Whew!  We are finally back into a routine it seems following our latest road trip over the boys’ Spring Break.

A couple of years ago we bought our first annual National Parks Pass.  That was the best decision my family has made on vacations!  Our goal: to hit EVERY National Park Site once in our lifetime.  Did you know that there is an entire club devoted to visiting all the National Parks!  It is the National Park Travelers Club and though we aren’t ones now I know we are going to be members soon enough!  After our first couple of visits to National Parks in the South West Region we got the boys a National Park Passport that they get stamped at each visitor center.  They love doing it.  And we make a point to hit every National Park Site we can while on the road.

This Spring Break we chose to take our crew down through southern Florida.  We hit DeSoto National Memorial in Bradenton, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Refuge on Sanibel Island, Big Cypress National Preserve near Ochopee, Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park and the Canaveral National Seashore.  See, I told you we like to see the National Parks!

The first that we visited we were unable to reach the visitor’s center before they closed, so sadly, no stamp at this stop for the boys.  Maybe we will stop again another trip just for the stamp.  But the actual grounds were open until sunset so we went and explored.  It was quiet and an easy hike.  It was really foggy too.  But there was a small beach where we got to see a couple of small sharks swimming around and check out some plants that we hadn’t noticed before.  Here are a few images from that Park.

I am not sure if it was the area or the weather or the time of day but we really didn’t see a whole lot of wildlife here.  But oh just wait!  In the next few days you will see all the wildlife we DID run into!  Some a little bit bigger then others!

Happy Travels!

K

P.S. If you are interested in getting a National Park Passport for your kids you can purchase them online here before your next trip.  Also, don’t forget to buy your annual pass at your stop in a National Park Visitor Center or entrance!  It is well worth it!

National Parks Passport Program

This week the theme for our 52 week blog circle is WIDE ANGLE.  So, I took an inventory of what I have in the way of wide angle lenses to use this past week.  My first L series lens was the 17-40mm f4.0.  We bought it as we prepared to galavant across the southwest and wanted to be able to capture the sweeping views we would encounter in National Parks like the Grand Canyon, Arches and Zion.

So of course my first thought was to photograph a landscape image but that was just too similar to something I have been able to accomplish before.  What I had not tried before was turning my wide angle lens on people and pets.  I love the look of portraits of dog noses with a fish eye lens but with out one of those I was going to see what I could do with just my 17-40mm.  So I set off to try to capture that wide angle distortion.  Photographing women and girls with a wide angle lens is probably not going to win you any fans.  But little boys think it’s funny to see themselves “puffy” (as my son put it) and dogs’ noses just beg to be photographed in this manner.

Note: On a crop sensor that 17mm is actually not as wide, more like a 27mm.  However, even with that focal length I figured I should be able to get something fun.  Here is what I came up with for my WIDE ANGLE this week…Noses

Now head on over to Valerie’s blog to see what she came up with her WIDE ANGLE image.

If you want to read a little bit more about using wide angle lenses take a look at these articles from LenRental.com and another from Jim Harmer at ImprovePhotography.com.  If you are on Pinterest, I have both these articles pinned in my Photo Tips & Tricks board that you can repin from.

Cheers,

K

We don’t get too many around here it seems…rainy days that is.  Okay, perhaps more then we did in Vegas.  But I was sort of glad to see the rain yesterday…it meant I would not be going for my run (shhh don’t tell on me).  You know the saying…”you’re too sweet you’ll melt”…okay maybe that’s not me but that saying is definitely about my little guy.  He would certainly melt, he is THAT sweet.

So instead of venturing out, we thought we would play around with all the wonderful diffused light and umbrellas and stuffed animals named Joe.

What do you like to do on a rainy day?  Do you like to curl up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea?  Do you like to stay hidden under the covers of your bed?  Or are you one of those people who pull on your wellies and run into the nearest puddle like you were a kid again?  That last one sounds like a lot of fun but then again so does the cup of tea and quiet time to read!  Okay, so tell me your favorite thing to do on a rainy day in the comments below.  Even better take a picture and use the hashtag #kg_rainyday and show us on Instagram what your rainy day looks like!  If you aren’t already, following me on Instagram I’m @kgilbert and then go ahead and leave your Instagram name below.

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This week’s theme for our 52 Week Blog Circle project is Animals.  I seriously considered just posting pictures of my 2 legged “animals” a couple of times this week!  Then I remembered all the cool pelicans that hang out nearby at the marina.  Since we were going to be there for a party I figured I could catch a few images of them.  Well, wouldn’t you know?  No pelicans.  There was however, a lone heron.  I headed out to the boat slips where I saw him stalking some fish but then the kids there chased him off.  But lucky for me he wound up on the end of the jetty just in front of a gorgeous setting sun.  He knew what I wanted.  I took a few different exposures and orientated some portrait and some landscape composing some with him centered and then to each side.  I finally settled on this image here.  I hope you enjoy it!

{52 Week – Week 5 Animal  1/6400sec, ISO 100, 102mm (70-200mm 2,8 II IS), f/2.8, Canon 40D}

I hope you enjoy a peek at one of our local Florida animals.  And to prove that there really are pelicans here at the marina here is a pic from my iPhone of my lunch buddies. Until you are up close to them you don’t realize that these pelicans are actually pretty good size!  And when they stretch their necks and flap their beaks it really is an impressive sight.

Same marina just different birds.  I warned my son about feeding the seagulls.

And this shot might actually be the same white heron in my sunset image above.  I haven’t seen more then one there at the marina at any given time so maybe he just hangs out there and that is his spot.  He and I might get better acquainted if I keep getting to take his picture.

Though this isn’t at the Marina it is of a pelican taken with my 40D last fall.  I really do enjoy seeing the pelicans around.  I think before our time is up here in Florida I may have to find me a nice looking one for my decor.  What to name him though?

What are some of the “animals” you see around where you live?  If you have some shots of them feel free to leave a link in the comments so we can check them out!

Now take some time and head on over to Katrina Lee’s blog and see what “animals” she spotted this week up in Nebraska.

Cheers,

K

This week for our 52 week project the theme is LOW LIGHT.  No remote shots this week.  I need to keep working on my silhouette shots.  I am not completely happy with this one from December.  I need to keep playing with them.

I know Florida is a nice place to live but I really didn’t expect the panhandle to be THIS mild in the winter.  I do miss the snow but how do you NOT enjoy being at the beach at sunset in the winter months!  Though you won’t find me in the water, (brrrr!) these two crazies don’t seem to mind one bit.

So head on over to Katrina Lee’s blog to what amazing-ness she has created for this week’s LOW LIGHT theme and try to enjoy the last bit of light at the end of every day.

Cheers,

K