A quickly composed blog post this morning. But I have an excuse and I’m going to use it.
1/8000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is one of the Snowy Egrets I photographed ten days ago at Farmington Bay WMA. The egrets were fighting much of the time and if I remember correctly this one had just taken off to challenge another egret out of frame to the right.
I like the flight posture and I was pleased to get the egret as sharp as I did with the background so close to the bird. I’m far less pleased with my choice of camera settings. I certainly didn’t need to be shooting at ISO 800, resulting in a shutter speed of 1/8000. Operator error strikes again.
The image was quickly chosen and quickly processed for what I consider to be a good reason.
This is the kind of turmoil I’m living in these days.
I’m having new floor coverings installed in every room of my home except one small bedroom so I’m in the midst of moving furniture, washing walls and ceilings and an almost infinite number of smaller but necessary chores. Installation of the hard flooring begins tomorrow morning so my timeline is rigid and looming and then in a couple of weeks it starts all over again with installation of new carpet. So you can see where my priorities have to be.
Washing walls and especially ceilings has been a killer for my bad back. This morning I feel like I’m 110 years old and aging by the minute. For the last few evenings, as a way to relax before bed, I’ve been watching “Muhammad Ali”, the new Ken Burns four part series on PBS. As I watch I keep thinking “this must be how Ali felt after his fights with Joe Frazier and George Foreman”. That’s hyperbole of course but not by much.
So anyway, that’s my situation and my excuse. Sporadically over the next few weeks some of my posts may be shorter and less ‘polished’ than usual and you may be seeing some more older photos again because my shooting time in the field might be somewhat limited for a while.
I think my readers deserve to know why.
Ron
Excellent shot of the egret, operator error or not. 🙂
PLEASE take care of yourself, even if that means you can’t do everything. You and your back are more important. 💜 Happy flooring (I’ve been putting it off for just the reason you’ve described here).
Thanks, Marty. But I’ve reached the point of beginning to wonder of “happy flooring” isn’t a contradiction in terms.
In my lazy eyes that would be an excellent reason for not posting at all.
We need to have painting and carpeting done here too. Shudder.
I hope that your pain subsides, but fear it will be at high levels till all the work is done and your home returned to normal..
Thank you for this spectacular image.
“In my lazy eyes that would be an excellent reason for not posting at all”
There have been times this past week where I’ve seriously considered it, EC. But then my day wouldn’t seem complete… 🙂
And from this side of the world my day wouldn’t be complete either – and would be seriously diminished.
Thank you.
Very nice shot. It looks like she is most of way through the downstroke.
At first glance I thought you were having a yard sale in your dining room. I was about to submit some bids.
I hope you have some good pain medications. I dug up my potatoes yesterday and had planned on doing some more garden cleanup but after that my back told me it was close enough to wine time.
“At first glance I thought you were having a yard sale in your dining room”
Damn, I wonder if it’s too late, Lyle. Sell some of the heavy stuff and I won’t have to move it twice!
😆😆😆👍
I empathize with your pain physical, social and mental so I’m simply grateful you still have the energy, will and stamina to continue posting anything at all. And this egret shot is gorgeous even with (because of or in spite of?) the background detail. Hope you feel better soon and the chaos subsides.
Thanks very much, Granny Pat.
Beautiful photo of a beautiful bird. Thank You.
I have vowed never to replace floor coverings or have painters ever again…
in my house. Just thinking about it makes me shutter.
Kaye
Kaye, after this I may take the same vow.
As you know I have been doing similar upgrades in our rental in St George. A lot of the prep work we are doing ourselves. Not easy, we are too old! I still have the new hardwood stair rebuild and the LVP and carpet to follow. I want the stairs done first then LVP then carpet. I don’t want all the work of the stairs done over the other new flooring. So I have to wait months till the steps can be done. There has been a shortage of wood and available work force in St George with all the new construction it is hard to find a crew to do our work on a small job of an existing structure. You will have to post a photo of your finished product!
April, labor and materials can be hard to find here too. I have an exterior French door I want replaced. Good luck with that!
Bold move! Congrats!
Thanks, John. Bold is one way to put it. Expensive, scary and potentially stupid is another…
The Egret shot is excellent. He or she definitely looks determined to settle this once and for all.
Been there done that on the new floor thing. Does make for cramped living spaces and other annoyances before it is done.
That canvas in the background looks like the Magpie print I bought for my wife.
Yup, that’s the same magpie image Everett. It’s one of my favorites of any bird.
Ron,
Where did you find the beautiful Magpie print?
Chuck, I didn’t “find” it. I took the photo so I just had it printed.
Take care of yourself. Please.
I’m trying…
Loving seeing the Egrets!
Your home looks so good…I need an excuse to clean mine!!
Mary, I’m afraid it looks like a hurricane hit it right now.
The painful memories will fade as you enjoy your new floors!
Brett, I wish I was already to that point.
Don’t envy you the process! 😉 Hopefully the results are worth it. 🙂 Egret is lovely and seems to be just “floating”…….
Thanks, Judy. The process is a PITA.