What Difference Do Tools Make?

California Sea Lion -- Newport, OR
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, ISO: 2000, f/5, 1/1000s

If you follow this blog you might be thinking to yourself that you've seen this photo before.  You haven't, but you've seen one very similar.  This is one of a series of shots I took of this particular sea lion.  The previous post can be seen here.

Why post such similar photos?  Well, I'm always reluctant to post photos on the road because I don't have my entire arsenal of post-processing software loaded on my laptop.  There's not much of a point.  My personal laptop's monitor isn't very good.  My work laptop has a fantastic retina monitor (it's a Mac) but it's my work laptop so I'm reluctant to use for anything other than a temporary back up for images if it's the only computer I'm traveling with (which is usually the case).  I can't really dive into the post-processing step until I get home, and a photo like this shows pretty clearly why I'd rather wait to post until I've gotten home rather than post on the road.

I've posted the original image below.  The difference between the two is striking.  The original is overexposed.  No problem, DXO OpticsPro 10 can take care of that.  Once that's corrected, it's still a bit drab.  DXO OpticsPro 10 to the rescue again.  Add a little microcontrast and a good cropping and it's ready to go.  Sometimes I need to pull out the big stick and beat the photo around in Photoshop.  On the road all I have is Picasa.  It's good in a pinch but not as powerful as what I have at home.

What's the point?  I dunno.  Post-processing is a huge part of photography.  It's half the fun.  In the old days of film, it was mostly just professionals and students who had access to the types of tools needed to do any sort of post processing.  Now it's available for free on the internet or for a small fee for some products and a larger fee for others.  I don't think I'd have ever gotten into photography if I had to work with film.

Backlit Hare

Black-tailed Jackrabbit -- Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5.6, 1/1600s, ISO: 800

How often do you get a chance to take photos of a jackrabbit running straight toward you?

I can tell you how often it has happened for me.  I began shooting wildlife about four years ago.  I've photographed more jackrabbits than I can count.  I've got plenty of shots of them sitting in the grass.  I've got plenty of shots of their butts as they run away from me.  A week ago I had a first.  This hare didn't run away from me, instead he ran straight toward the car.  He ran straight toward the car while Pongo was hanging out the driver side window watching him!  I was able to take the best shots of a jackrabbit I've ever taken in spite of the fact that the sun was behind the hare.

Pongo didn't bark or try to jump out the window (I keep him on a long leash tied to a chair in the car just in case).  I've seen him confused before when wild animals have directly approached us.  I'm not sure if he was confused or just excited, but he bounced around a bit without losing his head and leaping after the jackrabbit.  He did a good job.

The Boneyard

Whalers' Cove, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

More like a few bones in the yard than an actual boneyard, I guess.  There's a little museum in Whalers' Cove about the history of whaling in the area (if I recall correctly) with these bones and a few others collected around the small building.

If you are in the Monterey area and you like outdoorsey stuff, don't miss hiking around Point Lobos.  There's a 5-6 mile trail that loops around the reserve.  It's a fairly easy hike for that distance.  The museum and these bones are right along that trail.  If the parking lot isn't full (it often is on weekends) you can also drive right down to the cove.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 152, image #9130.  That was my number from last week, I missed out on this week's selection.

Western Gray Squirrel

Western Gray Squirrel -- Salem, OR
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 1/1600s, f/5, ISO: 800

Squirrels are Pongo's sworn enemies, so he was delighted to find a large population in the neighborhood where my parents' live.  Not a walk went by during daylight hours where he didn't try to give chase.  My arm is sore from all the yanking on the leash.

I think they are cute.  Pongo assures me that they are little critters with the worst of intentions.

Harlequin Duck

Harlequin Duck -- Newport, OR
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 1/2000s, f/5.6, ISO: 800

I saw these beautiful birds out on the South Jetty in Newport on Sunday.  A small flock was sitting on the rocks until a large set of waves came in and forced them into the water.  Pongo and I were taking a little break from hospital visits with a morning/early afternoon drive down the coast.

California Sea Lion

California Sea Lion -- Newport, OR
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 1/1000s, f/5, ISO: 2000

The scene at the sea lion docks in Newport was absolute chaos, and yet this particular sea lion seemed to be sleeping through it all.  I don't know how with all the barking, lunging and growling going on.  The life of a local celebrity, I guess.

Canada Goose

Canada Goose -- Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 1/1600s, f/5, ISO: 6400

A family emergency has yanked me out of my old, familiar routine and into Oregon.  Everything is going well so far as the family emergency is concerned.

I got a chance to get out a bit on Sunday.  Pongo and I headed out to the coast.  We drove from Pacific City to Newport taking pictures along the way.  I took the pictures, Pongo acted as navigator.  He's not very good at that but his heart is in the right place.