This page contains a few of my photographs that I consider to be personal favorites. The problem with personal favorites is that I tend to assign them to categories, and I don’t know if that’s a bad thing or not. I have some bird photographs that I consider to be some of my all-time favorites, however when I try and compare them to some landscape shots that I also like I can’t throw one out for the other since they are completely different subjects.
In addiiton, what I consider to be a “Favorite” is always changing. Today’s favorite may be in tomorrow’s trash. My abilities change and my tastes change. This is part of being a photographer and indicates to me that I’m still growing and maturing even after all of these years. I tend to become more discriminating in what I feel is good, and judge my own photographs more harshly.
Regardless, here are a few that I like today. They may change tomorrow though.
HARRIS’S HAWK |
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This gorgeous bird is an education bird at the Nashville Zoo. He isn’t normally on display however his handler had him out enjoying the warm weather while I was there. These birds aren’t resident to this part of the country so I don’t get to see them in the wild. It was quite a treat to see one this close, the photo was taken at 5.5 feet focus distance! There are many more photographs from the Nashville Zoo on This Page of this web site, and even more bird photographs on This Page. |
BIRDS OF PREY |
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I couldn’t pick just one of this set, I had to show both birds. I was at Radnor Lake on a Saturday morning when one of the rangers was showing these two birds off. They have both been injured and rehibilitated but their injuries prevent them from being released into the wild again; they would not be able to survive. The Great Horned Owl was caught in a fence and destroyed one of his wings trying to get loose. A veterinarian saved his life but had to amputate the remains of the wing. I didn’t hear what the injury was on the Red Shouldered Hawk. Both of these birds will become some of the first permanent residents of the new aviary being built at Radnor Lake. There are many more photographs from Radnor Lake on This Page of this web site, and even more bird photographs on This Page. |
SIMPLY ORANGE |
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I was at the Nashville Zoo one afternoon in November, 2012 when I noticed this Caribbean Flamingo snoozing with his bill tucked under his wing. That single eye was alive and watching every move I made though, and even though he would occasionally close it for a second it wasn’t for long. There are more photographs from the Nashville Zoo on This Page of this web site. |
BURN OUT! |
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Nothing says power like NHRA Top Fuel, and Tony Schumacher doing a burnout at the 2011 Arizona Nationals is the ultimate in power and energy as far as I’m concerned. The sound is not as much heard as it is felt; the ground shakes, the stands shake, the world shakes, the ears refuse to process what they hear as sound. There are many more photographs from this trip on This Page of this web site. |
HIGH SPEED OPPOSING PASS |
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It’s hard to question the fact that catching two of the Blue Angels doing a high-speed opposing pass is anything but luck, but occasionally we all get lucky. This was shot at the 2012 Great Tennessee Airshow and shows two of the US Navy Blue Angels doing a high-speed opposing pass. Their closure rate was probably in the range of 500 knots (575 mph) so catching them in one frame was certainly lucky. I’ve tried a number of times to do it and the fact that I managed to capture them makes this one of my favorites. There are many more photographs from this air show on This Page of this web site. |
QUEST COMPLETE |
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I used to work with a bunch of duck hunters and they advised me that I needed to get a photograph of a Wood Duck. I asked them where they could be found in this area and was told, “Aw, pretty much anywhere there is water. They are very common around here.” That was about 1978 and I tried for over 30 years to find one. There is no telling how many miles I walked and how many hours I spent around lakes and ponds looking for a stupid Wood Duck. In 2012 I finally saw my first one and a 30+ year quest was completed. There are many more photographs from Radnor Lake on This Page of this web site, and even more bird photographs on This Page. |
SPRING MAJESTY |
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This was shot at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens just as spring was making itself felt in 2013. It is part of a group of thousands of Tulips that were on display, and the vivid colors perfectly matched the weather on that day. There are many more photographs from Cheekwood on This Page of this web site. |
PORTRAIT OF A LYNX |
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Udo is one of a pair of Eurasian Lynxes at the Nashville Zoo, and one of my favorite exhibits there. They frequently pace around their habitat and behave like coiled springs ready to explode. Short and stocky they are nothing but solid muscle and grace in motion. There are many more photographs from the Nashville Zoo on This Page of this web site. |
SUNRISE AT THE LAKE |
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I really enjoy getting up early and heading for Old Hickory Wildlife Management Area to photograph birds. This photograph was taken early on the morning of November 9, 2013 just as the sun lifted above the lake. A little bit of fog on the water and some extraordinary clouds above emphasized the colors of a gorgeous sunrise. There are many more photographs from Old Hickory WMA on This Page of this web site. |
GREAT EGRET |
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We don’t get many Egrets in this part of the country. I’ve seen a few, but not many, and never one when I had a camera with me. Needless to say I was thrilled when I saw a few Great Egrets gliding over Old Hickory Lake, and it was an easy choice to make this one of my personal favorites. There are many more photographs from Old Hickory WMA on This Page of this web site. |