Oct 23, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad, Pronghorn
Nikon D300 Salad | Pronghorn Portrait Pronghorn roam the Badlands. Pronghorn are North America’s fastest land animal. They also roam much of the the America West and The Great American Prairie. Pronghorn live in grasslands, brush lands and deserts. They migrate from a summer feeding grounds to a winter feeding grounds. Although they tend to travel in large or small herds, often they graze alone or somewhat apart from the herd. They seem so majestic alone in a field. For more information and images, see Pronghorn | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story This image was a simple click out the car window. Sometimes, Pronghorn will pose for the camera. Using a vehicle for a blind also helps to get closer without disturbing the critter. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | Spring Photo Trip |
| Location | Badlands NP |
| Date/Time | 5/02/2011 4:26pm Local Time |
| Weather | Fair Skies | 53°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 400mm (600mm) f/5.6 1/125s 0ev 280iso |
| Post | |
Oct 22, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, American Pelican, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | American Pelican Yes, the Pelicans are so much fun to watch as they play. They are always the highlight of spring walkabouts. Of course, they are probably not playing, but they just seem like clowns to me. It’s fun watching them between clicks on their perch; a log partially submerged.
The American White Pelican is a large, majestic bird in flight. Their bodies measure up to 5 feet in length, their bills can reach 14 inches, and their wing spans up to 9 feet. In the breeding season, they have a flattened “horn” on the upper bill. They shed the horn after mating. Males and females look exactly alike except the female is a bit smaller. For more American Pelican images, see American Pelicans 2019 | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story This image turned out to be a simple click after using a monopod while slowly moving close enough for a click. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | Daily Walkabout |
| Location | Northern Illinois Slough |
| Date/Time | 3/21/2011 3:32pm Local Time |
| Weather | Mostly Cloudy | 47°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Used a monopod while slowing moving close enough for a click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 400mm (600mm) f/10 1/640s 0ev 800iso |
| Post | |
Oct 21, 2021 | AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad, Snow Leopard
Nikon D300 Salad | Angry Snow Leopard Snow Leopards are not very aggressive toward humans. In fact, they are the least aggressive of all the “Big Cats”. Still, a Snow Leopard presents a very imposing figure. Luckily this image was captured in the Central Park Zoo in NYC. The teeth tell the story. Snow Leopards don’t roar, but they do growl. They also purr, mew, hiss, moan, and yowl. For more snow leopard images, see Snow Leopard | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story This image was anything but a simple click. Finally, it became a simple click after positioning myself with a long telephoto lens to make the fence disappear. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | A Few Hours at the Zoo |
| Location | NYC Zoo Central Park |
| Date/Time | 1/20/2011 1:21pm Local Time |
| Weather | Cloudy | 33°F | Moderate Winds |
| Method | Simple click after positioning myself with a long telephoto lens to make the fence disappear. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens |
Exposure
| 200mm (300mm) f/5.6 1/200s 0ev 400iso |
| Post | |
Oct 20, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Coyote, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | Coyote Hunting This Coyote was hunting voles in the Hayden Valley of Yellowstone NP. He just pranced into the field near my position as I was having a quick lunch. He hunted successfully for about an hour, then just pranced away. He did not seem to mind my presence, although he could easily see and smell my lunch. For more coyote images, see Coyote | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story This image was a real simple click. I didn’t even move from my position while eating my lunch. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | Late Lunch Break |
| Location | Yellowstone NP |
| Date/Time | 11/06/2010 3:16pm Local Time |
| Weather | Fair Skies | 53°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 300mm (450mm) f/5.6 1/800s 0ev 800iso |
| Post | |
Oct 19, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, L-39 Albatros, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | L-39 in Blue Angel’s Colors The Aero L-39 Albatros, a high-performance jet trainer, is the first trainer to be equipped with a turbofan engine. The Albatros is the most widely used jet trainer in the world and has also flown combat missions. More than 2,800 L-39s have served in over 30 countries.
The Back Story This image uses the jet’s vapor trail to break up the bald skies and show speed. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details….
| Event | Oshkosh Air Adventure 2010 |
| Location | KOSH Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, WI |
| Date/Time | 7/29/2010 3:46pm Local Time |
| Weather | Fair Skies | 79°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 230mm (262mm) f/10 1/500s 0ev 200iso |
| Post | |
Oct 18, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad, Piper PA-25 Pawnee
Nikon D300 Salad | Piper PA-25 Pawnee The PA-25 Pawnee is an agricultural airplane manufactured by Piper Aircraft from 1959 to 1981. Pawnees are used for all kinds of crop dusting as well as towing gliders and banners. This Piper PA-25 Pawnee is spraying chemical on a corn field.
The Back Story This image was anything but a simple click. I had to chase down the Pawnee over the country roads to position myself on a small hill just to the south of his flight path. After a pass or two it flew right over my position. I stayed next to my vehicle with the door open shooting until the last moment, then quickly hopped inside and closed the door just before getting showered with chemical from the plane. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details….
| Event | Photo Opportunity |
| Location | Northern Illinois |
| Date/Time | 7/20/2010 4:25pm Local Time |
| Weather | Fair Skies | 82°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Quick click before chemical shower… |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 230mm (345mm) f/13 1/200s 0ev 200iso |
| Post | Sharpened the prop a bit. |
Oct 17, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Loon, Michigan, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | Common Loon This Loon was probably on the last hunt of the day. Yes, hunting! Loons find their prey by sight, underwater. They eat mainly fish along with an occasional on crayfish, frog, snail, salamander, or leech. They prefer clear lakes to more easily see their prey through the water, where it can use its pointy bill to stab or grasp prey. Loons swim with much of their body under water and can dive for several minutes while swimming totally underwater.
The Back Story It was a simple click while kayaking just before sunset. Sometimes, you just have to show up to get a nice image. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details….
| Event | Kayaking Pleasant Lake |
| Location | Pleasant Lake |
| Date/Time | 7/02/2010 9:07pm Local Time |
| Weather | Fair Skies | 76°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click while kayaking just before sunset. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 310mm (465mm) f/8 1/400s 0ev 800iso |
| Post | Sharpened the eyes and beak a bit. |
Oct 16, 2021 | AF DC 135mm f2D, Lake Michigan, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad, Sunset
Nikon D300 Salad | Sunset Sail This sailboat enjoyed relatively calm winds as it sailed near Point Betsie Lighthouse in northern Michigan, which sometimes sees some pretty dramatic weather. There’s plenty of good clouds, wind, and waves any time of the year. Too get the best views and images, a short hike north up the beach is usually necessary. Watch for wind surfers and sailboats; they can make rather interesting images. For more Midwest seascapes, see Midwest Seascapes | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story OK, I was at the right place at the right time; no doubt. And, it was a simple click. Why the DC-Nikkor 135mm f2D? Because that was the lens on the camera at the time; with not enough time to go back to the vehicle and change a lens. Sometimes, the best camera is truly the one in your hands. And, it’s a wicked sharp lens. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details….
| Event | Photo Trip to Point Betsie Lighthouse |
| Location | Point Betsie Lighthouse in northern Michigan |
| Date/Time | 6/20/2010 8:01pm Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy | 71°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF DC 135mm f2D lens |
Exposure
| 135mm (202mm) f/16 1/100s 0ev 200iso |
| Post | Sharpened sailboat a bit. |
