Had to Make an Ice Cream Run Old Barn - Sapphire Mtns captured by Z 9 / Z70-200f2.8II Seriously, we had the urge for chocolate ice cream, and that required a road trip. OK, it's a twenty-minute drive down a beautiful back road in the Bitterroot Valley, but it's well worth it. And the light was gorgeous so the camera with the newly arrived Z70-200f2.8II needed to go.

Had to Make an Ice Cream Run https://wp.me/p6YJx-iYw and with the light so nice and new lens in the locker, the camera had to go as well! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Odd Man Out White-tailed Deer captured by Z 8 / Z180-600 Just gotten off the phone for a delightful predawn call to look out and see this big boy with what we at first thought were three big does (they should be dropping fawns in 45 days or so). The buck being a big boy, it caught our attention, so we watched. Then two questions came to mind.

Odd Man Out https://wp.me/p6YJx-iYj just because the book says so doesn't mean critters are going to do it. Nature is amazing! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Mine is Hers? Sharon at the Nikon Monarch Scope captured by Z 9 / Z105f2.8mc The wx station read 16 degrees as we sipped our morning coffee. The sun was making its appearance and the birds were shaking off the night's chill. Time to check in on the nesting cavities, the bird and owl boxes to see who is where doing what. Being nesting season, nest site selection is in process with two pairs of Pygmy Nuthatches and a pair of Flickers seeming to have made their choices.

Mine is Hers? https://wp.me/p6YJx-iY2 Being spring, we are on constant vigilance to see who is doing what, where. The Monarch Scope from @NikonUSA is key, and we battle over it! @BedfordCamera #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Need More Than a Leg Up Snail Kite (female) captured by Z 9 / Z180-600 w/1.4x I had read in the papers that they occasionally, rarely, will eat a turtle. But in my month with Snail Kites, I'd never seen it for myself. Snail Kites got their name because they are highly specialized to eat one thing, apple snails. Look at those long and curved talons and that bill, they are meant for plucking the snail right out of its shell.

Need More Than a Leg Up https://wp.me/p6YJx-iXS Snail Kites got their name because, they specialize in snails. But they won't pass up that baby turtle when they see it! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

The Beauty of Saturated Light Snail Kite captured by Z 9 / Z180-600 If there was one tool I wished were always in my camera bag, it would be saturated light! What is saturated light? Out in the wilds, it is light from the sun that is subdued, protecting highlights, opening up shadows, and making color jump off the charts. The clouds are not the heavy black rain clouds nor the thin God Scrim type.

The Beauty of Saturated Light https://wp.me/p6YJx-iXp when it appears is a photographers best friend. It makes everything come to life with a little camera craft. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

The ZR – It Sure Does! Nikon ZR w/Z26f2.8 What's with the ZR? This is a question that keeps floating my way, a post from last Friday bringing more. "It shoots stills?" That was asked a few times, and yes, it does! It's just like shooting with a Z 9 or Z 8, except that it has no EVF, just one large LCD. Its main role in our gear locker is for its sweet spot, shooting video.

The ZR - It Sure Does! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iXj It can and does up one's still photography! What you say, a video camera ups your stills? @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

And Now, The Sun! Lake Kissimmee captured by Z R / Z26f2.8 Tuesday, one member of our group was trying to crawl into his Think Tank to get warm, it was near 39 degrees with the wind chill. When you're cruising a lake photographing Kites, wind chill is a big factor. So when on Thursday we saw the sun, we were quite excited. Now the temp had only warmed up ten degrees, ten degrees is, ten degrees.

And Now, The Sun! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iX4 after four days on the boat with rain, clouds and 49 degree temps, seeing the sun was a treat. And I was in Florida! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Alley-oop! Belted Kingfisher captured by Z 9 / Z180-600 w/Z2x with DX Crop Down in Florida, working with a favorite bird from an airboat is big time fun! One of the side perks is all the kingfishers about. The downside, them little suckers just don't sit still! It takes all the horsepower I have to get any type of image size. Even then, there has to be something to keep their mind off the boat, a catch is one of them.

Alley-oop! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iWW for such a cute and endearing little bird, photographing Kingfishers can be nothing but frustrating. Even when you're on the water with them! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

I Love Spring! Sandhill Crane captured by Z 9 / Z180-600 It was a grand morning! Finished with the primary project, so took a moment to look around. That's when this Sandhill Crane nest was pointed out to us and it's week old colt (what Crane chicks are called). What a cutie. We only spent a few moments with us as the wind was coming up and we needed to dock, but what a special moment.

I Love Spring! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iWP because it's the only time of the year you can witness this wonder! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

I Can’t Hear You! Wood Stork captured by Z 9 / Z600f4TC My inside voice was saying, "Can you hold that pose just a moment longer?" And of course, the Wood Stork, in the process of preening, had no intention of holding it. I kept the finger to the shutter release nonetheless. So I had a good laugh that evening when I looked at the images and this one taken at the moment of my inside voise speaking the stork seemed to say, "I can't hear you!"

I Can't Hear You!

https://wp.me/p6YJx-iWu

@BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

This Much! Roseatte Spoonbill captured by Z 9 / Z600f4TC The soft, saturated morning light was simply luscious! As I took it all in, this Roseatte Spoonbill from a nearby nest at Orlando Wetlands landed. Swung the lens around and as it settled in, I cranked off the shots. I knew that the soft, pastel color against the spring greens and the wing outstretched would grab one's attention.

This Much! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iVZ everyone in our family understands what I was saying, but that's about all. Then for all others, what's the story behind it? @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Yep, It’s That Time Again Head into your menu, turn Switch to Yes on Daylight saving time, and you're set ... for the next few months.

Yep, It's That Time Again https://wp.me/p6YJx-iVH and at least, it's easy to keep up with, time. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

If Only a Breeding Adult Glossy Ibis captured by Z 9 / Z600f4TC The Glossy Ibis in full adult breeding plumage in the right saturated light is an amazing subject! I saw a photo like I just described many decades ago, and it left a heck of an impression. Being on the West Coast, I would come across the White-faced Ibis, still a gorgeous bird, but it doesn't light up like the Glossy.

If Only a Breeding Adult https://wp.me/p6YJx-iVr being mainly a west coast birder / photographer, there are certain east coast birds I seek out when in Florida. This is one long on the list for that one shot. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Sculptures Born from Steam Steam Sculpture captured by Z 8 / Z14-24f2.8 Hell's Half Acre is what Midway Geyser Basin was originally known as. The trail across the Firehole River and up the slope to the world-renowned Grand Prismatic thermal area, one passes Excelsior Geyser. Once a very violent geyser, these days it has settled down and just pours out 4050 gallons per minute of nearly 200f degree water.

Sculptures Born from Steam https://wp.me/p6YJx-iVk are a gorgeous celebration of winter that last seemingly for a blink of the eye. Magical forms of H2O that I can't pass up. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Post Image

He Got It So Right https://wp.me/p6YJx-iTI but the deeper meaning is what really brings it home to our photography. Cause in the end, it is our photography. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

https://www.moosepeterson.com/blog/he-got-it-so-right/

Moose Peterson Wildlife and Aviation Photography Moose Peterson Wildlife and Aviation Photography with Nikon

My Favorite Kinda Call wp.me/pXFNo-Gc someone would like the use of the camera. The shoot wasn't complicated but had big stakes. Luck was on my side. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

My Favorite Kinda Call Staggerwing D17s When the phone rings and the caller needs the use of the camera, we are always happy. Some calls are for long-term projects, and some we never really see how the images are used. Then there are those great, one-day of fun, the sky's the limit projects where the only thing that could go wrong is that my camera goes astray.

My Favorite Kinda Call https://wp.me/pXFNo-Gc someone would like the use of the camera. The shoot wasn't complicated but had big stakes. Luck was on my side. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Post Image

The Sun can be Death! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iSz you might know this already if you eat eggs. It takes little to take an egg and make it a 3min egg or hard boiled. Bird moms know it too! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA @NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/the-sun-can-be-deat...

Post Image

Never Leave Home Without It! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iRT it applies to many things and especially, camera gear! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/never-leave-home-wi...

Post Image

Not Mad, Just Tuckered! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iR6 but of course, your imagination will take the moment where you want and that's the fun of the subject and photography! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/not-mad-just-tucker...

Post Image

A Millennium in the Making https://wp.me/p6YJx-iQs Yellowstone's lower falls are a marvel! Changing every minute, every winter brings a new scene and delight on a grand scale! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/a-millennium-in-the...

Post Image

Pines Outlined in Ice https://wp.me/p6YJx-iQ7 is always a highlight of Yellowstone I look forward to each year. But it's not here every winter. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/pines-outlined-in-i...

Post Image

Head Inside When It's Cold https://wp.me/p6YJx-iQ1 is not new advice but there is an important caveat I need to pass along to make it all worth while! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/head-inside-when-it...

Post Image

Where You Been? https://wp.me/p6YJx-iPV we're in our favorite locale quite often, Yellowstone, and it seems at times that critters actually remember us. Though, that's impossible. Right? @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

https://www.moosepeterson.com/blog/where-you-been/

Shinny, Shinny, Shinny P-51D "Long Island Kid" captured by D4 / 80-400VR We were out on the Osh grounds before the sun was even a hint. Jake, Brent & I were simply taking in all the aircraft with a focus on our work with Texas Flying Legends. The "Kid" was kinda all by itself, no aircraft in the background and thankfully, none blocking the growing glow to the east.

Shinny, Shinny, Shinny https://wp.me/pXFNo-FH it drew me in and kept me in its hold, and it still does! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

Post Image

What's that Falling? https://wp.me/p6YJx-iOU it's truly kinda a weird thing to be excited about what should be a common thing right now. I miss it! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

https://www.moosepeterson.com/blog/whats-that-falling/

Post Image

Oh Those Ladies! https://wp.me/p6YJx-iOh with just a little feeder time, soon one female Pine Grosbeak strikes a pose, and they are purdy! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

https://www.moosepeterson.com/blog/oh-those-ladies/

Post Image

Z 9's Dark Tone Monochrome https://wp.me/p6YJx-iM7 that comes with Firmware 5.3 is simply, gorgeous right out of the camera. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/z-9s-dark-tone-mono...

Post Image

Huckleberry Had to Wait https://wp.me/p6YJx-iJA there are some mornings I'm just late getting off the ole homestead. Them skies stop me and the truck in our tracks! @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/huckleberry-had-to-...

Post Image

The Beauty is Fleeting https://wp.me/p6YJx-iJc to the point that if you hesitate, it will be gone. That reality is jarring and inspirational to get out and bring the story back. @BedfordCamera @NikonUSA #NikonAmbassador #NikonPro

www.moosepeterson.com/blog/the-beauty-is-fleet...