Tunes and Blooms

Last Thursday, Bob and I decided to go to the zoo.  During the month of April, the zoo has a concert on Thursday nights.  Admission is free after 5 pm (still have to pay for parking)  and the concert starts at 6 pm.  Plus all of the flowers are in bloom in April.  They were having a blue grass night - we heard the music but were having too much fun taking pics of the animals.  Today I will post 4 of my favorite animal pictures - tomorrow a couple of flowers.
The Bengal tigers were quiet for awhile but then were up and moving and a little bit of growling.  Methinks it was dinner time.  (Shutter speed: 1/60; Aperture: F5.6; Focal Length: 300 mm; ISO:400)

The cheetah also were very quiet.  They would get up and walk around a little and then sit/lay back down.  I was really lucky and caught this picture.  Don't know if there was some little quiet dispute but the one growled at the other and then was quiet again.  (Shutter speed: 1/40; Aperture F5; Focal Length: 190; ISO: 400)

I was really happy to see the white tigers out.  The last couple of times that I was at the zoo - they were not out.  I think they may have been a bit hungry too.  I have some great shots of them showing off their teeth.  However, I really liked this one.  He's looking at us and licking his chops.  Time to move on.....

(Shutter speed: 1/80; Aperture: 5.6; Focal Length: 238; ISO: 400)

Now - as for the polar bears.  Kinda glad we didn't have any little ones with us.  The male was in a bit of a frisky mood.  He went off after one and she gave him the brush off and went for a swim.  So he approached the other.  How's this for a polar bear kiss?!  (Shutter speed: 1/80; Aperture: 5; Focal Length: 214; ISO: 400)

Since we were there later in the day and there wasn't as much light out - I set my ISO at 400.  I had my camera set on Aperture Priority so that I could set my Aperture and let the camera decide on the shutter speed.  If you have any hints or suggestions, let me know!

Patience!

With having a bum knee, I have been a little limited as to where I can go and take photos.  So - I am still shooting in my yard.  This first photo was shot in the morning.  I was taking my netflix movie to the mailbox and as I was going back, I noticed the frost on the grass and decided to get my camera and see what I could get.

I was really quite surprised with how much detail I was able to get.  I really like the frost that I was able to capture.  I did crop this just a little in photo shop.  Shutter speed: 1/13; aperture F/16; focal length: 55mm.

Now for the patience.  I decided I would use Bob's super duper long lens and take some photos of the birds in our backyard.  I got all set up and went out on the deck only to have our neighbor's workman start up his big machine to dig up a stump.  No birds.  Later that afternoon, he was gone so I went back out and still no birds.  We always have birds - lots of birds.  So I waited and enjoyed the fact that we were having a little bit of sunshine and finally a little bird showed up to play on our wood pile.  Here is my little friend.

We had to have 3 trees taken down and the wood is in a huge pile.  This little guy was having a great time climbing and flying in and out of the various openings.  I have a feeling that when Bob starts splitting the wood he may find a birds' nest.  We shall see.  I think the little one was worth waiting for.

Shutter speed: 1/100; Aperture: F/5.6; Focal Length: 500 mm.  I also cropped this photo a little in photoshop.  I don't know how to do anything else yet in photoshop!  I will learn.  Both photos were shot in ISO 100.  Hope you like!

First Photo

I am taking the plunge and have set up a blog about my photo journery.  I decided that it was time to truly learn how to use my camera and start taking photos.  I found a great book entitled BetterPhoto Basics by Jim Miotke.  He writes in a way that I understand!  One of the assignments was to take photos of flowers.  Well - it is cold and the flowers haven't bloomes so I went to the store and bought some gerbera daisies and took them out on my front porch.  I took lots of photos and this is one that I like.  There are problems with it but this is a learning process.  Let me know what you think.  I appreciate constructive criticism! Shutter speed - 1/25; Aperture - F/7.1; Focal length 55mm; ISO 100