Edmonton and Area Land Trust

As an artist who paints the natural world I am interested in the preservation of natural habitat and native species of plants, insects, birds and mammals so when the call came out for Edmonton Area Land Trust  online art auction I gladly sent works.  http://www.gobid.ca/auction/816

We must work together to save land for all species.

Moose times three plus one

We went out for a bit today hoping snowy owls would gift us with their presence, but alas none did. We did find these three moose though. They stood without moving for the longest time, kinda like when we were kid's and played the "stare down" game. The moose won!
Down the road a bit we came across...

one more moose.

Images were a bit soft last outing so I bumped the definition up a notch and should not have as they came out unnatural looking without adding any definition to details, which was what I was going for. In top shot I underexpose the landscape to attempt to gain detail in the the moose so they would not be dark shadowy blobs. I'm still not happy with the outcome of today's images as details still are sorely lacking which to me says focus is still not correct, so next week I shall make those calls. One to the insurance company and to Canon to see what can be done to turn me back into a happy customer.

We saw huge flocks of geese east of Fort Saskatchewan today; now that's pretty wacky as they should all be further south by now.

Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs!

butterflies and deer mounts

I must say at times I do get to be in interesting exhibitions. Donalda Gallery for the Arts held a taxidermy exhibit this fall and amongst critters, artists works were displayed.

This way to the show!

 This painting done by Susan Dahl with a Whitetail deer mount.

 My watercolor nuthatch paintings.

My water-colour paintings and a Mule deer mount.

Two more of my works.

 Atypical White-tail deer; Alberta record holder. A magnificent rack.

Cross White-tail-Mule deer.

Now I know there are those who are against hunting, but in all reality hunters wholly support conservation measures to ensure wildlife for all to enjoy.

For those who love to see wildlife in its natural habitat here is a very live momma Moose and young-un that we saw on our way to retrieve my paintings. Personally I find seeing and photographing wildlife thrilling.

I now take leave with a dusky view of Donalda's large lantern with rising moon. Photo taken in Oct from  Donalda Gallery for the Arts landing.

delightful weekend yields photogenic moose

 After dropping off my paintings and my daughters pigment print photos at the Chuck Maclean Art Center on saturday we headed to Michelon Lake for a picnic. As we entered the park I had my ever vigilant eye open searching for birds when lo and behold here was a moose right off the side of the road. There was also a young moose further back in the brush where I could not get a clear view.

We snapped a few shots of mom and went on up the road for lunch; on the way back mom moose was now having lunch at the road-side cafe.

The greenery by her face is a branch she was chomping on. I had my 300mm lens on the camera, I was not this close, really. The baby was now in the brush near the campsites on the opposite side of the road, still no clear shot, though there was a lady in the bush moving in closer to the moose to get real close shots, I figure she could be asking for trouble thinking that they are tame. Not me I like to keep a safe distance, after all, even baby is taller than I. 

Well my day was made!

Yet it was to be topped.

We drove around to the north of the lake and what do we see....

another moose!

 

She gave us a good photo shoot then walked off into the brush, then as we are driving away what do we see but this...

Baby stepped out of the brush, I was able to get off a few shots before baby joined mom and disappeared into the brush. What a day, I still have a big smile on.