Lee's Photoblog
Camouflaged
Posted by Lee (Fort Frances Ontario, Canada) on 30 May 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
This shot was taken while on my weekend roam about. This is a male Green-Winged Teal. I watched him land in this slough and swim to this dead stump. This shot was taken using my strong lens set at about 1000mm. I have to say it amazed me how well he blended in with the dead stump.
Thank you for visiting my site. I consider myself to be lucky living where I do. Everyday I wake up to a wealth of interesting visual scenarios. Most of my pictures are Wildlife and Nature taken from around the area. The area specifically being Fort Frances Ontario on beautiful Rainy Lake. Feel free to comment on what you see. I look forward to hearing from you. If you like what you see, please rate it. Better yet, bookmark the site and drop back often. I will be posting daily.
All images are copyrighted by Lee Oelke Photography. They cannot be reproduced, electronically, or by printing without my written consent. Should you be interested in any of my images, please contact me.
Anthony Morgan Lambert from Bielefeld(old Pembroke Dock boy,Wales), Germany
He knew you were coming along with your camera and wanted to give you a good shot,what a pose !!
30 May 2009 5:08am
@Anthony Morgan Lambert: Thank you.
@zOOm: Thank you.
mats from Texas, United States
Thanks for sharing all your finds.. we are all learning about birds. That dead stump is also a great find.
30 May 2009 5:43am
@mats: Thank you. I never noticed the stump as a find. It could make an interesting image on its own.
@r00t: Thank you.
lydia from Paris, France
You are like a hunter Lee , but a very kind one with your camera ! We learn a lot about the animals with you , great picture , I love the dead stump , it's like a nest for the duck .
30 May 2009 6:22am
@lydia: Thank you. I enjoy being out with my camera. I am always looking for something different. It is getting harder to find something unique.
@Bill Brown: Thank you Bill.
roentarre from Melbourne, Australia
This mallard duck is really within the stardom!
30 May 2009 8:05am
@roentarre: Thank you very much.
@Ca†≈: Thank you. Yes it was watching me.
@Hidalgo: Thank you.
K.B.R from Switzerland
a natural camouflage
Beautiful colors, beautiful reflection
30 May 2009 9:49am
@K.B.R: Thank you very much.
Baby Sis from Canada
Very nice, does blend in well with the stump. Have a great weekend.
:-)
30 May 2009 11:43am
@Baby Sis: Thanks Shelley. You have a wonderful weekend also.
@Beat: Thank you.
@amirreza: Thank you.
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
He almost blended in too well!!! Nice catch, and just curious....are you hand holding that 1000mm lens??? If your answer is yes, then you are my ultimate hero!!! I have a tough time just with my 28-300!!!
30 May 2009 1:52pm
@Susan: Thanks Susan. And yes I am hand holding. Well leaning against a tree. But hand held. I hand hold all my shots. Actually I am fibbing a little. I tried using my tripod last weekend. Ya know, I do better with out it.
Christel from Köln, Germany
Hi Lee,
the photo is very beautiful. Animal to photograph is not always easy, especially with a nice background.
Love greetings Christel
30 May 2009 2:03pm
@Christel: Thank you very much Christel.
Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States
Amazing Lee! I love his hide-out! He really is camouflaged here. A beautiful bird! I also continue to be amazed at your hand holding ability! 1000mm!!!
Even when I am propped up or leaning on something I have trouble hand holding anything over 100mm...I am a tripod person all the way! (I guess that's why I like to shoot things that don't move much!)
30 May 2009 2:21pm
@Tracy: Thank you Tracy. To manage shots like this, a tripod could not be set up in time. I use what ever is available to lean or prop against. I then start shooting as many shots as I can before the subject moves. All the rules say use a tripod, I agree, but only when the situation allows. Wildlife does not wait for the photographer.
@Moridi: Thank you very much.
@Veronelle: Thank you.
@Daniel: Some days they are very shy.
Shan-Shan-Shan-a-roo from Psaydiland, Canada
This photo has 'mood'. It feels like there's a submerged croc nearby, just waiting to strike! Freshwater croc, of course... : - )
30 May 2009 2:54pm
@Shan-Shan-Shan-a-roo: Thanks Shanny. No freshwater croc. Just a freshwater Jackfish. Daaaa Da. Daaaa da. Oh, that's another movie.
@Hema Iyer: Thank you.
@LauraS: Thank you.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
BEYOND beautiful Lee, you say you love every bit of life and this is HUGE proof, full of love and my God it's a gorgeous photo: driftwood, bird, reflection, lovely lovely lovely
30 May 2009 3:24pm
@Lorraine: Merci Beau coup.
john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Stunning. Exquisite selective focus and detail. Neat reflections. Marvelous colors.
30 May 2009 3:27pm
@john4jack: Thank you Jack.
B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States
Very nice - texture on the wood, the duck, the reflection - all of it.
30 May 2009 3:31pm
@B. Thomas: Many thanks Barbara
@Sarah: Thank you Sarah.
Don from spokane, United States
He really is hidden rather well! A fine shot showing us the natural defenses an animal enjoys. I don't normally think of ducks as hiding, but this camouflage works very well.
30 May 2009 3:46pm
@Don: Thanks Don. I watched this bird fly in and land. It swam to this stump. When I tried finding it in the lens, I had a hard time doing so. That is when I saw how well it blended in. Standing there in the wide open, almost completely hidden.
grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom
The sculptural wood makes a great contrast with the duck and the glistening ripples
30 May 2009 3:51pm
@grouser: Thank you very much. I could not have planned it if I wanted to. I give full credit to the duck for this composition. All I did was focus and shoot.
@frederique: Thank you.
A from Kiev, Ukraine
I absolutely adore your images of nature. Always such great capture!
30 May 2009 8:34pm
@A: Thank you very much.
@Onlymehdi: Thank you.
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
How beautiful He is very well camouflaged and you did well to spot him if you needed a big boy lens like that
to get this shot
30 May 2009 9:34pm
@jamesy: Thank you Debbie. I watched this bird fly in and land, then swim to this stump. However, it was a long ways away. That's why I used big bertha.
Vinman from Essex, United Kingdom
Makes you wonder if creatures instinctively find cover of their own tone and colour or make the decision to head for it. Keep up the good work!
30 May 2009 9:53pm
@Vinman: Thank you. I think they automatically know where to head and why to head for it. It is part of their survival course they graduate from.
@titi: Thank you.
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
Good camouflage job! Well, not that good because you spotted him!
30 May 2009 10:23pm
@Ana Lúcia: Thank you Ana. But, I watched this bird land and swim there. Otherwise I would not have spotted it.
Denise from Duncannon, United States
Fantastic capture, this is one beautiul waterfowl.
31 May 2009 2:34am
@Denise: Thank you Denise.
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
Beautiful shot! The colours and reflections are amazing!
31 May 2009 4:28am
@bluechameleon: Thank you very much
@Kerri: Thank you.
Marion from Cincinnati, United States
fantastic capture! I LOVE the dead branch/log the duck is using for camouflage. Great shot!!! :)
31 May 2009 1:50pm
@Marion: Thank you Marion. I thought it was amazing how quickly this bird blended into it's surroundings.
eva from Rouen, France
the camouflage is frequent... (the same exist with insects, and it's fascinating). Really good !
31 May 2009 4:49pm
@eva: Thank you Eva. Yes you are right. In the animal kingdom everything is camouflaged. It is a matter of survival and life.
@Didier DE ZAN: Thank you.
@Véro: Thank you very much.
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
Fabulous! The reflection is great and the tones just perfect! Nice one Lee! My hubby looks through your portfolio daily! He grew up in Ontario and he knows the area well - your photography brings back those great memories.... He loves wildlife and is amazed by the quality you deliver.
1 Jun 2009 9:09pm
@Magda: Thank you very much to both of you for your support. I am pleased to hear that you enjoy viewing my shots. I just enjoy going out and looking for something different. I do try and strive for closeness and detail if possible in my shots.
