CasaForns Blog

The GGO and the Forns make to Canadian News!!!

fabsforns — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:52:21 +0000

It was an incredible bird to see!

Impromptu Trip to Ontario

fabsforns — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:03:42 +0000

I’m usually one to plan ahead and enjoy the future trips even before they happen. But after New Year, we heard there was a wild Great Gary Owl in the Kingsville area, Ontario. I know Ray Barlow had pictures of her and he lives not too far, so we called him and sure enough he was able to give us a couple of days of his busy time. we were lucky to find flights and off we went within a week. I had to postpone a class that was supposed to start in the 5 day period of the trip, but telling the truth usually works and the school gave me no trouble.
Unfortunately, we only got to see the star of the show on our arrival day, but that made our trip worthwhile. In our session, no bating or calls were used nor necessary, since she is one tame animal. At least she was then.
Ray also took us to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, where I partly made my life dream come true, a Snowy Owl. Although I’m not a big fan of captive animals, seeing this bird made my heart rate go up, especially when I took my glove off to pet her.
We saw a few of them in the wild and even walked in the snowed corn filed towards them, but in a open field, no way they would let you approach. Ah well, there is always next year.
After Ray was gone, the locals adopted us and took us around even to Point Pelee, what a beautiful place. A few birds around, the resident Owls were tucked in since it was very cold and snowing.
Thanks for Kevin Norris and Rodney Brown for taking us to their special Short Ear Owl location, it was very exciting, although we had practically no light and had to use ISO 5000 to have a decent, if not great, shutter speed. I had not used all points focusing since the 1d3 fiasco, and have to admit that the 1d4 did a great job of tracking even with poor light trees in the background. Will be using it more often.
The Snowy Owl, Harris Hawk, Bald Eagle and Kestrel are captive.

Wurdemann’s Heron

fabsforns — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:54:49 +0000

We were so thrilled to find this bird at Wako today. She is nesting with a regular Great Blue who just adores her.
Some people call her a White Morph, but having seen those, all white, we didn’t think it was the case.
Jake Paredes told me that is is know as the Wurdemann’s Heron, and some believe it is a cross between the GBH and the GWH (also known as the GBH White Morph).
They are normally found in the Florida Keys,but this specimen came this far north to find her happiness.

Merry Christmas

fabsforns — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:05:52 +0000

To all our friends and followers, a very happy and healthy Holiday Season!!!
Al and Fabs

Alaska, (Behind the Scenes)

fabsforns — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:19:03 +0000

Alfred always had this habit of carrying a point and shoot wherever we go, to document the place and surroundings, a difficult thing to do when you are using long lenses. Lately, I have been doing the same, and carrying a G11 on my pocket. It has been a great idea, and we had a blast taking snapshot in all locations. We originally shot RAW, but from now on, will probably use high quality jpgs to save us work in processing.
So here are some candid moments:

The view from the bush plane on the way to Silver Salmon Creek.

On the way back to Anchorage the next day, Alfred is getting ready to board the little bush plane, which happens to be the coolest thing~!

A view of the two buildings that make Alaska Homestead Lodge.

Alfred is a happy camper on board the ATV, on the way to see the bears.

Yours truly on top of the world. I didn’t realize how steep it was until I saw the picture! One day that is was particularly windy, I thought we were going to be pushed into the ocean. Hanging on the the tripod for dear life.

The original King Eider Hotel, now condemned, and aisle at the airport being used to accommodate the guests.

The Orthodox church in town, as seen from the little museum.

Alfred and I posing for Chris Dodds, who was in St. Paul scouting. Thank you Chris, it was great spending time with you again.

This is the resting place of a soldier that never made it home from the battle and had asked to be buried on top of that hill. In the summer, it is just breathtaking. Not sure about the winter though.

One fisherman at the fish cannery, the place where you eat in town, with the company’s employees. Good food too (most of the time, anyway)

The second sunset they had seen in the year, a view from the hotel’s laundry room, using a Bounce box as a tripod. It was taken 10 minutes to midnight!

Back to SSC, walking our way to where the bears are clamming. It was a bit overcast.

If you look in the center of the image, you can see Mamma bear and a cub, after nursing in front of us.

Chris helping me up at Ridge Wall, with Forrest, our guide, checking out the operation.

One day of miserable weather, rain and wind, on the seal’s beach, trying to photograph the Blue Fox family that lives there. Successfully, if I may say, but not a very nice day, weather wise.

Coming down from the fish cannery after lunch.

And this was NOT with the point and shoot, of course, just sharing a couple of Puffins of mine. Enjoy!

St. Paul, AK, a Birding Paradise.

alfredforns — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:34:51 +0000

Want a productive and exciting shooting destination? …… St Paul Island and look no further !!!

St Paul is the largest of the Pribilof Islands, located in the Bearing Sea between Russia and the US. Just over three hour flight from Anchorage …weather permitting, you will get in, most of the time. Half an hour from this Island is St George, which has even more birds but chances of landing are about one or two a week !!!

The island is fairly small, seven miles at the widest and thirteen at the longest. Volcanic in origin with many hills rising to over two hundred meters and unique weather conditions. Best time to go is in the summer and the normal is forties, wind and rain. On my last visit I was told they had seen the sun twelve days this year with no more sightings expected.

Equipment wise, you will get use out of your longest lens. I strongly suggest taking some heavy duty rain protection for your lenses. You will be shooting in rain half of the time. Getting your gear to the island is not a problem. You can gate check your photo gear and have a computer bag with you in the plane.

Accommodations are adequate and you stay at the airport, the hotel in town was condemned so the oil exploration offices were converted into a hotel …. Your room is just a few steps away from the airline counter !!! Bathrooms are outside and they provide towels, soap etc.

There is one place for all you meals so not much thinking where to go !!! You eat at the food processing factory with the employees, food is not bad. Only downside is the strong smell that greets you when you come in.

Photography wise you can shoot all day from sunrise to around midnight. The Island has the same time as Anchorage but should be two zones different being due north of Hawaii.

We normally only took brakes if the weather was real bad, which would be either heavy rain with forty mile per hour wind, heavy (heavy) fog or sunny !!! With sun you don’t fair well since it will be strong by the time you go out in the morning unless you skip breakfast. Then have to wait till the end of the day for softer light. Sunny conditions are unusual so with overcast you will be fine.

The primary species you will go after will be the cliff dwellers, Tufted and Horned Puffins, Parakeet Auklets, Least Auklets, Red-faced Cormorants. Murre, Kittiwakes and more. June would be the time with the most birds but will not get you the Puffins returning with food.

There are many other bird species you can photograph particularly interesting will be the Snow Buntings, Rosy finches and Lapland Longspur, as well as numerous shorebirds, such as Red necked Phalaropes, a few Sandpipers and Rudy Turnstone.

Also, Northern Fur Seals are numerous, with full frame head shots available.

Blue Foxes, a sub-species of Arctic Fox, can be seen around the island, with young ones going around by the summer’s end.

For planning, I would suggest going for one full week. Basically due to the weather, if you had good weather in two days you would clean up and go home a happy camper!!!

fabsforns — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:52:58 +0000

Check out my interview Bird Photography Off the Beaten Path at Photography Office!

Alaska Part l: Silver Salmon Creek

fabsforns — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:06:37 +0000

After we spent one night in Anchorage, we took a Regal Air plane to SIlver Salmon Creek, where we had an overnight stay at the Alaska Homestead Lodge. I did this as an afterthought when I was finished booking St. Paul, and it worked out to be a great experience. As it turned out, we hit SSC at an intermediate time, when males have left looking for fish that was not there yet, because the grass was not as nutritious anymore. There were not supposed to be many bears, but the ones that were there were extremely accessible, and we came back with many more keepers than anticipated for such a short stay.

The Lodge is a beautiful house with levels, pictures windows and wooden floors. The owners, James and Sheila are very gracious hosts and know their way around the kitchen very well. Thanks James for introducing me to wild caught salmon. Our guide was very knowledgable and we would really like to go back for a longer stay.

Our guide, Scott.

The bears were very comfortable, let’s say indifferent to human presence. While a mother with two cubs were grazing, they kept coming closer to us as if we were not there, and all of the sudden she laid down and started nursing the cubs right there!!

Cubs were very playful and curious. In the morning, I was down on the ground taking pictures when one of the cubs decided to check me out up close, and our guide (who is with guests all the time for their and the animals’ protection) had to do some hand clapping to discourage the exchange. There was no fear on either part.

The bears are magnificent animals, nest time I hope to get to see the huge males.

Coming next: St. Paul, the Puffins!!

Coming soon…Alaska Report

fabsforns — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:27:03 +0000

We just came back from Alaska, where we saw bears and birds. As soon as I get a chance, will write a bit about both experiences.
Silver Salmon Creek and St.Paul Island.
I have not deleted all the non keepers yet, but took the time to relax and work on this one.

Hipstamatic, a Vintage Camera App

fabsforns — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:15:30 +0000

There are many applications, or Apps, that will make you enjoy your phone’s picture capabilities. One of my favorites, that needs very little post processing, is the vintage camera Hipstamatic.
Even the look of the App, that portrays an old camera (you can change the skin to taste). It has a square format, with regular or irregular borders, according to the film you choose and a great color variations.

You get a few combinations of films and flash when you first purchase it, and you can add more at a reasonable price, although the ones included are really all you need.

You can set up an account with them to order prints from them and share directly from the phone.
The size of the files can be changed with a lever on the side of the “lens” and go from small, to large and full size. The size you choose depends on your intentions. If you plan to print, I highly recommend you go for the full size.

One thing that I find very important, it to set the framing to precise, instead of the default classic. You can do this by going to your phone Settings, navigating to the Hipstamatic App and chugging the viewfinder mode in there, since you cannot access it from the app itself.
Once you are in the Settings, I also suggest you disable the “Shake to Randomize” ability, or you will find yourself ken pictures with film or lenses other than what you intended to use. You also have the choice of dating your pictures a few years back, to match the vintage look.

In your Gallery, if you like the look of a certain picture, you are given the choice to replicate that look, changing the settings of the camera to replicate what you used, a very convenient feature.
The Kodot XGrizzled film and lens have very vivid colors, and a charming irregular border, while BlackKeys and Claunch give you great monochromes.

You have the choice of films, flash and lenses, so it is great to experiment to find your favorites. Check it out, you area going to love it!