Arkansas Wildlife Blog and Gallery
Buffalo National River and NW Arkansas
Shameless Self-Promotion Department
My framed wildlife prints are on display and for sale at a number of locations:
Jasper
Boardwalk Cafe/Arkansas House
Cliff House Inn
Point of View Restaurant
Jasper Chamber Gift Shop
Ponca
Lost Valley Canoe Store
Villines Store (Boxley Valley)
Low Gap
Low Gap Store
Compton
Compton One Stop
Harrison
Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop
My framed wildlife prints are on display and for sale at a number of locations:
Jasper
Boardwalk Cafe/Arkansas House
Cliff House Inn
Point of View Restaurant
Jasper Chamber Gift Shop
Ponca
Lost Valley Canoe Store
Villines Store (Boxley Valley)
Low Gap
Low Gap Store
Compton
Compton One Stop
Harrison
Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop
Best Upper Buffalo River Photos 2008
I take a lot of pictures, that is my job. I admit also to having a lot of pictures that are sitting on backup DVDs that might be better than anything I have processed. As much as I love taking pictures, I get real tired of post processing. Hours of grinding in Photoshop will never be my love. No doubt some of these could be improved by a little more care in post processing, but, what you see is what I got (so far). These are my favorite photos of 2008, with some notes.
Arkansas Bird Photos Gallery 2
Great Blue Heron in Flight, Buffalo National River
Another in my BLTG series (better lucky than good", I shot this bird on the way to one of my favorite elk haunts. I was wading in the river when I heard the awful squak that great blues make, and just shot away as he flew up the river toward me, and finally past me. This was shot right beside me. One of the great things about digital photography is that misses don't cost money. In this case I think about 8 exposures got me one that is tack sharp.
Another in my BLTG series (better lucky than good", I shot this bird on the way to one of my favorite elk haunts. I was wading in the river when I heard the awful squak that great blues make, and just shot away as he flew up the river toward me, and finally past me. This was shot right beside me. One of the great things about digital photography is that misses don't cost money. In this case I think about 8 exposures got me one that is tack sharp.
Great White Egret Taking Off #48741
At the time this was taken, I still thought this egret was a juvenile great blue heron. The egrets are so rare that I was trying to make it a heron. Anyway this shot has a natural frame. It was taken under horrible Boxley Valley conditions at the mill pond. It is pretty painterly, but I like it anyway. This bird hung around for a few weeks and then left.
At the time this was taken, I still thought this egret was a juvenile great blue heron. The egrets are so rare that I was trying to make it a heron. Anyway this shot has a natural frame. It was taken under horrible Boxley Valley conditions at the mill pond. It is pretty painterly, but I like it anyway. This bird hung around for a few weeks and then left.
Bald Eagle Being Harassed by Crows #65898
I had the opportunity to get a perched bald eagle shot and so I setup my tripod inconspicuously and watched this bird for what must have been an hour. I wanted to get him flying, I have seen enough perched eagle shots. Anyway, I did get the opportunity to catch a picture of a divebombing crow trying to drive him off. Mostly he was bored, and I was a little bored myself until this happened.
I had the opportunity to get a perched bald eagle shot and so I setup my tripod inconspicuously and watched this bird for what must have been an hour. I wanted to get him flying, I have seen enough perched eagle shots. Anyway, I did get the opportunity to catch a picture of a divebombing crow trying to drive him off. Mostly he was bored, and I was a little bored myself until this happened.
Bald Eagle Leaving Snag at Boxley Valley Mill Pond #65963
Turns out the wait worked for my best eagle picture to date. I am very pleased about how this one turned out. The details of the wings, the tips, and the cupping of the feathers is distinctive. Unlike many bald eagle shots, this was not staged with bait, or in a place with a swarm of the birds, this was one bird, and really one chance. This has to be my best bird photo of 2008, one that I planned, and got.
Turns out the wait worked for my best eagle picture to date. I am very pleased about how this one turned out. The details of the wings, the tips, and the cupping of the feathers is distinctive. Unlike many bald eagle shots, this was not staged with bait, or in a place with a swarm of the birds, this was one bird, and really one chance. This has to be my best bird photo of 2008, one that I planned, and got.
Cormorant Lifting Off the Buffalo River #53180
This picture was the result of another of my failed elk missions. I had hiked up the river to attempt to get an elk crossing, but there were no elk, much less a crossing. Licking my wounds on the way back, I came upon this bird sunning. I got that picture, and then this one when he jumped off the limb to take off. Cormorants don't take off so well, and this is the characteristic sloppy lift off they have. This bird is a pretty good get for our end of the Buffalo National River.
This picture was the result of another of my failed elk missions. I had hiked up the river to attempt to get an elk crossing, but there were no elk, much less a crossing. Licking my wounds on the way back, I came upon this bird sunning. I got that picture, and then this one when he jumped off the limb to take off. Cormorants don't take off so well, and this is the characteristic sloppy lift off they have. This bird is a pretty good get for our end of the Buffalo National River.
