Messages

1

Animal Kingdom / Re: Help with Bird ID?

« on: April 16, 2013, 12:12:37 PM »

Hi Ken!

I think you are over-thinking the bird.  Let's break it down...

It isn't a Western Kingbird because the tail does not have white edges on the outer feathers and the tail is not black.

It isn't a Cassin's Kingbird because they have a light grey head and a dull yellow breast.

What you have pictures of is a Great Crested Flycatcher. They have the beautiful lemon yellow belly and a reddish cinnamon colored tail.  Plus, they are summer residents from the Great Plains eastward to the Atlantic Coast.  The other two birds would be exceedingly rare finds in Florida.

I love the pictures (especially the second one!)

Nikki

2

Landscape / Re: Jippieeee! It's spring! Post your first spring pictures here.

« on: March 22, 2013, 09:39:25 AM »

Even a humble weed can be a pretty sign of spring.

3

Landscape / Re: Jippieeee! It's spring! Post your first spring pictures here.

« on: March 22, 2013, 09:31:13 AM »

Here is my backyard dogwood.  The flowers are open now and turning white, but it has been too windy the last several days to get more pictures.  I used my new Kenko extension tubes with my 50 1.4 for this picture.

4

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: What photo/video gear did Santa bring you this year?

« on: December 27, 2012, 11:00:36 AM »

Santa was much better than expected.  He brought me Lightroom 4, a 430 EXII and a 50mm 1.4  So far I'm having a blast with the new lens.

5

EOS Bodies / Re: It's Christmas Eve !!

« on: December 23, 2012, 09:31:30 AM »

I'm pretty certain that the 50 1.4 will be sitting under the Christmas tree for me.  This will be my first prime lens and I can't wait to try it out!  Merry Christmas!  (now I really need to stop procrastinating and get to the store to buy groceries for Christmas Eve/Christmas dinner   ).

6

Canon General / Re: Camera advice requested for parents in Africa

« on: December 13, 2012, 12:05:06 PM »

+1 for the SX 500

I used a similar Fuji with only a 10x zoom for years and loved it.  It was the only camera I had when we went to Alaska and I was able to photograph wildlife with little problem.  I think your parents would have a lot of fun with this type of camera. 

7

Contests / Re: Gura Gear Giveaway!

« on: December 07, 2012, 08:57:53 AM »

I want to win.    We just adopted a puppy and my camera lens/bag/flash fund went to getting her spayed, dewormed and immunized.  So worth it, but now broke!

8

Lenses / Re: Confused with what lens to get next

« on: December 03, 2012, 10:33:27 AM »

I have the EF-S 10-22 and love it on my 50D.  It is very sharp but I do get some vignetting at 10mm with the lens hood attached.  No big deal though to fix it later.  The colors are much richer with this lens than with my kit 28-135mm.  If you want wide this is definitely the best lens for crop cameras.

9

Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 100 f/2.8L IS Macro

« on: November 27, 2012, 09:28:24 AM »

I am obsessed with owning this lens.  My walk around zoom is garbage, yet I would rather save up for this than to replace my crummy kit lens.  Everywhere I take my camera I see macro opportunities. 

10

Animal Kingdom / Re: Bird ID - Help Please!!!

« on: November 26, 2012, 12:06:53 PM »

 I agree with the black-bellied plover.  The bill on your bird is not long enough or slim enough to be a semipalmated sandpiper.  There is also a noticeable size difference between the two birds (which we can't tell from the picture).  The plover is around 12 inches and the sandpiper is half that size (about as big as a bluebird).  I hope this helps 

Nikki