Posts in Category: Santa Fe
New Mexico! Honey
Honey Bee: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — The plantings at Randall Davey attract a wide variety of pollinators, including, of course, the Western Honey Bee. I like the way the bee is framed here, and the dramatic lighting. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VDX zoom at 313mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Insect subject recognition and focus. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Looking at me
Rock Squirrel: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. July 2024 — Clearly a nursing mother Rock Squirrel out for a snack and a break from nursing. She was very aware of me but not all that concerned. She evidently has dealt with photographers before. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Animal subject recognition. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! light and shadow
Pine Siskin: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — The Pine Siskins were active this year at Randall Davey when I visited. This pair posed nicely on a cut-off limb in the dappled shade at the center of the garden. I am impressed by how naturally these scenes were rendered by the camera, considering the challenging light situation. They received no special treatment in post processing. In the first they are apparently having a serious conversation, and the second looks like a “dare you jump” scenario…but then that is just me projecting. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Honey Bee in the bee plant
Honey Bee: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2024 — The Rocky Mountain Bee-plant was, true to the name, full of bees and other insects in the gardens at the Randall Davey Audubon Center. This is common Honey Bee from someone’s hive, making the most of bloom. I used the macro region of the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom on the Sony a6700 and leaned in close…closer than a foot. The insect subject recognition works well on the Sony. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2024 — There were probably a couple of pairs of Black-headed Grosbeaks coming to the feeders at Randall Davey Audubon center in the foothills above Santa Fe, New Mexico while we were there visiting our daughter and granddaughter. Impressive birds that you would think might dominate the feeders, but the little Pine Siskins gave them a run for the bird seed. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Skipper?
Skipper? Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — I know it is a skipper. I am not sure which one. Fiery? Zebulon? Don’t know my New Mexico skippers. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Tail on
Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — Tail on and almost too close, but who could resist? Also pretty dark in the corner against the building in the garden at Randall Davey Audubon Center. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Tiny in the bee-balm
Sweat Bee in Bee-balm: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2024 — The Randall Davey Audubon Center has a small but highly productive native wildflower and plant garden between the buildings. It is full of Bee-balm right now, and the flowers are attracting all kinds of bees, skippers, and even sphinx moths. This tiny little bee is one of the sweat bees and you had to bend down close to see them…they are so small! Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 172mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds and wildlife modifications. Insect Subject Recognition turned on. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Spotted Towhee
Spotted Towhee: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — This and the Eastern Towhees we have in Maine are very similar birds. In fact for many years they were considered the same species…but there are subtle and not so subtle differences. The Spotted is a “louder” bird overall. Its calls, its plumage, the red of the eye…all louder. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Hummingbird Moth
Though it is often called a hummingbird moth because it looks and acts like a hummer, it is actually a White-lined Sphinx Moth and it was busy among the flowers at the Randall Davey Audubon Center in the hills above Santa Fe, New Mexico yesterday (two actually). I got to test out the insect subject recognition auto focus on the Sony a6700. It works very well…however I had to switch off “silent shutter” as the rolling shutter effect did strange things to the moth’s wings. Propeller effect for sure. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications and Insect Recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.