Bee
Catch-all, Photography, Projects and Side Notes

Nature Photography with Extension Tubes

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I am an advocate of all things nature, but I am deathly allergic to bees. To capture a macro style shot of a bee can be quite a challenge when worried about being sent to the local ER. I decided to experiment with my photography using extension tubes and a long lens. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. At ten yards I was able to manual focus on a flower and wait for a busy bee to swing by. One thing about tubes… they have NO DOF (Depth of Field). If your focus is off a minuscule amount, it will be a wasted click. Here is my first round experimentation.

Last note: the tubes throw off your EXIF information. It always shows 50mm for focal distance. I was approximately 10 yards away sitting in the truck and using my door as a tripod. =)

Bee

  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 14 September, 2013
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/1600s

bees

  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 14 September, 2013
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/1250s

bees2

  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 14 September, 2013
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/1250s

bug

  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 14 September, 2013
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/2000s

Birding in Montana
Birding Adventures

A Taste of Montana Birding

Sticky 5 Comments

Birding in Montana

VIRTUAL BIRDING 15 – This gallery consist of 15 birds. Four are “gimme’s” consisting of commons in several states. Three sparrow photos are the same bird. The rest of the 15 may be tough if you are not familiar with Montana birds, which we are not. Feel free to post your answers below. 3, 4, 5, and 9 have us stumped as to particular species. All of these photos were taken in or near Shelby, Montana (Far northern part in Toole County) within the past 72 hours.

added: found two more – 16. and 17 after posting.

For those trying to help out and posting for the first time, your first post generally has to be approved by a moderator. Sorry if this is an inconvenience but it slows down spam. Larger photos are available by clicking on them.

Number 1
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (1)

Number 2
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (2)

Number 3
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (3)

Number 4
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (4)

Number 5 Coloring on this bird was similar to American Pipit.
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (5)

Number 6
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (6)

Number 7
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (7)

Number 8
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (8)

Number 9
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (9)

Number 10 – includes bonus =)
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (10)

Number 11
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (11)

Number 12
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (12)

Number 13
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (13)

Number 14
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (14)

Number 15
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (15)

Two additional birds added after posting:

Number 16
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (16)

Number 17
VIRTUAL_BIRDING (17)

house sparrow
Birds Birds Birds, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, House Sparrows

House Finch and House Sparrow

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Worked last night and came home to a yard full of birds. I posted the newly arrived Dark-eyed Junco a day or two ago. The House Finch and Sparrow braved out most of the Montana winter here in Shelby.

house sparrow

  • Aperture: ƒ/6.7
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 18 April, 2014
  • Focal length: 300mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/250s

house finch

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 18 April, 2014
  • Focal length: 235mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/350s

Dark-eyed Junco

  • Aperture: ƒ/6.7
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 15 April, 2014
  • Focal length: 260mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/60s

Dark-eyed Junco
Birds Birds Birds, Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

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Finally… a bird of a different feather has hit the yard. The first set of the season.

It is dark and rainy but Desi must have heard something because the next thing I hear is “come look at this.” Our Dark-eyed Juncos have re-established themselves below the feeders. I grabbed the camera and snapped off some shots through a rain streaked window.

I had to really crank up the ISO to slow down their frisky and quick movements. The noise was so great that I killed some of the the delicate feathery features in post processing. So worth it! We are so glad to see some variety in the yard. Sprinter (Spring/Winter) is nearly over in Shelby, Montana. Desi and I are ready for full Spring and the vibrant flora that comes with it.

Dark-eyed Junco

  • Aperture: ƒ/6.7
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 15 April, 2014
  • Focal length: 260mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/60s

Dark-eyed Junco

  • Aperture: ƒ/6.7
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 15 April, 2014
  • Focal length: 300mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/45s

Horned Lark
Birding Adventures, Birds Birds Birds, Black-billed Magpie, Horned Lark, Mountain Bluebird

Valier, Montana bird finds

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Always check your fence lines when moving down a dirt road. Never know what you might find. Took these today in Valier and Williamson Park just south of Shelby.

Post by Eclectic Art of Nature.
snow geese and mountains
Birding Adventures, Birds Birds Birds, Snow Geese

Snow Geese on Lake Francis

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A couple of weeks ago (03/29/14) Lake Francis had record numbers of Snow Geese. It can get tricky trying to photograph such large numbers with 600mm. I finally gave up on close-ups due to all the movement. Here is what I ended up with… the photos do not do it justice. The sound was extreme when they would rise and then land again. We heard that approximately 14 Bald eagles were stirring them and feasting. We did find some indicators of the assault as soft down was strewn about in different areas.

snow geese takeoff

  • Aperture: ƒ/11
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 29 March, 2014
  • Focal length: 300mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/320s

snow geese and mountains

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 29 March, 2014
  • Focal length: 170mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/320s

Snow Geese with Rockies

  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 29 March, 2014
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/800s

Snow Geese

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 29 March, 2014
  • Focal length: 300mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/1000s

Rough-legged Hawk
Birding Adventures, Birds Birds Birds, Dark-eyed Junco, Ring billed Gull, Rough-legged Hawk

Birding about Montana

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Rough-legged Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco and Ring-billed gull… can you guess which is which? That is of course meant tongue in cheek. We finally got a shot of a Rough-legged Hawk without a fence barring my lens. The Junco was taken last October through the window. Braving a very frosty day. This common Ring-billed gull was so entertaining that I could not pass it up. He was in full swing trying to catch a females attention.

Post by Eclectic Art of Nature.

Rough-legged Hawk

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
  • Taken: 23 November, 2013
  • Focal length: 300mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/1000s

Ring-billed Gull
Birding Adventures, Birds Birds Birds, Canada Geese, Ring billed Gull, Trumpeter Swan, Western Meadowlark

Noisy Birds

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Sprinter is in the air here in Montana… Texas is already hot and we are missing it… still getting nipped with snow and heavy winds here in Shelby. That does not seem to bother the birds much. They are causing a huge raucous trying to get the attention of a female. Desi and I took a trip around Great Falls, Montana to see what all the buzz was about.

Dedicating this album to our singers, honkers, and Will Ferrell wannabes.

Post by Eclectic Art of Nature.

Ring-billed Gull

    Birding Adventures, Birds Birds Birds, Pintails

    Pintails in Valier, Montana

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    Pintails were thick today. They darkened the skies at moments. These photos were shot at close to Lake Francis in Valier, Montana.

    Post by Eclectic Art of Nature.

    The Eclectic Art of Nature