A few highlights from our trip last week to the deserts and mountains of Southeast Arizona to look for critters. Sometimes it's good to get back home... this doesn't feel like one of those times... I loved it out there! 110 F in the desert in the afternoon and down to 60 degrees F in the evening in the mountains... AWESOME!

Male Magnificent Hummingbird
Pentax smc P-F* 300mm f/4.5 ED IF
1/180s f/4.5 at 300.0mm iso100

Black-Chinned Hummingbird mother feeding her young
Pentax smc P-F* 300mm f/4.5 ED IF
1/160s f/4.5 at 300.0mm iso100

Male Broad-Billed Hummingbird
Pentax smc P-F* 300mm f/4.5 ED IF
1/125s f/10.0 at 300.0mm iso400

Male Black-Chinned Hummingbird
Pentax smc P-F* 300mm f/4.5 ED IF
1/1250s f/9.0 at 300.0mm iso400

Male White-Eared Hummingbird
1/1250s f/8.0 at 300.0mm iso400

Guess who?
Vivitar 105mm f/2.5 Series 1 Macro
1/125s f/9.0 at 100.0mm iso400

Hooded Oriole
Pentax smc P-F* 300mm f/4.5 ED IF
1/125s f/8.0 at 100.0mm iso400

Roadrunner tracking down a lizard
1/640s f/9.0 at 500.0mm iso400
F*300 plus 1.7x teleconverter

Coachwhip Snake looking for mice (It found several, but we didn't get any good shots)
Pentax smc P-F* 300mm f/4.5 ED IF
1/125s f/8.0 at 300.0mm iso400

Juvenile Diamondback Rattlesnake we found after a rain in the Sonoran Desert
Vivitar 105mm f/2.5 Series 1 Macro
1/125s f/10.0 at 100.0mm iso800

Mexican Deer
1/160s f/8.0 at 500.0mm iso800

Spiny-Tailed Iguana in the desert near the Sonoran Desert Museum
1/320s f/6.3 at 300.0mm iso200

Young Gopher Snake that mPentax my son found near our cabin
Pentax smc P-F* 300mm f/4.5 ED IF
1/200s f/4.5 at 300.0mm iso640

Double Rainbow in the Sonoran Desert
1/100s f/7.1 at 16.0mm iso400 full

Sonoran Desert sunset
1/125s f/6.3 at 16.0mm iso800

[scott-devon]

Fantastic shots, those are all the kind of shots I dream of getting while I'm chasing elusive birds through the bush. I'll chime in with Rhermans... Wow!

[Bud]

Fantastic shots, those are all the kind of shots I dream of getting while I'm chasing elusive birds through the bush. I'll chime in with Rhermans... Wow!

Thanks! Ahhh, but isn't the chase often the best part?

[cmv]

I wasn't expecting so much wildlife for a desert series and it is all captured so nicely. How large was the juvinile rattle snake? I have to admit I'd be a bit nervous at 105mm .

[Bud]

I wasn't expecting so much wildlife for a desert series and it is all captured so nicely. How large was the juvinile rattle snake? I have to admit I'd be a bit nervous at 105mm .

Thanks for your comments! The young Diamondback was only about 2 feet long and I didn't get much closer than 3 feet to it while laying on the ground, trying to get eye level. It didn't seem to feel threatened by our presence, and I didn't attempt anything too risky... at least, from my point of view My girlfriend probably has a slightly different opinion of the whole event.

[Eaglerapids]

I don't know how I missed this thread. I'm doing a search on the Vivitar 105/2.5 that I have coming and found this.
Unbelievable shots, my goodness, very cool pics with the Vivitar:-).
But there's that dang FA*300 again. When that lens is used by an accomplished photographer like you Bud and Tom Lusk and others it just delivers outstanding photos. Your compositions are incredible. It's amazing to see a top notch tool used to it's full advantage, great pictures!

edit: I was looking at them again and noticed you have the F*300, gotta go check that one out:-).

[SCGushue]

I don't know how I missed this thread. :-).

Bud,

Have to agree with Eaglerapids.

This is a really wonderfull series of captures. Pleanty of great images, contrast, great lighting, cropping and just about everything going for it.

Glad I had the opportunity to comment before all was lost

Stephen

[Matthew Roberts]

Where can I get a F* 300mm?

Dang Bob. I knew SE AZ had a reputation as a "Garden of Eden", but that! We've only got Black-chinned Hummingbirds here. But there are plenty o' Roadrunners!

Isn't the Southwest great???

[Bud]

I don't know how I missed this thread. I'm doing a search on the Vivitar 105/2.5 that I have coming and found this.
Unbelievable shots, my goodness, very cool pics with the Vivitar:-).
But there's that dang FA*300 again. When that lens is used by an accomplished photographer like you Bud and Tom Lusk and others it just delivers outstanding photos. Your compositions are incredible. It's amazing to see a top notch tool used to it's full advantage, great pictures!

edit: I was looking at them again and noticed you have the F*300, gotta go check that one out:-).

Thanks for the comments! I think you'll really enjoy the Vivitar... GREAT lens for the money. That and the F*300 are the 2 best "accessory" investments I've made so far in this photography thing, and they've made my backyard wildlife adventures a lot of fun this summer.

[Bud]

Bud,

Have to agree with Eaglerapids.

This is a really wonderfull series of captures. Pleanty of great images, contrast, great lighting, cropping and just about everything going for it.

Glad I had the opportunity to comment before all was lost

Stephen

Thanks, Stephen!

[Bud]

Where can I get a F* 300mm?

Dang Bob. I knew SE AZ had a reputation as a "Garden of Eden", but that! We've only got Black-chinned Hummingbirds here. But there are plenty o' Roadrunners!

Isn't the Southwest great???

Matthew,

The Southwest is just amazing... so many different topograhies, ecosystems and species of wildlife. I'm pretty sure I'll be retiring out that way someday... still got a few more years of toiling here in the Midwest, but once the kids have squeaked their way through college... westward ho! Keep watching ebay for that F*300... the prices seem to be more reasonable here, lately, and I imagine they'll continue to fall as more people prepare to pick up the new DA*300 when it is available. I'm not sure I'll ever be looking to get rid of mine, however... I love this lens!