Nature Archives - Paterson Photography Ltd.

Winter blues

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020 by Mike

Even with it being not a bad winter I still have the winter blues. I really have not minded this past winter for cold temperatures, so far only one really bad week of horrible temperatures. The problem has been the changes in the weather. One day it is cool and snowy and a day later the winds are shaking everything and the temperature is rising. If it just stayed cool with snow it would not be so bad.

I have been out shooting a few times in the past couple of months but overall shooting outside has not been that great. Only so many sunsets and bridge pictures with snow that one person can take and still be interested in it. Staying at the studio is only so much fun when most of my customers are staying at home to avoid the winds so I have made up some projects to do over the past couple of months to beat the winter blues!

First project!

First project was to run some tests on the printers to make sure that the colors were as good as they could be. Was happy to see that things were looking great and that the systems that I tested were no better then what I was doing. Always scary thinking that I may not be using the best printing settings, but after tests I am happy with what I am printing.

Beating the winter blues project 1, testing colors on the printers.

Beat the winter blues – Project 2

I grabbed my camera and big lens, put them in a backpack and went out for a hike. This would not seem like a big thing to most people but for someone that has been dealing with lung issues this was a HUGE event. I have not been able to hike for years. I took the wildlife camera just in case and found one cooperative subject.

Project 3

I have been working on this project for YEARS!!! I wanted to get some affordable postcards for not only my printing clients but for selling my own work as well. Problem has been either the price is crazy high or the quality s low. So this winter I tried some tests and I am happy to say that I now have a printing company to do my postcard printing for me!!

Postcard back - high level bridge Lethbridge — 4″x6″ Post Card Template

I still have a few more projects but I am hoping that it gets nice so I can shelve the projects. Like I tell everyone “artists are the biggest procrastinators” and I would like to be able to put a few things off to enjoy some really warm and not windy weather!!

Fall Trip

December 6, 2019October 19, 2019 by Mike Paterson

I love fall camping, exploring and photography. This fall it went from summer to winter and I had to wait till fall came back. Even then it was not a big deal around here as there is snow and cold to deal with way too early this year. I decided that a trip to Banff and Yoho was in order. The weekend I choose was nice but cool, in fact during the night it got really cold!! I heard a number of RV’s heading out around 3 am as I don’t think they were prepared for the cold temperatures in the mountains.

This time of the year I love heading to Banff through Kananaskis. The drive is nice and the colors are amazing!!!

Fall drive through Kananaskis — Kananaskis Alberta

Waterton Wildlife

October 3, 2019June 27, 2019 by Mike

Waterton Wildlife

I like the scenery in Waterton but I like Waterton wildlife even more!! There are so many animals to photograph!!

Some days it can be frustrating as you can search and wait and nothing appears. Other days you cannot turn around without finding something to photograph.

The last couple of trips there has been a lot of animals to photograph. Waterton wildlife has been out in force this spring!!!

Early this spring I saw more moose in three days then I have seen in Waterton the entire 40 years I have been going there. It seemed that the moose decided all at once to venture out and about.

The birds have also been out in abundance. Many I did not even photograph as I was enjoying watching them. Cranes up around Belly river and a pair down along the entrance road.

Hawks and eagles like crazy all over the park.

Lots of song birds and even birds that just wanted to have a conversation with you like a Grey Jay up at Belly River that was having a good conversation with me.

Moving around

I have also seen a couple foxes this spring. They were in a two different parts of the park. I have never seen foxes in these areas before. Since the fire animals have ventured out from their familiar surroundings and the foxes were a long way from the usual places I see them. I think this may be due to the fact that their prey have been able to expand their range as well.

Waterton Wildlife Fox — I am not watching you!!

Fox out for a morning run — Morning run through the wet grass

Bears are also out in force. In one area I saw four bears. They seemed comfortable with each other and with the people around. Years ago I heard a talk from Andy Russel about bears. He said when the food supply is abundant bears will hang out with each other with no issues. So if that is true the food supply must be abundant this year.

Waterton Black Bear and burnt trees — I LOVE this picture and the burnt trees. To me it says life from fire.

Even insects can make good subjects, especially when they are busy eating.

Waterton Images

Parks Canada Waterton

Waterton Spring Visit

April 28, 2019April 28, 2019 by Mike

Waterton Spring Trip

House Hunting

March 16, 2019March 14, 2019 by Mike

Spring is around the corner and house hunting season is upon us. I always know when spring is arriving when the screams start early in the morning and go till sunset. No it is not only my wife screaming at the predators eating her song birds. But the hawks coming back to stake out nesting sites. The screams start as soon as they arrive in the neighborhood and go till the eggs have been laid. Then once the young hatch the get back to screaming till the young are out of the nest.

Waxwings

March 13, 2019March 13, 2019 by Mike

Waxwings!!

I always keep and eye out for the Waxwings each winter, they are my winter friends. Making my day brighter with their amazing colors.

This winter I have been keeping my eyes open for the Waxwing invasion and nothing. They have been around town but not at my house. Then yesterday as I was working outside I heard all these birds calling but did not put one and one together as to what type of bird it was. I was in the garage when I looked out to see the sky darken with a massive flock. There must have been a couple hundred!!! They were on a neighbors roof drinking the runoff from the melting snow.

I worked my way into the house and grabbed a camera to get a couple pictures. They were really flighty, more so than usual for some reason. Could have been the strong winds making so much noise that they were on edge.

Waxwings Supper — I love this picture as it looks like the one with the berry is giving a lesson to the other ones. “This is the berry we are having for supper”.

Waxwing in tree — The color of the Waxwing blends in well with the plum tree

Canon 70D Sigma 150 – 600 400 ISO

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