Fujifilm Cameras – Page 26

American River Near Folsom

January 18, 2017 by Earthwatcher, posted in American River, American River Parkway, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography

Image of American River Gorge near Folsom, CA — American River Gorge, Folsom, CA, Jan 2017

Last Friday was a cold, foggy morning and we had just come out of a long bout of heavy rain. A lot of water was being released from Folsom Lake and the American River, near Folsom was running strong. I decided to spend some time photographing the area of Folsom that surrounds the historic Walker Bridge / Donald W. Alden Memorial Bridge. It was a great time to be out. The river roared as it created whitewater through the gorge. Quite a treat. In the 5 years that I have lived in the area, I never saw significant whitewater or heard the river roar.

The Walker Bridge / Donald W. Alden Memorial Bridge was built in 1893. It was sold 3 times: once to a man in Japan who wanted it for the steel but was never able to get it, once to the State of California who dismantled it and moved it near Walker, CA to span the Klamath River, and finally back to the City of Folsom who reinstalled it on its original abutments. It now serves as a pedestrian footbridge and an access point to the American River Parkway from the City of Folsom.

I hope you enjoy these images.

Note: Click on image to see in larger size. I particularly recommend this for the image of the American Rive Gorge.

Image of Walker Bridge / Donald W Alden Memorial Bridge, FOlsom, CA in Fog — Walker Bridge / Donald W Alden Memorial Bridge, Folsom, CA

Image of Rainbow Bridge arch after heavy rains, Folsom, CA. JAN 2017 — Rainbow Bridge Arch, Folsom, CA

Regards,

Larry

These and other images are available to purchase at my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

Winter Wildlife

January 2, 2017 by Earthwatcher, posted in American River Parkway, Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Otter, Photography, Sacramento

RIver Otter - Perspective 4 — River Otter – Perspective 4

It’s fun to be in Northern California in the winter. We are part of the Pacific Flyway, so we get many birds, primarily waterfowl, who winter over. But even in my backyard I see Oregon Juncos and a species of Goldfinch that spends its summers in the Sierra foothills. Though my passion is landscapes, photographing this wildlife is fun because watching them go about their business of living is fun.

I’ve been out twice in the last two weeks photographing and enjoying the wildlife. On one trip, I went to 2 of the wildlife refuges that have been built along the flyway. Some years ago, land was set aside as a safe haven for migrating waterfowl. Levees were built and fields flooded so they could live and eat. This helped farmers by keeping the birds off their cropland. A win-win situation, enjoyed by birders, photographers and duck hunters. On the day I visited the refuges, raptors became my focus. They benefit from the migrating waterfowl as well.

This past week, I got to spend an hour watching a River Otter and an Egret. They appeared to be helping each other feed. Otters always seem to be playing even as they feed.

I hope you enjoy these images.

Regards

Larry

Note: Click on image to view at larger size

Image of Juvenille Black Crowned Night Heron — Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

Image of Red Shouldered Hawk — Red Shouldered Hawk

Image of River Otter - Perspective 1 — River Otter – Perspective 1

Image of River Otter and Egret — River Otter and Egret

Image of Peregrine Falcon — Peregrine Falcon

These and other images are available to view and purchase at my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

Great Basin Images

December 10, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Death Valley, desert, Fujifilm Cameras, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, Photography, Rainbow, Travel

Image of Joshua Tree Forest in Nevada — Joshua Tree Forest

In October, 2015, Donna and I made a tour of the Great Basin area in Nevada. I recently revisited the images I took during that trip and decided to get them ready to publish. The first image is of a special Joshua Tree forest. It is special because, over the mountains,behind the forest, lies Groom Lake, the fabled Area 51. I wonder what you’d see if you were a bug on one of the trees. The second image is of a rainstorm over the desert. It is raining in the distance as crepuscular rays cast their beams over the desert landscape. The third image is a rainbow over Death Valley. I’ve published a version of this image before but wasn’t happy with it. Now it’s back and will be one of the images featured in my show at ACAI Gallery and Studios beginning December 17. The fourth image is one of Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley. It too will be displayed in my show.

Image of rain and crepuscular rays over Nevada desert — Clouds, Sun and Rain

Image of a rainbow at sunrise over Death Valley — Wondrous Morning

Image of Sun Set Over Mesquite Dunes - Death Valley — Sun Setting Over Mesquite Dunes – Perspective 1

Birds of South Africa

November 9, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, South Africa

Here is a sample of the birds we saw while in South Africa. There were many interesting, colorful birds. I was especially captivated by the Lilac Breasted Roller,the Purple Crested Turaco and the varieties of sunbirds and kingfishers. There are many more examples on my website (www.earthwatcher.us). I hope you enjoy the images. I encourage you to look at the others that are on my website because I know you will enjoy them also.

Regards

Larry

These images can been seen at a larger size by clicking on the image

Saddle Beaked Stork — Saddle Billed Stork

Purple Crested Turaco (Lourie) - Perspective 2 — Purple Crested Turaco

Orange Breasted Sunbird — Greater Double Collared Sunbird

Hornbills

November 5, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

Image of Southern Ground Hornbill - Perspective 2 — Southern Ground Hornbill

One of the many species of birds we saw while in South Africa were hornbills. They are beautiful birds that cast a striking pose even when flying. I hope you enjoy these images I am sharing.

Regards,

Larry

Click on image to view in larger size.

Image of Yellow Billed Hornbill - Perspective 2 — Pair of Yellow Billed Hornbills

Image of Red Billed Hornbill — Red Billed Hornbill

Image of Southern Ground Hornbill - Perspective 1 — Pair of Southern Ground Hornbills

Image of Yellow Billed Hornbill - Perspective 1 — Yellow Billed Hornbill

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us

African Penguin

October 8, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Penguin, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

The African Penguin is a species of penguin found in the waters surrounding southern Africa. It is also known as the jackass penguin because of its donkey like bray. Its numbers are declining and it is considered endangered.

South Africa has created a reserve for these penguins on Boulder Beach near Simon’s Town. There is a nice boardwalk down to the beach and an observation platform for viewing. The penguins meander around and come very close to you. They were a lot of fun to watch.

I hope you enjoy these images.

Regards,

Larry

Note: Click on individual images to see in larger size.

African Penguin - Perspective 6 — African Penguin – Perspective 6

African Penguin - Perspective 5 — African Penguin – Perspective 3

African Penguin - Perspective 1 — African Penguin – Perspective 1

African Penguin - Perspective 4 — African Penguin – Perspective 4

African Penguin - Perspective 3 — African Penguin – Perspective 3

These and other images are available for purchase at my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting me.

The African Fish Eagle

October 4, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Eagle, Fujifilm Cameras, images, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

African Fish Eagle in Flight - Perspective 1 — African Fish Eagle In Flight – Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

The African Fish Eagle was the most common large raptor we saw on our trip to South Africa. It is a beautiful bird that is a cousin to our American Bald Eagle. I learned from my friend Kevin that both the African Fish Eagle and the Bald Eagle belong to the family of fish eagles. They are distinguished from the family of booted or true eagles by their legs. True eagles have feathers on their lower legs. I am a novice birder and never realized there were different types of eagles. By the way, our Golden Eagle is a snake eagle; yet another type.

Our most interesting encounter was watching a fish eagle being chased by a Blacksmith Lapwing. I guess the eagle was too close to a nest. It was fun watching it fend off numerous attacks.

I hope you enjoy these images of these magnificent birds,

Regards,

Larry

African FIsh Eagle Feeding - Perspective 1 — African Fish Eagle Feeding – Perspective 1, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle Feeding - Perspective 2 — African Fish Eagle Feeding – Perspective 2, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack - Perspective 1 — African Fish Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack – Perspective 1, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack - Perspective 2 — African Fish Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack – Perspective 2, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle and Great Egret — African Fish Eagle and Great Egret, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Note: These and other images are available for sale on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting me.

Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo and Warthogs

September 27, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in cape buffalo, Fujifilm Cameras, images, Photography, South Africa, Travel, warthog, wildebeest

Momma Warthog and Babies — Mama Warthog and Babies, Addo Elephant Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Everybody gets excited about the big cats, the elephants, the hippos and other big game. But there is a lot more out there and I will be sharing it over the next few weeks. Today, I’ll share my images of the wildebeest, also known as the Gnu, the cape buffalo and the warthog.

The wildebeest and cape buffalo are grazers, eating the grass that grow in the savannahs. The warthog grazes on the grass and digs for roots. Their place in the ecosystem is controlling the plant life so it doesn’t take over and serving as food for the larger prey animals. Though not as exciting as the big cats, they are each beautiful in their own way.

Regards,

Larry

Note: Click on images to view in larger size

Cape Buffalo - P1 — Cape Buffalo – Perspective 1, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Wildebeest – Perspective 4, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

20160831-south-africa-2066-web — Wildebeest – Perspective 3, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Cape Buffalo - P2 — Cape Buffalo – Perspective 2, Addo Elephant Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

These and other images are available for purchase at my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting me at: larry@earthwatcher.us.

Leopards

September 24, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Fujifilm Cameras, images, Leopard, Photography, Travel, Yosemite

Karula's Unnamed Cub — Karula’s Unnamed Cub – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

A highlight of our visit was the Elephant Plains Game Lodge tour guided by Tusk Photo. Elephant Plains is a private game lodge and is the “go to” place for leopards. It sets on the edge of Kruger National Park and it shares its wildlife with the park. So, aside from the leopards we saw a lot of other wildlife on that part of our adventure.

We did an early morning and a late/afternoon game drive each day. We traversed the bush in open 4-wheel drive vehicles on rutted dirt roads. We had a tracker who sat on a jump seat attached to the front bumper who, along with our driver, looked for tracks and other signs of animal life. When leopard tracks were spotted or another tour group reported a sighting, we went off road with the vehicle to find them. It was fun and exciting.

It’s hard to describe the awe of our first wild leopard sighting and the wonder of seeing 14 month old Tiyani walk to within 5 feet of our car while her mother looked on. The wildlife is acclimated to humans and their tour groups. They went about their business as if we weren’t there. But, if the guides sensed that the animal was disturbed, we’d back off and leave them in peace.

It was an amazing adventure. I’d go back in a heartbeat. I hope you enjoy these images.

Regards,

Larry

Note: Click on image to see in larger size.

Salayexe – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Karula with Unnamed Cub – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Tingana – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Tingaia — Tingana – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Salayexe and Tiyani – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Tiyani – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Titani — Tiyani – Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

These and other images are available for purchase at my website: http://www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting me at larry@earthwatcher.us

Elephants

September 22, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Elephant, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

Nuzzling, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Today, 9/22, is National Elephant Appreciation Day; yes, really it is. So, to celebrate, I decided to publish my elephant pics from South Africa.

Our elephant experience was interesting. I learned that they are not subtle animals. You only have to look at the broken brush, trees and branches as well as the trail of dung to know elephants have been through. Elephants eat a lot but only digest a small portion of what they eat. Their dung becomes a source of food for other animals. At Addo Elephant National Park, they have signs warning you not to run over dung beetles because they are the clean-up crew and are an important part of the ecosystem.

I knew from documentaries that elephants are very protective of their young. But, it was interesting to see it in action. When elephants didn’t feel threatened, the calves romped and played. At the first sign of threat, the adults herded the young in between them. It is really neat to see this behavior firsthand.

I hope you enjoy my images of these fascinating creatures.

Regards

Larry

Note: 1) Click on image to see in larger size

2) These and other images are available for purchase at http://www.earthwatcher.us or by contacing larry@earthwatcher.us