November 2014 - Snowing on Buffalo
With the record deluge of snow in the Buffalo NY region this month, this photo seemed fitting.
Canon 1D Mk IV, Canon 70-200mm lens + 1.4x teleconverter, ISO 100, 1/50s at f9, handheld. Photographed at Yellowstone National Park.
Copyright Ken Canning
October 2014 - Saturated
The Pemigewasset River flows through the heart of New Hampshire's White Mountains, eventually feeding the Merrimack River on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. In autumn, it is one of the most photogenic regions of the country, offering broad vistas to tight close-ups.
This image was made along a small tributary to the 'Pemi' river, several years ago in the days of film. Full disclosure: The bottom leaf was there when I found the scene, its what caught my eye. The upper two leaves were added to the scene by hand.
Nikon FA, Nikon 105mm macro, Fuji Velvia Slide Film, ISO 50. Tripod.
Copyright Ken Canning
September 2014 - Deep Dive
Humpback Whales at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Massachusetts, migrate about 1500 miles from their breeding grounds in the West Indies to Northern feeding grounds. New calves make the trek north with their mothers, but return south alone in the fall.
Canon 1D Mk IV, Canon 100-400mm lens at 300mm, ISO 400, 1/640s at f6.3. Handheld.
Copyright Ken Canning
August 2014 - Montana Meadow
The great thing about federal wilderness areas is that there are only two ways to get in to them; on your feet or on a horse. By law, there are no roads, no buildings, no motorized vehicles. The Lee Metcalf Wilderness in Montana is located outside of neighboring Yellowstone national park and offers pristine alpine meadows, incredible fields of wild flowers and zero traffic.
Canon 5D Mk III, Canon 17-40mm lens at 17mm. ISO 400. 1/2s at f18. Tripod and cable release.
Copyright Ken Canning
July 2014 - Six Legs and Trouble
This piping plover (with two chicks under wing) is causing a lot of trouble. Large portions of Massachusetts beaches are fenced off for most of the summer to protect the birds and their chicks. It seems the billions of dollars poured into restoring Massachusetts beaches over the past several decades have made the beaches habitable not only for humans, but for the plovers as well. Now the battle lines are drawing.
A Boston Globe article earlier this summer advocated for less roped-off area of beaches to allow summer bathers to enjoy the fruits of a decades long cleanup of Boston Harbor. To quote the article " The most important number on Boston Harbor is bacteria-free beach days, not plover eggs."
For the bird's part, they have rebounded tremendously along the Atlantic coast since coming under protection in the 1980's as a threatened species. And newer studies show that natural causes - predators, storms - may now have more impact on the plover's success than human interaction. In fact, there is some suggestion that plovers are more successful on beaches used heavily by humans as predators are less likely inhabit those busy areas.
Canon 1D MK IV, Canon 600mm lens + 1.4x Teleconverter, ISO 400, 1/2000s at f5.6, tripod and gimbal head
Photographed at Plymouth Beach, Massachusetts. Copyright Ken Canning
June 2014 - Mist
Coast Redwood trees are dependent on the the mist and fog that shroud the northern California coastal forests almost daily for moisture. The rhododendrons seem to like it too.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 24-105mm f4 lens, ISO 250, 2 seconds at f14, tripod and Arca Swiss ballhead, Nikon polarizing filter
Photographed at Redwoods National Park. Copyright Ken Canning
May 2014 - Flock
Red Winged blackbirds form large flocks, often with other species, that twist and turn over feeding fields. This flock of mostly females was photographed in New Mexico
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 500mm f4 lens, ISO 640, 1/800 sec at f4, tripod and gimbal head.
Copyright Ken Canning
April 2014 - Wingspan
In the 1960's, bald eagle nesting pairs were down to about 400 (due largely to DDT) and the bald eagle became one of the first protected species in the US. In 2007, when the eagles were removed from the endangered species list, there were about 10,000 nesting pairs. Quite a comeback. It is estimated that about half of the bald eagle population lives in Alaska. "Bald" refers to the adult bird's white head, from back when "bald" meant "white". This Alaskan juvenile bald eagle had a wingspan of about 6 ft.
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200mm f4 lens + 1.4x teleconvertor, ISO 1250, 1/1000 sec at f8, handheld.
Copyright Ken Canning.
March 2014 - Still In The Freezer
Another image from the ice caves of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin. An amazing place that gives definition to "cold".
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 17-40mm lens, ISO 200, 1/15 sec at f16, tripod and Arca Swiss ball head
Copyright Ken Canning
February 2014 - In The Freezer
The last time Lake Superior was sufficiently frozen to allow walk-in access to the ice caves of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin was 2009. It is cold there. Very, very cold.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 17-40mm lens, ISO 100, tripod and Arca Swiss ball head, 3 exposures
Copyright Ken Canning
January 2014 - Blurry Morning
A flock of snow geese ascend just before sunrise at Bosque del Apache national wildlife refuge in New Mexico
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-105mm lens, ISO 800, 1/8 sec at f16, Handheld
Copyright Ken Canning
January 2014 - Protected
Least terns were endangered in the 70's and 80's. Today only one of three sub-species is listed as threatened. This least tern chick was photographed on busy Fort Myers beach in Florida. Although humans walk past the roped-off nesting area hundreds of times a day, the chick still dove for cover in the beach vegetation each time someone ventured close to the boundary ropes.
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 500mm f4 lens + 2x teleconvertor (1000mm), ISO 800, 1/1600 sec at f8, tripod & 4th Generation Design gimbal head
Copyright Ken Canning
December 2013 - Reindeer Games
Reindeer (aka Caribou) inhabit the northernmost climes of North America, Asia and Europe. These Svalbard caribou are the smallest of 4 caribou subspecies. The caribou's antlers are brilliant red shortly after shedding their velvet coating in preparation for autumn rut. These two sparring males were photographed at Svalbard, Norway.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 600mm f4 lens, ISO 1250, 1/400 sec at f4.5, tripod and 4th Generation Design gimbal head
Copyright Ken Canning
December 2013 - Pika
Pikas can be found scurrying among among boulders on mountain sides. They are closely related to rabbits and are about the size of a hamster. This Pika was photographed in Montana.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 70-200mm f4 lens + 1.4x teleconverter (280mm), ISO 400, 1/1250 sec, f5.6, handheld
Copyright Ken Canning
November 2013 - Upstream
The Yellowstone River watershed drains approximately 700 square miles of terrain across Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota, eventually flowing into the Missouri River. In Yellowstone National Park, the river is just getting started. This photo was made in the park, in the vicinity of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 17-40mm f4 lens at 19mm, ISO 320, 1/100 sec, f16, tripod and Arca Swiss ball head
Copyright Ken Canning
November 2013 - The Corkscrew
Not exactly nature photography, but a fun 'snapshot' from a day at the amusement park.
Canon Rebel T2i, Canon 18-135mm lens at 113mm, ISO 800, 1/100 sec, f5.6, handheld panning
Copyright Ken Canning
November 2013 - Quiet Lagoon
Alafia Bank is a couple of small islands in Tampa Bay near the mouth of the Alafia river. The islands originate from material dredged for shipping channels in the 1920s. They are now mostly covered in mangrove and are an important rookery for many south Florida birds. Alafia Bank is owned by a phosphate fertilizer company and leased to Audubon Florida who maintain the islands as part of their Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries. The big draw for photographers are the Roseate Spoonbills, such as this juvenile bird, that nest in the trees and forage in the shallow lagoons.
Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 500mm f4 lens + 1.4x teleconverter (700mm), ISO 800, 1/2000 sec, f5.6, tripod & 4th Generation Design gimbal head
Copyright Ken Canning
November 2013 - Winter is Coming
Most of the roads in Yellowstone are closed during winter. The only motorized access to the park's interior, where this photo was taken, is with licensed guides on snow machines. The use of snowmobiles in the park has been a topic of debate over the past 15 years between the park service, local guides, and environmentalists, sparking several lawsuits. That issue seems to be coming to closure this year as the park service issued new rules for snow machines (less machines allowed to enter the park and stricter noise and emissions regs) that most parties are willing to support.
The park's northern-most road from the North entrance to the Northeast entrance is open to cars in the winter and is a great location for winter wildlife photography.
Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105mm f4 lens at 58mm, ISO 100, 1/5 sec, f18, tripod & cable release.
Copyright Ken Canning.
October 2013 - High Desert Clouds
Bosque del Apache in New Mexico is famous for vast flocks of migrating cranes and geese that winter in the region. This mid-October visit was a bit early for the birds' arrival. The government shutdown was in full swing as well, and photography was limited to roadside pull-outs (strictly enforced!). Still, there were lots of clouds in the sky for wide angle work.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 24-105mm f4 lens, ISO 250, 1/30 sec, f16, tripod & cable release.
Copyright Ken Canning.