Monday in Nature Weekly Photo Sept. 21, 2015

[Laura Weishaupt]

<blockquote>

<p><strong>Basic Guidelines</strong>: Nature based subject matter. Please, declare captive subjects. Keep your image at/under 700 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing and try to keep file size under 300kb. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Feel free to link your image to a larger version. <strong><em>In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include hand of man elements. Please refrain from images with obvious buildings or large man made structures like roads, fences, walls. Try to minimize man made features and keep the focus on nature. </em></strong><br>

<strong><em> </em></strong><br>

<strong><em>Are you new to this thread? We post one image per week. For more details on guidelines <a href="/nature-photography-forum/00cgtY">please read this helpful information</a>. </em></strong></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Good Morning,<br>

Quite a while back a contributor to this thread was curious about gear and technique. He wanted an explanation of how the photo was taken. I recall that he was very capable with a camera, but appreciated learning from others. Sadly, he’s no longer around, but the spirit of his curiosity still is. It seems like a good idea to occasionally explain a few details about the taking of the photos that we post. There’s always something to teach and always something to learn. If you're not in a talkative mood, that's OK also.</p>

<p>This week’s opener was taken in the Forest Cathedral, a stand of old growth in western Pennsylvania. We were there primarily to look at fungi, but dry conditions led our eyes and cameras in a different direction. The forest is dominated by Eastern White Pine and Eastern Hemlock, many 300 to 400 years old. Beech also grows in this forest. This stand of trees only exists because the owner of the land decided not to log it in the 1920’s. Instead, it would be set aside for preservation and nature would be protected for its own sake. Unfortunately, our time in the area was limited. Most of the wider view I photographed left me wanting. These Beech seedlings were growing on the mossy surface of a fallen old pine and caught a shaft of mid day light through the canopy. Taken with the Canon XSi and ef-s 10-22 @ 22mm, f4.5, exp. 1/50 sec, ISO 200.</p>

<p>What’s your story, for not only Monday in Nature, but also International Peace Day?</p><div></div>

[cegeiss]

<p>Saturday was the first foggy morning that felt like fall around here. Most leaves in the local parks are still green, but the first ones are turning color, and I don't think t is just because of our recent dry weather.</p><div></div>

[Rick Bortnick]

<p>Marsh Marigold</p><div></div>

[Edwin Barkdoll]

<p>I've always wondered how old those scrubby, beaten down trees or shrubs are in alpine terrain. While climbing Katahdin (ME, USA) this weekend I picked up a 1 cm diameter x 10 cm long dead twig from the trail.</p>

<p>At home I cut and polished the end and counted ~90 years, on average only a little more than 100 microns of growth (diameter) per year!</p>

<p>This shot of the twig is about 1/4 inch across.</p><div></div>

[stemked]

<p>I would like to extend Laura's thoughts about peace to the world of animals and particularly to one of the most persecuted groups, the snakes. Through fear, machismo, and habitat loss snakes are under constant threat. Many species in the US have had very significant decreases in range and certainly numbers. Now with a fungal threat (sorry Laura, not ALL fungi are appreciated) there is even more pressure on this segment of our wildlife. <br>

<br />I therefore offer my (slightly oldish) image of a threatened/endangered (depending on the state) Kirtland's Watersnake as my contribution this week. This snake has a very limited distribution across the midwest from eastern Pennsylvanian west to Illinois, North to Michigan, and south to Kentucky. <br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10829829-lg.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="402" /> </p>

[gordonjb]

<p>I found these small mushrooms growing from a fallen oak tree trunk. They were coming out of the trunk close to the ground in a position which made access, in order to get the shot that I wanted, difficult and the use of the tripod I had with me impossible. I ended up using the ring flash set to minus 1.5 EV because I know from experience that Canon cameras tend to blow the red channel with bright orange. In post I still needed to lower saturation and reduce luminosity in the mushrooms.<br>

I do not know the ID on these mushrooms.</p>

<p>Canon 70D - 60mm macro lens - ring flash - 1/125 sec. - f. 8 - 400 iso </p><div></div>

[Bill J Boyd]

<p><strong>Swallowtail</strong> seen at Pedernales Falls SP in central Texas.</p><div></div>

[biomed]

<p>With Autumn upon us here in the NE USA, there are lots of caterpillars around looking for a place to spend the winter.</p>

<center><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18092584-md.jpg" alt="IMG_7005" width="680" height="510" border="0" /></center><center>Canon G15</center>

[dcstep]

<p><strong>Monarch Approaches Wildflower</strong></p>

<p><a title="Monarch Approaching Wildflower" href=" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5659/21359753088_c302fd7281_c.jpg" alt="Monarch Approaching Wildflower" width="800" height="400" /></a></p>

[Glenn McCreery]

<p>I would have thought that a half-ton bull moose would have a problem getting over fences. But not this guy, he barely slowed down when he came to the fence. Taken yesterday morning near Driggs, Idaho. Note the snow on the mountains. It's never too early or too late in the year to snow around here.</p>

[Glenn McCreery]

<p>Whoops, I removed the photo, but not the text. There was a fence in the photo, so does not strictly follow the guidelines. Instead, here are two moose squaring off in preparation for mating season. They were not really fighting seriously, just practicing. Also taken yesterday morning near Driggs, Idaho.</p><div></div>

[thadley]

<p><img src="/photo/18087775" alt="" /> Taken close to the adirondacks NY (off Route 87N)</p><div></div>

[ShunCheung]

<p>Glenn wrote:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I would have thought that a half-ton bull moose would have a problem getting over fences. But not this guy, he barely slowed down when he came to the fence. Taken yesterday morning near Driggs, Idaho. Note the snow on the mountains. It's never too early or too late in the year to snow around here.

</P>

</blockquote>

<blockquote>

<P>

Whoops, I removed the photo, but not the text. There was a fence in the photo, so does not strictly follow the guidelines.

</P>

</blockquote>

<p>Good call, Glenn. At the time I saw your original post, there was no image attached yet. And I thought most likely that image wouldn't be considered nature photography. Later on I saw the retraction (and I never saw that fence image).</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>Coastline</p><div></div>

[DawsonPointers]

<p>Sand dune succession, southern Bruce Peninsula, Lake Huron.</p><div></div>

[fgorga]

<p>Our local paper mill has lowered the water behind its dam to do some repairs on the dam. This has exposed many acres of mud flats which have attracted migrating shore birds to a spot they would not normally occur.</p>

<p>A bit more than a week ago, my wife and I spent an afternoon exploring the area in our kayaks.</p>

<p>I would place the bow of the boat on the mud forty or fifty feet "in front" of a bird and wait for the birds to approach me. Many times they would walk right past the front of the boat making only a small detour around it.</p>

<p>I used my old Sigma 50-500 mm lens on a Nikon D300 to make this photograph. I can hand-hold this combo if needed but in the kayak, the lens is often resting on my knees.</p>

<p><img src="http://gorga.org/blog/wp-content/gallery/13-sep-2015/dsc6706.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="480" /><br>

Lesser Yellowlegs with Prey</p>

<p> The rest of the series can be found here: <a href="http://gorga.org/blog/?p=3186">http://gorga.org/blog/?p=3186</a></p>

[bing_huey1]

<p>In the past I've seen these convergent ladybugs mass like this during the colder months of the year, and I've read that the behavior was to conserve heat. The ones in this photo were seen just the other day when the temperature was quite warm, so they might be converging for another reason.</p><div></div>

[Laura Weishaupt]

<p>Douglas,<br>

You're right, not all is Wonderland with fungi, and they are the bane of many life forms. Chytrids are wiping out frogs and White Nose Syndrome is killing bats. I'm not familiar with the problems with snakes, but would appreciate some information about it. If you know of literature, please point me to it and I will read. I appreciate it.</p>

<p>Gordon, yes, I have lots of experience with Canon and the blowing of reds, especially in fungi. Some are incredibly difficult to get right. Compare the beauties in your image with <em>Mycena leaiana. </em><br>

<a href="http://www.mushroomexpert.com/mycena_leaiana.html">http://www.mushroomexpert.com/mycena_leaiana.html</a><br>

<a href="http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6492.asp">http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6492.asp</a><br>

<a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/f/fung1tc/agk0806.0001.001/431?page=root;rgn=full+text;sid=9f2f323a0b58d530cb9ed85450736e8d;size=100;view=image">http://quod.lib.umich.edu/f/fung1tc/agk0806.0001.001/431?page=root;rgn=full+text;sid=9f2f323a0b58d530cb9ed85450736e8d;size=100;view=image</a></p>

<p>The last link is to an older description, but you can get through it. I was at a large foray this past weekend and some of these came to the collection tables.</p>

[gordonjb]

<p>Laura thanks for the links. I'll go back to the location and see if I can find them again, now that I am armed with a name and description.They seem to fit the photo and description for Mycena leaiana. I've been using and enjoying the first 2 websites you linked to above since you brought them to my attention last week.</p>

[Laura Weishaupt]

<p>Gordon, another really good on line resource is MycoQuebec. <a href="http://www.mycoquebec.org/bas.php?l=r&nom=Mycena%20leaiana%20/%20Myc%C3%A8ne%20de%20L%C3%A9a&post=Mycena&gro=28&tag=Mycena%20leaiana">Here</a> is their page on <em>Mycena leaiana</em>. The site is in French but you can get some of it in English. It is an excellent place to find additional photographs. I use it often. At the foray last weekend we found an extraordinary fungus and a couple of us got very excited about it. It was new to me and another well versed mycologist knew the genus, but couldn't remember the species. His brain churned for a bit and he finally told me, "it's on MycoQuebec". Sure enough, it was.</p>

 

[Mary Doo]

<p>Laura, seeing beech trees in a forest is a delight. I was hiking in a local trail last week and noticed quite a number of them.</p>

<p>Bing Huey, how wonderful is that sight! I do see a few lady bugs every here and now, and mainly on the milkweed because there's a good supply of aphids. Here is a couple (literally) taking time out from food.</p>

<p>I shot this with the Olympus 60mm macro lens on the Olympus micro 4/3 E-M1 mirrorless camera.</p><div></div>

[roman_p]

<blockquote>

<p> It seems like a good idea to occasionally explain a few details about the taking of the photos that we post. There’s always something to teach and always something to learn.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You’re absolutely right Laura. This forum is not just for showing your skills, but also to share it. However I’m shooting film and don’t know how many members here really want to pursued the “classic” way of photography. But here my details: Nikon F6 camera with Voigtlander 20mm lens at f11, Velvia 50, Lee 81B and 0.6 Graduated filter (Soft stop), Gitzo Mountaineering Tripod, shutter speed-automatic (not recorded).</p><div></div>

[wayne_wrights]

<p>The Rut. Cataloochee Valley, NC</p><div></div>

[dcstep]

<p>Where can I see the big moose jumping the fence. I consider that part of "nature" in today's world and love seeing big bucks and bulls jumping fences. </p>

[bing_huey1]

<p>Mary Doo, Thanks. Perhaps all your local ladybugs have gone to converge elsewhere. Your shot beautifully shows the sexual dimorphism in that species.</p>