Spotted Sandpiper

SPOTTED SANDPIPER, GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 21, 2013

Pentax K-01
Sigma APO 135-400 at 400mm
1/180 sec. f11 with on-board flash
ISO 800

This sandpiper was photographed late in the afternoon on a rainy day when it moved from the beach to a log in front of our cabin, finally close enough to capture in sufficient detail. The image required some work with Lightroom to increase the contrast and with Photoshop Elements to clone out several distracting twigs and branches.

White-throated Sparrow

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 21, 2013

Pentax K-5
Pentax F* 300 f4.5 with Kenko 1.5x teleconverter (equiv. 450mm)
1/180 sec. f8 with on-board flash
ISO 1600

I had never before encountered this species of sparrow, but the bird books say it is not uncommon in brushy areas in or near forests. The yellow eyebrows make it look like Andy Rooney after a makeover with Breck. As were the previous three photographs, this was shot handheld through a window.

Purple Finch

FEMALE PURPLE FINCH, GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 20, 2013

Pentax K-5
Pentax F* 300mm f4.5 with 1.5x Kenko teleconverter (equiv. 450mm)
1/2000 sec. f5.6
ISO 1600

At first I wasn't sure of the identification, but this seems to be a female purple finch that discovered the chipmunk's dining table on the lake shore in front of our cabin. Adult females of that species display a marked white "eyebrow," but this one seems to be yellowish. Maybe it's just a color variation. Taken handheld through a window, hence the high shutter speed against camera shake.

Munky business

EASTERN CHIPMUNK, GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 20, 2013

Pentax K-5
Pentax F* 300mm f4.5 with 1.5x Kenko teleconverter (equiv. 450mm)
1/1250 sec. f5.6
ISO 1600

The suet bell was atop a pole guarded by a squirrel baffle, but this canny chipmunk climbed an unprotected feeder pole six feet away and took a mighty leap from pole to pole. I took the shot handheld; setting up the tripod would have taken too long, and in any case the 'munk spooked and leaped away a second later.

First chipmunk of the season

EASTERN CHIPMUNK, GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 16, 2013

Pentax K20D
Sigma 135-400 at 400mm
1/180 sec. f8 with on-board flash
ISO 400

A day after we arrived in the North Woods, a local chipmunk discovered the offering of birdseed we poured on the riprap on the shore of Lake Superior in front of our cabin. It was getting on for dusk, so I opened the flash on the camera to illuminate the scene.

Shadows on deck

SHADOWS ON THE PROMENADE DECK, MS ZAANDAM, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-135 at 21mm
1/1600 f9
ISO 400

Another from last month's voyage to Hawaii: Deborah Abbott captured this study in shadows aboard our cruise ship while it was docked in San Diego Harbor.

Harbor pilot

PILOT BOAT NININI, NAWILIWILI, KAUAI, HAWAII, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-135 at 53mm
1/1250 f9
ISO 800

Tiny but speedy watercraft bouncing over high swells after they pick up the harbor pilot always make a fine photo opportunity aboard cruise ships. I shot the pilot boat Ninini from the promenade deck of the Holland-America vessel Zaandam during a Hawaiian vacation last month. LATER: In 2009, a Ninini pilot transferring from the cruise ship Island Princess missed his footing, fell overboard and was killed by the pilot boat's propellers. Piloting can be a very hazardous undertaking, especially in the treacherous entry to Nawiliwili harbor.

Rain forest

RAIN FOREST, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Pentax K-5
Pentax 18-135 at 18mm
1/40 sec. f6.3
ISO 1600

Good thing both camera and lens were weather sealed during our hike in the rain forest on the Big Island, but the torrent lifted just enough for me to get this clear shot. As you can see from the high ISO, low shutter speed and largish aperture, conditons were dark as well as dank.