Bald eagle in flight

Last year a friend tipped me off to a bald eagle nest on their property an hour east of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a long lens with me to shoot it properly. So when we went for a visit this past weekend I brought my 300mm lens and a 1.7X teleconverter to extend my reach to about 500mm.

When we arrived at the nest the eagle was sitting in the tree. However, by the time I got my equipment together the eagle was in flight and heading quickly away from me. I revisited the nest a couple more times on the trip and the results were similar on each visit. This eagle wanted nothing to do with me. I saw it on each occasion, but it split when it saw me coming and didn’t return while I waited.

Today’s photo is the best I could do, and this is a 100% crop. The eagle was really nowhere near me when I took this. Maybe next time he’ll have offspring in the nest and be more willing to stick around.

Posted on August 25th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: Nikon 300mm f/4 VR ED-IF AF-S Nikkor Lens, Nikon D600, Nikon TC-17E II 1.7x Teleconverter. Comments Off on Camera shy bald eagle

Rob Wynia of Floater

Floater will be playing in Grants Pass a month from today (on 8/22/14). Today’s photo was taken at last year’s Jefferson State Hemp Expo on 8/23/13.

Posted on July 22nd, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: concert photography, Nikon D600, sigma 85mm f/1.4 lens. Comments Off on Floater playing in Southern Oregon

Pittock Mansion (Portland, Oregon)

After walking what was advertised to be a two-hour trail in Hoyt Arboretum (and actually took about 20 minutes), we headed over to Pittock Mansion for the view.

Posted on July 13th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: buildings, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Oregon, portland. Comments Off on Pittock Mansion

Multnomah Falls (Oregon)

We’ve been in Portland for a little over a day now. Today’s photo comes from earlier today–not something I can usually say about photos I post here.

Posted on July 12th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, portland, waterfalls. Comments: 2

Rainie Falls (near Wolf Creek and Grants Pass, Oregon)

We went on a four-mile hike last week along the Rogue River. The trail is a bit harder than the four miles indicate as you are frequently walking on rocks instead of a smooth dirt path. In addition, it is rarely flat. You are usually going up or down even though the net elevation gain is minor. However, it still isn’t difficult for most people, and the view along the way and at the end (pictured above) is worth it.

If you are coming from north of Wolf Creek on I-5, take exit 76 (about 49 miles south of Roseburg). Turn left just past Wolf Creek Tavern. Follow the road for about 15 miles to Graves Creek Bridge. The trail head is on the other side of the bridge. Park on the river side, not the cliff side.

From south of Grants Pass on I-5, take exit 61. Drive to Galice Road. Turn left onto Merlin Road. Continue onto Merlin-Galice Road until it turns back into Galice Road. Park on the right before the bridge, and cross the street for the trail head.

Posted on July 6th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: directions, ellie, hiking, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, ryan, waterfalls. Comments Off on Hike to Rainie Falls