Recent Photos | Sandhills are Back! A nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes makes their nest at the edge of a slough not far from my house. The underbrush is so thick you can not get back to their nest; a good thing. They fly out from time to time in their constant quest for food. Note: I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.
Nikon 1 V3 Hodgepodge | Sandhill Crane This Sandhill Crane frequents a nearby wetland area. It does not seem to care about people much. As long as you keep a decent distance, it just goes on about its business.
The Back Story This image was captured with a simple burst of clicks. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | Daily Walkabout |
| Location | Northern Illinois |
| Date/Time | 10/10/2020 5:30pm Local Time |
| Weather | Fair Skies | 60°F | Moderate Wind |
| Method | Simple burst of clicks. |
| Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a Nikon FT-1 Adapter & Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR lens |
| Exposure | 300mm (810mm) f/5.6 1/1250s -0.33ev 1600iso |
| Post | Reduced noise, sharpened eye, and added a bit of definition. |
Spring Potpourri | Sandhill Crane A nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes makes their home on a small lake along one of my walkabout trails. Sometimes in early spring, they come out of the thicket into an open area on a sunny day.
Wildlife | Sandhill Crane Occasionally, it’s better to be lucky than good. Seldom do I get close enough to capture a portrait of a Sandhill Crane. This image is by far the closest and clearest Sandhill Crane I have ever captured. By using my vehicle as a blind, I was able to get very close without disturbing it. It must be accustomed to having people and cars around them. This Sandhill is one of a nesting pair that comes back to this lake every year. For the whole story with all images, see Wildlife | a 7 Image Story.
Wildlife | a 7 Image Story Picking seven wildlife images from the thousands in my database was difficult. These images were primarily chosen because they represent some of my best compositions. Like these images, many of my favorite wildlife images come from the Great American Plains and the American West with only a few from the Midwest. My favorite locations to capture wildlife images tend to be Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Badlands NP, Wind Cave NP, and the Platte River in Nebraska. See more wildlife images in my Wildlife Portfolio.
American Bison This old Bison image, captured in the Solitude of Wind Cave NP, is one of my favorite images. He has such character in his face and head. A mature Bison makes in imposing figure. They stand 5-6 feet tall weighing 1,800 to 2,400 pounds. Bison grow a thin layer of soft fine hair and a thick outer layer of course hair. This old Bison is shedding his thick winter coat making him look very shaggy. In the fall, he’ll grow a new coat. Also, see American Bison | a 7 Image Story for more information and images. The American Bison, also call Bison Bison, is our National Mammal and symbolic of the Great Plains. It’s largest land animal in North America. At one time millions roamed in herds across the grasslands of The Great American Prairie. They can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Just like much of the Great American Prairie has gone the way of the plow; so most of the Bison have gone. Today, small herds are live in Canada and the USA; mostly in state and national parks.
Raccoon This Raccoon image is clearly the nicest raccoon image I have ever captured and one of my favorite wildlife images. This image was captured at Everglades NP while taking a little time off during a business trip to Florida. Wild Everglade raccoons greeted our air boat as we docked on a remote island. These guys roamed around an old native American house site which is still regularly visited. They seemed thinner than the fat raccoons seen around the farms in Illinois.
Bighorn Sheep This Bighorn Sheep image, captured in Badlands NP, really shows how they blend into their habitat. In the fall, Bighorn Sheep carry their full winter coat. They look so majestic in the early morning sun against the mountains. They seem to be more comfortable when they standing on the side of a mountain. Just walking down the road does not appeal to them. Photographing Bighorn Sheep seems much easier than some other wildlife; particularly in the national parks where they are more accustomed to seeing people. Using a vehicle as a blind and safe cover allows you to get very close without disturbing the sheep. Their symmetric lines draw the viewfinder to your eye. Also, see Bighorn Sheep | a 7 Image Story for more information and images. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep are found in western Canada and western United States. Bighorn Sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America.
Bugling Bull Elk Rut season in the Grand Tetons brings out the largest Bull Elk. This one could be heard bugling for miles. It’s such a unique sound of the wild. Elk an be aggressive animals; even dangerous, year-round. Females can be really aggressive in the spring when their babies are born. Males get even more aggressive in the fall during rut. See Elk | a 7 Image Story for more Elk information and images.
Pronghorn Portrait This beautiful Pronghorn roams the Badlands. The image was a simple click out the car window. Sometimes, Pronghorn will pose for the camera. Using a vehicle for a blind also helps to get closer without disturbing the critter. Pronghorn are North America’s fastest land animal. They roam the America West and The Great American Prairie. Pronghorn live in grasslands, brush lands and deserts. They migrate from a summer feeding grounds to a winter feeding grounds. Although they tend to travel in large or small herds, often they graze alone or somewhat apart from the herd. They seem so majestic alone in a field.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Wildlife.
Click any image below for a slide show.
Spring 2019 Hodgepodge | Sandhill Crane This spring has been very wet and a bit cooler than usual. The standing water in normally dry land has attracted the Sandhill Crane nesting pair that lives on a nearby lake. For the whole story with all images, see Spring 2019 Hodgepodge | a 7 Image Story.
Kayaking on Pleasant Lake | Sandhill Crane Pleasant Lake appears to be the home of at least one Sandhill Crane nesting pair. They can be heard quite often. Capturing a decent image of them is quite another story. See Kayaking on Pleasant Lake | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
Kayaking on Pleasant Lake | a 7 Image Story Kayaking on Pleasant Lake is, well, pleasant. It’s a relatively small lake without much big boat traffic. Paddling along the shoreline on a relatively calm day makes for a nice serene break from the day’s challenges. During the summer months, several species of water lilies are abundant along several areas of the shoreline. They provide a hint of color and beauty while slowing paddling around them. The water is generally clear enough to see the stems in the sandy lake bottom
The north side contains a large number of beaver dams woven together making a wildlife wetland. Most days a kayak trip encounters some type of wild life and some days it uncovers numerous species. Unfortunately, so far this year, some of my favorite wildlife species have eluded my camera; like the Loons and Bald Eagles. Also, using a kayak enables a photog with patience and a telephoto lens to even capture dragonfly images. When photographing wildlife, I try not to disturb the subject by using telephoto lenses to stay far enough away. Remember, the 300mm lens on a Nikon 1 V3 with a 2.7 crop factor yields 810mm. For another Pleasant Lake kayaking story, see Pleasant Lake Kayaking | a 7 Image Story.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Kayaking on Pleasant Lake.
Click any image below for a slide show!
