Robin at breakfast

AMERICAN ROBIN, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, MARCH 17, 2011

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 55-300 at 300mm
1/2000 sec. f9.0
ISO 1600

Another in yesterday's harvest of robin shots from the Botanic Garden, this one shows the subject feeding on winter-dried fruit from a David crabapple tree. I'm learning that it takes patience to get photographs of birds physically interacting with the world around them, not just perching prettily on a branch. Click for a large version.

One small step for a robin . . .

AMERICAN ROBIN, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, MARCH 17, 2011

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 55-300 at 300mm
1/4000 sec. f9.0
ISO 1600

For a change it was a nice morning outdoors at the Botanic Garden with a hazy sun in the upper 50s. The robins were out and about in force chasing each other in amorous sport, for it's the breeding season. This one struck a noble pose atop a branch of a David crabapple tree in the English Walled Garden. Click the photo for a large version.

Gimme

GRAY SQUIRREL, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, MARCH 14, 2011

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 55-300 at 300mm
1/500 sec. f8
ISO 400

It's almost spring and I went out on the backyard deck this afternoon for a little wildlife shooting practice. A gray squirrel waited aloft for me to bring out another cup of bird seed, as I do each morning, and when I didn't he gripped the tree threateningly and scolded me for my lax attitude. Cheeky little tree rat. Click the photo to see him close up in all his belligerent glory.

Joinery

GAZEBO ROOF CORNER, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, MARCH 3, 2011

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 55-30 at 107mm
1/500 f8
ISO 800

The angles and texture of the joists caught my eye this cold and overcast afternoon, and I plan to come back in the early morning one fine spring day when the low sun will very likely outline the grain of the wood in high relief and ivy leaves afford contrasting color. Much effective photography, I am learning, consists of picking a scene--and planning ahead for the best light.