I hope everyone is having a wonderful time this holiday season! We have been down at my son's place in Niagara Falls, returning home last night to a massive amount of snow. I have so many photos to share, many steeped in mistakes as I have little experience shooting indoors. I thought I'd post them in a breakdown of themes, (Critters, Birds, Butterflies and Snow). I know they are not the greatest, but I learned a lot and I look forward to trying again this coming spring.

Thanks for having a look.


Tortoise --- he was running laps in his pen --- I am not kidding --- and it was pretty dark with heat lamps hanging low.

Pentax F 70 - 210 ISO 1600 f/5.6 1/800 (I bought a Pentax SF1 with this lens for $30.00 off kijiji -- I love it!)







Bat ---- These guys were just incredible and totally in the dark. Once my eyes adjusted I tried many different settings to get a shot. This is the only one that turned out well enough to keep.

Tamron 90 ISO 12800 f/3.2 1/25








Bearded Dragon --- low light with a heat lamp --- I have lots of cool shots of this handsome fellow!

Pentax F 70 - 210, ISO 1600, f/5.6 1/2000







Giant Cockroaches --- shot in the dark

Tamron 90 ISO 3200 f/2.8 1/30

[Jacquot]

The last one is a horror image for a New Yorker...

[Bob Harris]

Great job on the bat and the heat lamp throws a different type of light out, nicely done for sure.

[AussieTrev]

Nice series. The lighting on the turtle is superb and the bad has something on his mind.

[loco]

What beautiful images, Tess! The bat fascinates me. All of these are wonderfully lit and seem to capture the essence of each animal! Well done! Hope you have a wonderful 2013!!

[bluestringer]

Great shots Tess.

[tessfully]

The last one is a horror image for a New Yorker...

It was worse seeing it in real life! Thanks for having a look Jacquot

Great job on the bat and the heat lamp throws a different type of light out, nicely done for sure.

Thank you so much Bob!

Nice series. The lighting on the turtle is superb and the bad has something on his mind.

Thanks Aussie, the Bat, Turtle and Bearded Dragon are special to me somehow. I am glad you liked them... I thought maybe I should lighten that turtle up a bit

What beautiful images, Tess! The bat fascinates me. All of these are wonderfully lit and seem to capture the essence of each animal! Well done! Hope you have a wonderful 2013!!

Oh Lori, it is always so nice to read your comments. Thank you so much. That bat cave was incredible... I loved seeing it... amazing critters. Happy New Year to you too

Great shots Tess.

Thank you bluestringer

[daacon]

Well done Tess love the Bat and cockroaches !

[bigted]

I love your bat, I have a sweet spot for bats.

[Bruce Clark]

Good work in the dark there, those cockroaches came out pretty well considering the conditions. I like the dragon,. a fine Aussie fellow. My Mum had a lot of these as visitors in her backyard in Bundaberg, Queensland, many years ago. Way before digital cameras, I remember exercising the Ricoh XR-P chasing them around the yard. They were quite tame and one of my sons would pick them up. Not me though.

[OrchidJulie]

Wonderful critters, Tess. The tortoise and bearded dragon, especially. TFS!

[tessfully]

Well done Tess love the Bat and cockroaches !

Thanks Dave!

I love your bat, I have a sweet spot for bats.

Me too Ted... The small brown bats around us suffered a disease in recent years and reduced their numbers significantly. We have only seen one in two years, whereas in the past there would be dozens hunting every evening. Thank you for commenting.

Good work in the dark there, those cockroaches came out pretty well considering the conditions. I like the dragon,. a fine Aussie fellow. My Mum had a lot of these as visitors in her backyard in Bundaberg, Queensland, many years ago. Way before digital cameras, I remember exercising the Ricoh XR-P chasing them around the yard. They were quite tame and one of my sons would pick them up. Not me though.

Hi Bruce! Thanks for the comments and for sharing some of your memories. I actually thought of you and my other Aussie friends here on the forum as I made my way through the bird, critter and butterfly sanctuaries as many are from Australia. I can't wait to go back in the spring. The Dragon was my absolute favourite. I wish they lived wild around here. Thank you again

Wonderful critters, Tess. The tortoise and bearded dragon, especially. TFS!

Thank you Julie! That big old tortoise was very cool.

[Sailor]

A group of creatively captured critters and creatures. Nice job, tess. Seems you have the touch for all things photographic.

Jer