Reflections | August 2015

The hot and dry summer made for a few sleepless nights, but on a positive note there's been virtually no mowing this summer.  Our community and water association asked us to let our lawns go dormant to conserve water. I'm hoping it will come back to it's usual lush green once the fall rains return. 

I hope you've all had a wonderful summer xo.

This is one of the triplets, he and his sister came to the sliding glass door and waited for me.  When I opened the slider to say "hello" they got scared and the wildlife cam caught this guy prancing off.  His sister is in the background high-tailing it into the bushes where they sometimes bed down at night, although they did come right back a few minutes after this image was captured.

Here are two of the triplets coming back.  I took this shot from my office.

One of the biggest thrills this summer when I downloaded the images from the wildlife cam was when I saw this mama with her fawn in tow.  I haven't actually seen them walk by when I've been working and it's times like this that make having the wildlife cam such a gift.

I spent part of the afternoon out photographing with my nephew and we stumbled across this yellow jacket on a flower while we were trying to focus stack a scene.  (This is a single image and is not focus stacked.)

I am fascinated by cloud formations.  For years now, I'm always looking at the clouds--mesmerized by their beauty and at times fierce nature.  When I am swimming laps, I'll often look up and see these interesting clouds and decided on this day to CAREFULLY take my camera (client camera) out into the middle of the pool and shoot looking straight up and here are the results.

My nephew David is heading off to college in just a few weeks.  I don't see him nearly as often as I'd like due our schedules and I am going to miss him so much!  I was a puddle when these images were taken and I hope when I see him for lunch next week one last time before he leaves that I don't completely embarrass myself and start the waterworks all over again.  It's just hard...  I'm excited for this next journey and milestone in his life, but from a selfish standpoint I'm sad to see him go too.  I love him so much xo.

My brother captured this authentic moment that speaks volumes as to how I feel about this kid.

At a get together at my mom's this past week before David leaves for Denver, my timing was right on the money when I captured David doing a cannonball just before he hit the water..  Fun times!

Reflections | February 2015 Roundup

Here are some of the random images for February's roundup.  Enjoy :)

So I've been working with this young one, getting him used to the camera's shutter clicks.  He is so tentative, as he should be and also why his expression is so cute.

As I was trying to get him comfortable with me, he did move in closer.  In this image he is 18" away from me and no glass between us.  Take a look at what I saw in the viewfinder coming up in the background.  Now that was exciting!

Look at him sneaking up on the younger male.  They are the same height, but when you really look at their faces, it's like looking at Simba and Mufasa, they are very different--baby to mature adult.

I have photographed so many sunsets over the water and came across this sunset in the agricultural area of Woodinville one evening on my way home. I had to stop and take a few images.

I took this image from West Seattle this past weekend.  It was a beautiful day for the last day of February.

Backyard Wildlife + Bulking up for the rut

He's been coming around for a couple weeks, eating berries as high as he can reach.  I've seen him out in the early mornings and very late at night roaming the property or passing though.  Such a majestic creature, however not long ago I was editing late at night, about 1 a.m. and looked up and saw something quite unexpected looking back at me and that did startle me until I realized it was him.

Backyard wildlife | Bellevue Portrait Photogrpaher

Well, good afternoon!  Look who stopped by to say hi today?  It is a wonderful feeling to watch these beautiful animals from the time they are fawns, yearlings and then a majestic buck.  He still came to the window looking for Finn.  After all this time, he still remembers...

Photo of the Month - July 2013

These two look like they were having a little conversation.  They've been coming around since they were spikes.  It's wonderful to see that they are growing and healthy.

Bellevue Portrait Photographer | Season's Greetings

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bellevue Portrait Photographer | Morning visitor

Woke up this morning to snow, which didn't stick around long.  I was sitting in my office editing when I saw some antlers poking right above my monitor.  I grabbed my camera and was thrilled to see this buck.  He doesn't come around as much as the other wildlife I get here and he sure doesn't pose for portrait either!  He just sauntered through.  Like I always say, "I am blessed" to live where I do!

Bellevue Photographer | I haven't seen this guy since April 2008!

I haven't seen this guy since April 2008 when his antlers were just tiny little velvety bumps on the top of his head.  He came through yesterday and he sure has grown into a majestic looking buck.  Initially, I missed the shot of him walking past my office window and honestly, I was so struck by seeing him that I just followed him around watching, no camera in hand.  I was just blown away by how big he is and then Finn wanted me to open the bathroom window so he could get a better look and it was then that I thought if I don't grab my camera and document this, I may never see him again!  

The first shot was through the bathroom screen.  Actually, the sound Finn made caused the buck to look right at me.  I then decided to head outside and see if I could get a better picture and the next two are the resulting images, and then I caught Finn watching the whole thing.

Pin It

This guy crept up on me this morning...

I was working on the computer in my office when I sensed something to my right. I turned my head and there about five feet away from where I was sitting was this buck. Naturally, I keep my camera less than a foot away from me when in my office, but he was looking right at me, so any sudden move by me and he would be gone.

I very slowly made the move for my camera, but with a big heavy lens like my 70-200 f/2.8L he caught the movement and didn't take off, but started to walk away. My heart was beating pretty fast, because I've waited for him to come back since I got the grid-free windows in my office.

My choices, in a split second to mull it over were: grab the camera and have to fight with focusing as he took off, or opt for the slower movement and risk losing a great shot from the front. I chose the latter and here's the result.

Even with the sauntering steps he made, he was powerful! I once had five deer run past me in the yard and it sounded like a herd! He looks lanky, but he was quite large!

As he walked away, the thumping noise from his hooves was impressive!

Nature photographer's dream...

I am passionate about nature and wildlife photography and to see these wonderful creatures when I come into my office most mornings is just fantastic!