All day in the woods (10 pics)

[Steve Foss]

Hey all. I was out with a couple other photographers from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. yesterday. Here's some of the cool stuff we found.

All with the Canon 30D, beaver and spruce grouse with Canon 400 f5.6L, all others with Canon 100 f2.8 macro.

Now I'm off for more photography. Golly, but the summer is going to go by fast at this rate!

Mushroom in moss and needles

iso200, 1/25 at f11, from rest

Flowering moss

iso200, 1/400 at f2.8

Canada mayflower (false lily-of-the-valley)

iso200, 1/1000 at f2.8

Sprucie looks up

iso200, 1/100 at f5.6

Stemless (pink) ladyslippers ready to flower

iso200, 1/100 at f4

Corydalis on a sunny rock

iso200, 1/160 at f6.3

Budding bunchberry, a statement in greens

iso200, 1/250 at f2.8

Last-light beaver

iso400 1/200 at f5.6

Wood anemone on the rocks

iso200, 1/200 at f4.5

Small wood anemone, smaller bee

iso200, 1/100 at f4.5

[MN Shutterbug]

Cool stuff! But, how in the world did you get close enough to that grouse, to obtain such an excellent close up shot, with a 100mm lens? Or, did you mean 400/5.6? Either way, it's awesome. I also love the mushroom. The detail is incredible.

[JayinMN]

Awesome collection! These make me want to get another lens now. I like the grouse the best.

Mike, spruce grouse are pretty docile, you can often walk right up on them. They have been called "fool's hens" because you can kill them with a rock.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks guys.

Mike, it was a typo. I fixed it. It was with the 400 f5.6L, and this image only has about 10 percent cropped away. The folks I was with had zooms and were able to get the whole bird, but since the only part in the sun was the head/neck/chest, I figured some tight portraits wouldn't be bad.

Although if I had the 100mm on I could have taken about two steps forward and gotten tight shots of the full bird. The other times I've shot them it's been the same way. Tame.

With sprucies, the challenge is not getting close. It's finding them in the first place and then trying to maneuver them into the clear (they prefer thick jackpines and such).

[tweedlap]

Thanks for the great pictures. I really enjoy checking out this forum.

More, please!

tweed

[mmeyer]

Man, those are all winners Steve!! All around great stuff.

[bassNspear]

Corydalis on a sunny rock

Favorite one. Awesome stuff.

[Scott M]

Wow, that's sharp! Good job as always Steve!

[jonny_redhorse]

Simply superb images Steve!....

[Catmendo]

I appreciate each and everyone of these mr. Foss. My personal favorite of the series is the beaver. It's razor sharp, super composition, but more important to me is the beavers expression. Knowing that their eyesight is not quite up to an eagles standard, it still looks as though he/she is keeping a close watch on you anyway! Great work!

[MT Net]

Fantastic images!

I do enjoy getting out with other photographers. Its a great way to pick up new ideas and tricks. And a great way to bounce ideas off each other; a perfect way for us novices to learn more.

[fishinchicks]

Once again you have made it impossible for me to pick a favorite. I do like the pose on the spruce grouse.