All three images were shot against the same vacant building where we sometimes train our SAR dogs. The location was so close to my car that I kept going back to it to change lenses. Only problem was that I forgot to change the camera settings each time, so they were wrong on these shots. It worked out OK, though, since the background is still nicely blurred, due to the long lens, and they came out reasonably sharp, even though they were hand-held and there is no stabilization on my 400mm lens.

Yesterday, some of us did our biannual fitness hike, which is a requirement to be able to go on searches with our group. It's an 8-mile hike, on which we have to carry 20 lbs., not counting the water we drink. I decided to carry my photo vest, since it distributes the weight better than a backpack. I guessed that it weighed about 30 lbs. with what I normally carry, but it turned out that I had to carry most of my equipment to make the weight. I carried a body, my 70-200 f/2.8, my 400mm prime, my 24-105, and my 17-40mm, in addition to various smaller items and a bottle of water. It felt good for the first six miles or so, but after that, the weight took its toll and I was really glad when the hike was over.

We did the hike along Pacific Coast Highway, in Carlsbad, which was really beautiful, and I even saw several small flocks of pelicans gliding in for a landing at the lagoon next to the power plant, but I didn't stop to take any pictures, because they would have been gone by the time I assembled my gear.

Tags:   House Wren Troglodytes aedon Carlsbad California FlickrsPortal NaturesElegantShots TopShots mywinners SuperShot COTH COTH5

© All Rights Reserved

That's not the sky in the background - it's the Pacific Ocean.

Tags:   Breeding colors Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus La Jolla Cove La Jolla California FlickrsPortal NaturesElegantShots TopShots SuperShot NaturesFinest ABigFave TheBestofMimamorsGroups COTH SpecAnimal AvianExcellence COTH5 5+WonderWall.

© All Rights Reserved

While this might seem inappropriate for Easter, it is certainly natural and it could be said that it is symbolic of the idea of sacrificing so that others may live.

I made this image yesterday, while visiting the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (I don't know if I'll ever get used to their new name. I still think of it as the Wild Animal Park.) I had no idea what he was carrying, just that it was something valuable, because another heron was chasing him, and I was shocked when I opened it on my computer. I debated whether or not to post it, because of the cute little duckling, but decided to go ahead with it, since the rest of the shot makes up for it, IMHO.

Happy Easter!

Tags:   Uncropped Prime lens Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax San Diego Zoo Safari Park AmazingWildlifePhotography

© All Rights Reserved