Category Archives: birds

The common Raven: A short video

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I went for a hike the other day, and on the way back, we came across this raven sitting near the path. It was very close by, so I thought it was an excellent chance to practice my videography skills, … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #66: White-tailed Kite in flight

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I really like my birds of prey, so one day, as I was driving down the road and saw two White-tailed Kites flying fairly low over a field, I pulled over and found myself a good spot to try taking … Continue reading →

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An essay in photos: Six species of Grebe

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

How many of these grebes can you identify? Please, let me know, I can help you with any that you can’t ID Grebes and loons are fairly similar in my mind. Both are diving birds that seem more comfortable on … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #65: Hermit Thrush portrait

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Often times when I head out on kayak photography excursions I will put the kayak in the water while it is still dark, or just getting light. This way I can capture not just the changing light of the day … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #62: Song Sparrow singing

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Sometimes the best way to find birds to photograph is to just stop and listen. That is how I found this Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) while I was out kayaking one day. This is a small bird, and could be … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #58: Song Sparrow perched on grass

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I have better, higher definition photographs of many birds, including song sparrows, but it isn’t always about having high detail in nature photographs. Sometimes, the story told by an image that zooms out a little, takes in more of the … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #57: Marbled Godwit in the sun’s first light

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

The Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) is one of my favorite shorebirds, for the simple reason that it was one of the first ones that I learned to identify. Its mottled cinnamon coloration coupled with its long slightly, upturned beak that … Continue reading →

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The why of kayaking with your camera

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

  Recently I addressed some of the issues people new to kayak photography should think about, without realizing that I never said “why” people should kayak with their cameras in the first place. So today, I will talk a little … Continue reading →

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The Yellow-billed Loon: An Essay in Photos

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

This is a rare bird in the area where I live, but occasionally we have one that will stop and spend a summer. This is a younger bird, but it seemed to feed well here in our coastal waters. I … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #55: The Red-throated Loon rises

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

It was a grey and foggy day. Not so distant shores were hidden by the thick, low lying vapors. The birds were thick, as the winter migrants were making their presence known on the bay, and settled in for the … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #53: Osprey and fish

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I was out kayaking one day when I saw an osprey on the rocky shores of Tomales Bay feeding on a decently sized fish. I got up a little speed while still a distance away so that I would have … Continue reading →

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Red-tailed hawk with a gopher snake: A mini essay in photos

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

This is a mini essay, because there are only two photos in this series. This post goes with one of a few days ago- Red-shouldered Hawk swallowing a snake. It shows and contrasts two very different ways in which raptors … Continue reading →

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