I lost my Best Friend Chloe this past Wednesday, Chloe was over 20 years old, we got her from a family member she was already a grown cat over 20 years ago so in Human years she was a old lady. She outlived her 3 Brothers, Oscar, FatCat( or aka huge ) and Spider. She outlived her Sister Mongrol who passed on Nov 7, 2020,  it was Chloe and I the last 2+ years. I'm going on 52 years old and I've always had Cats in my life, Never had or been a dog person, I guess I prefer Cats for my furry friend.  I gotta say though Chloe was probally my last one, who knows, maybe someday after I retire, I'll get another.  who knows, All I know is Emotionally we humans should not have to put our friends or family to sleep. I Like the idea of sending a loved one to Heaven peacefully. Its the decision leading up to that moment.

Wednesday I had a hard time picking up Chloe from the comfort of my Bed where her and I slept every night and walking out the door on the way to vet, absolutely gut wrenching this past week has been for me, I'm still losing it every day when I think of how much she was there for me and I for her. One thing I keep thinking is through her mind is Chloe is missing me, She is missing me, her relationship with me,  All of you that have or have had pets all know is that they rely on you and your companionship, they love you unconditionally.  I find You don't get that too much with humans, humans have words and all words are often misinterpreted, with dogs or cats or any pet, its an unspoken word and action that shows their love for you.   

Chloe was always friendly with other humans when they were over in our world but I always noticed she would always look at me, like as to say do not let this person take me away from you. she would always be by my side, if she or her sister Mongrol was not sitting on my lap they were always within arms reach of me for a friendly pet on the head.  haha in fact, as you'll see in a pic below the majority of my photography and video editing over the years I've had a cat for a palm rest under my keyboard while sitting in the chair editing pics and vids.

We Humans go through life and at the end if your lucky have a loved one talk about what they have done and have meant to them or others, Well this is Chloe's story, She was loved by me, She loved me unconditionally, I will never forget or stop loving you or your siblings,  you are now with them and Mom at the bridge, I will see you someday there.

I want to thank my Mom for taking in Chloe, I took over shortly after without her my relationship with Chloe would not have happened. I want to thank my Dad for going to the Vet with me and Chloe, we were both in the room as Chloe passed. Love you Dad. and I want to thank my Neighbor/friend Cindy for taking care of my Chloe and Mongrol whenever I went on vacation the past few years.

Please read and Enjoy Chloe's life, then go hug and hold your pet close after. They love you and miss you that second you weren't paying attention

Dad with Fat Cat, Mom and Chloe, Christmas 2007

What I miss and I'll miss is how Chloe and my Cats felt, I can feel their weight on me, how their paws felt on me, how their fur felt. thats a sensory we will take to our graves. 

Me: "Chloe go upsidedown"

Mongrol and Chloe riding shotgun on our move to perrysburg 2011

Since Wednesday I found myself saying "Chloe I gotta get up" when I get up from the chair as I was always disturbing their naps 

Queen of the chair

Spider, Chloe and Mongrol Would always be sleeping like this when not on me

Spider would bath Chloe, did'nt know if Chloe loved that, but adapted :)

What?

Chloe would do this to my legs almost daily,  mainly when food was involved, it was cute, I miss those paws

As with most photographers out there, once you get new gear you go straight to your pets to test out the new gear, pretty sure this was when I got my 35mm f1.4

You look pretty here Chlo Chlo, I'm having this in a 8x10 print

At any cost she would have to be on me! 

New kayak day

Squirrel

My fav photo of Mongrol and Chloe,  5-6-2020   6 months later Mongrol would pass :(

10-11-20  Mongrol died on 11-7-20 :(     Mongrol would push/knead her paws on me before I went to bed. I miss you Mongrol :(

9-4-21 I would let Chloe out for minute or two supervised(because of hawks) each day to walk around and try to eat the flowers

Chloe would nestle her head under my chin, couple times fell asleep, heard her snore once

11-5-22

These two pics below, I want to say this sad story of Wednesday, Sometimes I would check my security camera's from my phone when I was on vacation for week or so, many times in the mountains I would fall asleep after checking in on Chloe and Mongrol, I've cut trips short the past couple years due to missing my pets to much.  well since Chloe stopped eating food the last couple weeks I knew her time on earth was coming to a end and  I would be checking in on her on my camera's lately.   Tuesday I had planned to take her to the vets for that day. but on the camera tuesday morning I saw her eating or what turned out to be trying to eat food and cancelled the Vet appointment for tuesday. ok I thought she might be trying to fight for her life,  lets give her a day.  but I knew that night that this day would be it as she did not eat :(  I left for work a delivery in cleveland, at 6:30 I took a screenshot, I thought is she saying goodbye to me (I enter and leave out that door every day) my heart sank a bit when I thought about it

Did my work then While driving home I saw her in the upper left corner lay down and watched as she did not move for the longest time, I thought she just said goodbye and died! I lost it, I cried and cried while driving the turnpike home for a hour watching her not moving, saying to myself she died alone! I was not there! I waited to long! she died alone.  it was brutal sadness and guilt!  then as I was to get off the turnpike I saw her move and sit differently.   I made it home and found her still sitting in the same position alive.   I put her on the bed and she drank some water,  but later puked that water up as I was taking her to the vet.  As of the day before she was still peeing in her litter box but now that was not gonna happen,  Age or disease had taken its toll on my Chloe :(

Rest in Peace Chloe, I'll miss you forever 

Read this before you watch my little tribute film to the Maumee Bay Plovers

The piping plover in the Great Lakes area is an endangered species. Endangered species are animals or plants that are in danger of becoming extinct.
I got word of piping plovers from another Birder and photographer friend while I was at Maumee Bay State park photographing the Eastern Screech owls. I had never seen a piping plover in person ever, So A friend and I went over to where they were reported and sure enough a handful of birders and wildlife authorities were on hand watching them trying to figure out if and where the plovers might nest. it was midday I took a couple direct harsh sunlight pics for the lifer bank in case they decided to move on and it would be my only chance to photo one and decided to try again the next morning in backlight situations as the whole summer my main goal was to focus on that type of light direction photography. When I first got into outdoor landscape photography I'd always setup that way as its imo more dynamic than front lit subjects.

The following morning I got up before sunrise to get that pre-sunrise blue hour glow hoping for Piping plovers to step into that light.  found one. It was Nish and in fact in the video production the final handful of pics in the video are of that first morning, besides that first day being at the end of the video  All the pictures you'll see in the video are in sequence on how they happened over the course of 2+months of taking them. After all the video clips were shown I included the pictures from that day of filming or days following leading into the next video sequence. 

I decided since I'm only a 25-minute drive away to Maumee bay state park to make this my next video project. I would be sacrificing most of my summer weekend mornings to this project. my beloved Ospreys and Eagles families from previous springs and summers are gonna have to wait.  I hope you love the video and if you found something moving or interesting or beautiful about the video or this important message below about "conservation of plovers"   to pass it along to your fellow birders, photographers or birding forums or groups.   I wish I could have spent more time with the Plover birds, I know I missed out on key moments of the raising of the 4 kids they raised but monday-friday with my line of work I'm lucky to have 2 hours to myself each night to do anything but eat then go to bed.  I can only photograph these birds in the mornings only on weekends I did manage to sneak in a couple friday evenings though after work.

My decision to spend all this time on this project I do regret a bit though after seeing the actions of a couple volunteers,  I thank as you will see in the video all these volunteers for taking the time to monitor (thats the key word) monitor these Piping plovers. After talking to a few of them they have sacrificed a lot and have traveled some distance to see and help out with their plover patrol shifts. quite a remarkable amount time was spent by certain few to watch over these birds.

the last 20+ years of my life have revolved around photography and observing whatever subject I point my lenses to. It is was I live for, most of the time my only reason for waking up. My end goal in life, my happy time, my time to be creative and hopefully create some good imagery and footage for myself or the viewers.

Everything I'm about to say next is %100 true, re read if you are one of the offending Volunteers and do not comprehend

When walking over to my spot by the water to set up my stool and tripod as much of these backlit shots came from, I would scan the area on the sand looking for the plovers, watching where I stepped as to not step on any eggs or birds of any kind. set up my tripod and did not move for 2 plus hours photographing for whatever came into view.  %100 of the time I was there Nellie and Nish the nesting adults and Nellie's sister came over to me,  preen in front of me, bathed in front of me, fed in front of me.  The sister(I forget the name they gave here) she is seen in this video as well.   Nish would come over and chase her off each day.  Not once did any of these adult plovers Alarm peep me. As I was established as part of the landscape and earth when they got there. The plovers asset the safety and went about their day.

There was a few days I left without any content as I was content on staying in one spot looking for backlit high contrast footage, you will see in the video I did succeed on a few of those scenes playing out with backlit Plovers looking glorious.

Here is where the Do as I say and not as I do comes from a couple of the Volunteers and managers.  Lets say Every time you and I go to a national park, you've known for years not to affect the behavior of the animals, if you impact how they are behaving well your not doing your part.  These Adult plovers all 3 of them know EXACTLY that humans are not a threat. time and time again I saw these plovers walk close to us humans.   the only time the Adults give out alarm calls is for other birds that they know can kill their kids who cannot fly.  after the kids were born I witnessed Canada geese each morning walk through the roped-off area very very close to the little plovers but the plovers did not care, those geese look like dinosaurs but Nellie and Nish know they are not threats.  Nellie and Nish are 1 year old adults and they figured out Humans are not a viable threat to the raising of their kids.  In fact, I would say that with all the plovers in the World captured( I don't care who you are but that is stressful and memorable for that species, despite what the experts say ) banded we the humans have imprinted ourselves as a safe haven that would not be killed.  just the opposite of a wild species right?  I have been around a lot of birds most flee when you get near or even think about getting near.  MOST do!  but these adult plovers walk towards us.  Yet we are told about plovers not to go near them.  but they come to us. it was remarkable seeing how friendly and social this species of bird was. unlike any bird I've been in front of

If you watch the behavior and actions of any animal they will tell you a lot.  Such as

The Brown bears feeding in Alaska's lake Clark or Katmai National Park on the river as the salmon run up the river, They are sometimes feeding right next to Guides and photographers and local fishermen in the waters.  they could care less about a human standing there.  Big azz Brown bears standing next to you, yet they know you are not a threat. They the bears have accepted us as part of the landscape, co-existing with humans on earth.

when I approach Elk or Deer,  I Never walk straight to them,  you flank them, why?  think of this you are walking down the street you see a scary looking dude walking straight at you. you might tense up right? keep a eye on them because your uncomfortable. but when that scary dude veers off at an angle you relax.   Again Plovers walked straight at or around humans every time I was there.  Why? well we are safe enough to them to coexist in that space,  you only behave like you are taught and I bet those 4 kid plovers saw EVERYthing the parents taught and did around us.  So who's affecting who?

Mountain Goats in the mountains, we climb these mountains and often times the goats are right next to you and often come to you, unless they the big game are not being shot at they know they can outmaneuver that slow pathetic human climbing in their backyard.

Atlantic Puffins come to shore and nest every year, they let humans right next to them as they the humans are a deterrent to other birds and predators to the puffins.  they learned just like Nish and Nellie plover did, these humans did not kill us and are some protection. We affected their behavior since birth.
 

its estimated We loose 10,000 species a year.  Why protect Piping plovers? Why put them on the endangered species list,  cute yes, but how bout we don't intervene at all.  if the federal government were to put 3 bands on your human legs to monitor if you go to walgreens  I bet you'd be pissed right.  well plovers can't speak English  but Im' sure we violated them.  pretty dang sure.  I just took pictures and videos and made a film hopefully some find as a pretty momento of that summer.  

All these volunteers and trained professionals should know this right? but they insisted on enforcing a stupid rule of if the baby plovers act like they want to come out of the barriers you need to give them 100 feet thats 33 yards  thinks about that on a football field, thats huge, well the whole enclosure width wise is not even that I'd say  and each and every one of them broke their own rules daily.  I witnessed baby plovers feed within 10 feet of two volunteers they did'nt back 100 feet.   some birders or volunteers do not like Photographers  I've seen it many places I've traveled well guess what many times we the photography who spends 100's of hours watching one subject know our subjects much more than a birder or a conservationist or wildlife activist we spend so much time observing waiting for that subject to step in the right lighting position or foreground and background we can see and sense behavior, there are tells often times we can see better than a bird watcher who just id a bird then moved on to look for more birds to add to the daily list.

This one sunday morning the only time I along with 5 other photographer friends was told politely to move back even though we were behind the roped off barriers if the baby plovers come towards us.  we said ok and did it once on our own judgement when a baby plover ate some bugs close. no problem, play by the hypocrite's rules.   Each Time I personally looked over my shoulder I could see two of them glaring at us. Yep both of them are photographers and apparently they don't get it. Do as I say not as I do. When you get any group of people with the word security or patrol on the back of their shirts sometimes power gets to their heads. And yes to the people in the same shirts us photographers do talk as well we too know exactly that it is BS and know you broke your rules.  Do as I say not as I do.  

We humans at all times unknowing are killing insects and never think twice about it, heck standing there monitoring plovers or photographing plovers we are killing insects,  Think about it we are altering the behavior of every animal every time,  even that deer that we almost hit on our way to work. we altered that deers behavior.  with me here? you can't avoid altering behavior of animals   you can be aware but you'll still do it.  Animals always learn as well, Every man-made structure you put your eyes on, your roads, your houses, your cars.  each time they were made we humans knowingly or unknowingly killed birds and animals to get those luxuries. We choose to live by the water because its calming and pretty, yes its where many species live but you can't deny humans living near water.  Big azz signs on the beach telling people to keep their animals on leaches and WATCH where you step would help tons

Back to the plovers The plover chicks have what 100 insects to eat in a 10 foot radius,   If they are approaching us well they are altering our Behavior.  Yes they are altering our behavior.   they the volunteers and officials gave them a chance to live in a nice protected area.  many of them I'm know have bonded and had a great time playing plover patrol.  thats fine I am Glad lifetime friends were made.  but as I said earlier how much conservation is going on?

I am against the banding of birds, we do not need to know where animals are, you would'nt want those bands on your legs would you? no.  Everything has the right to be free. not controlled by humans.  If the bird or animal is injured yes rehab and save, those rehab places need to exist and are vital to saving species. The fact is if a 20foot monster would throw a net over your head and captured you  you would fear for your life, that is exactly how a bird feels it is caught in a net, they had a near death expierence in there minds.  I would too.  feeling trapped is altering behavior. period.

I know of at least 3 photographers that have told me without me bringing the subject up first that they stopped going there after one or two times because of as one my friends called them the Gatekeepers were too aggressive on stalking them. always had binoculars or scopes on them.   I get that there are certain unethical photographers that chase and push wildlife to get photo's  I am not one of them. and I saw when I'm was there zero pushing birds at all!   (just the volunteers read below) 

I counted 4 times that I overheard on walkie talkie's of the leader of the volunteers that day said he was gonna move the plovers into the fenced-off area  or down the beach, or into another cove.   Yep a professional trained volunteer affecting the behavior of the piping plovers.  when the same words from that guys mouth to us photographers were,  "hey we don't want to affect the birds behavior, lets not push them"   Hypocrite!   oh and always I was not, I set up for light direction, foreground or background and let the birds work their way towards me, a handful of times I just stopped shooting not moved and watched the Piping plover walk around me.  Heck, I learned that day one observing a piping plover for the first time, They are ok with people. I saw the 4 plover kids run on the ground (After they could fly btw)  they were running in and out and around of clueless toddlers on the beach when they were feeding at the time. Again plovers taught by human behavior and their own parents.

Twice I was there and they were short-staffed and I was asked if I could help with a walkie talkie as the plovers came towards me I'd give out some locations of the birds. I happily helped.  I was only there for the first couple of early morning hours of golden light then I left to go play tennis.  From what I gathered there was one photographer who was always in the ears of other volunteers and spread bad fake news on other photographers, it was clearly obvious, But I stuck it out.  As I had beautiful Bird(other birds) and plover moments happen most days I was there, I found out that location is a hotbed for shorebird and other birds to come through.  This Film I could see was unfolding early on was in front of me. I had to stick it out.  

4 things for conservation of anything,  

1. pick up your damn Trash, The earth is Gorgeous, been that way for millions of years

2. Tread lightly

3. Watch where you step especially on the beach for shorebird families

4. Treat others how you would want to be treated.

that in a short count of 4 is conservation

There were Lots of key personal satisfaction moments of being on these beaches for this time with the Plovers but if I had to pick one moment with my time With the Maumee bay Piping plovers was this.  I will never forget the Audible voice of Nish as he walked past me, so close I could see his mouth open and hear clear as day his voice. It was so distinct, unique and cute.  Nish is and was the Greatest Dad for raising and protecting his Nellie and kids.   Hope he comes back and I get another chance to take his photo again. (minus the do as I say not as I do volunteers)

I am publishing this video with a couple of copyright audio because well those songs really hit home for me. Most of my video's have it. According to Youtubes fine print If I ever make a dime on this video someday I'll have it pay George Strait some money on this video, I'm fine wih that. because George is king

Hope you love the music choices, I hope to get to 1000 subscribers with this Video so if you loved the video or know someone that loves shorebirds or plovers please like, share and subscribe to my channel(its free to do so on youtube). if you have a favorite moment please leave a comment on the video at Youtube and I'll reply to each comment.   I've spent easily over 100 tedious hours editing this video soo any shares in emails, social media or fav birding forums or pages would be much appreciated

In the video my fav moment is when Ottawa and Maumee are running in the rain and criss-cross each other on their runs in the rain. 

Besides some of the personal agenda-driven volunteers, I do want to thank the Organizations, volunteers, and photographers that were sincere and genuine and shared Birding stories with me as we waited for the next cute Piping plover moment.

As one of my favorite youtube birders  Leslie the bird nerd Says (check her channel out btw you will learn about birds in a fun way)
 

"Hope you enjoyed" and "Happy Birding"    

Cheers

Capn

You can click on these pics below for viewing full size and more Nish & Nellie & kids are found on my flickr website as well

Nish on my last day of photographing him

Happy New Year!

So following up my previous video and Blog, I mentioned I photographed these owls in a sunset scene, here it is, I'll never forget the magic of the light

and the Beautiful Sibling affection I saw this night.  The day after I took the footage and photo's I posted a picture on my Flcikr page saying in the Caption good luck you two. Tragically one of them needed more. 

Rest in Peace Little Owl

On April 18-2021 a few weeks ago I captured something I've always wanted to capture.  That was an Owl feeding its kids in Exceptional Blue hour light and I got it this morning with this Great Horned Owl family I've been following a bit this spring.  I was all by myself during this whole encounter, so nobody else got this.  I got there 1/2 hour before Sunrise, 10 minute hike in, as I was getting close I could hear both kids calling for a parent to bring in breakfast. I knew based on a couple prior early morning Great Horned Owl expierence's in the morning that this could happen,  a early morning meal drop off.  I've witnessed it once before Last year in Ann Arbor but the light was backlight and very high iso and the pics were crappy then. I knew when I heard them calling this could happen.  When I first put eyes on the nest I saw them on top yep they were very very active and calling. So hurry your pace up I thought.

I hastily quickly set up my tripod, did'nt have time to level it for video as it felt like something was gonna happen fast. As you watch the video thats when that funny two pics I memed in the video happened. both wanted to jump down first to be the first to receive the meal.  those pics were like 16,000 iso and 1/60SS wide open f4 of course.  its was not light yet.  Then out of the corner of my eye seeing it in person I see Mom fly in with a Rabbit. I quickly think oh crap I want video of this first. I go to click on 8k video and the R5 says you cannot record in 8k because you forgot to PUT THE DANG CFAST CARD IN BEFORE YOU LEFT YOU DUMMY!  haha oh crap. OK I knew I wanted 4k so I can crop in and zoom in post production,  the only frame rate with my SD card in the camera is 4k 24fps  so that's what I went with,  so no slow mo in this clip.  that's fine.   New to me at the time was my new Fluid head for video and it takes a bit to balance and counter balance it when in the field. so I was fiddling with that the whole time and trying to get it to be still. I also was shooting through the viewfinder and not the back LCD screen didn't have time to flip out the screen. so I kept on trying not to touch the eye piece with my eye but was still hitting either that or the tripod as I was recording so sorry about the jarring footage at times.  I was frantically trying to be smooth in a panic "holy crap" moment get this footage! moment.     

Thats it. I was in a out of there in 20 minutes. After mom flew off both kids as they do went back to hunkering down and napping like most owls do in the daytime. I walked away in awe of what I saw and spent the rest of the morning photographing the early migration of whatever we could find with a friend of mine.

I'd like to ask a favor, could you please click the like button on the video and subscribe to my Youtube Channel(if you have not yet)  and Share with your fellow wildlife enthusiasts I'd appreciate it,   I'm trying to get to 1,000 subscribers.   I am learning more Editing tips and tricks each time I make a video. I'm trying to make smooth and hopefully engaging Wildlife content. So I hope you all Enjoy

ps. the following weekend I did photograph and film these two in perfect sun setting light and I remembered to put my Cfast card in so 8k dreamy Great horned owl footage coming up soon on my channel.  

Each year after I hear from the locals that the Juvenile Eagles are starting to fly (I go after they start flying to not disturb the nest, I don't care in general for nest compositions anyways)  so yeah I  start making my trips to the park to photograph the action of new Eagles coming into the world of flying.   This below all happen July 3rd.  The last two times there I brought along my tripod and 5D3 for a possible Landscape composition before all the eagle action and the previous 2 times I could'nt make the sunrise  because well I had to wake up at 3:30am to make this one.   been late each time, haha even the pretty picture below I was late about 10 minutes for peak color.  oh well made something out of it I think.  but the Composition below this is from the Island where the nest is looking back at island lake road,  As I set up for this shot I heard both juvenile Eagles already calling for mom and Dad to bring them the frekin fishes!  they were yelling like any baby or young adult anything. its pretty comical watching and listening to the pouting,   often times they will just fly and yell at the same time for this morning fish to be brought in. so yeah they were going off and I felt pressure to get this pic and get in on the action cause the morning fish/s are right at first light from Chip and Jo.    I then while standing here in the water it Turned out to be Jo fly over with a huge fish.  hurry up and Take this pic!  ahh pretty

then get in my kayak and round the corner,  I see one of the young ones fly over me and land in the tree's hard, i could'nt even see him/her he's was out of sight but I could hear him/her   I did'nt see Jo at first then I look maybe 10 feet up and see her,  I said oh crap she's right there, keep calm Steve,  she looked out of breath with this look after carrying the huge fish one of the kids is about to get.  pic below ISO 25,600 and only 1/50 of shutterspeed, it was dark!

Then one of the kids fly over to a perch within sight of the nest, that's this pic below  I missed the shot, i think 1/60 of a shutter speed as I was taking pics of Jo above and knew the perch shots I could get away with a slower shutter speed to keep the predawn light iso down.  not a great pic, just documenting the flight over to the other perch

More pics of Jo sitting on the fish,   now both kids know mom is sitting there with her breakfast and they are going crazy yelling for that food to be flown to the nest. but she seemed to be waiting on something 

Still waiting this is the one that flew over in that above pic,  I had to make a decision what eagle do I want to capture taking off,  do I want Jo above with the fish, that would be a neat shot, do I want the one I can't see just above mom or do I want this one below,  well this one below as you see the light is starting to rise on him/her  soo i decided to go with this one.    Thats always the conundrum with this morning feeding for me,  i've found myself guessing/second guessing where to position my boat each time.   All the fish end up in the nest  I just gotta pic a shot I'm after and hope everything lines up and I'm turned the right way and my boat is turned the right way.  I'm constantly thinking a balance of shutterspeed for metering the sky or when they go inside the treeline and getting decent iso's ,   these first flight shots below I went with 1/800   not really enough to get super sharp wings.  but a good balance overall I think they worked given the low light.    anyways. pics!    

Still yelling for mom to drop off the fish! 

then I see this, she/he notices something and out of my experience when I see this hard look a raptor is usually looking at another raptor,  so I turn right where he's looking and see Chip flying in,   I look at his talons as he flys by  and did'nt see anything,  he was pretty far out i thought, maybe he does'nt have anything yet 

watches dad go out of sight and around the corner

Then I hear a big yell and see this overhead,  I zoomed back to like 330mm  he was soo close

He was banking towards the nest 

then out of the corner of my left eye I see Mom take off with that fish .  important to note timeline, my exif said it was at 6:30.47 am

If you note at the bottom of this pic the kid is hot on her heals racing her to the nest,  gotta beat her sibling to the nest for this fish. 

Then the other one that I was photographing in that pretty light takes off and I get a great sequence of pics here flying over me.   for 8 years photographing Raptors from my kayak I can't believe I have'nt tipped over my kayak when this is happening, haha. I've witnessed it a dozen times and always its hectic on me turning in my seat.      

Then At  6:31.48  almost a minute later Dad is flying in with breakfast for the other kid.  He probally had it in his talons when he flew by(I could'nt tell he was far away and it looks tucked up good here)    What I gathered this time was He did a big loop waiting for Jo to drop off her fish then 1 minute later bring in the second one,  what great parenting on feeding the kids,    its pretty vicious when they drop off these fish in the nest,  the fights between kids and sometimes kids and mom   I witnessed mom Slap one of the kids with her wing last year when she brought in a fish and they were trying to go after it fast.   anyhoo  Chip flying in

love the technique here :)

The kid was going crazy and Chip says woah!

note the wings of the kid guarding and saying mine mine!   Chip is like I'm outta here my parenting is done for the morning

This sequence of pics is pretty sweet.   pretty stoked on a few of them.  

Like this one :)

I see Chip fly around the corner and think hmmmmmm  wonder if he is bathing on a lower branch  so i paddle around the corner look low and did'nt see him at the bath log they like to bath in   but I did see him here on a perch I have yet to photograph them at.  looks like a clean your feet and beak branch,   he keeps cleaning his talons and rubbing his beak on the branch,  note how much they've rubbed off over the years.    

I loooooooooooove this branch :)

I was hoping to get the launch but I could feel my boat start to turn in the water, put down my camera to make a paddle and bam he takes off.  doh! missed that one, oh well 

I go back around to see if any of the kids are perched in the sun,  I see Jo here cooling off with her wings open a bit 

I see this kid in the nest, he/she jumps from the nest 3 feet left to this branch

some neat catchlight on the eye

Still yelling for mom or dad that was not enough!!!  Still hungry! haha 

Takes off and flys over to deep in the shade to cool off.

Then I circle around and find Chip where he likes to sit the last 2 times I was at the lake I found him here.

Then as I was wrapping up for the day I went to talk with my new friend Dave on the shoreline, he points out look!  So I just had to get one more shot.  Paddled over to this scene  did'nt get that close before she flew off with her nice size breakfast for the day.  She totally earned this hearty breakfast.  You and Chip have are great parents!    

and that was my morning time with Chip and Joanne, it was great watching them feed their kids.  I said to my friend Rich last year that its like those fish are brought in one after another on this morning breakfast routine and I wanted to do a blog last year on this behavior but never got around to it, so here it is.    1 minute apart all coordinated, I truely believe Jo was waiting for Chip to bring in his fish so they would keep the calm a bit with kids not fighting at the dinner table.    They are super super smart resourceful Eagles and its been fun watching them raise there kids the last 4 years,  I think they've had 7 kids now I witness them have in that time

Cheers and thanks for reading

Steve

For those that have been there know its quite special for Eagle photography during the winter months, When your local eagles get done going through the breeding season many of Them congregate here from long distances because of the amount of food here with the fish coming over and through the dam all dazed and confused. 

What's unique here is nearly all the fish caught by a eagle is contested by other eagles, I just don't get that here with my local Eagle photography.  we have many nests around here but I've never seen a fight in the air for fish like I see here. So its unique to me and a special destination to get my Merica Eagle photography fix.

Since the trip I've already posted many pictures on my Flickr account and a couple weeks ago I made a youtube video of some pics, as well as a couple landscape shots and some early morning timelapes with my action camera. both Flickr and Youtube have different pics from what you'll see below. so If you don't follow me on Facebook and have'nt seen them yet  click on the two links below if you just can't get enough Bald Eagle pics from me :)

And the Flickr link to some High res photo's

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35720279@N08/

And the new photo's not seen on flickr and the Youtube video.

A final word , On my 4th and final day of photographing all this As I was packing up at my Subi in the parking lot getting ready to head home, I had put away the 600 III and no camera in hand and 3 Eagles came down road 20 feet over my head chasing each other over a fish two juveniles chasing a adult,  after flying over me They weaved through the tree's leading into the water fighting for the fish the fish dropped in the water,  I'll never forget seeing that with my own two eyes, you see most of the time my eye is to my camera and I really don't get a sense for the hugeness of a 6 foot wingspan bald eagle, let alone 3 of them flying in formation right over me.    That sight I'll never forget.  It was sunny at the time and the action just was'nt quiting and I had to leave. Well until next year same time same place.  Its on!

Hope you enjoyed

Cheers

Capn

Cheers Steve

The Special Story this day was Fred, he impresses me each year but this day he showed me his undying devotion to raising his kids. He was very protective this day, you see last week when I left last Saturday there were 3 young ospreys in the nest, but arriving this morning I saw only 2 left, I did'nt get a chance to ask any of the locals yet if anyone knows what happen to the young osprey,   Various reasons birds just don't make it and its really sad for those of us that photograph them. Life is unpredictable and birds in the wild, its very.  Sad. So your gonna have to scroll down and see how Fred and Wilma and the remaining 2 kids day went.  I'll discuss between photo's at times,  trust me its worth the scroll.  Proud of a couple of these launch pics.

The last 3or4 photo's in this blog I'll never ever forget what Fred did.  Was a memorable day and well worth the sunburn I got of 6 hours in the kayak capturing it all.   I cannot wait to see the young ospreys takes there first flights in the nest couple weeks, stay tuned for those. I'm sure I'll write another blog of the kids this year.

6:26 am 13 minutes after sunrise, Young osprey testing and strengthing his wings jumping around the nest   

6:43 Fred brings in first fish of the day

6:44 fred takes off

Love it when Fred takes off he heads straight for the water to skim it,  going into today I was hoping to get a head on shot of this happening, its a shot I've always wanted

I did'nt really get into position in time for it though, I gave him some space to fly to my left in hopes he's be perching in his fav tree's he lets me photograph him from, success each time this day with me giving 

him the space

Good Job Fred on the first fish!

6:56am he takes off for what turned out to be the second fish of the day

I actually misfocused on this one the eye was not sharp but photoshop has a feature I've used a handful of times over the years called shake reduction, sometimes it works

sometimes it doesn't,  really mess's with other things in the image and looks bad sometimes. this time I think the eyes are a save,   tons of post to get it right where its at now haha

7:25am second fish of the day just for the kids,  Wilma is not around yet.

7:27 back to sit with me and chill

Right wing stretch his talon is underneath doing the same thing

Like this,   he stretches his right foot more than his left.  like 4 times the right and only once the left. (this day)

9:05 am fred takes off and I'm ticked I missed it,   Wilma came back to the nest with a fish over my right shoulder and I looked that way because Wilma was putting

on the distress call of an intruder, i should have known Fred was gonna take off, thats why I was a little ticked off with myself.

Anyhoo first John Wick moment of the day by Fred,   I look over the horizon and see why he left and why Wilma was yelling,  I saw this Young Bald Eagle do two Barrel rolls

upside down,  then I captured this photo, note Fred has his killing tools down ready to battle with a bird much larger than him,  love the scall really shows how a 6 or 7 foot wingspan of 

a Eagle is compared to the 5 foot of an Osprey.  anyways Fred chased the eagle off, they never locked talons.  probably a good thing Fred.

10:11 am Fred With fish number 3 of the day bringing it to the nest. 

Nice portrait of the two kids on the left, Fred then Wilma

10:15 Fred taking off again to come sit with me again

John Wick Moment number 2 about to take place, I hear Wilma with the distress call at the nest I did not take my camera of Fred this time and was rewarded with a hella of launch sequence of pics

There were 2 Great Blue Herons coming into the no-fly zone.  note the heron in the background left thats the second one, and note Wilma in the nest,  each time the kids

know to GET DOWN! 

Fred chased both of the herons over to me,  I swear this heron was gonna hit me in the head, it felt like it was sooo close overhead when he yelled in protest of Fred's savage attack

He chased the second one around the corner and my last pic which was not a keeper but Fred had his talons down ready to kill,  just a scare tactic though.

Back to a branch near me,   Good job Fred,  Those mofo GBH's huh!!!

He was panting and out of breath for a while,  was near 90 and he just did major combat.  What an Athlete that Fred.

Wilma Starts the alarm warnings again, Fred looks up and see's an Adult Bald Eagle,   he's probably thinking awe crap, really don't want to deal with a adult Eagle right now haha

Wilma and the kids with there heads down during the Adult Eagle fly over.

11:40 I was getting tired/hot from the sun(I did take a shade lunch break for 20 minutes)   but yeah I was getting content with what I had captured earlier but the light was great here, the background was cleanish, I kept thinking just one more

just one more, the situation would be great for another launch and my wait paid off.   Fred taking off which turned out for a fish hunt/ teaching lesson for his kids  

Twice he circled near by And I thought ah man could this be my ultimate fishing shot I've been waiting for?  nope it was'nt  but yeah with his eyes locked on a fish beneath he dove down near the water

but put on the brakes before hitting the water,  his kids are all seeing this from the nest.  these fishing moves 

Fred on the other side of the lake does take the plunge for a fish,  you can see him popping up here

he came up empty with a fish  BUT again his kids all saw this. dad showing us how to fish.   THESE last 4 photo's I'll never forget what he did or how he sounded.

i have never heard him di this or other ospreys for that matter, it sounded like a fire alarm, it was really loud,  he was fluttering and standing in the Air, as if to say  ANYBODY WANT MORE OF ME????  did'nt look like a hunt

it looked like a Super Dad teching his kids all the tricks in the book on how to be a Osprey,  I truly believe he was motivated after losing a kid earlier in the week, he wants his kids to grow fast and succeed in being a Osprey. He showed 

many tricks of the trade this day, I was Grateful to witness it all

Fred if you drank Beer I'd buy you one.  You are an incredible Osprey and Dad.  I've said that a few times.

Thats all for now,

If you made it this far I thank you, hope you enjoyed my day with Mr Fred

Cheers

Capn

So lets back up as to why that picture above stood out above the rest. I took many technically better and sharper  photo's  on the trip but not many conveyed the emotion as it did for me witnessing it. First off all these photo's here were shot with my Canon 1DX and 100-400II.  4 days later I rented the 400III F2.8 for 7 days a Brilliant lense btw and you can see many examples on my flickr page, linked below of what that can do if you want to take a look.  Anyways back to this Osprey couple.

I get over the Bridge on Sanibel Island pull off on the first pull off, hear the familiar sound of a Osprey warning people or other osprey hey your moving in my area, it sounded like it was right on top of my car, it was so close, so I slowly get out of my car with camera in hand, take a couple steps look up and see this

So I slowly start walking around the tree, taking photos as I walked 

Observed him for 5 minutes or soo hoping to get him taking off and Bam 

So walk away laughing on how great this trip has started, As before I arrived here I spent the morning photographing Burrowing owls in Cape Coral for my first time. but yeah  My fav Raptor full frame pixels in flight, cool cool.  I watched where he lands and could'nt believe my eyes at the location site of this nest.  

Look beneath the nest, look at how much work has gone on already for this nest, note the top of the Exit sign and how bowed out it is from all the Nesting sticks the two ospreys have already brought in,  but look how close this is off the ground, there are cars in these next two pictures I took to give it scale.  I was baffled as to why they choose this to raise a family right here.  just on the other side of the bridge there are many empty Osprey nesting platforms and this couple have choosen this super dangerous sign location,   I just can't imagine the kids and two adults having enough room physically in the upcoming months. 

So after watching them for awhile saw  both male and female do various things around the nest I went into the JN Darling wildlife drive to photograph other birds but as I was leaving I wanted to stop back and check on them. the female comes back to the nest I watched them for a little bit,  they would always yell at the many many ospreys that were flying over,  it looked like a main flight path for a lot of the ospreys on the island, again I thought why build here?

I saw them take off and fly in maybe half a dozen times that day many of the flights were dangerously close to the tops of Cars and trucks, I was frighten for them as I knew the months to come how many flights are gonna be needed to raise the kids on that nest.  Most raptors once in flight when they have there eyes on something will ignore cars and trucks and thats how many die, I fear this couple will not make it through nesting season. them or there kids I would think would not make it.  I hope I'm wrong I hope this is a local couple that have made this nest for years and years. I hope someone local would chime in and tell me if this is a norm for this nesting site.     

Taking off here to go get some more nesting material

like on this flight below bringing in nesting material he was gliding right over the tops of cars before I locked focus and got the nice sidelight pics of him flying into the nest. 

With all these pics I was standing on the other side of the road, a very busy busy road. 

The scene just struck me,  its struck me the love of this couple and to start a family under very very difficult and life threatening circumstances, Maybe they are the rock climbing without a rope type of couple, who live on the edge.  Talking to each other saying I bet we could do it right here. screw the naysyaers! Lets raise a family right here.   But for me I fear the worst from the flight paths I saw them take into the nest. 

This was my last photo of them,  It was amazing watching the golden light highlight there eyes while they were keeping guard from all directions. As I walked away I said a prayer for them and wished them luck on raising the family. 

Before I got in my car I took this, the couple Silhouette under the tree were dancing to music spinning themselves around enjoying life. 

Another part of life

It was a brilliant day to start my trip. Florida always delivers for me 

For tons more images including from Canons new flagship 400 prime from my trip check them out here

My Flickr Website

Take care

Steve
 

I've never have took a full frame shot of a snowy in flight, the perch shots are ok but I was seeking a flight shot, 2008 It was me seeing a snowy owl in flight shot coming straight at the photographer in the snow is what made me buy my first Digital SLR a Canon 40D, she took it with that camera and I wanted to seek out that shot someday.  After today I Still don't have that dream shot but I think there is a snowy owl flight shot here I'll add to my portfolio, pretty happy with my flight sequence. I waited on this owl 2 1/4 hours to get that flight shot you'll see below,  I woke up at 1:30am  could not get back to sleep, laid there until my alarm went off at 3:30am, I have a 2hr 40 min drive which turned into a 3hr drive with all the ice on the roads this morning.

Got there at Fish Point wildlife refugee about 45 minutes before sunrise found this guy sitting near the road and took the first photo, pretty much in the dark, this was iso 12,800 at 1/20 SS wide open f5.6 at 7:44am  sunrise was a little past 8 

he took off, here's me attempting to pan the shot at 1/20 at 10,000 iso haha  well I tried to make the shots artsy. not prints at all, still cool motion.

He landed pole back, so I put the subi in reverse and backed up to him for these, he was def hunting looking all around him for two hours 

Got tired

pooped,  thats usually a sign for a flight upcoming 

I see him squat for a launch, I'm ready! baring it pretty owl! 

Nearly all of these launch/flight shots I had to remove the powerline stuff around or on the Owl via various content aware tools in the latest version of photoshop.

I see a second and only other owl I'll see of the day, sitting here

 I see her perk up and get antsy for maybe a flight

And I really missed the flight, this is the best (Not really focused) and only pic of the launch

A Northern harrier doing his thing 

Same snowy I first photographed here about noon time shortly before I left

And thats all, Thanks for looking and supporting me in 2018. Lets make 2019 superb! Happy New year Everyone.

Cheers

Steve

Cheers and Enjoy the Osprey's

these first shots were taken only a couple days after she left the nest.  It was comical trying to watch her fly and land, had a bit too much speed trying to land.  She let me float up to her each time. Enjoy Bam Bam,

This Blog is about a pair of osprey (Fred and Wilma the locals named them)  for those that have followed my travels and photography have noted some Osprey photo's in my FB albums or even a couple have made my portfolio here on the website. I've never had opportunities like this to photograph a nest like this, every nest I've ever been near has always been up high and I never had the time to sit on the nest.   This nest at this park has been occupied for years by regular Osprey's, very very unique for Photographers, birders, or nature lovers to enjoy the Ospreys raise there kids from this low vantage point,  The Ospreys start building the nest in april and usually the adults and kids will fledge south before October.  

The last two Saturdays I decided to drop my kayak into the waters and photograph first the local pair of Eagles and there kids in the morning light and then Fred and Wilma Osprey in the afternoon/evening light. Some of my most unique bird photographs have always come from my kayak, check out my perrysburg living albums on FB along the Maumee river.  For birds on the water getting eye level with subjects is always preferred, its all about foreground and backgrounds, Me putting my Kayak in these waters I am looking for a certain shot and that is of a Raptor plucking a fish out of the water coming right at me and with the Eagles and Osprey at this park it just might happen, Reality though its a tough lifetime shot.  If I never get it well so be it but putting yourself into position is the first key,  to get unique shots you have to put yourself into unique positions, you have to put the time in the effort, with GPS I guesstimate I'm paddling 4 miles each time I drop my kayak in these waters, def doing the effort, my shoulders and arms are feeling it the next day for sure.

This sequence of events this past Sat that lead to these pictures your about to see are moments where if a Meteor would happen to fall out of the sky and pluck me off whilst paddling back to the car I'd be totally content with that. I had such a personal moment of, Wow did I just witness that? Did I just expierence that with Fred?   While paddling back to the car keep saying cannot believe I was that close to those aerial battles. Yep I'm glad to have gotten some cracking pics but just to experience wildlife acting wild I felt like the luckiest human then and there. They put on a outstanding behavior show. Personally I can do many forms of photography covering many subjects I love to be around but I get more of a thrill out of wildlife and birding photography. And As Doug Gardner says its not always about the photograph its the outdoor experience.

So I'm gonna navigate you through these pics with some words of how it all unfolded 

These first two photo's are of Wilma the week before 7-8-17, the first day I had my kayak in there waters, Fred was off doing other stuff this day but Wilma never objected to me being there in fact I think she was enamored with me and my clicky device that was making noises as she flew over, she def was checking out the human in the red floaty thing.  she circled a good 3 times looking at me with each pass  but never squaked or swooped.  I know all about not disturbing the natural behavior of wildlife, spent alot of time letting them get use to me before I get enough pixels on them for shots  well as you'll see later Fred could care less I was there haha.  There are signs on the lake as you launch your boat talking of the 100 yard rule of staying away from nesting Osprey.  I did that on the nest for sure,  I'm not gonna be the human that spooked a bird that cannot fly off a nest thats for sure.  

Back to the story  Wilma checking me out,  (pic note just noticed the sensor dust spot around the wing DOH! I usually content aware those out before posting, sorry in advance if you see more, I rushed these pics for the blog)

OK this was Saturday 7-15-17  the day of all the action Fred bringing in the second fish of the day high noonish, this was after photographing the Eagles and I was shoreline here standing with other photographers, After lunch with a fellow photographer friend I got back in my kayak around 2:30pm this day

He flew to a tree, bite off the head a bit and this was him bringing it into the nest  

Bringing in that pike

Now I'm in my kayak , it was 3:30ish , very hot outside I was slowly floating along the shoreline in the shade staying cool looking to see if Fred was perched in a tree, the previous week I did'nt get the chance to photograph Fred at all from my boat besides a group shot at the nest so I was looking for him  hoping he would'nt fly off if I did see him.   then below this happen,  Fish flyin head still intact haha,  this was soo close, could'nt believe my luck and he landed in a tree to my right I had to twist my torso really far to get the next shots,  did'nt want to make any paddling movements in avoidance to spook him 

He looks back at the nest

The fish was still very alive and flapping, he's trying to settle it down without falling off 

After flying to another tree on the other side of the lake biting off the head then here he is bringing it into the nest 

Mom Feeding a youngin   

Dad after seeing mom had the feeding situation going ok on the nest immediately flew back to where I was,  He took a even closer branch to where I was.  It was funny as soon as he landed, looked at me and said man I'm so tired,  could'nt keep his eyes open, so I sat there and watched him nap,  as a photographer you know you've done a good job with trust and the subject takes a nap in front of you  

Human I can sleep and still keep a eye on you, I'm like Fred I have my anchor out and was'nt going anywhere. Nap away 

Then Fred notices a flash of Blue 

Motha!!!!  Great Blue Heron! incoming!

I told you suckers   this is a Great Blue Heron no fly zone!!

Game ON!

I looked over my right shoulder  heard a big yell from the GBH  see Fred swoop on him like really really close to me, So I missed the first dive in pictures, I could'nt get my boat turned around fast enough, when I did I caught these next pics as the fight moved on over the water

Fred wasted no time and flew right back over by me,  this time another branch, even closer to where I was.  I think Fred and I was bonding.  I felt it, I Felt we were a security team, I really did.

I started talking to him,  Introduced myself,  He said Steve could you look into someone making up some No Fly Zone during Osprey Nesting season signs and post them around the area?  Especially those G Frekin BH's they are always trying to fish near my family, I'm afraid ones gonna go after one of kids someday.   E V E R Y Frekin Day with them!!     I said Fred I'll see what I can do :)   I also told fred, hey fred if I'm around and one of your kids fall off the nest when there learning to fly in the next few weeks that I will paddle over, pick em up and throw em back in the nest.  Fred said thanks. I said no worries mate, I heard about your incident last year( look it up one of the kids did fall off this nest when trying to fly and got blown off and almost drowned until a birder saved the young female osprey with a kayak).

But really I'm so tired, cannot wait to fly south and relax a bit

Then this happen,  INTRUDER inboud!  I shall call her the Italian Fran cause of all her dark chest hair :)  

Mom was off soaring a bit, see's Fran and this is her flying back to the nest for protection of her kids 

Its Fran, I hate that women  

Fred see's and hears the Ruckus, turns on his branch and ready's for launch 

This is Fred, in the Air staring down his opponent 

Intruder Fran, note the chest hair.  pretty bird, might be a young femaile with those markings

He notices me and Says aaahhh Fred you hired a Human to your security detail I see.   Slick move my friend slick move 

Fred high, Fran Low

I was tracking fred  but Tony cross's in front,  these Air battle pics are heavily crop, sorry about the quality

Check out fred below,  they must be really close and ready to lock talons   

but never happen,  just a bluff of force 

I look down and don't see Wilma on the nest,  very rare for her to leave when a battle is going on above.  but she must have really thought Fran serious so she joins in the battle.  Fran is low and Fred and Wilma high 

This is Wilma flying over me

Yells at me. Your not doing enough Steve!  I can only do so much! just the one flyby and back to the nest .She got over it

Wilma back to the nest

Fred fly's to a different branch next to me,  everytime a different branch.  Says to me,  I hate that Women! frekin Fran!

Shakes his feathers here 

Starts biting this stick or beak cleaning

I really love this stick

Captain, I'm outta here I got more Osprey stuff to do. 

See ya next time Fred,   Your a good father buddie,  Your a good provider and protector for your family

Initial plan going into this paddle was I was gonna wait for the light to get really soft and capture a sunset with the landscape camera  but after all I just had witness'd  nothing could ever top the moments I had with Fred  this day is over and started the paddle back to my car.

On my way back in the distance I did see fred one last time, he was bringing in a stick to the nest,  A Osprey's work is never done, its amazing the amount of work they have to do to safely fledge there kids each year.  I'm sure Mom's job is super tough but Dad Osprey I have total respect, its been reported that Dad ospreys do %95 of the fishing during the nesting season.  Thats quite the commitment to plunge yourself straight down a 100mph into the water a few times a day.  Osprey are amazing birds of prey!

Thanks Fred for giving me a closeup view in a day of your life of you doing what you do (now if I can request a fishing catch right infront of my boat someday) I document the moment the best I can for ya :) 

If that happens I'll add the pics to this blog

UPDATE   Its 8-27-17 me typing this here  We'll the fish catch did'nt happen but I'll continue with the rest of my Story with this Osprey family, So when I last photographed all 4 of them in the nest,  the following weekend I went back and learned of losing one of there kids again this season,  the 2 kids were seen on the nest playing hopscoth flying over each other the next day one of the kids with a transmitter was found dead along the shoreline nothing but bones.  they retrieved the transmitter,  no one knows how she died, I think she failed on a flight, went into the water and tried to swim to shore and could'nt get out due to the highshoreline and something killed her.  :( just sad sad day amongst us photographers who were hoping for a successful fledging of the 3 birds this season.  So Bam Bam was left and I had 3 great weekends photographing her from my Kayak,  She was a blast to photograph, some of my best shots of the season is these coming up down below.  I'll give ya some more play by play as they unfold here.

Cheers all 

Steve

Personally I always wanted to Visit this Little Harbor town after seeing the Movie Safe Haven,  When Julianne Hough's Character got off the Bus , looked around and decided not to get back on, I thought the same thing, What a Charming little town to settle down and get away from things. I totally could see myself retiring here!

I spent 3 days and 2 nights in Southport Staying at the Riverside Motel, right down there on the water. Loved the restaurants and people of this town. made a couple new friends.

This was the end of my yearly 2 week Photography vacation, I've never been to South Carolina nor this part of North Carolina so decided it was time to explore the seascapes of this area.  the Vacation started out at the outer banks of Duck, NC  where my friends rent a house there each year at this time, I was also asked to photograph my Friends wedding on the beach as well,  you can check out those pictures as well as seascapes from Myrtle Beach and the Charleston area's in this public FB album 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10156041522408644.1073741873.621048643&type=1&l=129daa4b43

or my Flickr page I usually post some of my bests but my facebook album has all the pics so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35720279@N08/

PS If your a fan of Julianne Hough check out the concert section of my portfolio here, After Julianne left Dancing with the Stars as a pro dancer she was a country singer for awhile. Being I'm a Country Music photograher I photographed a few of her shows, check em out.

Enjoy the Photographs.

We'll see you again sometime soon Southport!

From The Movie the Actress who play Jo (Cobie Smulders) said this and it rang true to my heart

"Promise me something Katie, that you'll take alot of pictures, you'll only regret the ones that you did'nt take"

I've been asked a few times over the years why you take so many photo's, be it concerts, trips I take , or motorsports and my answer is along those lines, Plus I Love Love Love the process from planning the trip to sitting here on my pc creating something artisic from my Photo's,  It is without a doubt my true calling in life to do this, whether someday I get recognized professionally or not, does'nt matter, its my time, its my outlet, my Safe Haven

Jo also said "God will you look at that sunlight, Incandesent today, it would make a great photo"

you can click on any of these photo's and it will take you to a gallery and you can view them bigger

Yesterday I took the time to make some screencaps from the movie to go along with the photo's I photographed, In my life I never been to a movie set before (that I know of , probally drove right through some haha just never set out to check out a movie scene ) but yeah there were a few places that I knew from the movie that I wanted to see and photograph,  Alex's house, The American fish company/Ivans fish shack where Katie worked , fort fisher ferry and fort fisher state park where some of the scene's were filmed,   if you recognize something else in the movie well the rest of the pictures is just blind luck me capturing it.

The Movie Safe Haven is a Gem of a movie and the Ending gets me everytime, have tissues handy.  Julianne and Josh played these characters super super well. top notch acting from them!  give it a Rent!  5 stars in my book.

Alex's house, judging by how Prestine it looks in person now looks like the home owners let them weather it down a bit for the movie scenes.

Tree swing is no longer there :(

I took a picture of that sign on the yellow building in the background not knowing it was in the movie, such a neat looking sign.  

Hard to believe they Built Alex's general store only to burn it down for the movie, such a neat looking store but to this date there is nothing there in Southport, just built it there for the movie.

I rode this ferry from fisher island at sunset one night and when I left soutport I took it back in the morning, $5 cheap ride  takes about 25 minutes but saves you a hour + drive.

These next few pics would be the view from Alex's house, would love this view everyday!

After rewatching the movie when I got home I Did'nt know this at the time of the picture but right behind me is the pier that Julianne's Character slept at overnight(well the way they edited the movie seemed like it)  but yeah 

One of the last scene's where Jo and Katie/Erin walk to that tree swing was filmed here  to the right of this pic was the tree they hung the swing from,  did'nt know that until I rewatched the movie when home,  that is the visitors center for southport, you'll find alot of cool stuff in there as well as the Safe Haven Exhibit you'll see later down in pictures.  btw was taking a picture of capnsubi there on vaca :)

screencaps I made from the movie of the Letters then This is the Safe Haven movie Exhibit inside the Visitors center,  lots of neat momento's donated from the actors and production company.

Neat seeing the doors from Alex's store and the bike Katie rode.

Last morning here I did not want to leave it was incandesent :)  made a pretty picture.

Thats about it,  hope you enjoyed my trip, please like and share if you liked. Also send it along to someone that has'nt seen the movie,  I left out spoilers on purpose for that. or send it along if you liked my Photography.  Explore my Portfolio here, I can take pics of other cool stuff, so I'm told ;)

Cheers

Steve

I have some sad news to report. One week ago today I lost my Mom to Cancer at 4:16pm my Brothers and Dad watch her take her last breath on earth, I'll never ever forget that moment or the deep tragic sadness of pain we all shared.  Seems like Its been the longest week off I've ever had,  it will back to work tommorow and back to trying to be normal again.

Thursday we had her funeral and at that funeral we played this video I had created for her, I actually finished the video early and got to show it to her on mothers day(minus the dash photo at the end) 

We all leave earth someday from our physical body, each of us has there day but I've never had a person so close to me in my imediate family die, just Heartbreaking pain. Life will move on and the good times will outweigh the sadness we've had since her Cancer diagnosis in January. but damn its tough to shake the overall drain it has had on my mind.

Here's my Tribute, Love you Mom

I also started a fundraiser for my dad as he needs the help to pay for this funeral service.

If you have the means please consider giving, the goal amount I'm asking for is not even close to the amount of the funeral but anything will help, as I said in the post on Gofundme a good donation will go to Hospice care no matter what.

We've had tons and tons of support from friends and family near and far, total strangers and people that have never met my dad and the out pooring of love has been overwhelming to us in this difficult time.

Besides the words and Visits from you all I thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the flowers or food or donations sent our way this past week. Bless you all.

lots of love

Steve 

First off fair warning this could be a bit technical and boring but For those that are serious about having a good fixed lense Concert going camera without security telling you to put it down well this camera gets my endorsement.

I get asked alot what camera I used for a certain concert review they've seen from me,  The short answer usually always has been one of my DSLR's with a F2.8 zoom lense.   Back in my early days of concert going I had a pretty decent point and shoot  Canon S2is ( heck a couple of those not so awesome tack sharp pics made my portfolio here on my zenfolio, caught some cool moments with that camera )  Now at that point I did'nt know much about photography and that point and shoot did not have a F2.8 lense so I did not get the proper shutterspeeds to freeze all the onstage action,  lots of blurred hands and faces in those early days of concert Road trips with my friends but it was a ok starter camera back in the day.  btw a tech note I never used a flash then or never.  many many reasons thats a no no in concert photography.

So maybe 4 years ago my Canon S2 died and I never bought a replacement point and shoot, I thought I'd never need the need to use a point and shoot since I started using DSLR's with my first being the Canon 40D in 07.   I thought if I'm going to a concert I'm gonna sneak in my DSLR's from here on out, but that changed for this Concert as the last time I was at this Venue the huntington center for a show they told me to put down my 5DIII.  Being I had a close pit ticket I wanted to try to get good shots of Danielle again & Thomas and Brett I've never seen before so I wanted my first show with them to be memorable with hopefully good concert photography,  so I rented this camera to avoid the probabe hassle this night

here it is and where I rented it from

http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/sony/cyber-shot/sony-cyber-shot-rx10

I rented it for 3 days only for the reason of using it for this Concert you saw me post here on my blog a few days ago. I received it two days prior to the show, tested it out, took it work used it throughout the day, testing it alot at concert settings which is wide open f2.8 and ISO's of 800 or 1000,  in show those usually yield me shutterspeeds of 1/320 or 1/400 or higher  which gives me sharp concert photo's.   I ran the camera through its paces  got up early photographed the sunrise tried all the tricks and knowledge I know and the camera did pretty well, looked at the files on my computer later that night I was excited about the show after test day.

Leading into this I thought about renting a Canon point and shoot for this night as thats what all my Camera Gear is. I'm used to there menu's and such on there camera's  but then I thought you know what I'm gonna see what all this hype is about with Sony sensors and saw that this RX10 had a Carl Zeiss lense  which is a premium lense maker  and the lense is f2.8 through out its 28-200 zoom range.   I'd say for all you concert goers that like to sit close to the stage, I'd say 10 rows or closer on the floor that this zoom range of 28-200mm is good enough to get proper full frame photo's,  no not up the nose pictures of your favorite dream artist  but properly composed shots of the artists.

All these pictures from this show were shot in manual mode (which I always do for Concerts cause metering modes in TV or AV mode usually have a hard time keeping up with various brights and darkness's of stage lights  so I always choose to use Manual mode and control the 3 variables of F stop and shutterspeed and ISO.  Based on my previous awesomeness(modestly saying) with controlling concert light I'm usually spinning shutterspeed up or down based on stage lights to get the proper exposure.   but the F stop always stays at f2.8 and ISO like I said I usually leave between 800 and 1000.   I do check the histogram occasionally  throughout the night to see if its too dark or light  but most of the time I'm shooting from the hip and adjusting shutterspeeds to what I know from previous shows and stage light brightness.  

Using the camera this night was a little dissapointing and I felt like my timing was off  for one main reason ,  the auto focus in the viewfinder which I looked through %100 of the time this night I never used the LCD screen, but the focus system was a pretty large green box and not a single focus point like that of my DSLR's . you could not move that big focus block around with dials on the back of the camera. I had to lock focus on the face and recompose alot to get the compositions I wanted  and alot of the time the focus after I get it locked on the face then moved to recompose would fall off focus and lock onto something else like the mic stand or whatnot  soo my keeper rate was not great at all this night.  I Was a bit frustrated with it,   now granted I only have had this camera for 2 days prior and I thought I read the manual pretty good leading into the show at how to use the focus with it  but maybe I missed something. So maybe I need more practice or a little more understanding on the camera.  

I was also disappointed with looking at the files in the Noise performance at 800 and 1000   it took alot of fixing sometimes in post processing to get these files somewhat clean and color corrected,   The Carl Zeiss lense was most sharp at the middle to wide end of the zoom range,  and the zoomed in shots of the artists to my eyes and did not sharpen up nicely at all in post processing  so I think this camera/lense combo is a no buy for me atleast for concert use at the long zoom end.

I shot all these files in RAW and not Jpeg. %100 of the time I always use Raw  as I like to create a jpeg how I want it to look . & The processing of these colors left me a bit disappointed,  I was'nt happy with the colors of this Sensor and lense,  for a 20 megapixel camera and sensor I'd expect more from this sensor,   I've heard so much greatness about the DSLR Sony A7 and A7II  and its awesome dynamtic range and the reviews and photographers that use them do produce greatness with those camera's but it looks like this sensor on this point and shoot RX10 did'nt get its same technology in sensor tech as the A7's.   I just was'nt happy with processing these files  even the sharp wide files I still did'nt get enough out of the colors.  I have better files coming off my 2007 bought old 10 megapixel Canon 40D  than with what I saw with this RX10.    maybe its just this camera and lense and sensor is not sharp wide open at f2.8 and performs better in better light and higher apertures. Or maybe there's a huuuuge difference in DSLR tech senors and point and shoot sensors from Sony,  its just there is not much price difference in this RX10 and DSLR's out there. granted its a smaller camera and that appeals to many consumers with not carrying around a huge DSLR with a couple lenses. Sometimes you need to pack light and this camera fits that Market. 

Going back to the RAW files thing, concert goers if you buy this camera, it might behave different if you use Jpeg instead of raw,  let the camera create the Jpeg in camera,  it might be a awesome file,  check out my pics in my concert review,  many look pretty good right well? you can get those pics as well,  if you shoot raw you'll have to do alot of post processing to get cool shots like some of those.  but try out jpeg first at your first show and go from there.

This camera checks all the boxes for you concert goers,  decent zoom within 10 rows, just use those settings I use and happy composing

My  personal take is me being biased and only wanting to use my DSLR's for any picture I take is I would not buy this RX10 for 1 reason   this Camera is almost $900   for a high end point and shoot with a Carl Zeiss lense  I would expect a bit more.  And for $900 I could buy a new lense or something fancy for my DSLR's.

My review is for the RX10 here but there is a a Mark II version (Sony RX10II) of this camera out there and its $1300   and before this review I did'nt research that one to see if they improved on things with noise and focusing.  but its out there and improved probally, google it up,  it does shoot 4K video I read and it sounds impressive,   instead of using those camera phones in the verticle position and getting and posting crappy video's  how bout stepping up to a awesome Concert camera and get proper HD or 4K video's of your fav artists. sure its at a price of $1300, it is all in what you want. I don't shoot video's as my art is creating stills  but this new Mark II could be your ticket to awesome video's and probally better pics then what I did with the RX10 here.

here's a direct link to my Concert review on my blog here,  I'll save you a backbutton click

http://captainstevephotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2015/12/suits-and-boots-tour-toledo-danielle-bradbery-thomas-rhett-brett-eldredge

I am writing and posting this on Christmas Eve  So I say from Everyone here at CaptainSteve photography(me)

I am back with Live country music photo's!  Sorry its been so long since I've had a live concert review and photo's, Its been almost a year and a half since my last show. I miss this outlet of my photography passionately. it is afterall what got me started into photography and as most of you who have followed me since 2002 know its what I've always wanted to do as a full time dream job. Still to this date I have yet to make a dime off of concert photography, and never ever have had a press/media pass in that or any form of photography. My dream continues,,

A major reason for my lack on Concerts the last few years is this For me personally the last few years of my life I have been lost(still am) trying to find my way between job changes and a move out then back across the country and trying to find a way down the road towards the end.  

I gotta say for those fans who are just gonna skip the Concert review and scroll down and just look at photo's, I give you fair warning these are not my usual Quality of Sharpness or clarity of photo's as I had to rent a Sony RX10 point and shoot for this event because the last time I was at the Huntington center in Toledo, they asked me to put down my DSLR after only 2 songs. Granted its usually venues policy and I usually do have to sneak in my DSLR's to all Big Arena events but its just not worth the hassle So I rented this camera,  I am at a point where sure I love Country music and love to be there taking in the Awesome sounds and songs of my favorite artists  but In the back of my mind I think I have almost 20 grand in professional Camera equipment that I have saved up bought and paid for and I've spent thousands and thousands of hours of teaching myself and learning how to take clean photo's  that it is really hard for me to not take photo's of any big event that I go to. I just want to create pretty pictures. In any photo you've seen on my portfolio here, I love the whole process from composing, Click then trying to create a compelling image out of a raw file. I find it personally calming & rewarding.

So yep I rented for 3 days This Sony high end point and shoot fixed zoom lense for this concert.  Because most of my concert going friends have moved on I went to this show alone(which sucked big time not sharing it with someone)  soo I bought a pit ticket for this show and I'd be darned if I didn't try to get good pics of these artists being this close.  These photo's are pretty good(I did put a couple of them in my portfolio as I thought they were worthy) but yeah proud of the compositions that I posted here. The camera does has its short comings in a few area's with getting the quality files like that from my 5DIII and 1DX or for that matter any DSLR I own.

I'll have a full review of this camera pro's and con's up in a separate blog post here shortly cause I will say that this camera is a good buy for any of you concert goers out there. I get asked over the years by die hard concert friends of mine which point and shoot camera is good for concerts?  well now since I've rented a good one. I have a hands on suggestion. Stay tuned for that review :)

Show Review! Suits and Boots, I'll admit the main act I was going to see was Danielle Bradbery as this was the 4th time I've seen this Legendary singer in the making. She sold me as a fan long ago when week after week on the Voice she belted out perfect vocals of some of my favorite country songs and artists growing up. The coaches on the show say over and over song selection is a big part of the show, well Danielle and Blake you two nailed it that season for this viewer. I was hooked and voted for ya through the season.

For Brett and Thomas headlining well for me this show was a discovery of seeing what they are all about.   I've loved all the singles that they have released out to country radio over the years but really did not know there album tracks from the rest of the albums, Buying the Acoustic package pit ticket for the Suits and Boots tour you get a private two song performance from them before the show and you also get to digitally download there latest albums Illinois by Brett and Tangled Up by Thomas.  Yep I downloaded them but really did'nt run through them enough leading into the show night to learn the songs  but after seeing these guys kickazz onstage live and hearing the songs live  well I'm sold and looking forward to diving into the albums!  

OK lets back up and talk a bit about the artists, DB first. well first off before the show I met her for the first time with a meet and greet win through her FC.   I gave her a 8x10 print of a photo I took from the Elkhart IN show, The photo was when Zach and Colton (Swon Brothers) came onstage to surprise her, this one :)

they opened for her for a few shows this summer of 2014.  Meeting Danielle was awesome she's that same fun girl I remember from the Voice and was very appreciative of my photo gift I gave. For me I've been in a few Meet and greet lines over the years of concert going and I always feel a bit rushed sometimes, there's always people behind ya, and even though I've never been pushed through a line by the security or whatnot I still always feel nervous and rushed meeting a country artist for the first time :) So if you remember me DB sorry if I looked nervous, I was a tad :)   but yeah most of us of course we all don't get the chance to say all the cool things you want to say to a singing idol of yours.

I also did'nt want to ask her for my Tour photography dream job and shoot her my ideals about that :) I  did'nt want to seem like a "that stranger guy/salesmen" on my first meet and greet with her. I did throw in a couple of my Cards with the 8x10 so hopefully those were'nt tossed out and are pinned on DB's bullitin board with a sticky note written with Call the Capn for the next tour ;)  haha  I will say to Danielle and powers that be in your team.  just give me one interview to toss around my ideas of adding to your career with my (modestly saying) greatest of all TIME concert photography :), just give me one show to implement those ideas. ya or nay we go from there afterwards.  I read this awhile back, "Doubt kills more Dreams"  & those wise words could go to anything in life.  So I have to ask. 

Lets talk about her short 25 mins or so set of songs,  Loving the new songs Danielle and I'm not the only one in the world raving about these new songs you are singing in show the last few months leading up to your new album,  there were many songs on your debut album which should have been released and I thought would have rocked country radio to #1  but I understand the music industry a bit and that artists that release a debut album it rarely gets more than a couple songs released as singles  but still I gotta commend the debut album its so addicting to listen to (I've said that a couple times in other DB reviews I believe  :) )  .  but dang these new songs are all kickazz great as well!! Room for Two and Sway are just Absolute gem's of songs, if they don't get released as singles with video's to boost  well that would be shame and a loss to the overall wellfare of T H E  W O R L D!!!.   I read a review of this tour leading into my show someone said where all of your songs in your set sounding different and thats why the set ruled. After hearing and seeing this Suits and Boots set I'd have to  agree!

Lets think about this for a second, to the average Joe or Jane out there you ever try to learn and sing a song? ok without the words in front of you? its super hard I've never tried it, to dang hard.  You realize how many songs Danielle has learned and sung in her short 3 year pro career? give her a search on youtube if your just discovering her singing..  all the cover songs she has covered in show since the voice all the new songs she has written or cowritten,  you know how hard that is to do? to learn lyrics and sing that song. And Sung to perfection. I'm just amazed at how talented She is at her young age of 19.  & that goes with any singer songwriter out there including Brett and Thomas here and there catalogs of songs. Its super hard to do, to sing a bunch of songs onstage each night.. 

Switching lanes, Danielle I commend you on all your positive posts of wisdom you pass along to your fans and followers. its refreshing to see these posts. Many singing Artists do post words of wisdom and encouragement but many don't. Alot of what how people turn out comes from your upbringing and beliefs. Your parents did a great job DB. My take is you are very well grounded on where you are and where you are going. Keep it up and keep inspiring.

Who's to say But I believe DB that you have enough fans and songs to do a huge Arena tour already! So Big Machine who's got the money to make this happen? come on!! who's with me?  :)   haha I had to ask cause say it with me, Doubt kills more ,,,, .  I believe that Huge Arena tour idea to be a exact fact though :) just Keep Ruling Danielle! and Release that next album already! from what we've heard already it probally should win all the awards at the ACM's and CMA's and Grammys! probally :)  

Ok Thomas Rhett next up, Thomas you rocked!!  The big thing I took from your performance was Energy and absolutely loved your dance moves around the stage, I gotta say I've seen alot of Male Country singers and have never seen anyone dance like that.  That alone if I were the true longtime TR fan would keep me buying tickets to your shows. Great great fun songs and great interaction with the fans, that really goes along way to keeping fans coming back to your shows.  Choosing fun or meaningful songs with stage presence You have that Thomas!! I would love to work for you as well as I totally believe what you are doing and would love to help further it along with my take on concert photography. Keep the busses rolling Thomas.

Brett Eldredge closing out the night, He reminded me of Thomas alot with tons of energy working the songs and stage to the max. I wished I would have learned the songs a bit more from Thomas and Brett as looking around me everyone was singing along and I only knew a bit of the chorus from the released singles, like I said it was a discovery mission for me with Thomas and Brett  but I did have fun! I was  highly entertained buy both of them. And now I know :) be prepared capn!!  Brett I'll say the same thing I would love to be your tour photog someday! would be a blast!

Merry Christmas my friends

Have a happy and blessed new year

Onto the Pics, I've narrowed it down to 196 here, The pics are ok and got some neat looks from the 3 but my timing was off and I believe I missed some cool moments  such as when at the end of Thomas and Danielle's duet they hugged and I totally forgot about trying to get that pic, darn.  but yeah this rented Camera I was strugling with, the focus system was a large focus box in the vuewfinder, I'd lock focus and recompose and alot of the time the locked focus would move off when I recomposed.  So I was struglling with that the whole night, not being able to compose shots like I wanted to and ended up having to crop to much in post processing  thus losing detail.  I def missed my ability to move around focusing points like that on my DSLR's,  more on this Sony RX10 camera in my review of it as i know a few of you are waiting for that. 

OK so you can scroll down per usual or click through them in fullscreen on flickr just click on the picture below

A little break from my normal Concert and Wildlife reviews here on the blogs, I just had to write a tribute to a racer I've followed and rooted for since his first win in 94. Not a fare weathered 24 fan here I've been in it fulltime since his Cup career started.

I guess I should tell you a little about my history with NASCAR, growing up and living near Michigan International speedway  my Dad would take my brother and I to the NASCAR races up there when we were young, we'd always do the camping in the infield craziness, such a thrill to witness and feel the speed of these cars at such a young age. over the years we'd go up to them  but it was'nt until the 92 NASCAR season that I fell in love with the sport and was hooked and watched intently every weekend since.   here's a exerpt from wikipedia about that 92 season ending race that some of you long time Cup fans might remember.

"The 1992 Hooters 500 was the final race of the 1992 NASCAR season. It was held on November 15, 1992, at Atlanta Motor Speedway and was televised live on ESPN. The race is widely considered one of the greatest NASCAR races of all time,[2][3] with three noteworthy stories dominating the race: the debut of Jeff Gordon in the Winston Cup Series, the final race of seven time champion Richard Petty's thirty-five-year career, and the battle for the series points championship with six drivers mathematically eligible to win the title.
The race was won by Bill Elliott in the #11 Budweiser Ford for Junior Johnson and Associates. By virtue of his second-place finish and leading the most laps, Alan Kulwicki won the series championship for his own #7 Hooters Ford team.

Me Watching Alan Kulwicki win was extremely emotional, He drove for his own team which made it more special. But tragicly he died the next year in a airplane crash as did Davey Allison in a separate helicopter crash that sadden the NASCAR community.  Two young Stars taken in the same year. there was soo much going on in the sport that year and years that followed. I loved the sport. 
 

I remember not having a favorite until Jeff Gordon won his first race in 94 at Charlotte and saw his emotions for winning. just a great sports moment.  Growing up we all go through faze's of hobbies and sports and whats important to you at certain times in life well watching NASCAR on sundays was my fav for many years.   its faded over the years but I still try to catch every NASCAR race, it does'nt have the passion I once had  but I still like it,  I can honestly say I remember only missing 1 of Jeff Gordons now 93 wins.  (I believe I was out of town) but I was ticked for me not being there counting down the laps.   Some might not know the passion of Race fans for there particular driver.  A true race fan at any NASCAR race will always have one eye on where there driver is.  lap and lap and lap you always know where your driver is, watching his(or her) lines watching his moves.   I know the races I've been to its like that with me and rooting for the 24.  And if the 24 is in or near the lead and I'm watching at home  I'm off my seat as the laps wind down rooting for the 24  to just hold on! thrilling when he wins and devasted when some loser takes him out. grrrrrr

Alot of NASCAR fans have left the sport for what ever reason its always seen in looking in the stands at the televised races the last several years. many left after Dale Earnhardt Sr. Died,  and many will leave after Jeff's last season the only reason why attendence is up at this years race is all those 24 fans that have watched him over the years are back in the stands seeing him one last time. sadly I predict when he's gone attendence will take a huge hit as well,  there are many that think like I do and say to themselves  now what to do on sunday afternoons :)

there's some good people in the sport, It. just. won't. be. the. same. for me.

Many think and I tend to agree NASCAR is in some trouble with this Chase format (and not crowning a Season long championship) and for me some of the drivers personalities really don't hit home for the die hard fans like myself that have been through the sport back in its hayday.   I probally won't watch as many races in the future  In fact know I won't. I gotta have someone to pull for but everytime I try to find the passion or liking to a driver they just dissapoint me.  I just don't see it with some of drivers.   I'll probally just watch the tracks I like to watch.  there really will be a huge void in this sport for me when Jeff's laps wind down this weekend.  

Man, think about it 23 years driving a race car at break neck speeds, that is quite something and he never missed a race, never got injured enough to miss a race, A true ironman with the consecutive race streak record!  23 years folks. you gotta give him props, in fact Every single NASCAR driver in that garage area now and years to come owe Jeff Gordon a thanks for bringing this sport of there's to the mainstream success it had become.
 

I never ever have met Jeff let alone take a picture of him(well not unless its halfway up the grandstands and took a picture of his car). Heck The last NASCAR race I attended in person was the 2000 Talledega Oct Race where Dale Sr. Won.  

Jeff if by some miracle you read this I always wanted to shake your hand and say thank you for being my Driver.

Who knows someday I can, he's still gonna be around with the TV commentating deal for Fox and of course being with Hendericks motorsports he'll still be at the tracks. He's just one of those Sports Hero's in my life I've dreamed about having the honor just to meet him.  

There are so many DIE hard JG fans out there, I'm just one. I did'nt collect much over the years but I did buy a few things over the years and there were many Christmas's where the 24 colors were under the tree for me's. thanks mom and dad. and  to my friend Kristy I still use to this day that  #24 Blanket you and Ali put together for me :)

Picture time cause well thats what I do ;)  I Dug some of these momento's of mine out for championship week and thought I'd show ya's

I thank you Jeff Gordon for being my racing Hero, you inspire me and many with what you do on and off the Track. Enjoy your retirement life with Ingrid, Ella and Leo and away from being behind the wheel of the 24.

boy this Sunday is gonna be emotional. probally tears and hopefully cheers for ending your Career on Top again as a Champ!

Cheers Jeff! the Drive for 5 is still alive :)

Steve

Like I've done in my past trips out west I created a video tribute to my trip. The song inspirations I get most of the time listening to music on the road on these trips,  songs or melodies or lyrics hit me at a particular moment and I start envisioning how the video is gonna look.  motivation for this video is from Tim McGraws latest album and the sweet tempo'd songs on this album.  As some of you know I'm a big fan of Tim's music over the years to my ears he releases perfect song after perfect song.  

This Photography trip was Grand spectacular looking as per usual when I go to these magestic national parks but something has been missing for a long time and thats a shotgun rider. I've listen to the lyrics of that last song and thats what I'm missing in my life, it what most people want or hope to have, you want someone to share a moment with to be in that moment with.  some people never find it and some do. who knows if it will ever happen with me, only god knows. For many reasons I was just lonely on this trip trying to escape the fact that I was unemployed at the time leaving a dream behind of living in Colorado.

I Still had fun and met new photography friends and people along the way. but something was missing sitting on a rock waiting for a sunrise or sunset to unfold there was plenty of room to my left or right to share that with.

So I'm back in Adrian, working again in Toledo, waiting for my next move. All I know is I want to live where I can take photograph's of what I love to do. Its not here. since I've been back I have not taken one wildlife or landscape photo and I miss it terribly. 

Enjoy the trip though.

In the 5500 miles I traveled on this trip All those that I encountered along the way, cheers

this was my first time processing a Video in the new Lightroom 6 and Wow  this video is the highest quality video I've ever produced but you gotta Click fullscreen and Make sure you click 1080p HD as thats how I exported it and it looks stunning in that playback mode.

roll won't you come roll with me

OK on to the happenings of this hike,   This is part of the Jenny lake trail on the west side of the lake, I knew where there was a Osprey nest from the previous time I was at Grand Teton National park, so I decided to go back there and see if I could get some cool Osprey action shots.   not to much luck on getting those shots, one of the Ospreys flew off the nest before I could get decent pixels on the bird you can see those shots on my public facebook page, give it a look if you got the time

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154299477988644.1073741855.621048643&type=1&l=fc466d8dcc

But what made my day was this encounter with a Male Red Fox before I got to the nest.  

As I walked around the bend I see this walking right me,

I thought should I move off the trail or will he move?

he kept looking right then left at a brisk trot it did'nt even look like he noticed me, he kept looking left then right, I thought he was gonna run right into me,  then he finally notices me or maybe he saw me the whole time  but he was on a hunting mission it turns out and did'nt even bother a care that I was there.    he looked at me a split second and looks like he said  and I had in my head a brittish voice,   "oh excuse me mate I'll move off the trail"  reroutes off the trail just 5 feet( it felt so close I could have reached down and petted him) and he noticed something move off the trail,   you'll see those pics here in a bit,   he keeps really still moves in slowly  and looks over to me as to say sssshhhhh   then looks back towards the movement of the possible meal,   ( I later see that meal was a marmot two of them were under the logs)  but then says maybe next time  then gets right back on the trail behind me, off on his rounds he goes.  I see two other hikers looking on at the fox as well and they said they were excited for me as I was just getting those shots  they saw the whole encounter I had with the Fox.  cool cool just one of those special life moments you don't get every day.  such a wonderful wildlife encounter my day was made!

Then on my walk back to the trailhead I see the same fox using the same path again, I thought we are gonna cross paths again, yep he walks right around me giving me the right away and getting back on the trail doing his rounds he goes.  It was just awesome how friendly he was, I've never had a encounter ever with a fox like that. 100 percent before that they were always specs in my viewfinder on my camera. I thought are they always cool as a fox like this one was?  don't know  but first impressions are yes fox's equal pretty cool tame animals :)    they are gorgeous to look at thats for sure.  If I lived in the Grand Teton area I'd be all over trying to find there den and getting those early morning behavior shots.   Man this guy looks like some stuff animal you'd see in a gift shop does'nt he I just wanted to pick him up and pet him haha.

And thats it from this Blog, sorry I have'nt wrote to much from this trip, been busy trying to find a job so I can save up money for my next Wild Photo Adventure.

There's alot of pictures here yeah I lit him up with the 1DX haha but I wanted to show here a sense of my moment and occasion with the fox both encounters are here as you scroll down

& here's Mr.Fox

I have this funny story and amazing moment from my recent 2 week vacation visiting Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier and Rocky Mountain National parks. So this post and encounter had to have its 2 cents on my blog here. A little back story leading up to this sequence of pics,  I woke up this morning in the Grand tetons with hanging out and lining up a sunrise at the Mormon barns,  as most of the time with fellow photographers its easy to friend and talk about locations and expierences and tips while waiting for the hopefully perfect moment to unfold in front of us. We did that. and I made some new friends so after shooting that location for the actual sunrise most photogs leave quickly to try to get in 1 or 2 more locations before the soft light becomes harsh and flat on the subjects, so off I go, Lets try schwabacher's landing and to my delight a perfect still reflection of water causing some wicked cool pictures you'll see from me on FB or flickr soon.  

As soon as I got there I recognized a guy from the barns I was just talking with and I  apologize for not remembering his name and kicking my self for not exchanging cards with him afterwards   cause we were just walking down the trail laughing and taking pics all the way down the trail of the tetons.  so we get towards the end of the good shot along the trail and I say see those ducks over there? I wanna go sneak up on them and get them as I never have gotten great shots of this breed before.  he says in his funny NY Accent hold the frek on you'll mess up my reflection shot when they take off.  so I wait for him get a couple more shots of him focusing landscape with the ducks in the foreground.   

OK he says now go get your duck shots. it was just funny how he says it.  I  get my settings rightly dialed in before I even start my walk as I know at any time most ducks just bolt on the tick of the clock so I always get prepared for the fly away shots before I start my walks towards waters edge.  to my surprise they stay when I get close enough to get full frame them basically. So I'm thinking in my head sweet! I finally got some great pictures of this breed (which I did not know the id at the time, I'm terrible with bird id's most of the time)   So the male Barrows Goldeneye you see speaks out in one of the pics and paddles away from me and usually the female follows  BUT  not this time,  the female probally says to the male you know what I'm gonna go give this photographer a show  she floats towards me, gets parallel to me  looks at me does a couple show of paddle circles   keeps looking at me to say did you angles in this pretty light? I'm pretty? haha   does at least 3 full 360 degree paddle circles   stretches her wings  shakes her head like a model dipping her hair in the water, looks a me again as if to say you ready? you ready? I'm getting ready to show you my awesome take off. Then Bam launches in those dramatic skips of the feet then flight take off.

Now most of you know I purchased the Canon 1DX a week before this trip and I got a expierence for ya,  after using it for 2 weeks of using it I'm equating the shutter on the 1DX as to like pulling the trigger on a machine gun. haha you ever see those video's of people using machine guns and they get knocked back in the stance when they hold the trigger down for a blast of rounds, and its a bit out of control well this new camera is a beast and if you are not firmly planted those 12 frames a second will throw you back,  for this take off and shots of this female duck I was balancing on the balls of my feet crouched down, not really the ideal stablization for using this camera  and when she took off I literally fell back a little  haha  and to my surprise looking at the review of pics walking back to my friend I say that all were locked on focus.  The AI servo on this camera and tracking is amazing!   So I get back to my new friend and he says (by the way he was watching the whole me sneaking up on them it was funny watching him looking my way smiling while I sneaked up)    but yeah he says  you get the pics? I laughed and said look at this.   we both agreed  now this is why we do this, this is why we get up at stupid hours to photograph   its moments like these that are priceless to our minds and why me personally I strive to get out and do it over and over again.

Since this is the first time I'm talking about this trip online, a personal reach out, to the pretty Gal on a two month leave from work to travel,  I met and talked with at the Great horns Owl nest and helped you with your camera settings a bit, I gave you my card.  give me a call or email. hopefully you read this :)

OOKKK here's the Female Goldeneye in all her prettiness, and if you click on any of these photo's it will take you to my photobucket where you can view them fullsize if you wish

look for more awesomeness on my public facebook album I'm about to post here in a bit.

Cheers Steve

Hello Danielle Bradbery Fans,

For me This Concert was inspired by this photo riiight here & I will explain

So the day Danielle's Album came I picked it up, now when new albums of my favorite artists come out I try to not listen to any previews or songs that might leak out into the internet, I want to be surprised and enjoy the entire new music to its fullest on my first time through listening.  First song on the DB's debut album is Young in America and  with that awesome song 2:30 into the song, here ya go  crank it up specially at 2:30.  That Photo above is that exact moment of the song, I told myself in the car that day that someday I will capture that moment with my Camera. to me its just a statement moment of a rising career to this talented singer.

At 2:30 she sings at the end of a super long note emphatically  YEAH!  I thoughtYep Danielle's gotta be loving life right now, like much of america who voted and followed her journey on the voice I was waiting for this album!! hit after hit from a perfect playlist from some of my fav country artists on the show. and hearing this album just put a Statement of YEAH on her career rise to the top.

I've told this next story before somewhere on the internet with my discovery of country music after hearing Sara Evans in 2001.   late one night I caught the last half of GAC's Born To Fly Album showcase show, this was my first exposure to Sara Evan's music I could not believe the notes and beauty of her voice, I just could not believe someone could reach that high and sound so beautiful singing a song,  I looked at the TV guide hoping for a full re airing of the show, found it and recorded it on VHS some might remember those ;)  but yes Danielle had that same discovery with me,  with being blown away by awesome singing from a god given voice.  There are others like Martina McBride and Alison Krauss that do the same thing for me.  & just not the ladies Same with some male country singers like Kenny and Tim and Keith. ya Gotta love a Beautiful Voice.  

As for the pictures your in for a treat (there's 288 here), some that follow my photography know this spring I got my first full frame sensor Camera (5DIII) and been loving it for landscape and wildlife photography, BUT I've been looking forward to finally using it at a Concert and this is its debut in the hand of me. I used my 70-200 f2.8 lense on the show,  I've bought that lense new in 2008 and its pretty sharp but since 2008 then they've come out with a Mark II versions of it and its super duper sharp and I'm thinking of getting that lense next sooo if by chance I happen to photograph another concert someday well I'll have that sharper lense for more awesomeness.  Sadly I have no other Concerts of anyone this calender year.  working on other things in life.   I will say (hint hint)  Danielle or Blake I so tagging you in a tweet for this review haha.  if you do need the Greatest of alllllllllllllllll time in concert photography well That would me(some say) and I'm in need of a new job pronto.  I'll work for peanuts as long as I'm creating Concert images with a pass around my neck as all those pics in my portfolio on my site here have always been from spectator seats.  yet to make a dime on a concert photo.  

I gotta thank my longtime country Concert friend Bob for going to this show with me. we've seen some great stuff over the years huh Bob!  

Sorry about the tight crops on these, normally in the last few years of growing as a photographer I like to compose more negative space and having the Subject really anchor the scene, or compose head to toe with Country artists onstage. since we were 7 rows back and Danielle is already not the tallest singer haha your getting tighter crops. plus before Danielle came out, Fair workers brought out this white staircase and put it center stage. soo that and I told bob at the time is gonna mess with my framing of shots.  So I adjust!

I Apologize to the Swon Brothers fans out there, I totally wanted to photograph your set but a security guard threw his weight around as Bob and I were walking in when he saw my camera and warned me DSLR's were not allowed.  soo I keep it in the bag for your Set and when DB came out atleast I'd have some of those to edit before someone said something.  thankfully nobody ever did and I saw tons of other DSLR's in the crowd.  Fairs are usually like that easy on Camera policies, love that part about fair Concerts.

Back to the Swon Brothers   they effing rule! loved them in the Top 3 of the voice with DB and loved there professional Swoncert now!  highly recommend them if they are touring in your area. Zach and Colton  you guys rule!  Twice this week my alarm woke me up with my local radio station K100 playing Later on!  so your Current hit song is on the move in Toledo! would love to work for you guys as well if you ever need a photog for a tour.

Lets talk about Danielle's show this day, been looking forward to seeing a headlining full setlist show.  the night before she sung in Kentucky and this night after what I did'nt count the songs  but 12-16 songs she was pitch perfect on all her songs, I noted that as the show went along she sounded so good! Such a professional she never seems to run out of breath while singing,  anyone ever try to sing 12 songs in a row?  let alone like most of us 1 song and not run out of breath haha! its hard and DB does it with such ease.  I noticed that on the Voice and so did the judges they were bragging on her for a reason and why America choose her to win.  Professional Talented singer right here folks.  Her confidence with working the crowd and getting a routine is growing  big time. Dancing around & acting out songs. DB  keep smiling and waving and reaching out, if the crowd feels a connection with you and your songs the more rewarding it will be for you.  Along that same note DB  hope you see a connection with my photo's here. with a artist I try to only highlight a connection with a photo, its gotta put the viewer looking in. in the show.  For the most part when I'm shooting I think about which images will stand the test of time, and hope-fully, if the world is still around hundreds of years from now, someone can look back and get a feel for what that singer was all about.

 I thank you for smiling at my camera a few times during the night, yeah I was kind've easy to see hard to miss a tall goofy looking guy with a fancy camera pointing your way huh,  haha you did wave at the end at me well it could have been a teen behind me but I took it as a thank you wave to me, I did try my best to learn all your songs and sing along :)    The Album rocks!  So release all the songs with vids to boot!!  riiiiight your record label says to that :) 

If you Click on this picture below it will take you through the HQ flickr pics And for some strange reason you have to click your left arrow key to scroll through the show but this it the first shot of the show for me :)

& Because Zenfolio's blog limits the amount of pics I can embed in a blog I will post all the pics via my photobucket account on my Original website www.captainstevephotography.com  soo if you want to see the pics there you can, but I recommend the flickr link in fullscreen mode for bestest quality.

here's a lil 5 shot AI servo action of a power note sung by T H E Voice!

I'll Leave this for last , just because it cracks me me, Earth to Danielle, Earth to Danielle, 10 minutes she stood there looking like this! Zooned out! or was it Zooned in!! Hope ya enjoyed. YEAH!!

Cheers alls,,

Steve

I first meet Jock in 2009 when our family flew over to England for my brothers wedding to Carly,  Carly raised these dogs from there beginings. I've never been around Scottish Terrier dogs before and thought wow these are great well behaved dogs Jock and Ralf are. alot of that has to due with there upbringing   Carly is a stern and loving mom and I was Struck on softly She could say something to Jock and ralf and they would obey her voice.   Jock just had Character  it was written all over his face. he was just the coolest Dog.  Everyone loved Jock.    Forever the Squirrel stay out of my yard guardian  always on attention making sure the squirrel's stayed in there tree's and not in his backyard.  relentless shifts of safety in the Loop household him and Ralf held.   I've only meet Jock a few times and could'nt control my tears today can't even imagine what Carly and Shawn had gone through holding him in there arms for the last moments of his life.  Prayers are with you all.   and Ralf wow I'm sure half of him is missing,  they were a team, they did EVERY thing together.

We all go through life with loss, When losing a pet its stings, cause unconditional love pets give you 

In pictures a tribute to a friend.

My first photo of Jock in 09

Dressed up for the wedding 

post wedding hugs and photo's

Stare down with Shawn :)

Shawn was spinning around and around with Jock here   just love the smiles on everyone here,  one of my all time fav pictures I've ever taken

Last photo I took of Jocka walking off into the sunset with his family

Jock we'll see you on the other side of the Bridge someday. Singing Bob Seger loud. RIP buddy :(

The Youngstown Show pics (a bit of review of the shows in part 1 on my blog)  

ok a bit on this show DB and HH and yes the song at the end is what us fans of the Voice wanted to see once we heard these two were gonna tour together. They reprised that awesome hit of Hunters I want Crazy they did on the Voice. During the Toledo show they did'nt do it :( but Hunter and Danielle did Danielle's Song Endless summer back at the Satelite Stage. now that was a nice surprise!! heck yeah love that song! ). Speaking of Hunter and Danielle, Danielle you should totally have him in on one of your music video's, As I predict It would stay for weeks and weeks on the top of CMT and GAC's top video countdowns!! you two are Supa Stars :)

Again these are shot with a landscape lense soo the close crops pics are not something too special cause I could'nt get the pixels fully on the Artists,  None the less pretty proud of some of these :)

For viewing the pics per usual you can scroll down click on any of the pics to see the bigger version or click on my flickr link for the larger pics and you can view a slideshow of this set too.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35720279@N08/sets/72157643532578774/

DB and Hunter Here's your day

Thanks alls for looking.

Danielle and Hunter Have a Rocking Endless Summer on this tour!

Cheers Steve :)

Cheers and Make sure you check out the Youngstown review for some cool Pics of Hunter and more Danielle.

 Steve :)

this is my going public blog post here on my new website and portfolio,  For the last 3 years you that have been following my photography are familiar with my Carbonmade porfolio website,  I pay $144 a year for that website just to be seen and you know how much money I've made off my photography?   zero bucks. nothing. Time to make a change for me, quit wasting my money If I'm gonna spend money for this Zenfolio package well Might as well try to recoup the cost through some sales and MOST important finally giving in to the pleas I get all the time of Steve when are you gonna start selling your Work? requests.  Just now I found the right format to showcase my photo's.   I've had this Zenfolio website for a month now and finally have it ready for a public debut.

Most of you know I got my start and I'm best known for my concert photography.  All of it free for the fans and artists to enjoy if they happen to see my reviews.  I've always in my reviews Plea and sheepishly request for a job being there tour photographer  so far no one has (taking a line from NBC's the voice) turned there chair for me.  I still think I could take whoever hires me take there websites and personal photo's to another level of connection and Awesome.  So if any country music superstars read this paragraph and like my Work here well I am available for hire.

Unfortunately for the fans of my concert photography I cannot sell my digital images here until I get approval from those artists. I hope someday to have a approval  as I think I have a product that fans would love to have on a wall for a momento . I am opening up my Landscape and Birds&Wildlife sections of the portfolio to be purchased If so desired. I take  great pride and satisfaction in creating those photo's its truely become my passion and its the best Me time I could have ever hoped for in this lifetime.

Read the Before you buy section of my website for my tips and suggestions and check out that grand opening coupon I made available.

I will continue to learn and better my craft and make prettier and sharper pictures thank you to all that have supported me over the years. If you've ever liked or profited off a photo I've taken of ya well please give my website here a share in whatever media sites or emails you frequent. I appreciate in advance this next wave of support on this new adventure.

All the best

Steve :)

gosh still learning to watch my backgrounds haha

Keith Should have called it the Man, Ain't this some sssshhhhh!! tour :) haha

So These are my middle 2 shows of my 6 Fuse shows for this tour, flew into Omaha where I meet up with some of my best friends for the two show Run, Our seats were'nt that special close like we are used too but still Had a BLAST of a time! in fact the Kansas City show is right up there with probally the Best Technical performance I've seen from Keith and we friends agreed and spoke of it afterwards and others that have seen my preview pics on Facebook and who were at the show chimed in and said it was there best also. One friend who has Seen Keith 90 times agreed that this was his Best performance, Soo Keith Urban if you read this well you were ON this night, we frekin loved it. guitar playing was over the top with awesome just very clean. I also noticed his voice being fresh and top notch and was going for all the runs all the way to the last song. probally goes to all the rest he had leading into the show but damn Keith was on fire this night. Oh I've had better KU shows with being up front or close to front many times but like I said before from a performance standpoint this was the Best I've seen. Urban rules and if you have'nt seen him before you truely are missing out. We sat next to many first time KU goers these two shows and it was fun watching them afterwards and during the shows, totally hooked new fans! Frekin Urban man! Sorry to my fans of my Concert photography but being this far back I really can't sneak in the proper Lense to get close compositions on the artists soo there won't be much as far as photo's posted on my websites from me, there's only soo much I can do with a wide angle lense from far back in the seats to satisfy my creativeness with concert photo's.

I hope to be closer on my last two shows and Get some great looks on these masterful String players I still would love a shot to do this fulltime or part time soo any artists looking in that want to give me a job well click here for my best of's with contact info

http://captainstevephoto.carbonmade.com/

Here's the Flickr HQ's click picture and click through them in fullscreen, only 132 pics just a fraction of what you usually see from me :)

& of course my Smaller resolution scroll down show

Cheers Steve