Year End Awards 2016 – 2017

Image of the Year 2017

Botany Bay: Kathy Bishop

 

Wildlife Image of the Year 2017

Saw Whet Owl: Paul Kammen

 

Category Winners

 

Botany

 

1st Place

Wild Columbine: Don Specht

 

2nd Place

Small Yellow Lady Slippers: John Pennoyer

 

Honorable Mentions

 

Lupin & Puccoon – Mariann Cyr

Showy Raindrops – Kathy Bishop

Catkins – John Dykstra

Mushroom – Rick Graves

Call Me Wild Rosie – Patti Jones

 

General

 

1st Place

 

Sunrise – Smokies: Karl Feigenschuh

 

 2nd Place

 

 

Oak Savanna Star Trails: John Pennoyer

 
 

Honorable Mentions

 

Tettegouche Winter Sunrise – John Pennoyer

Sunrise at Schaefer – John Pennoyer

By the Light of the Moon – Kathy Bishop

Snowy Sunshine – Kathy Bishop

Badlands Sunrise – Eric Gustafson

Perfectly Lucky – Michael Thompson

Badlands Thunder – Michael Thompson

Idaho Borderlight – Deanne Probst

Superior Fog and Rain – Ian Campbell

Badlands Sunset – Ian Campbell

Feeling Blue – Patti Jones

Badlands Sunset – Paul Kammen

Sally Light Foot Crabs in Waves – Mariann Cyr

Baptism River – Ron Lagerquist

Horseshoe Bay – Diane Herman

 

Zoology

 

1st Place

 

Dripping Wet Buck: Scott Landseidel

 
 

2nd Place

 

Early Morning Osprey: Don Specht

 

Honorable Mentions

 

Coywolf Pup – Scott Landseidel

Eastern Bluebird Feeding – Don Specht

Anhinga with Lunch – Don Specht

Loon Lunch – Michael Thompson

Redneck Raft – Michael Thompson

Foster Parents – Michael Thompson

Sandhill Crane Trio – Don Tredinnick

Willow Ptarmigan – Mike Sweet

Bluethroat – Mike Sweet

Short Eared Owl – Mike Sweet

Artic Red Fox – Mike Sweet

Grizzly at Twilight – John Pennoyer

Alaskan Brown Bear – John Pennoyer

Reflection of a Duck – Mary Williams

Yearling – John Dykstra

Badlands Battle – John Anderson

Summer in the Swamp – Kathy Bishop

Northern Mocking Bird – Gene Lange

Garter Snake – Roger Williams

Two Headed Turtle – Nancy Cox

Snowy Walking – Alan Schulz

Meet the New Neighbors – Rick Graves

 

Congratulations are extended to all

 

 

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Story Behind the 10s – Screech Owl

From the Photographer Paul Kammen

I love birds and owls. In fact as I write this I just got back from Milwaukee, where I went for a quick day trip to see some owls in a park. Last year the Minnesota Nature Photography Club had an owl photographer present a talk, and a person asked him “where do you find the owls?” He suggested asking people. So I do just that, or I hire a guide up north, and check online at ebird. I also try to find them on my own at area parks but am usually unsuccessful. Owls are tough to find it seems. I learned from a photographer friend that this little guy had been seen in South Minneapolis near a tennis court by a lake, so I went down and when I saw two guys in the court watching I knew I had the right place. I was at the spot a couple of times, spending up to 5 hours there. You have to be patient to wait for the owl to move, so I set up my tripod and waited. Sure enough as daylight waned he popped his head out a bit and began to look around, presumably for the future Mrs. Screech Owl and not to check out the photographer.

 

 

Story Behind the 10s – Bluethroat

 

From the Photographer Michael Sweet

The  Bluethroat inhabits northern Europe and Asia, and a portion of Alaska. In an area near Nome, Alaska, two males were found singing alongside a stream where vegetation was dominantly alder and willow shrubs. They were two of only three Bluethroats I saw during this trip.  The time was late morning, just before taking a mid-day nap, much needed during days with 21 hours of sunlight while maximizing time and the best light for photographing critters.  As I recall, the weather was clear, calm and cool.  I noticed that each bird had several preferred perches and approached each in a similar manner.  While singing, the Bluebird would fly to a position directly over the perch at about 30 feet and briefly hover.  After a couple seconds, it dropped to the perch.  The perch site of one bird, that seemed most frequently used, was closest to a perch site of a second bird.  While it was away from the perch, I set up with my tripod and cable release, focused on the perch, changed to manual focus, recomposed the view, and tried to make myself as inconspicuous as possible.  When it returned and began its descent, I set off a burst of shots. A little planning, a little luck.  All this while an Artic Red Fox was hunting around me, and sometimes just watching me.

Technical Data:  Canon 7D mark II,  Canon 500 mm f4.0 mark II lens, f 5.6,  1/1250s , ISO: 800

Story Behind the 10s – Coywolf Pup

From the Photographer Scott Landseidel

I attended a photo workshop hosted by the Wolf Science Center (WSC),  which included both wolf and coy wolf pups.  A coywolf is a cross between a gray wolf and coyote which I understand happens in nature.  The director of the WSC, Peggy Callahan, is an expert on this hybrid.  The coywolf is larger than a coyote and they form more co-operative social groups than coyotes. These pups were interesting to watch as they played and were fed a whitetail hind quarter.  The best photo I missed was that of Peggy hauling the hind quarter all around the place.  The challenge with photographing the pups  was that they liked to stay back in the brush and rarely came out to pose for us.  Just like in the wild.

Technical Data :  Nikon D600;  70-200mm lens at 175mm;  Hand held;1/200; F9; iso 500.

Salon Acceptances – April 2017

Here are the Salon acceptances for April – Congratulations to you all – your images will be moved forward for judging in the end of year competition. The year end images will be showcased and the competition results will be announced at the May meeting.

 

John Anderson	Mother Owl	9
Paul Kammen	Screech Owl	9
Mike Sweet	Thrush On Key	10
Ian Campbell	Badlands Sunset	9
Eric Gustafson	Bighorn Ram	8
Patti Jones	Feeling Blue	9
Michael Thompson	Dancing Skies at Dusk	8
Mary Williams	Reflection of a Duck	8
John Dykstra	Pronghorn Hugs	8
Karl Fiegenschuh	Stellar Sea Eagle	10
Rick Graves	Morning at Thomas Lake	8
Ron Lagerquist	Grand Tetons	10
Jean McDonough	Impala Running Off Ground	10
Dave Perez	Bluebird	9
Don Tredinnick	Cattle Egret	10
Nancy Cox	Two Headed Turtle	9
Kathy Bishop	Moonset at minus 30	10
Rick Fenstermaker	Wild Onion	9
Scott Landseidel	Fawn In Fog	9
Gene Lange	Western Grebe with Chick	9
John Anderson	Horn Tangle	9
Paul Kammen	Short Eared Owl	8
Eric Gustafson	Badlands Sunrise	9
Kristin Hoyt	Trupeter Swan	8
Michael Thompson	Highly Caffeinated	9
Earl Bye	Young Buck	8
Karl Fiegenschuh	Japanese Macaque Portrait	8
Ted Galambos	Beaver Lodge	8
Carole Mannheim	Grackle	8
Jean McDonough	Giraffe Drinking River Water	8
Dee Hunnisett-Dritz	Bison Trudge	8
Don Specht	Pelican Trifecta	10
Don Tredinnick	Great Blue with Nesting Material	8
Kathy Bishop	Summertime Trio	10
Gene Lange	Great Gray Owl	8

Story Behind the 10s – Loon Lunch

 

From the Photographer Michael Thompson

I was out boating on a north metro lake with some friends, who also like to photograph nature. We all had our cameras ready when we saw a pair of loons busy feeding two chicks. They were so busy feeding the chicks, that they didn’t notice the boat getting closer, and we got to watch them feed bugs and tiny fish for over an hour! I was lucky a couple times when they came up with food. They were so close I could almost touch them, and the youngsters came up to get the easy snacks!

Technical data: Canon 7D ll; Canon 100-400 ll; Handheld; f/8; 1/1000; 500 iso; 400 mm.

 

Salon Acceptances – March 2017

 

Here are the Salon acceptances for March – Congratulations to you all – your images will be moved forward for judging in the end of year competition. The year end images will be showcased and the competition results will be announced at the May meeting.

 

Paul Kammen	Badlands Sunset	8
Mike Sweet	Arctic Red Fox	9
Ian Campbell	Superior Fog and Rain	9
Diane Herman	Horseshoe Bay	9
Deanne Probst	Jack in the Pulpit	8
Patti Jones	Lone Wolf	10
Bill McMichael	Evening Grosbeak	8
Michael Thompson	Common Loon Pose	10
Mariann Cyr	Lion with Kill	8
Rick Graves	Frosted Weed	9
Rich Roberts	Quail Profile	8
John Lamere	FoodChain	8
Carole Mannheim	African Roller	8
Alan Schulz	Young Bald Eagle Portrait	8
Don Specht	Wild Columbine – After the Rain	10
Don Tredinnick	Badlands	10
Nancy Cox	Green Heron	8
Kathy Bishop	Pollywog Pond	9
Paul Kammen	Hawk Owl	8
Mike Sweet	ShortearedOwl	8
Diane Herman	Great Grey	8
Eric Gustafson	Spruce Grouse	8
Patti Jones	Call Me Wild Rosie	8
Michael Thompson	Redneck Raft	9
Mariann Cyr	Juvenile Killdeer	10
Karl Fiegenschuh	White Tailed Eagles Squabbling for Perch	10
Ron Lagerquist	Cove Point	9
Jean McDonough	Puku Young Nursing	8
John Pennoyer	Dew-covered Monarch	9
Alan Schulz	Snowy Walking	10
Don Specht	Great Egret Display	8
Nancy Cox	Resting Feather	8
Kathy Bishop	Showy Raindrops	9
Rick Fenstermaker	WashingtonRiver	8
Scott Landseidel	Heron In Pines	8

Story Behind the 10s – Orangutan

 

From the Photographer: Karl Fiegenschuh

I photographed this orangutan at the Como Park Zoo one morning when I was evaluating a new lens. More serendipity and luck were involved than anything else.  The orangutan just happened to look at me with such a penetrating gaze long enough for me to take two photos. I cropped the image to eliminate some distracting background elements and focus attention on the face and eyes. I finally made some minor adjustments in Lightroom.
Technical Data: Sony a6000 camera, Sony SEL 70-300mm, at 300mm, f/5.6, ISO 640, handheld

Salon Acceptances February 2017

Here are the Salon acceptances for February – Congratulations to you all – your images will be moved forward for judging in the end of year competition. The year end images will be showcased and the competition results will be announced at the May meeting.

Mary Mullett	Tree Roots	8
Paul Kammen	Saw Whet Owl	10
Mike Sweet	Willow Ptarmigan	10
Ian Campbell	Autumn Sunset Reflection	10
Diane Herman	Badlands Baby Bighorn	9
Patti Jones	Panning Fall Colors	10
Michael Thompson	Juvenile Great Gray Owl	9
Phillip Bush	Fire in the hole	10
Mariann Cyr	Sally Lightfoot Crabs in Waves	9
Larry Duke	Bound for Alaska	9
John Dykstra	Urban Coyote	9
Karl Fiegenschuh	Female Wood Duck on Rock	9
Rick Graves	Mushroom	9
Ron Lagerquist	Spiderwort	8
John LaMere	Mink	9
Carole Mannheim	Family Night Out	10
Dee Hunnisett-Dritz	Spring Colors	8
Carol Jacobson	Jay Cooke	9
John Pennoyer	Grizzly at Twilight	9
Dave Perez	Tricolored Heron with Fish	9
Alan Schulz	Albatross Taking Off	10
Don Specht	Early Morning Osprey	10
Don Tredinnick	Bison in the River	10
Roger Williams	Osprey with Prey	9
Nancy Cox	Breakfast Feast	8
Kathy Bishop	Sunrise Glow	10
Scott Landseidel	Bald Eagle Siblings	9
Gene Lange	Mourning Dove	8
Mary Mullett	Buttercups	8
Paul Kammen	Long Eared Owl	8
Mike Sweet	Actic Tern	9
Ian Campbell	Skeleton Tree at Sunset	8
Diane Herman	Sunrise at Balanced Rock	10
Patti Jones	Those Eyes	9
Michael Thompson	Seeing Doubles	9
Phillip Bush	Maine Morning	8
Earl Bye	Cygnet Flying	8
Mariann Cyr	Welcome to the Shower	9
John Dykstra	Affection	10
Karl Fiegenschuh	Andean Condor	8
Rick Graves	Meet The New Neighbors	10
Ron Lagerquist	Baptism River	8
John LaMere	Rams	8
Carole Mannheim	Bozeman Creek	8
Dee Hunnisett-Dritz	Frozen dinner	8
John Pennoyer	Stemless Lady’s Slippers habitat	10
Dave Perez	Yellow Sulphur on Asters	8
Alan Schulz	Giant Petrel during feeding on Seal	9
Don Specht	Anhinga with Lunch	9
Don Treddinick	Christmas Tree Rock	9
Nancy Cox	Graceful Landing	8
Kathy Bishop	By the Light of the Moon	10
Rick Fenstermaker	Bird Snow Tracks	9
Mariann Cyr	Lupine & Puccoon	9
John Dykstra	Catkins	10
John Dykstra	Spring Snow	10
Nancy Cox	Skogafoss Falls Iceland	8

Story Behind the 10s – Foster Parents

 

From the Photographer Michael Thompson

I took my sea eagle inflatable row boat out on Lake Osakis early in the morning in mid June, hoping to photograph some Western Grebes dancing on the water, for their mating ritual. I found I got there too late, and they were sitting on nests already. I saw a beautiful pair of Red Necked Grebes swimming near by and decided to sneak a bit closer and see if I could get some shots. I did, and was able to get a few. All of a sudden I noticed they had three chicks! One was a red necked chick, with the usual black and white pattern, but the other two were all white. They were Western Grebe chicks- that is why I named this image “Foster Parents” I found out that when they nest together in the same area, they can get mixed up. I was able to watch the parents catch lots of little fish and bugs to feed them. It was a great time to watch, and I got lots of cool shots. I like shooting from my little boat, I can get so close to the surface of the water, which can make for nice depth of field effects.

Technical data:  Canon 7D mark ll handheld, Canon 100-400mm mark ll at 300 mm, f/7.1, ISO 640,  1/1000 sec

You can view more of Michael’s images here  mtsoutdoorsimages.com