Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2025 — I have invested in a longer lens, for those situations where the birds are just too far away for my 600mm equivalent lens to provide satisfying images. (Of course, I will never be completely satisfied, and part of me knows this.) The big lens is too heavy for me to use for any length of time “hand-held” so I am experimenting with tripods and monopods…trying to refine my long-telephoto technique before I might need it in Ecuador in December. (And I don’t know that I will need it at all…I have only ever been to one of the places we are going. Still, better to be prepared.) With a cooperative bird like our neighborhood Bluebird, at this kind of distance (about 20 feet), the long lens certainly provides amazing detail, but a shorter lens would provide a satisfying image if you did not compare the two too closely. And by the time you see this image…on your computer, tablet, or phone, you would, most likely, not be able to see much difference at all between the two. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 @ 500mm (cropped to at least 800mm equivalent). Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. And, yes, I am getting the hang of shooting from a solid support. All it takes is practice.

Herring Gull: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2025 — While waiting for Carol and Erin and the grandkids to come back from the far reaches of the beach, I was entertained by the Herring Gulls hunting the shallows behind the breakers in the late afternoon light. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent. Aperture program (f7.1) with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

I flipped the view screen around on the Sony a6700 so that Noemi could see herself and this is what happened (some of what happened). Without any prompting on my part, I might add. Totally spontaneous. I am not sure what this says about Noemi, but I am pretty sure it is something good 🙂 Sigma 16-300 at 24mm equivalent. Auto. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Morning faces: Everleigh and Noemi, visiting from Denver. (Regular programming will resume after they go back. 🙂 Mom and Dad had a sleep in (mom more than Dad). Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 @ 84mm and 54mm. Nissin a60i flash, bounced. Auto with face recognition.

We have children and grandchildren visiting from Denver, and I have quickly discovered that this grandpa can’t keep up with them. They were so far down the beach that I needed all of my telephoto lens. Dancing on the silver/gold sands against the sun of a late afternoon in October. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 230mm equivalent. Auto. Processed in Photomator.

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2025 — As I mentioned earlier, this Red-bellied Woodpecker is coming to the deck feeders much more often these days than in the past…when we would go a month at a time without seeing it. It, or its family, lives in the woodlot across the street, between our house and the new development back in there. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 from a tripod. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Mousam River at flood tide, Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2025 — For a dull fall overall, there are still places where the feeling of season comes through strong and clear. This is two 24mm equivalent shots with the Sony a6700 and Sigma 16-300 at 24mm equivalent in Auto and Landscape Scene Mode, processed in Photomator and stitched together in Bimostitch, to simulate our native perspective a bit more. It is not about any particular detail, but about the overall impression. Glorious!

Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2025 — I have a lot to learn with the new 150-500 Tamron zoom. It is just too big and too heavy for me to use for more than a few shots handheld…and way to heavy to have hanging off my shoulder when not in use…but its extra reach makes shots I just could not get with any lessor lens possible. I have to shoot from a tripod, and that is turning out to be whole new experience, requiring the development of new skills (and the purchase of a tripod tall enough to be useful and light enough to pack for trips…as well as inexpensive enough to justify for the times I might use it.) The local Titmouse family were cooperated while I was out learning. And again, for a plain bird, these shots among the fall foliage just make me smile. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm equivalent (cropped to at least 800mm equivalent). Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2025 — As the season changes here in Southern Maine, the Red-bellied Woodpecker is spending more time around the feeders on our deck. It never stops for long and is super wary, any motion and it is off again. In this case I had the camera up to photograph a nuthatch on another feeder when the Red-bellied flew in. It actually appeared in the background of the photo I was framing, so I only had to move the slightest bit to get it in frame, and I got off a burst of a dozen shots before it flew again. Notice the pink tint on the lower belly…that is the “red-belly” of the name. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent. Aperture (f7.1) with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2025 — Just pretty pictures of a fairly plain little bird…but if they do not wake a bit of delight (bordering on awe) in you then I do not know what might? I take no credit for them (I was just blessed to be in the right place at the right time with a decent camera in my hands), but I am happy to be able to share them with you this glorious Sunday sabbath. It is a miracle not only that such beings exist, on a bright day in Southern Maine, with the foliage turning behind them, but that we have been given to ability to appreciate them and the day. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent. Aperture (f7.1) with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.