Some highlights from my recent trip to Florida...


We spent a morning on an airboat on the St. Johns River hobnobbing with the gators...

The boat
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2570023121/" title="Airboat by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2570023121_d2987696b8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Airboat" /></a>

The river
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2570582525/" title="St. Johns River by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2570582525_a90dabdd37_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="St. Johns River" /></a>

The gators
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2570577757/" title="Little Gator by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2570577757_29c04c123f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="682" alt="Little Gator" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2571277236/" title="Yikes! by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2571277236_99cbc9544c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Yikes!" /></a>

Bonus sighting
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2570933810/" title="Bald Eagle by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2570933810_244edcc944.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Bald Eagle" /></a>

We also spent some time wandering the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. We didn't get there early enough to catch the good light, and my longest lens is a 70-200, but I caught a few birds anyway.

Black-necked Stilt
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2569976223/" title="Black-necked Stilt by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2569976223_3bf2235cb4.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Black-necked Stilt" /></a>

Great White Heron
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2549010948/" title="Heron Reflection by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2549010948_65ba8ab0cd_b.jpg" width="683" height="1024" alt="Heron Reflection" /></a>

Great Blue Heron
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2549009986/" title="Heron by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2549009986_f2d5a919d9_b.jpg" width="683" height="1024" alt="Heron" /></a>

Cypress Roots
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2548085755/" title="Cypress Roots/Reflections by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2548085755_5f9e44d86a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="410" alt="Cypress Roots/Reflections" /></a>

Red-winged Blackbird

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2549018820/" title="Winging by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2549018820_5d65292e45.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Winging" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2548192565/" title="Launch by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2548192565_0e44ef468e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Launch" /></a>

 

Man I really admire your photography every time I see it.

The Bald Eagle mid-flight and the cypress roots are fantastic...

 

Wow, thank you!

 

Some great shots. But, I was hoping for one of you wrass-lin' one of them thar gaters.

 

nice stuff, what zoom are you using?

love the contrast.

 

I'll set up the tripod & remote next time just for you!

 

70-200 f/2.8 (non-IS, though shooting from the moving boat, I wished like hell it was!)

 

you perv!

 

nice that's what I was thinking

 

Alright. You're in Florida...so, I need to ask:

WHERE THE FAWKING FAWK ARE THE SWIMSUIT PICS OF YOU WHEN YOU WENT TO THE BEACH...?!??!??

 

Im in FL right now, but its raining.

 

A couple more...these little guys were actually wandering down the street in front of the house where we stayed.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2570835360/" title="Breakfast by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2570835360_f52165a28f_b.jpg" width="682" height="1024" alt="Breakfast" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2549728450/" title="Mmm Bugs!!! Nummy... by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2549728450_1cf483f2fa_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Mmm Bugs!!! Nummy..." /></a>

 

Well, yes, but not because of that post. If that post was meant to be , it would have been "I was hopin fer one of you mud-wrasslin' three of them thar Gator Cheerleaders."

wndrlst - those pics a damn sharp, especially considering being on the boat. The last two are even crisper.

 

nice pics

 

Love the 3rd one. Nice pics!

 

Nice pics.

Amazing how much of that wildlife I see around here too (bald eagle, white heron, blue heron, red-winged blackbird).

No gators though....

 

Thanks - yeah I'm more impressed with this lens every time I use it. I still haven't used it enough to have that good "feel" for it that comes with time and familiarity, but I'm getting there.

 

Those are some great pics.

The Gator poking its head out FTW.

 

They are in your twisted imagination, where they belong!!!

 

Wow, really. I wouldn't have expected that in Chicago. Nice.

 

Thanks! That's definitely one of my favorites.




Two last pics...these were from a nature trail on resort property:

Mama
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2549764606/" title="Doe by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2549764606_7f65452751_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Doe" /></a>

Bambi
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/2548921963/" title="Bambi by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2548921963_dbc74e8c2f_b.jpg" width="682" height="1024" alt="Bambi" /></a>

It was definitely a good trip for shooting!

 

Your photos just blow me away. You inspire me to shoot more. Fess up now. How many shots did you take in all to get this many "keepers".

 

very awesome shots!

besides the bald eagle, i really like the red-winged blackbird...

and i have a 70-210 (nikkor) lens, so i thought wow, i could use my zoom lens and do the same thing....then you said f/2.8...that blew me out of the water with my f/4-5.6...

 

Man, your photos are just phenomenal!!!! Very impressive. Keep up the good work!!

 

great shots wndrlst

 

Umm...(lessee, how many did I post?)...15! Yup, that's how many I took.

Seriously, it's always gratifying when my photos make people want to shoot. Get out there!

 

Nice SHots!

 

I know you're kidding, but I just double checked the EXIF, and more than half of them were shot from f/4 to f/8. Go play!!




And, really, thanks everyone.

 

bald eagle in Chitown?? wtf where?

 

Yo, fats...howabout we threaten wndrlst here with bannage unless she posts a bikini pic...? Good idea? Yeah, yeah?

 

Great pics windybottom!! I love gators. they are so cute!

 

nice pics!

 

As I said, when we were talking earlier, I'm coming with you next time.

 

McDowell Forest Preserve in Naperville.

 

Great pictures!

Incredible sharpness and colors. Great job.

 

just amazing... cannot wait for you to take another trip...

 

Great Set! Those are some SHARP photos

 

Great shots, wndrlst. It looks like the 70-200 agrees with you. I love the gator shots and #7 of the egret and its reflection.

 

Great work as usual.

To be honest, I'm kind of surprised you were able to get bird shots like that with only 200mm at your disposal.

 

^^ it would be 320mm on the 40d right?