Swan Salon

This is the last of the swan series taken at Shakopee earlier this month.  The 16 second format of Instagram is a great editing challenge and also a good way to share short videos. If you are having trouble seeing videos here most of the videos on the blog are also on Instagram at: dbsnature on Instagram.

Sorry!

I missed the embed on yesterday's post which has been corrected. If it is still not visible it can be seen at this link. I looks like there will once again be snow on the ground after today!
The Real January

The Real January

A Quiet Winter Morning from Dale Bohlke on Vimeo.

 This video is from a couple weeks ago when it was a really January. The near zero temperature was great for camera work but not so great for my toes. I have bike riding the last few days pretending it is March. Who needs to go south in the winter with weather like this?

Technical: sequences shot on two successive mornings

Goose Flips Over

This unique form of bathing caught my attention last weekend in Shakopee. It is tempting to draw parallels with current events as we flip over as a nation. As this goose does we always go forward. 

Technical: paddling motion slowed 50%

Trapped!

I have been camera trapping for several years, each year refining my technique a little bit. Last year I concentrated on better staging using a level and placing the camera with a good background (stage) for the animals. After using different techniques over the years there seems to be no need for attractants and scent blockers, either the set is in a good location or it is not. My thanks goes to the MN DNR, Scientific and Natural Areas Program, for permission to put these cameras on public land.

Highlights of 2016 (about 3 1/2 minutes):

 

Winter Wave

This trumpeter swan's winter wave is more exercise than I have gotten recently, at leastt until yesterday's snow. It's nice to have a real winter  even if the shovel is the free weight for boosting upper body strength. There is almost enough to XC ski which is definitely a lot more fun than shoveling.

Technical: Photography is all about time manipulation. When shooting stills it usually is about freeing time. This wing wave is at a quarter normal speed to show the beauty of the fluid motion.

Primary Pattern

I have a tendency to look for patterns and designs in nature, especially when shooting macro subjects. I caught myself doing the same thing last week when shooting ducks. Maybe there is something to the saying, "It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks."

Winter Whites

It would be nice if the winter white was snow but the white birds of winter are a lot more fun to watch than falling snow.  I'm using the birds to practice slow motion techniques and various camera/lens combinations. The car is always nearby for a quick warm up when the toes get icy.

Happy New Year!

We sing and party (well some of us) to welcome the new year but I'm sure most animals are oblivious to the 12 month calendar. I have taken the liberty to assume this coyote is happy for the arrival of 2017.