Lowcountry Wildlife Photo Tours- A new thing

Photo Tour 2-23-10

These images were by Barbara Dunn of Hollidaysburg, PA  Website - http://barbi.smugmug.com/ 
Blog - http://mybirdtales.blogspot.com/


We had a beautiful day on the water and Barbara got some outstanding images! Enjoy:)

#3 My personal best of a dolphin. I've been on dolphin cruises and felt lucky just to see a fin here and there so I was thrilled to capture this awesome creature almost entirely out of the water. I like the water splashing and you can even see the eye if you look closely.

#2 Eric introduced me to the Oyster Catchers and the oyster banks. Though I managed to get several good flight shots - I liked the angle of this particular picture where I could see both the top and bottom of the wings in motion.

#5 This gang of Brown Pelicans each with a different pose cracks me up. They look like they could get into some trouble - like teenagers with nothing to do ;-) I like the colors.

#4 Such a gorgeous couple! I like everything about this picture. Eric stopped the boat so we could see and photograph the Oyster Catchers on their territory. I think this pictures shows-off the lovely oyster shells and the vibrant orange color of the beaks and how about those eyes - wow!

#1 There is something so pleasing to me about the color in this image. A clean, simple background with just a few wisps of grass in the foreground allows all the focus to be on this handsome Great Blue Heron. I especially like the blue lore (that small patch in front of the eye) that shows this bird is in breeding plumage. And of course - he's honking!

 I'm just throwing this one in for fun - I thought it was just so cool to see the huge pair of pelican and the petite pair of oyster catchers together. 

See "Lowcountry Wildlife Photo Tours" info & amp; downloadable brochure @ http://www.horanphoto.com

"Photo of the Month" February 2010

This image represents February in my 2010 Lowcountry Calendar (http://www.southernlight.biz/). Friends, what are friends for? Well they’re there when you need them and they reciprocate the attraction and respect you have for them. And sometimes friends can open doors for you and present you which unique situations, you may otherwise not have. This is just what my photographer friend and naturalist Marvin Bauknight did when he invited me to Oldfield Plantation, where he works as the resident naturalist. They have had a fox den on property for several years and he and I devised a plan to observe and hopefully photograph the mother fox and her three pups. About an hour before sundown we hunkered down, in full camo clothing, with tripods and long lenses, up against a hedge of waxed myrtle bushes. We sat quietly for over an hour before these pups started to emerge from their den and explore. Skittish and nervous at first, the pups eventually calmed down and accepted us as non-threatening.

Photo tip: When shooting wildlife subjects develop a plan based on camera position, best light, animal behavior etc… and dress to blend with your surroundings or use a blind when appropriate, move slowly or not at all so that you do not disturb the animals, and they will likely accept you and carry on with their natural inclinations. This planning and preparation gives you the chance to experience what it is all about for the nature photographer, to observe animals in their natural habitat with normal behavior. 

Eric Horan