mature damselfly where it spends one to three years in the water preying on smaller aquatic insects.

After molting several times, the damselfly enters the adult stage where it keeps nature in balance eating flies, mosquitoes and other insects.

  

It's a wondrous sight to just sit and imagine the elegant damselflies as water fairies flying around Walker Lake on a warm day in July. 

 For additional reading:

http://www.lrdg.org.uk/articles/intro.php

http://www.cirrusimage.com/damselfly.htm

http://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/BugofMonth12.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damselfly

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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