This evening when washing dishes I saw this young buck out the kitchen window checking to see how close he could get to my garden. I quickly got my Fuji X-T2 camera with the 100-400 mm OIS lens to get some pictures. The optical image stabilization (OIS) for this lens really works. The light levels were going down, and I didn’t increase the ISO so these images were taken at 1/15 to 1/45 second — all hand held.
I went for a hike on the Wild Basin Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Lots of wildflowers, and this stupid bumblebee that liked my carbon fiber tripod.
Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.
Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.
May has been cool and rainy. It was warmer in April this year. While it has been cool I have been able to expand the sections for my wildflowers. I didn’t spread any new seeds in the 15′ x 30′ section on the east side of the house planted last year to see which perennial, biennial, or self-seeding annual wildflowers would come back. This morning when I got up, it was way too bright outside — the sun was out!!! In addition I noticed the first red poppy flower for this year. Coincidentally, the American Legion has recommended that the Friday before Memorial day be designated National Poppy Day. In the Commonwealth nations, red poppies are used to commemorate Remembrance Day (11-November).
First Red Poppy flower this year. Composite of 40 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, EV 0). Kirk linear track 1 mm intervals over 4 cm. Composite created using Helicon Focus (Method B, R=8, S=4) (David J Mathre)First Red Poppy flower this year. Composite of 74 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, EV 0). Kirk linear track 1 mm intervals over 7.4 cm. Composite created using Helicon Focus (Method B, R=8, S=4) (David J Mathre)
I spent the day in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34) was open. This highway crosses the continental divide, and is generally closed due to snow between October and May. This year I saw a note that it would not be open for Memorial Day weekend due to a late season storm. During the day I took over 600 images. I selected images of birds (Black-billed Magpies and Red Crossbills), mammals (Chipmunks, Elk, and Moose), plants & flowers, and landscapes for the following slideshows. My favorite image of the day was a chipmunk chewing on some grass. I would like feedback regarding presenting the images as slideshows. Note that you can click below the slideshow to stop, start and to see titles.
Chipmunk chewing on some grass. Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/750 sec). (David J Mathre)
Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.
Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.
Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.
Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.
I spent much of the day preparing a section on the west side of the house for a patch of “Lily of the Valleys” and some other wildflowers. The section is under a tree, and grass doesn’t do very well. There were “Lily of the Valleys” here before, but they were destroyed when the roof was redone a couple years ago. So I rototilled the section, added lime and fertilizer, then drilled ninety 2 inch holes and planted the newly arrived “Lily of the Valley” pips. I hope they make it to bloom next spring. In the past, the deer left them alone. One of the pips had a shoot with flower buds. I took that one inside under the LED grow lights to see if the flower buds would open.
“Lily of the Valley” flower buds. Image taken with a Nikon Df computer and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, 0EV) (David J Mathre)
