Where Eagles Dare

This morning I met up with the CNPA at the Carolina Raptor Center for a private photo shoot for 3 hours. This is my personal favorite of the set as I love Golden Eagles and how the light was working for this shot. 

I really enjoyed playing around with the lighting on this shot! Very majestic bird!

The CRC had a wide variety of birds of prey, especially the owls. These shots were taken with my Canon EF 100-400mm lens and it worked wonderfully.  The background is blurred out and the way I shot this the pine needles in front of the owl is out of focus and barely noticeable!

I really like how this Great Horned Owl can change his looks from gentle owl to "I'm going to GET you!" by retracting his 'horns'.

This is a barn owl and was actually my first subject of the day. It was then I noticed the 'light' and how it outlined the edge of this bird. I looked for the same light later on. Glad I am able to notice when the 'light' is doing some cool things to my subject!

This was one of the few shots I used my 24-70mm instead of my EF 100-400mm on to show how little this screech owl is and how well he blended in to this tree trunk. You will probably never notice one of these little birds in the forest as they sit very still. 

Here is a close up of this tiny owl. One of my favorites of the day!

Here is a Peregrine Falcon, one of the fastest animals on with a recorded dive speed of 202 mph! What an amazing creature!

After the photos, we headed up the road and enjoyed some BBQ and good coversation. I had a great time and thanks to the CNPA for coming up with some great venues for us nature loving photographers!

Thanks for reading!

Mark

Best of Show...

I took second place at the 2012 Lincoln County Arts Council Photography Competition for my photograph of my two "puppies". I shot it in color but simplifying it in B&W really took this picture to the next level. 

As the winners were announced I was happy with my win. I did not expect I would win any other awards, but there was still one Category left... "Best Of Show". As they read out the title of the best of show, I heard "Roaring". I knew that I had an entry entitled "Roaring Fork Falls", and that was the name that was read off. I was shocked, humbled and honored that one of my photographs had won "Best of Show".

I took this photo when Bob with the Carolina Nature Photographers lead an trip to travel to McDowell County to photograph four waterfalls. I would like to thank Bob for leading this trip and showing me this beautiful waterfall called Roaring Fork Falls. I have really enjoyed my short time with the CNPA and I am always learning something new from this group.

Thanks to my family for allowing me to go on these adventures to pursue my passion! Without your love and encouragement I would not be who I am.

Last, but not least... Thank you God for making these beautiful things in the world for me to photograph and pointing things out that are truly special.

One of the biggest things I have learned in this, be sure to print out your best shots for as great as they look on your computer screen, they look even more amazing printed!

Thanks for reading!

Mark