The PhotoNaturalist
Adventures in natural history photography with Sparky Stensaas
December 25, 2011
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Last of the cranes. After sunset reflections; Crex Meadows, WI; October 15, 2022. After a few hours of shooting the hundreds of Sandhill Cranes flying in the roost for the night in the shallow marshes, it was time to head home. It was basically “after dark” when I saw this scene. I jumped out, snuck around the side of the van and snapped off a few photos until they got nervous. I didn’t think much about the shots and really thought that I would delete them but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw them on the computer…Testament to the amazing sensors of digital cameras. [Canon EOS R5; Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM; 500mm; f/7.1 at 1/50 second; ISO 3200; handheld] #sandhillcranes #reflection #creativewildlifephotography #crexmeadows #canonr5wildlifeLeafy peephole to Trumpeter Swan pair (October 15, 2022); An intentional attempt at creativity since straight up swan portraits are pretty boring. Shot through some fall color at a pond just loaded with Trumpeters at Crex Meadows in Wisconsin. This took a bit of post processing work to bring out the colors and get the white balance right on the swans. [Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM at 500mm; f/7.1 at 1/200; ISO 800; handheld] #trumpeterswan #creativewildlifephotography #canonr5wildlife #crexmeadows[June 19, 2022; Churchill, Manitoba on Hudson Bay] Yawning or yodeling?Pacific Loon on tundra pond (answer: yawning) (A video of my experiences on the tundra around Churchill will be coming soon to my YouTube channel “Sparky Stensaas“) [Canon R5 with Canon 100-500mm lens and 2x extender; 1/1000 second at f7.1; ISO 2000; handheld] #Churchill #churchillmanitoba #tundra #tundrabirds #manitobawildlife #thephotonaturalist #sparkystensaas #canonr5wildlife #birds #birdsofinstagram #birdsofcanada #pacificloon #highkeywildlife #beautyofbirds #best_birds_of_instagram[May 14, 2022; Stutsman County, North Dakota] This photo shows the crazy intense spring courtship flight of Blue-winged Teal. Five males are in hot pursuit of the female in the middle. Since the skies were gray and didn’t addd to the photo I blew out the whites to make this a high key photo. [Canon R5 with Canon 100-500mm lens;] #courtshipflight #duckcourtship #bluewingedteal #sparkystensaas #highkeyphotography #highkey #highkeybirdphoto #birdsofinstagram #birds #ducksofinstagram #prairiepotholeregion #northdakotawild #northdakotawildlife #northdakotabirds[May 2022; Kidder County, North Dakota][June 17, 2022; Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba] Do you call these ice floes? Icebergs? Just big chunks of ice? What’s the proper term? Whatever they are called, the tundra is certainly my happy place [Sony A6500, mini tripod] #hudsonbay #hudsonbaymanitoba #churchillmb #churchillmanitoba #sparkystensaas #icebergsandpeopleShooting with Sparky Videos
Join Sparky in the field in these short videos from past wildlife and nature photography adventures.
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Sax-Zim Bog info
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3 responses to “Happy Holidays”
Nancy Haugen
December 25th, 2011 at 11:30
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Sparky.
Nancy & Jim
Lonni Skrentner
December 25th, 2011 at 12:28
What a phenomenal picture. Of course you only publish the phenomenal ones. The photographer in me wants to know how many hit the cutting room floor before this one!
Merry, Merry,
Lonni Skrentner
Sax-Zim Bog Festival 2011
Julia
December 28th, 2011 at 11:35
Have a very Happy New Year filled with God’s Blessings!
Julia & Tom