Back Yard Safari, (non-skiing)

While it’s great to see that some of the Bears in North America are still making turns, I’ve not seen snow since the Gathering, so I get my ski stoke vicariously through your TR’s.

I’ve got no snowy images to share or ski tales to tell, (aside from tuning and waxing our skis for summer storage I've been almost completely divorced from all things snowy,) so figured I’d post up a few photos that I made during one of my Back Yard Safaris. Thought that this was a more judicious use of my time as opposed to starting an original helmet or safety bar thread. Summer’s long enough as it is. All of the following shots were made within 50 feet of our back door with the exception of the Sea Gull image.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiMangoJazz 

Very nice! The snake shot looks like it was done in a photography studio with controlled background and lighting. Awesome shots.

Shot this on our pool deck, which is off white. I was on my belly shooting at a slight downward angle, using a 105mm macro lens which has a very shallow depth of field. Thus the background is a nice soft neutral wash. I did use an on camera flash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crgildart 

No pythons, anacondas or even gators?  I thought your back yard was in Florida for pete's sake..

 

On the serious side, I think that shot of the spider is beautiful!  AMAZING!

 

Thanks for sharing..

Not got any SERIOUS beasties quite so close to the house. You'd have to truck on out to the Everglades to find the invasive Pythons that have garnered some press. The most venomous local snake is the Coral Snake. They are however pretty docile and try and avoid people, and have very short fangs. You'd have to get pretty unlucky and almost step on one of these to

get bitten. Of much greater local concern are the pit vipers known as Water Moccasins or Cotton Mouths. They are very curious, and can be extremely aggressive. A bite from one of them producing a full envenomation can be fatal.

We get Gators in local irrigation canals and other bodies of fresh water, both natural and man-made, thus there are tons of gators around area golf courses. I don't play golf.

Glad that you enjoyed the images. You are of course most heartily and sincerely welcome. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbinder 

Gorgeous!  How do you get them all to smile for the camera?

Luck, patience, and a modicum of skill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

I don't believe you are a professional photographer (Thanks for the clarification, Captain Obvious ), I take pictures so much better than you.

 

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairToMiddlin 

I know what you mean, Phil; it's hard enduring the work of an amateur when your own skills are way better.

 

 

I concur. I consider it an honor to have any of my images posted on the same as thread of some of your clearly superior work.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekchick 

That's nuthin'  

 

Bazzer, can you toss ziggy like that?  Huh?

Now that's wild!

 

I'd relish the opportunity to treat Ziggy to a good, ol' fashioned dog tossin', but he's too smart for me. Even when I offer bacon, he does not come to me when I call, so I've as yet been unable to gain a grasp on him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Peters 

I love the photos, Bazz.  It's a real treat to see more of your work.

 

Is that fourth photo an owl?  

 

I've had MANY compliments on your tarpon photo from flyfishing friends who come into my office. 

 

Thanks for posting these. 

So glad that you enjoyed the post, and that your fishing buddies appreciate the Tarpon photo.

I most sincerely wish that I'd been able to post an image of one of the few species of Owls that resided in Florida. Alas, I've yet to see one in the wild around here. The bird in the fourth photograph is a Blue Jay or Jaybird, Cyanocitta cristata, a very common resident of the entire Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. and southern Canada.
 

Had an unexpected visitor today. While not native to North America, conjecture has it that the existing local musters of feral Peacocks are all descendants of birds that escaped from the Miami Metro Zoo when the aviary there was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. I've seen a few of these birds over the years, but this is the first time that I've found one in my yard.

The Raccoons however have been living in my yard for longer than I’ve been alive.