i always hate it when someone asks for my favorite photo of the year... i took over 10,000 photos this year, and there are dozens, if not more, that could qualify as favorites for one reason or another. still, if i have to choose one image that really made my socks roll up and down, it would have to be this shot of a male Belted Kingfisher that i got last May. i'd been trying to get a decent, close shot of one of these little guys for over a year, and finally managed it... needless to say, i was excited! taken with a Canon 30D and Sigma EX 80-400 lens at 400mm, 1/400 @ f/6.3, from about 20 feet away...

Hi everyone,

I think this one, taken in May, can be considered my favourite, which is why it became my Avatar. :-) She's Alexandra, an "educator" bird from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. Definitely not "in the wild", and despite her intense look, she's a softie towards people (more used to us), and scared of other owls. I was sitting on the ground cross-legged with her up on a handler's arm outside her holding pen when I took this shot. She just looked down and kept staring.

I also like it because I didn't have to manipulate the image except for a tiny crop, for a change (and especially since I had a hard time "freezing" her blowing horn feathers). I hope I can take better photographs next year. :/



Info:
Olympus E-500 (40-150mm kit lens back then)
1/500
Aperture Priority
f/5.6
ISO 100
Focal length: 150mm

Rocky,
Great shot of the Kingfisher. I've been chasing one around my area for about a year and a half with no luck. One the the most skittish birds I've tried to shoot. My hat is off to you!

Jim

This has to be one of my favorite wildlife shots of 07!

No beautiful mountains but a misty fall morning in south central Wiscoinsin at the Portage between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.

I took this image after an ice storm that we had in January, 2007.

Speaking if Ice Storms here's an early summer ice storm image STANLEY IDAHO. Wish I had the sharpness better but I think I was shivering....and didn't take time for tripod, I was afraid if I ran back for a tripod the morning sun would steal the image from my grasp.


GARY

First post to this forum and I've really enjoyed all of the great shots and stories so far. A few years ago, we dug up most of our back yard and replaced the grass with a variety of hummingbird and butterfly-attracting plants. So far, the garden has been a big success and we average 10-15 Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds on a daily basis in the summer as well as a number of butterflies that we'd never seen previously. Here's one of my favorite Ruby-Throated shots from 2007 of an adult male perched.



I look forward to participating more often in this forum in the new year and sharing a pic when I can (Hopefully after visiting a National Park or two... )

Hey Dick,

That shot of the berry covered by ice is pretty remarkable. Thanks for sharing.

Bud,

Nice shot of the hummingbird. Welcome aboard.

James

Thanks, James!

I look forward to participating in this forum and will find it extremely useful as we figure where to travel out west sometime over the next 2 years.

Bud