I let my long time FloridaNaturePhotography.Net website go as I did not update it as I should and I relied on my Flickr account for the quick uploads.
I am now in Trail with SmugMug and I think I may go with them so I can have my own website once again. I like it so far. I'll decide in the next few days.
Any SmugMug users out there with pros & cons?

 

So I sold my Canon 500 IS 4.0 version 1 - Canon 300 2.8 version 1 and Canon Mark IV.
I used those funds to put towards the purchase of a Canon 1DX - Canon 5D Mark III & a Canon 300 2.8 IS II and I can say the new equipment is by far the BEST I have ever had or used.

I can consisitently get razor sharp images with a 2X teleconverter / extender on my Canon 300 2.8 IS II almost every time. Check out the eye on this Northern Harrier I caught in flight and while hand holding this deadly combo.

The Canon 1DX is simply the best camera Canon has ever made and when paired with the new II series lens they are the perfect match. I can not put in words how stunning this camera is. Check out these images at ISO  3200  !! What noise?

The Canon 5D Mark III aquired autofocus and tracked on par with my Canon Mark IV and the images files were so much better with lower noise at increased ISO levels that I was willing to give up the 1.3 crop factor and a few extra frames per second without hesitation. So I am fully full frame and I do miss that little extra help but I will adjust quickly.

There is a storm brewing. A change in the weather. Out with the old and in with the new.

Do you think my new Canon 300 IS II & Canon 600 IS II will make me a better photographer?
Ha. Of course not, nothing can do that....oh wait, I mean, uh, well, um.

I simply can not wait! 300 f2.8 IS II arrives Thursday & the 600 4.0 IS II when it is in stock.
Whoo Hoo.

Great Blue Heron Courtship - 3584

Great Blue Heron Courtship - 3584, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I took this beautiful image on my Birthday!
It was my gift from above.

Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | 6892

Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | 6892, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I was lucky enough to be photographing along side of Award winning photographer Mark Sisson and his posse visiting Florida from the U.K. when I took this image of a Black Skimmer in flight. It is now my second favorite Black Skimmer image!

Check out Mark's site here: http://www.marksissonphoto.co.uk/

Osprey with Nest Material - 6635

Osprey with Nest Material - 6635, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

It's that time of the year again when the Osprey nesting activity starts at Blue Cypress Lake
and I make the 2 1/2 hour drive north once a month to take advantage of that fact!


Here is a image I just made yesterday.

Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger- 6674

Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger- 6674, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

It is that time of the year again and I am already having a BLAST shooting the Black Skimmers.

As I sit and the beach empties of its bathers and I have the sun setting behind me I can't help but feel at peace while photographing these amazing beauties.

A Great Start to the New Year!

I won the Grand Prize in last year's St. Augustine Birding & Phot Fest and it is now

a full page advert for the next event in this month's issue of Outdoor Photographer (Page 35)

Here is a link:

http://floridasbirdingandphotofest.com/

The last day of the year and I was able to get out and shoot at Wakodahatchee Wetlands!
The Great Blue Herons are nesting and here is a picture of their courtship.

I was not dialed in right so I did lose the whites in the face but the image is still strong enough for me to overlook that, but I still kick myself.

HAPPY NEW YEARS & BE SAFE.

Michael Wolf

My first morning for my new season of shooting and it was a beautiful sunny & crisp 58 degrees out.

This is the first image of the morning. It was a good day!

HDR.......

It's funny..... the HDR image here is the exact kind of HDR that I at first found facinating because it was so unusual and unique but have since grown to dislike, yet when I goofed around and made one of my own I thought it looked cool.
Hmmpfh.
My first trip to the Panama Canal and I was impressed. I wish my image did more justice to show just how magnificent and grand the whole system really is. When I learn HDR for "real" I will post a "better" image to represent it.

Another season soon to arrive....

I lookk forward to another season of shooting despite the fact that I have lost the use of my left eye for photography & photoshop in general due to Central serous retinopathy.

I guess I'll just shoot to the right!

Black Skimmer & Newborn Chick - Florida - 3122

Black Skimmer & Newborn Chick - Florida - 3122, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I had the true pleasure of shooting a Black Skimmer nesting colony for three afternoons and here is a day old chick at the nest with a parent who is still on three eggs.

Snowy Plover Nest with Eggs - 1349

Snowy Plover Nest with Eggs - 1349, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I found a Snowy Plover nest over in Estero, Florida that I was lucky enough to photograph. Sadly, I learned that only a few days later it vanished overnight.

Osprey in Nest with Chick - 6766

Osprey in Nest with Chick - 6766, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Happy Mothers Day - A day late but I still get to shout it out to all mothers.

Here is a Mother Osprey in the nest with her young chick. Notice the eyes color on the chick! It will change to yellow as the chick grows older.

Osprey & Chick in Nest - 4460

Osprey & Chick in Nest - 4460, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Osprey & Chick in nest at Blue Cypress Lake in central Florida.

The Blues Brothers - Boat Tailed Grackles Singing - 0085

The Blues Brothers - Boat Tailed Grackles Singing - 0085, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I see these birds everyday and yet I have so few images of them.
In the right light they are actaully a cool looking bird!

American Widgeon Landing - 6911

American Widgeon Landing - 6911, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Two post in two days............ Yep.

I had to share this image I captured today of an amazing duck called the American Widgeon. He is just so fun to look at and watch.

Osprey Portrait - 4091

Osprey Portrait - 4091, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I photographed this Osprey at Blue cypress Lake in Vero Beach, Florida.

I went out on a pontoon boat and photographed dozens of Ospreys that nest in the low lying Cypress tress along the lake's edge.

Pretty in Pink - Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill 7588, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I had the pleasure of shooting this beauty today at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida.

Old Files for New Website

Marbled Godwit 4089, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Marbled Godwit 4089

I am going through my old files and re-working some of my favorite images for my new website that will launch by early spring and I am having a blast!

I am now much better at optimizing my images in photoshop, no trickery, just fine tuning and then presenting them in a bigger format then on my old website. http://www.floridanaturephotography.net/

This is one of my earliest digital files and one of my favotites!

Time to stop here.........gotta get back to my older stuff & CS5.

Black Skimmer in Golden Evening Light 1362

Black Skimmer in Golden Evening Light 1362, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

The Black Skimmers are back in Pompano beach, Florida and I take full advantage of shooting them in the evening when the sun is low and the light is golden.

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse - December 20 2010

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse - December 20 2010, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

This is what it looked like here in South Florida.

I don't think I'll make the next one in 2094! :-(

Atlantic Ocean Lightning Storm over Pompano Beach _2238

Atlantic Ocean Lightning Storm over Pompano Beach _2238, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

A storm is on the horizon and it could mean a total re-do of my website so it looks professional and I can fool the masses.... moohaha (evil laugh)

White Ibis in flight at Sunset

White Ibis in flight at Sunset 4926, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

The end of a beautiful day.

Life is good.

Great Blue Heron in Flight 3152

Great Blue Heron in Flight 3152, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

A beautiful morning here in South Florida on the day before Thanksgiving and I realize I have so much to be thankful for on every level. I vow to remember that the next time I get bent by a rude driver or person.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Great Blue Heron with Nesting Branch

Great Blue Heron 1627, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Well it is a little early but the Great Blue Herons are starting to build their nest already and I was just as ready with camera in hand!

Lightening Bolt Over the Atlantic Ocean - Pompano Beach, Florida - 2813

Lightening Bolt Over the Atlantic Ocean - Pompano Beach, Florida - 2813, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Sometimes the action happens in your own backyard!

Time Lapse Photography - Pompano Beach Sunset #2

Time Lapse Photography - Pompano Beach Sunset #2, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

My first attemps at Time Lapse Photography.

One picture every Three seconds and shown here @ 60 FPS

Snowy Plovers Again...........

It seems this little bird has become on of the icons of what the Oil Spill may destroy as it is already endangered. I have had many request for my Snowy Plover images to help promote public awareness in all areas of the fragile Florida eco-system.

Snowy Plover and Newborn Chick & Gulf Coast Oil Spill 9950

Snowy Plover & Newborn Chick 9950, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

The already endangered Snowy Plover faces an even bigger threat with the Gulf Coast Oil Spill that now threatens their already limited and fragile breeding grounds.

Pileated Woodpecker & Chick at Nest Hole 2667

Pileated Woodpecker & Chick at Nest Hole 2667, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

So I bought a new "Super Computer" to keep up with my large files since all my cameras are high mega -pixel monsters and with the new computer I decided to go through my archives and I found a few goodies! here is one of them. It was a day I'll not soon forget as this is a scene that is just too special to put into words.

Space Shuttle Launch 9882

Space Shuttle 9882, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

So I made it to my first Space Shuttle launch even though I am born & raised in Florida and I must say "OMG - why have I not done this before?"

Here is my Shuttle image.

Swallow Tailed Kite with Tree Frog 5318

Swallow Tailed Kite with Tree Frog 5318, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I have the pure joy of shooting a Swallow Tailed Kite nesting area and the thrill of just viewing them in flight breath taking enough but to walk away with high quality images too!! Too much.

Black Skimmer flock @ Hilsboro Inlet Lighthouse Florida 7342

Black Skimmer flock @ Hilsboro Inlet Lighthouse Florida 7342, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I love photographing Black Skimmers and it look slike they like performing for me as well!

Black Skimmer in Flight

Black Skimmer 0192, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

This beautiful Black Skimmer was captured in flight over the Atlantic Ocean along the coastal shoreline in Pompano Beach Florida.

Alice in Wonderland Wood Stork

This Wood Stork tried out and failed for a part in Alice in Wonderland!
WHat does a Raven have in common with a writing desk?

This Black Skimmer look like it should have been in Alice in Wonderland as this is how it really looks !! I ask what is normal?

Website Updated - WHAT !!!!

The world just stopped spinning for a second as my website was updated!
Yes, it is true,after nearly a year I have some updates & new photos to share.

This is what happens when you try to be a photographer, a photoshop user and a website manager, some things get left last. You can spend FULL time with any of these three task and still never be caught up! So when all three come into play, well, something is going to suffer. ( If you say it is my photography....I'll hunt you down!:-)
That said,I do find it easier to update my flickr site then to go through the rigamarollof updating my actual website.

Anyway without further ado.

MY Updated Website

A few more thousand words......

Some recent images for you to marvel over..... haha

Time Flies

What !? I have not posted in months!? I wonder if that means I cease to exsist for that amount of time? I hope not. Just busy with this, that & butterfat.

Hey. Here's a picture. It is worth a thousand words so I will say no more.

Ok just a little more.
It is a Female Anhinga on a nest with three chicks.

Cheers,
Michael © 2010

American Alligator - Canon 7D 2108

American Alligator - Canon 7D 2108, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

To witness these great beast in full combat is as close as we can come to witness what it could possibly have been like to watch dinosaurs battle!

Reddish Egret Dancing the Dance

Reddish Egret 5719, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

I found this Reddish Egret in Ft. Desoto Park near St. Petersburgh, FL and he danced around looking for small fish to consume.
I am pretty sure he worked it a little harder as he knew I was photographing him..... :-)

Hidden Gems

Roseate Spoonbill 5860, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Sometimes I play a game to beat the Photoshop blahs.....

What I do is move the cursor up & down the line of folders
and without looking I try to open a folder, after several misses
I usually get one open and after that I randomly double click any file.
I then treat that image as if it were the only image of it's kind.....I have to work it and make it work.
Sometimes it is fun and sometimes I wonder why the heck I saved that lame image in the first place!

Today while playing my game I popped open the above image of a Roseate Spoonbill and my jaw dropped.... it was full frame and razor sharp and it was hidden away trying its best to avoid me but I found it and now I am showing it to.............who ? You !

OK... I am bored again.

Holy Cow - I updated my Website again!

Snowy Egret 1455 Fractilus, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.

Yes, it is true. I have updated my website yet again.

Check it out !

FloridaNaturePhotography.Net April Updates

Roseate Spoonbill - Gatorland

Roseate Spoonbills
floridanaturephotography.

Oh wait......there's more......if you view now you'll get to see yet more amazing images from Gatorland for the same free price as the last post.....but only if you are veiwing right now because this offer wont last long!

Cattle Egret Mated Pair on Nest

Snowy Egret in Fll Breeding Plumage performing Courtship Dance.

Gatorland...Again

What can I say about Gatorland in Kissimme Florida ?

GO.....SEE.....WITNESS......EXPERIENCE.....FEEL.....

OK. So maybe those words don't do it how about some images from the Gatorland Rookery?
What's the old saying? A picture is worth a thousand words? Well then here's a few thousand for you.