Brew's other other hobby... some recent pics I took...

[brewmaster15]

Hi all,
First an apology... sorry if you were looking for me last week..I was away on vacation with the family... we went down to Florida for a week of camping. We stayed in Naples, which is within minutes of the Everglades National park and Big Cypress Preserve. Kids got to see these beautiful places inbetween swimming pool fun and I got to take some photos and study up alittle on my biology.

Its beens years since I have been back down there..but there was a time when I used to spend alot of time there, studying the area's natural history, and taking many pictures.

This time I went down there with new camera Gear..I sold a bunch of my discus to upgrade from my 35mm slr to a digital SLR pentax k20D... I stayed with Pentax as I could use all my old lens. So this was literally my first time using the camera and gear together...I got the Camera days before leaving.

Its taken some getting used to....not in bad way... just in ways I hadn't anticipated....but all and all...I really like this camera!

So I shot over 10 Gbs of Hi res images... and got back here to find out that my computer software and computer really can't handle these images... but Thankfully I was able to improvise ...I can see a new Computer in my future...shortly after I decide which discus need to go to pay for it!

Anyhow..I resized a few and thought I'd share a few .

hope you like them,
al

[brewmaster15]

few more....

[dishpanhands]

Great pictures...Those are some tiny deer....LOL

[mmorris]

Nice to see you back, Al, and fantastic shots! I don't remember seeing that growth on your face...new?

[brewmaster15]

more...Fire is a major factor in the health of the Everglades... Prescribed Burns are used to lessen the chance that a major fire will destroy fire resistant trees and vegetation.. A cool fire removes brush and returns nutrients to the soil.

[brewmaster15]

Area of regrowth from Prescribed Burns around Cypress Trees.. This area is largely open "grassland" with islands and pockets of Cypress... The tree is deciduous and loses its foliation in the winter...Its just starting to grow back. Notice the green "grasses" starting to grow.

[William Palumbo]

Cool Shots Al...I like the bird eating the fish in the tree...It's a better Bass fisherman than me!...Bill

[brewmaster15]

Thanks !

Sorry I Missed your Call Martha yes that "growth" is new... The lizard decided to hitch a ride.

Heres a few more shots...

-al

[brewmaster15]

Okay last set for now....

What would a trip to the Everglades be without a few gator shots Normally I am not one that fears Gators as they usually are oblivious to me but when I was taking that Osprey shot it was next to a small Slough (slow running water) thats often fished and I think as I set up my tripod that a Gator there was a bit too used to fisherman. It swam from the far bank to me and was staring right at me... My Wife and Kids were in the Van next me and as I snapped dozen of Osprey shots they watched the gator to be sure it didn't come any closer...at its closest probably 15 feet away...not much all things considered. Its very unnerving when a big gator takes interest in you!!

-al

[Eddie]

Great pictures Al, looked like a great time!

Eddie

[rly]

Great pictures AL
thanks for sharing
Ron

[tacks]

Hi Al glad to see you had a safe trip up and down. It looks like you had some nice weather also and some great pictures Ed

[FLGirl1977]

Holy cow Al! Those pictures are awesome, especially of that osprey eating the fish! BTW, love the lizard on your face! lol.... my daughter catches those and releases them after a few days...

Hmmm... might have to look into that camera. I'm super jealous of the quality... did you buy any addition add-ons for that?

My pictures from Kayaking this weekend won't be nearly as nice as these...

[FLGirl1977]

BTW, did you have a chance to check out Clyde Butcher's Art Gallery while you were in the Everglades?

[brewmaster15]

Ron and Eddie ...Glad you like the pics!

Ed and Renee, I am so envious of you Floridians I came home to Cold CT weather.. It was so good to be out doors again!

Renee, I had a bunch of lens aleady, so I really just needed a camera body.. The Osprey was taken with an old manual 500 mm lens with a 1.5 X teleconverter....I was really surprised by how well it worked with my new digital camera.

The camera body , pentax k20D is really a great camera for the price..

hth,
al