Friday, December 14, 2007

Barred Owl, 300th Post



One of my favorite photographs from the past fall’s wildlife shooting is this shot of a Barred Owl. This was one of the many shots I captured while following this owl around Big Meadow in the Shenandoah National Park. If you missed my first post where I tell the story of this adventure, click the label “Owl” at the bottom of this post.



With this post I am celebrating my 300th post. My photography and equipment has changed quite a bit since beginning this endeavor. When I began posting I was shooting a relatively new Canon S2 IS which actually was my third digital camera.

My first digital was a little HP fixed focus, fixed lens point & shoot that ran the batteries down quickly. It used two AA rechargeable batteries with a run time never exceeding five minutes. This camera was a Christmas gift from my in-laws in 2003. The HP taught me that digital was the direction I needed to go and soon I upgraded to a Canon A85, 4mp with a 3X optical zoom. Soon after acquiring it my niece Amy (ASH) showed up with a neat little camera, the Canon S1 IS. With its 10X optical zoom it was quite an impressive tool. Shortly after the Canon S2 was introduced I took the plunge and few months later began blogging.

This past August after spending a some time behind Willard’s Canon 10D mounted on his 500mm lens I recognized that for me to continue the digital passion I had no choice but to upgrade to a DSLR. Soon a Canon 30D along with a 24mm-105mm F4L IS arrived from B&H and with it I began exploring the world anew. With a Canon 100-400 borrowed from Willard I entered this fall carrying a tool kit capable of capturing good wildlife shots; thus Country Captures has changed for a time from being a rural scenery blog to more wildlife oriented. Where will it go from here? I cannot say as I rarely plan a post until the minute I sit down in front of the monitor.

Thanks to all who have kept me company on this journey and encouraged me on with your kind comments along the way. It has been fun!

13 comments:

Irene said...

Congratulations on your 300th post! That is so great! I really am happy I found your blog. I love your photos and so often am pulling my husband to the computer to show him your shots. He really enjoys them too! Keep them coming! I would love to get some good wildlife shots myself. Maybe someday!

Mr. Mapper said...

300 posts! Fantastic!!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations. 300 posts is a lot of work.

I think I saw this photo before when you first posted it. The snow coming down reminds me of the little bit of snow coming down in the picture I posted today.

Thanks for the nice comments you left on my place.

oldmanlincoln.com

Kerri Farley said...

Contgrats Salty on #300! Wow...that is quite an acoomplishment! You have encouraged me so much along the way and I really appreciate it!!

This is one of my all time favorite pictures. I have never seen one of these "in the wild"
And the snow falling makes it absolutely PERFECT!

dot said...

This picture taking and blogging really gets a hold on you doesn't it? I love your owl in the snow.

Tina Leigh said...

Salty I'm glad I ran into you & your brother at Mama's cause I am really enjoying the both of you! I might hurt some feelings with this comment & I dont mean to but in the world of women....everything has to be a contest, spoken & unspoken. You two guys do your own thing & I like that....no pressure & no silly stuff. I've always been a bit of a tomboy but it works for me....I love the outdoors. Thats why I love your blog. I have been taking pictures since I was a kid but it wasnt until I went to Cades Cove in the 90's that I realized I would rather take a picture of an animal vs. people. In 1996 I came a hair away from becoming a wildlife rehabilitator but gave it up after I was hear broken. AND IT ALL HAD TO DO WITH A BARRED OWL! Maybe I'll post about it.

Cape Cod Washashore said...

Congratulations on 300 fabulous, inspiring posts! I do love your wildlife photography! My family has spent alot of time in the woods of NH and Maine, and I really appreciate all the beautiful photos you share of creatures we don't often get to see unless we go into their own territory!

I found a very good PDF article on Winter Moth put out by UMass:

http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/defoliators/winter_moth.pdf

Fortunately with the bit of snow we had the other day, the moths can't emerge from the soil until the snow melts.

imac said...

Just fantastic -love the snow storm too.
Congrats on 300 posts Salty.


come and visit theres lots to see.

Tom said...

Well done Salty.. I am so glad I didn't miss this post.
Congratulations on your 300th post! for Old Womtig. ha!. I read this post with much interest about your cameras as mine as just ended it's life so to speak. I will most likely go with another Canon.. I'm looking at the S5 IS.. nothing to fancy and it is in my price range.

I hope to be here for the next 300 posts and look forward to viewing and reading them all my friend..

Tom

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Congratulations, Dad!

I only have 180 posts on my photo blog.

Lori Schmidt (LoriProPhoto) said...

This is a truly awesome shot, Wow I wish!!! I am enjoying your blog tremendously.

Lori

Meggie said...

Congrats, Salty, on your 300th post. Outstanding! The barred owl is a beauty. I'm always interested to know which cameras bring better pics for fellow bloggers. Thanks for the info.

Unknown said...

Oh I love this shot!! There is an owl in our neighborhood and he frequently sits in our pecan tree late at night hooting. I would love to get a shot of him. Or even just to see him. We have seen him about 3 times but never had a chance to photograph him. Congratulations!