Welcome To The Tuesday View

I have said it before but it is certainly worth repeating that not all of the animals and birds "on exhibit" at the zoo are actual zoo residents. This definitely applies to vultures. And though some do not see them as desirable birds vultures sure do play an important role in nature. And a lot of them call Elmwood home.

If you take the time to watch vultures you realize that they are not all that different from other birds. And one similarity is the stretching of their wings on a hot afternoon. It airs their feathers and helps to keep them cool. And this of course leads us to today's photo.

Click For Full Size Image

I overexposed this shot but I think I was able to tame it down a bit.

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm Lens at 128mm
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture F8
- Shutter Speed 1/60 Second
- ISO (Film Speed)  400
- Center Weighted Average Metering

Here is the "Before" image.

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday August 14, 2017

And that will do it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Welcome To The Daily View

While not exactly your typical zoo attraction there is something that fascinates me about the Turkey Vultures that call Elmwood home. I really don't know what it is but I have found myself shooting them as much as I would any other animal. Here is an example from our recent trip this past weekend.

Click For Full Size Image

Imagine what a vulture might look like with a full head of feathers. I think they would appear like any other bird of prey.

Technical Info

- Canon 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm Lens at 212mm
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture F8.0
- Shutter Speed 1/1000 Second
- ISO (Film Speed) 400
- Center Weighted Average Metering

Cropping and minor adjustments made in Photoshop.

Here is the "Before" image.

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday February 12, 2017

As a side note I made a 16" x 20" print of this guy and I am very happy with how it came out on paper. And it is proudly displayed above our fireplace mantle.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - December 27, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Whenever I visit Elmwood Park Zoo I tend to spend a lot of time at the eagle exhibit. It's simply one of the best around. But there's more than just eagles at the eagle exhibit. Unofficial residents so to speak. Residents like this.

Not the prettiest birds in the world but certainly a necessary part of it. And if can picture them with a full head of feathers they aren't too scary looking. You can read about vultures here. 

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday December 26, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 24, 2015

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Sometimes a trip to the zoo includes birds and animals that aren't necessarily "on exhibit". Well not officially at least. And anyone who has been to Elmwood in the past several years will surly have seen one or two of these guys.

They are all over the place. I suppose there is no good way to get rid of them but I bet the zoo would like to. I can't say for sure but I believe these vultures are the reason I haven't seen prairie dogs here for quite a while. Oh there's an exhibit complete with signs telling you not to touch or feed them. Just no prairies dogs.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

March 21, 2015 - Photo of The Day

The snow is gone and it feels like Spring again. Well at least there is no more snow falling. There is still a lot on the ground but it is melting. Hopefully in a few more days it will all be gone. 

With the weather change I though it would be nice to take a trip to the local zoo. And I was right! It was just warm enough to be outdoors for a long period of time but it was also wet enough that the zoo was not crowded at all. And above all most of the animals were active. I shot a lot of photos and it will take a while to go through all of them. But I did process a few and would like to share them with you. These are all photos of the American Bald Eagles that call the zoo home. Except for the first. The first shot is of another bird. A vulture in fact. You see the zoo had been inundated with vultures for a few years now. It's almost like they are an exhibit but no they just "live" there. And it does take it's toll. This first image is evidence of this toll. And it's not pretty.

As you can see the vulture is eating. It's eating one of the Koi that live in the pond in the Eagle exhibit. This one was not so fortunate and became someone's lunch. But I suppose it's just nature.

Okay enough of that. Here are the Bald Eagles.

This guy was a little noisy. I was going to do a video but as soon as I got my phone out he shut up. Oh well maybe next time.

Here are a few more shots.

And since I couldn't get the Eagle to "talk" on video here is a bird that was happy to speak his mind. Click the link below.


Chatty Owl <<< Click Here

And finally here is today's "Amaryllis Watch" photo. We are really getting close now.

And that's all for today. Be sure to check back real soon for more of our trip to the zoo.

Until next time...