Fred Weyman Wilderness and Landscape Fine Art Photography
Bittern
Bitterns are more often heard or seen flying, but they aren't often seen when they freeze among the reeds. This one in the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge was in a roadside ditch and didn't appear concerned as I maneuvered within 20 feet for this angle.
Gopher Snake
This Sonoran Gopher Snake was catching the last rays of sun on a back road in the Chiricahua Mountains near Portal in southeastern corner of Arizona. A wide-open aperture limited the depth of field enough that the snake almost merges with the road.
Great Blue Heron, Salt Point
Salt Point State Park, on the California coast about 75 miles north of San Francisco has some of the strangest eroded coastline on the west coast. Even the park's literature says that the formation process of the honey-comb like "tafoni" is not entirely understood but involves the interaction of salt spray, ocean water, and the cement between the sand grains of the rock. The bulbous concretions are parts of the rock that have stronger cements and are therefore more erosion resistant than the surrounding rocks. The great blue heron seemed out of place in this strange setting.
Great Egret
A Great Egret posed on a snag in the gray water of the Potomac River was a nice but fairly routine composition until the interaction of several small sets of waves formed the abstract background pattern.
Red-shouldered Hawk
When I saw this Red-shouldered Hawk among the thick, curving branches of a sprawling Valley Oak, I immediately thought of painter Robert Bateman, whose wildlife portraits characterize the animal by emphasizing its habitat rather than just a detailed, centered portrait.
White-tailed Jackrabbit
At about 13,500 ft. in the White Mountains, in a wide-open area of barren white rocks, I was a bit startled when I turned and discovered this large White-tailed Jackrabbit less than 10 feet away. It must have seen me from at least 200 yards and had plenty of opportunity to move on, but it stood and posed for several photos before slowly hopping away.
Dipper
Just be glad the smell doesn't accompany the photo. I drove up right next to this wet, oblivious, cud-chewing Bison in Custer State Park in southwestern South Dakota. I rolled down the window to take the photo and was hit with a strong pungent odor that got me quickly on my way.
Praying Mantis
When the Sedum in my mother's garden was blooming there were lots of insects that fed on the flower's nectar. Therefore it was also one of the favorite places for the praying mantis to ambush insects.
Saw-Whet Owl
A 7 inch-tall Saw-Whet Owl fluffs up its feathers trying to look as large as possible.
