2019 P52 - 2nd Qtr - Sandy(Skitterbug)

[Manfred M]

Great images; is that snake venomous?

No. This is an Eastern Garter Snake. Definitely the most common snake in the area that I live and it is not venomous.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake


The most common venomous snake in this part of the world is the Eastern Massasagua Rattlesnake and it doesn't actually live as far east as I do. With Sandy being in Ohio, it does live down that way. There are a few other venomous snakes in Canada, but they live in the western part of the country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massasauga

[skitterbug]

No. This is an Eastern Garter Snake. Definitely the most common snake in the area that I live and it is not venomous.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake


The most common venomous snake in this part of the world is the Eastern Massasagua Rattlesnake and it doesn't actually live as far east as I do. With Sandy being in Ohio, it does live down that way. There are a few other venomous snakes in Canada, but they live in the western part of the country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massasauga

Hi Manfred - Thank you for following up Nandakumar's question. The only thing that I'll add is that the garter snake can be a nuisance if it decides to take up residence in a home. Apparently, this snake can be stinky! Hopefully, we never have to deal with this issue!

[skitterbug]

Week 17

I am beginning to feel more comfortable using the combo 100-400 lens/extender. Granted, it has to be used on brighter days because of the aperture but if I remember the limitations, I'll be able to find a spot for its use. I have also discovered that it will not auto focus as fast as I would like when the lens is fully extended, so I must keep this in mind as well.

I have two results that I think worth presenting for comment. I'll skip the original files this week since the PP work was mostly cropping and a bit of adjustment. Nothing major done.

The first one will be a bullfrog (no surprise, eh?) We have five of them and they are all rather timid yet. I liked the way the eye is so prominent on this one.
Setting used: ISO2000 - f/11 - 1/800

#1




There are many of our favorite birds returning to our yard. This tree swallow is trying to convince a female to pair up with him. I caught him resting on a metal pole.
Settings used: ISO1250 - f/11 - 1/800

#2

[Shadowman]

Nice shots.

[joebranko]

Nice captures Sandy.

[skitterbug]

Nice shots.

Thanks John!

[skitterbug]

Nice captures Sandy.

Hi Joe - thanks for looking and commenting!

[Wavelength]

Great frog shot and lovely bird

[Geoff F]

You have managed to nicely control the exposure with these images, Sandy.

[skitterbug]

Great frog shot and lovely bird

Thanks Nandakumar!

[skitterbug]

You have managed to nicely control the exposure with these images, Sandy.

Hi Geoff - I'm feeling a bit more comfortable with this lens/extender now. At least until the next photo shoot! Then I'm certain I'll mess up something or other! <chuckle> Thanks for commenting!

[skitterbug]

Week 18 - We are still dealing with wet, gloomy weather conditions but apparently the Bleeding Heart plant seems to enjoy the cooler wet conditions. I decided to use the 100mm macro lens and leave the ISO set to automatic. The result for it seemed high - ISO-16000, f/16, 1/400ss. I probably should have opened the aperture up since it was gloomy but I wanted to be sure I didn't blur the flowers and the plant.

Anyway.... here is the image before edit:





And then after edit:

Bleeding Heart

[Rufus]

I like the Bleeding Heart image. You have cropped it nicely; the position and shape of the stems mean that the flowers work well in the central area of the image. I see you have successfully reduced the brighter parts of the background and made the colours "pop".

The depth of field is very good - all the leaves are sharp as well as the flowers so you judged it right. Opening the aperture up would have enabled you to reduce the ISO without compromising the shutter speed, and it would have blurred the backgroud a little more which might or might not be a good thing - but would the leaves have been as sharp I wonder? I would happily settle for the image you have captured, it is a very nice one.

[Shadowman]

Week 18, nice capture and edit.

[joebranko]

Very nice shots Sandy. I like how the red pops in the flowers!

[Wavelength]

Very nice; we too have bleeding hearts of a different kind here; the plant is a climber; the flower is white with an oozing red drop -like part hanging from center....

[Geoff F]

Looking good to me, but on the left side there are a couple of small bright spots which may benefit from slightly toning down.

[skitterbug]

Opening the aperture up would have enabled you to reduce the ISO without compromising the shutter speed, and it would have blurred the backgroud a little more which might or might not be a good thing - but would the leaves have been as sharp I wonder?

Hi David - I also thought that the leaves may be more blurred than I wanted so yes, that's why I did choose a smaller aperture when I was photographing this flower/plant. <grin>

I appreciate your reply and am glad you like the image. I think this is the first time I have been successful in having a bleeding heart actually bloom and look nice in my flower garden! <happy dance>

Thanks for commenting!

[skitterbug]

Thank you John! <smile>

[skitterbug]

Thanks Joe! Red can be tricky for me to capture correctly! This one seemed to work out okay! <smile>