Monday ~ January 21, 2019

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 21, 2019
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Happy Monday!

Angie brought the grand kids over yesterday as Ben was on call and working.  We had about 7 inches of fresh snow and you know what that means when you have kids.  🙂

The only one who didn’t get to enjoy the sledding was Addie.  She stayed inside and after I took these images I went back in and spent some quality time with her.

Austin had his share of mishaps but never quit smiling.  He would get back up and carry his sled back up the hill and do it all over again.

Josh had his form perfected after his first few runs and he set the longest slide of the group.

Angie didn’t slide but she was taking pictures of the kids.  This is the same hill that her and Mark slid down when they were young.  Spent hours watching them come down that hill.  🙂

Got a nice pose from Gabby.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

 

Thursday ~ January 17, 2019

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 17, 2019
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Happy Thursday!

I haven’t been doing much photography of late.  I always have a camera with me but just haven’t found anything that interested me.  It’s been cloudy and gray for most of the last couple of weeks, not the best light for photographs.

These photos were taken with the Nikon D500 (a cropped sensor DLSR) and with the Sigma 60mm – 600mm f4.5 – f6.3DG 105.  Used on the D500 the focal length becomes 90mm – 900mm so I get a good range.

Over the years I’ve had a love / hate relationship with Sigma lenses but their quality has improved greatly and this one is now my favorite lens.  It is tack sharp, quite, and fast focus.

The University of Dubuque has a flying program that many future pilots attend and learn to fly.  They also get their commercial pilots’ license.  The U of D has many planes and on any given day at the Dubuque Regional Airport you can see many of them practicing their landings and take offs.  I saw this guy waiting to take off and getting the landing plane in the shot was just good luck.

I was coming back from Maquoketa yesterday afternoon and I saw at least ten hawks sitting on fence posts, wires, and signs.  This is the only one that sit still long enough for me to get even this shot.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Monday ~ January 07, 2019

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 7, 2019
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Happy Monday!

As the sign indicates I took a trip down to Green Island Wildlife Preserve yesterday.  I had very low expectations as this is not the best time of the year to visit the preserve, the weather was cold, gray, and cloudy so I fully expected to come back with an empty memory card.

While none of my images are outstanding in any way, I am always happy to photograph a Bald Eagle.  Even if he has his back to me and is a long way off.  I just love to watch these magnificent creatures.

I also found some Trumpeter Swans at the preserve.  Here is an adult with three signets.  There was an abundance of swans at the lake as well but too far away to photograph.  I enjoyed listening to the sounds they make.

The ever-present Canada geese are always fun to watch and photograph.

It occurred to me that many people who follow this blog have never been to the Green Island Preserve.  So I shot this short video to give you some idea of what it is like.  Perhaps I’ll do that again in the Spring when there is an abundance of wildlife and migratory birds in the area.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Thursday ~ January 03, 2019

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 3, 2019
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Happy Thursday!

It was a cold and gray day yesterday until around 3:30 p.m. when the clouds broke up and the sun shone through.  So I grabbed my camera and headed out to the Mines of Spain.

Couldn’t find any wildlife to photograph so I decided to capture the soft light of the setting sun and then find a vantage point to photography the sun set itself.

My plans went array however when a large bank of dark gray clouds came up in the west and it went from what looked like a great sunset to almost darkness.  😦

Perhaps another time.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Wednesday ~ January 02, 2019

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 2, 2019
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Happy Wednesday and a belated Happy New Year!

I always make the effort to photograph something on the first day of ever new year.  Just a self-imposed task that I have done for years.

The weather and light conditions were not conducive to photography but it felt great to be out with a camera.

Found this Red-bellied Woodpecker at the John Deere Preserve yesterday.  I went to the river but couldn’t find anything not even any ice fisherman.

There were also two pair of Trumpeter Swans also swimming with a large flock of Canada Geese.

The woodpecker was active and hard to get a lens on but I caught him sitting on this nest for a few minutes.

Finally a pair of ducks swimming in a fishing pond near the Heritage Trail.  The Mallard and the white one is an American Pekin.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Friday ~ December 28, 2018

Posted by Dave Updegraff on December 28, 2018
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Happy Friday!

All the years I have worked I never had the week after Christmas off.  I always envied those folks that did.  Now that I’m retired I’m enjoying this time between the Holidays.

We spent Christmas Eve Day at Angie and Ben’s home.  Ben made Beef Wellington for dinner.  I have never had it before and was amazed at the process.

Ben carved a Christmas tree in one Wellington and a snowman in the other.

The finished product.  I really enjoyed the taste.  It was a delicious dinner and a memorable evening.

The beautiful place settings.

My place all staked out waiting for the wonder food that would soon fill my plate.

Enjoy your day and be careful.