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Friday, October 31, 2014

Kayak Shooting

Our anniversary on Monday was absolutely glorious! When Double D suggested going kayaking, my face lit up like a Christmas tree. He also insisted I take my camera in the kayak. After giving it a lot of thought and imagining my gear hitting the water twelve ways to Sunday, I decided to trust myself. My biggest fear was a spider landing inside the kayak which would cause me to go berserk, thus overturning the kayak and everything in it. Thankfully, only a tiny, emerald green frog made its way inside. It was so cute. My lens was too big so I couldn't get a photo of the little jewel, darnit!

It's not easy to get super sharp shots from a floating vessel, but these came out pretty good.
Double D preparing to take his own shots.

Anhinga drying its wings against a wall of Spanish moss.

Double D took this picture of me taking the above photo.

I was able to get pretty close, so these next images are only slightly cropped.




Happy Halloween! Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend! Catch up with y'all later.

45 comments:

  1. Buttons ThoughtsOctober 31, 2014 at 6:25 AM

    Oh Gail I am so happy you trusted yourself and overcame the fear inside. Absolutely worth the risk you are so talented. What a perfect way to spend your time with the one you love. Hug B

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  2. The CrankyOctober 31, 2014 at 6:39 AM

    These are gorgeous shots Gail, absolutely love them! Trusting yourself was the right move. =)

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  3. Bethany CarsonOctober 31, 2014 at 7:18 AM

    Awesome shots of the bird! Looks like a lovely day to kayak!

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  4. JeanneOctober 31, 2014 at 9:22 AM

    I don't believe I have ever seen this bird before. Didn't know it existed. It's just beautiful and your photos are magnificent! Wow...

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  5. you-wee becauseOctober 31, 2014 at 9:27 AM

    Hey, cormorants! It does not happen too often that you take photographs of birds that are native in good old Germany as well!
    Right around the corner, in the river valley of the Neckar, a tributary river of Germany's biggest river Rhine, you find cormornats sitting on rocks keep watching the river fishes.
    All the best from Germany, enjoy your weekend, Gail,
    Uwe.

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  6. IrmaOctober 31, 2014 at 9:39 AM

    Beautiful pictures, Gail.
    The bird drying its feathers is totally awesome.
    What a great nature there.

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  7. rainfield61October 31, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    "My face lit up like a Christmas tree."

    This is such a beautiful Christmas tree.

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  8. AnonymousOctober 31, 2014 at 10:03 AM

    Great close ups of his wings. Yes water spiders in theSouth are fearsome creatures.

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  9. Optimistic ExistentialistOctober 31, 2014 at 10:11 AM

    SO glad that you had a beautiful day for your anniversary. Lovely shots! Happy Halloween Gail :-)

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  10. MelissaOctober 31, 2014 at 10:15 AM

    Looks like you had a beautiful day! (I would have been nervous to take the camera too.)

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  11. TexWisGirlOctober 31, 2014 at 10:20 AM

    awesome anhinga shots! awesome shots in general!!!

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  12. Author R. Mac WheelerOctober 31, 2014 at 11:02 AM

    On top of a very cooperative anhinga...

    Fall colors Southern style

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  13. Inspired By JuneOctober 31, 2014 at 11:57 AM

    You have a pretty steady hand, my friend! These are wonderful! Have a blessed weekend!

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  14. Grandma Barb's This and ThatOctober 31, 2014 at 1:30 PM

    Wonderful shots! Especially of the anhinga. So glad you decided to take your camera along.

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  15. PantherkaOctober 31, 2014 at 2:29 PM

    Beautiful day and great shots.

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  16. Ruth HiebertOctober 31, 2014 at 2:45 PM

    I understand the hesitancy of taking camera equipment on the water,but,I'm sure glad you did. These pictures are gorgeous.

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  17. Betty ManousosOctober 31, 2014 at 3:19 PM

    these are all gorgeous shots!
    thanks for brightening my day, gail!
    xoxo

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  18. Bas.October 31, 2014 at 3:36 PM

    Je kon er wel heel dicht bij komen heel mooi.

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  19. AnonymousOctober 31, 2014 at 6:17 PM

    Happy anniversary!
    Love these shots of the Anhinga.

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  20. hootnonnyOctober 31, 2014 at 6:41 PM

    It's only a camera! :)

    Glad yall could spend a fun time on the water. The images are spectacular, as usual!

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  21. Karen @ Pieces of ContentmentOctober 31, 2014 at 7:12 PM

    Now that was a thoughtful anniversary idea. Great detail shots of the Anhinga.

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  22. nookwormOctober 31, 2014 at 8:07 PM

    Neat idea and brave you! Happy Anniversary! I often see cormorants drying their wings - due to not having an oil gland for waterproofing wings. They are very similar to your anhingas. Your photos really show the details of their feathers!

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  23. A Colorful WorldNovember 1, 2014 at 1:05 AM

    Fabulous photos! What fun! I've taken my camera in a canoe before, but alas have never been kayaking.

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  24. AnonymousNovember 1, 2014 at 1:45 AM

    Wow - superb shots of the anhinga!

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  25. diane bNovember 1, 2014 at 5:40 AM

    What fun a kayak ride. The Photos are fabulous.

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  26. Hootin AnniNovember 1, 2014 at 8:06 AM

    What a glorious day and wonderful way to celebrate your anniversary!!

    Beautiful photos of the cypress and the anhinga. I've only seen ONE around our area this year...usually we have quite a few...but not this year.

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  27. IndraniNovember 1, 2014 at 8:33 AM

    Belated happy anniversary wishes to you!
    Great captures! The details so clear.

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  28. Amy BurzeseNovember 1, 2014 at 12:22 PM

    Love all of these. The one of you in the boat is gorgeous. Did he take it with his phone?

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  29. eileeninmdNovember 1, 2014 at 12:35 PM

    These are awesome shots, Gail. I am glad you took your camera..the anhinga shots are cool. Happy Anniversary! Thank you for sharing your post and linking up. Have a happy weekend!

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  30. Margaret Birding For PleasureNovember 1, 2014 at 12:38 PM

    What a lovely idea to get on the water and I am so glad you took your camera. All the shot are great however I love the last 4 shots of the Anhinga best. Have a great weekend.

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  31. Lisa @ Two Bears FarmNovember 1, 2014 at 2:35 PM

    What a great way to spend a day. I love all the amazing photos you got!

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  32. LindaNovember 1, 2014 at 9:35 PM

    I am not familiar with the anhinga but your shots are fantastic!

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  33. ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©November 1, 2014 at 10:59 PM

    Happy Halloween! Looks like a great day in the swamps.

    Great pics.
    ~

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  34. orchid0324November 2, 2014 at 2:34 AM

    Happy anniversary and I LOVE the first photograph♡♡♡ Great and Wonderful anhinga pictures as well, it must be hard to catch these moments(^_^)ｖ

    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

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  35. Stewart MNovember 2, 2014 at 3:29 AM

    Great shots - I really think I'm going to have to get a canoe!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  36. UnknownNovember 2, 2014 at 4:57 AM

    Amazing shots! I love the anhinga drying its wings. Enjoy your Sunday!

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  37. IdaNovember 2, 2014 at 11:17 AM

    Well Happy Anniversary. Looks like you both had a great outing. Loved that bird, so unusual looking and wow the detail you captured is awesome. Also loved your hubby's photo of you and the moss covered tree.

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  38. ShugNovember 2, 2014 at 6:45 PM

    First of all.....Happy Anniversary!!
    I sure have to admire someone like you who not only takes the risk of dropping your camera, or having a spider fall into the kayak.....BUT, also takes the risk of approaching a gator!! That so looks like gator country... You do all of this because of your love of nature and your love of kayaking. Awesome Job!! And I love your zeal in life!!

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  39. Sallie (FullTime-Life)November 3, 2014 at 2:22 PM

    Oh how I would have loved to have been in that kayak with you. Beautiful bayou trip -- your photos are the next best thing. And the anahinga is the perfect Halloween bird somehow.

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  40. Wally JonesNovember 3, 2014 at 2:46 PM

    That looks like it was a good day! Beautiful water, gorgeous habitat and great images!

    Happy Anniversary!

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  41. HilaryNovember 4, 2014 at 12:17 PM

    What a gorgeous day and a beautiful collection of photos to remember it by. I love your photos of that magnificent bird. And your hubby's photo of you in your kayak.

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  42. HelmaNovember 4, 2014 at 12:25 PM

    It was last Monday year I read and I want to congratulate you remember your birthday. You were kayaking and also nice pictures of the cormorant made​​. Photo 3 I find very beautiful picture but I think six amazing!

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  43. AnonymousNovember 5, 2014 at 10:00 PM

    Happy anniversary! What a great way to celebrate. I love his photo of you! As always, yours are glorious!

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  44. HannahNovember 6, 2014 at 3:10 PM

    What a glorious place to go kayaking! That's an adventurous way to spend your anniversary, and your photos turned out so well, the anhingas have such marvelous detail. I didn't know their bodies and necks look mostly like down. No wonder they have to dry off and warm up so much. They seem more spectacular than the west coast comorants.

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  45. SuzanNovember 15, 2014 at 10:03 AM

    Aweee! You made my heart happy!! LOVELY!!

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