Articles from February, 2011

More Birds of Skagit Valley

Written on February 25, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


Bird's Eye View: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

Flight of the Intruders: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

Birds of a Feather: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

Sittin' Pretty: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

Please click on the images to view larger versions. Another day, another little trip to Skagit Valley.  This time I was able to get a little variety.  The opening image is of a bald eagle enjoying the view of Mt. Baker in the distance.  The snow geese were also out in full force, and I was able to get an up close and personal view of their take off. I also captured one of a flock of trumpeter swans and one more of my favorite, Mrs. H (Harrier Hawk).  I hope you enjoy these!

  • 5 Comments

Sally Allison: These are just amazing! I can't believe you hand held that huge lens in the shots from a couple days ago.

Conrad: Love seeing wildlife through a landscape photogs eyes! #1 is a gorgeous shot and is Ms. H!

Stephen Marglin: Absolutely phenomenal! The photo of the "flight of the intruders" is as close to an Escher as anything I could imagine.

chuck rohrmann: "Flight of the Intruders" is outstanding composition. It would make an impossible jig saw puzzle.

Jason Kuo: Flight of the Intruders is simply stunning. Thanks for sharing!


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Snow Beauty

Written on February 23, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


In Search of Food: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

Now Where's that Delicious Mouse?: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

Time for a Little Rest: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

Please click on the images to see larger versions. Another day, another afternoon trip to Skagit Valley.  I think the bird photography bug has bitten me pretty badly.  This time, the falling snow made for some interesting environmental portraits of a female Harrier Hawk (or Mrs. H, as I like to call her).  I hope you enjoy these shots (all hand-held, by the way).

  • 5 Comments

Ann: amazing that they were hand held. beautiful.

Conrad: Ahhh the last shot is my pick. Very nice man!

Deborah: Sheesh! The DoF on that lens is incredible. Nicely pops the crisp details of the subjects. Love the detail around the bird's eyes - you almost know what it's thinking

peggy: mahesh these bird pix are amazing! very nice work...thanks for sharing.


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Harrier Hawk and a Short-Eared Owl

Written on February 22, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


You Dirty Rat: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

A Guardian of Ga'Hoole: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS

Please click on the images to view larger versions. Yesterday afternoon, I spent the day at Skagit Valley, in search of short-eared owls.  I found a few, but they were all far away.  However, I did manage to get one in-flight image (2nd shot above).  It was my first sighting of this majestic creature.  Their characteristic deep wing beats, tendency to fly relatively low to the ground, and large wind-span, allow them to be easily spotted from a distance.  The opening image is of a Harrier Hawk, clutching lunch (a rat) in its talons.  I hope you enjoy these!

  • 12 Comments

Conrad: Well well well... look who is using his long glass! Well done man!

Nicole: Nooo... The poor little mousey!!!

--> Mahesh: Haha! Thanks, Conrad. I still have a long way to go before I catch up to you and Tony. I'm seriously considering the new 500mm when it comes out. 800mm is just too long and heavy for most in-flight shots. Now I just have to start saving up.

Ann: phenomenal!

--> Mahesh: Nicole, natural selection at work. :-)

--> Mahesh: Ann, thanks! I was inspired after seeing the great shots Dileep got over the weekend.

Karen: Wow!! These are wonderful!!! Thank you for sharing them. : )

Barb Michieli: I just LOVE the one catching the field mouse! Impeccable timing, Dr. Thapa!!!

Chris Budech: I'm a bit of a birder so really cool to see the pics. Now you're gettinginto the Art Wolfe nature photo territory! Chris

Vic: WOW!

Sally Allison: Well worth a full day of waiting!

Laurie: Thanks for the amazing hawk shots, enjoyed by all who work w/ me in chilly Bay Area, CA whse


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Man Made Sunset at Juanita Bay Park

Written on February 22, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


Juanita Bay Park: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS

Please click on the image to see a larger version. I spent this evening at Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland.  Mike and I arrived just after 5 pm, hoping for a nice sunset, but the thick clouds did us in.  We waited until dark, putzin’ around and looking at the ducks swimming nearby.  What the setting sun couldn’t provide, the lights of Seattle did.  The distant clouds over the emerald city were lit up brilliantly!  I set up my tripod and captured a 5 1/2 minute-exposure.  The overhead glow was reflected by the water, and the many stumps served as interesting foreground subject matter.  I hope you enjoy the shot.

  • 13 Comments

Barb Michieli: Very cool!

Kalpana: Beautiful!

Bev: Mahesh, You are wasting your time in medicine, you should be an artist.

Orion: I know this spot well, I love Juanita Bay Park, it's a nice place to practice telephoto with the wildlife. Love this unique long exposure take on it!

--> Mahesh: Barb, Kalpana, Bev, and Orion...thank you very much for your kind comments. Orion, it's good to hear from you after so long. Speaking of wildlife, yesterday afternoon I went to Skagit Valley and captured a few decent shots of some short-eared owls.

Nicole: I love the colors of this one! And the sky looks so cool...

--> Mahesh: Goldie, thanks! I know this is just your type of sky! I love the "smearing" effect of the long exposure.

Dianna Wachtel: Artist/medicine--I think you do both superbly :) Lovely, thanks for sending.

Sally Allison: I agree with Bev, even though I do not know you. Somehow you need to market these pictures and your abilities!

Chris Budech: Mahesh, did you bracket different exposure times, i.e. how do you come up with 5 1/2 minutes and I assume with those long exposures the aperature is wide open???

--> Mahesh: Sally, thanks! I love radiology just as much as photography. I can't see myself doing one exclusively.

--> Mahesh: Chris, thanks! Yes, I did bracket the shots. The sky in the 5 1/2 min shot is totally "blown out" (overexposed). My decision to expose for 5 1/2 minutes was what I came up with after doing some test shots. The aperture was actually f/11, so not wide at all. I wanted as many things in focus as possible, so went with the smallish aperture.

JT: Amazing!


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Get Your Kicks on Pier 66

Written on February 20, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


Pier 66: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS

Please click on the image to see a larger version. This evening, I found myself strolling down Pier 66.  The view of downtown Seattle is very special from there.  If you’re lucky, the water will be calm and the foreground boats will be still enough to accommodate long exposures.  Even if there aren’t any interesting clouds in the sky, the stark blue hues of early night will offer great contrast for the colorful buildings.  I hope you enjoy the shot!

  • 11 Comments

Bev: Beautiful light and reflections--you do such nice work.

Nicole: Wow. Not bad Mahesh! It looks so perfect it's almost not real! I don't think you could've done a better job capturing this image. It's beautiful...

linda: That's too funny...I remember Route 66 well. This imagery is much much better than that drive. It makes our city look so very inviting...and warm. Lovely shot.

--> Mahesh: Thank you, ladies, for your kind comments! Boy, I love Seattle!

Barb Michieli: Spectacular shot, Dr. Thapa! You've got talent beyond compare!!!

Elisa: Really great shot, Mahesh. I love the yellow and blue boat. Great touch of color.

Kalpana: Gorgeous!

Rachael: Can i just pluck on those boats or buildings up and eat it?

Chris Budech: I actually remember the TV show--they drove the classic Corvette. Great shot and encourages me to get down to the waterfront, rarely take advantage.

--> Mahesh: Thanks again, everyone! Looks like this one is a hit!


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All Color at Alki

Written on February 8, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations


All Color at Alki: Sony A55 and Sony DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5

Please click the image for a larger version.  I just got the new Sony A55 camera and wanted to take it for a spin.  So, Mike and I headed over to Alki beach to photograph the lighthouse.  The photography gods were smiling down on us tonight, and we were blessed with beautiful light.  The orange, pink, and purple hues were magnificent.  The colors more than made up for the biting cold wind gusting off Puget Sound.  I hope you enjoy the shot, probably my new favorite of Alki Point Lighthouse.

  • 4 Comments

Alan: Nice! Keep it up.

mariann: You really did get a beautiful picture. You caught the lighthouse light perfect!!!

Hagen: Nice colors! How Is it done? Aperture, HDR, tripod?

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Hagen. The colors are all natural. The image was taken on a tripod. HDR was not necessary. The dynamic range of the Sony sensor was adequate.


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Seattle View from the Aurora Bridge

Written on February 1, 2011 Posted in Photography Locations, Tips and Tutorials


Aurora Bridge View: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS

Here’s a view of Seattle from another venue you may not have heard of:  The Aurora Bridge (Click the image for a larger version).  Mike and I accessed the north end of the bridge via a staircase leading up from the east side of the famous Fremont Troll.  Infamous for the relatively large number of suicides, the Aurora Bridge nevertheless offers spectacular views of the Emerald city.  Photographing from the bridge is a bit challenging, so here are a few lessons learned from our outing:

1.  It can get quite windy up there and the closer you get to the center of the bridge, the more vibrations you’ll pick up from the traffic.  Staying as close as possible to the north end of the bridge will help.

2.  I almost never use the “Image Stabilization” feature on my lens, but on this occasion, it came in very handy, even on the tripod.

3.  Bump up the ISO on your camera and use a relatively big aperture (I used ISO 400 and an aperture of f/4) to keep the shutter speed up. By the way, can you tell by my tips that vibrations are a big problem here?  Don’t worry about the depth of field too much as the distant city and Mt. Rainier are close enough to infinity as far as the lens in concerned.

4.  The walkway is relatively narrow, and you may have to move your tripod to let walkers and bikers pass.

  • 8 Comments

Chris Budech: Have enjoyed the cityscapes---drawn to the lignt on Mt. Ranier on this photo

Deborah: Isn't that the houseboat community from sleepless in Seattle? :-) nice work yet again!

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Chris. The light on Rainier is what drew me as well. :)

--> Mahesh: Deb, thanks! You may be correct about the houseboat community. It's been way too long since I saw that movie. :)

Ann: beautiful, Mahesh

Naveen: love the perspective! I was trying to locate the Space needle here...

Nathan Schepker: Unbelievable, Mahesh! You make me want to live in Seattle!


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