Sunflowers Are Blooming!

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

Yesterday, I got up at 2:30 to load the car and get ready to leave for a morning of photographing sunflowers in Maryland. Loading the car included very specific camera gear for the occasion, boots for the mud (rained last night), a ladder to see over and across the sunflowers, and very effective bug spray. I was expecting a lot of mosquitos, and they did not disappoint me.

I left the house at 3:30 and drove north to pick up a friend and fellow photographer–Ceasar Sharper. We were also meeting two other photographers at the field of sunflowers located at Mckee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Maryland along the Potomac River.

We arrived at 5:00 AM, before sunrise, to allow time for hiking out to the field and checking out the sunflowers. It was dark, but we could see with our flashlights that the sunflowers had not peaked yet, but that there were plenty of them in full bloom. (I got excited and could not wait for the first light.)

The other photographers we were to meet arrived shortly after us, and we got our gear ready and covered ourselves with insect repellent. As we began to set up our cameras on our tripods, the sun was beginning to light the field of sunflowers. Below is an image of the field after the sun had risen.

I began photographing the sunflowers before the sun rose, but after there was enough light to get a good image. One of those early images is below.

The sunflowers were all pointing in the same direction toward the rising sun and seemed to be waiting for the sun’s beautiful morning light just as we were. The field of flowers was about 50 percent in bloom, but it did not matter. The sight was spectacular. As the sun rose, the sunflowers began to glow in the sun’s golden light.

We stayed until 10:00 AM shooting the flowers at a distance (group shots) and close up and personal. The following are some of the images. If you enjoy seeing these images, you should go to my Website where I have uploaded many more to a gallery devoted to the sunflowers. The gallery is at: http:/stabone.com/p349743458

Click on the above images to see them in more detail. The images were photographed with a Nikon D700 and Nikon lenses (24-70mm f2.8 and 105mm f2.8 macro).

Since the field of sunflowers was not in full bloom, I am planning to return this coming Friday. What a way to start the day and long weekend surrounded by a large field of sunflowers.

Posted in Landscape Photographs, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Florence

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

While in Cortona, Tuscany, we spent a day in Florence. Florence was a busy, but beautiful city where I could have easily spent a week exploring. A couple of the highlights were the Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge” in Italian) and the Duomo di Firenze (Cathedral of Florence). A few of the many images I took while in Florence follow.

The Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge” in Italian) dates back to 1345, and it’s the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed by the German troops when they retreated in August 1944. What makes Ponte Vecchio so interesting is that it holds many shops, just like in the old days. When the bridge was first built, most of the space was occupied by blacksmiths and butcher stalls, but they were eventually replaced by jewellers by order of Ferdinando de Medici.

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (English: Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flowers) is the cathedral (Duomo) of Florence. Construction of the Gothic style Duomo began in 1296 and was completed in 1436.

I have many other images of the Old Bridge, Duomo and other sights in Florence and will eventually get them on this blog or on my Website. My time was limited this evening and, therefore, I was only able to include the above three images.

Posted in Italy | 2 Comments

Red-bellied Woodpecker Fledgling

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

Yesterday, I posted an article with some of the images from this weekend, when I concentrated on bird photography. In that article, I mentioned seeing several fledglings begging to be fed while following their parents around through the trees. One of those fledglings was a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and I included one image of it in a tree behind some leaves. I posted that image because I liked the way the sun was lighting up part of its face, and because you could clearly see its black and white feathered back.

I was able to photograph that same woodpecker fledgling as it was flapping its wings, as fledglings do before and after leaving the nest. Unfortunately, when the parent woodpecker returned with food, they both flew away. (Click on the below image to see it in more detail.)

Tomorrow, I expect to post more images from Italy.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Northern Virginia Birds

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

This weekend was a weekend for bird photography, and tonight, to take a break from reviewing and processing images from Italy, I processed and uploaded photographs I shot this weekend of birds in Leesylvania State Park and here in Montclair, VA. I have been trying to get some decent images of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and this weekend a female hummingbird was very cooperative. (Click on the images twice to see them in more detail.)

She was watching me as I was watching her (above photo). Below, I caught her as she was beginning to take off.

And finally, one more image (below), when she was back in the tree.

Common Grackles live up to their name and are way too common here. However, I could not resist photographing this one (below), because the sun was making its iridescent feathers glisten as it was perched up in a tree and screeching loudly. As you probably know, they do not have a pleasant call.

Mourning doves (below) are also very common, but have you ever looked closely at one? They are very colorful with gorgeous blue eyelids, blue feathers on the top of their head, and blue and yellow feathers on their shoulders.

In early summer, recently hatched birds fledge from their nests, but still follow their parents around begging for food. Below are two fledglings–a Catbird and Red Bellied Woodpecker. The young Catbird was impatiently waiting to be fed, and the shy, young woodpecker was partially lit by the sun while hiding in a tree waiting for one its parents to return with a meal.

 A couple more bird images follow–one of a Titmouse about to eat a seed (also partially lit by the sun) and the other an adult Catbird fluffed up while preening its feathers.

One last photograph–a dragonfly shot a Leesylvania State Park–obviously not a bird, but they do fly. Be sure to click on this image. They appear to have a face with very large eyes and a nose above their mouth.

All of the above images were shot with a Nikon D300 and Nikkor 80-400mm VR lens. Tomorrow, its back to Italy.

Posted in Bird Photographs, Leesylvania State park | Tagged | 5 Comments

Venice and Cortona

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

I processed and uploaded several more images to my Website today from Venice and Cortona. It’s been difficult to get beyond those two cities, because they were so beautiful, very different from each other in many appealing ways, and because I have so many images from those cities and surrounding areas. For example:

Nevertheless, I am going to move on this week to my photos from Positano and the Amalfi coast and will eventually get to the images from Rome.

While processing the additional images from Venice and Cortona, I also added a few more to a gallery for doors and windows of Italy. One of the new additions follows.

If you are looking for the new images from Venice and Cortona, they are the last images in each gallery. If you click Venice or Cortona, you will be taken to appropriate galleries.

Hope you are enjoying my photos from Italy half as much as I am. It was fantastic being there, and my images bring back many memories.

Posted in Italy, Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments