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 12, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Bison, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | Newborn Bison in Yellowstone This newborn, still unsure of its ability to walk, was actually 15-20 minutes old when this image was captured. In April and May our national parks like Yellowstone abound with similar stories of new life enjoying the warmer spring weather.
The Back Story This image was captured by a simple click at a road turnoff. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details….
| Event | Day Trip to Yellowstone |
| Location | Yellowstone NP |
| Date/Time | 4/27/2010 2:29pm Local Time |
| Weather | Fair Skies | 49°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/8 1/125s 1ev 800iso |
| Post | Sharpened eyes and horns. |
Oct 8, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Cessna 185, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | Cessna 185 on Skis Not many folks hold a lake party in the middle of the winter. However, as part of a day after New Years Day party, this Cessna 185 was giving ski plane rides on Pleasant Lake. The lake is pretty small so good piloting technique is necessary. For more information and images, go to Ski Plane Weekend | a 7 Image Story.
The Back Story To complicate matters, the mid-teen temperatures made waiting on the frozen lake for the next landing a bit chilly. The snow kicked up by the propeller and skis add to the drama. Except for the cold weather, it was a simple click. Sure, I was lucky to get some prop blur with a 1/400s shutter speed. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details….
| Event | Day after New Years Party |
| Location | Pleasant Lake, Michigan |
| Date/Time | 1/02/2010 4:23pm Local Time |
| Weather | Cloudy | 11°F | Moderate Winds |
| Method | Simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 80mm (120mm) f/4.5 1/400s 0ev 200iso |
| Post | |
Oct 5, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Fruit, Michigan, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | Young Wine Fall does not seem like the time of new beginnings, unless you are wine. These grapes will soon start their journey to become a fine wine.
The Back Story This image came from a simple click while walking through the vineyard. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | Winery Visit |
| Location | Northern Michigan |
| Date/Time | 10/15/2009 5:41pm Local Time |
| Weather | Cloudy | 43°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click while walking thru the vineyard. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 400mm (600mm) f/5.6 1/80s 0ev 1600iso |
| Post | |
Oct 4, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Gray Squirrel, Illinois, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | Gray Squirrel in Fall Gray Squirrels seem like they are every color but well, gray. This guy was just having a good time in the early morning light.
The Back Story To capture the image without disturbing the gray squirrel’s routine, I used a long lens and stayed very low. It took a long time before he came into the good light. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | Walkabout |
| Location | Northern Michigan |
| Date/Time | 9/17/2009 10:29am Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy | 63°F | Light Winds |
| Method | Simple click after waiting for the light. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 400mm (600mm) f/8 1/60s 0ev 1800iso |
| Post | |
Oct 2, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Bison, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad
Nikon D300 Salad | Bison with Spring Coat This adult Bison image was captured in the Solitude of Wind Cave NP. He has great character in his face and head. A mature Bison makes in imposing figure. They stand 5-6 feet tall weighing 1,800 to 2,400 pounds. Bison grow a thin layer of soft fine hair and a thick outer layer of course hair. This Bison is shedding his thick winter coat making him look very shaggy. In the fall, he’ll grow a new coat. Also, see American Bison | a 7 Image Story for more information and images.
The Back Story This image was a simple click out the car window. 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 | A Day at Wind Cave NP |
| Location | Wind Cave NP |
| Date/Time | 5/30/2009 7:09pm Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy | 62°F | Moderate Winds |
| Method | Simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 370mm (555mm) f/9 1/100s 0ev 800iso |
| Post | Added a little definition to the Bison’s coat. |
Oct 1, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Nikon D300, Nikon D300 Salad, Pronghorn
Nikon D300 Salad | Pronghorn on the Prairie These beautiful Pronghorn roam the Badlands. Pronghorn are North America’s fastest land animal. They roam 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.
The Back Story This image was a simple click out the car window. 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 | A Day at Wind Cave NP |
| Location | Wind Cave NP |
| Date/Time | 5/30/2009 6:12pm Local Time |
| Weather | Cloudy | 63°F | Moderate Winds |
| Method | Simple click. |
| Gear | Nikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 400mm (600mm) f/8 1/320s 0ev 200iso |
| Post | Added a little definition to the tall grass. |
Sep 30, 2021 | AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR, Nikon D200, Nikon D200 Soup, White-tailed Deer
Nikon D200 Soup | White-tailed Deer This White-tailed Deer was walking through the woods of northern Michigan on an early spring day in late afternoon. As it walked, it would stop to look around. It spotted me even though I was using my vehicle as a bind. Then, it stood for a very long time looking at me while continually scouting the area. With all the light brown background, it was hard to know if any of my clicks were good. The trees and branches would move due to the wind. Either a branch was in the way or the deer blinked or suddenly moved. Finally, it stopped, looked, and Click! The deer then turned a walked away. After looking at the images in post processing, I realized only the last couple of clicks were keepers.
The Back Story This image was captured with a simple click while using my vehicle as a blind. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| Event | Afternoon Drive |
| Location | Cadillac, Michigan |
| Date/Time | 4/09/2009 4:09pm Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy | 44°F | Moderate Winds |
| Method | Simple click while using my vehicle as a bind. |
| Gear | Nikon D200 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens |
Exposure
| 400mm (600mm) f/5.6 1/200s 0ev 400iso |
| Post | |
