Enoshima in January (Part 1)

Still trying to catch up on my photos from earlier this year. This week I am revisiting our family day trip to Enoshima. Kamakura and Enoshima are about an hour-and-a-half by train to the south-west from Shinjuku (on the Odakyu Line) or Tokyo Station (on the JR Tokaido Line). This first set includes our visit to the Iwaya Caves, a lucky shot of a Tobi (or black kite), and the Enoshima Shrine Okutsumiya temizuya (or shrine fountain).

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 1600, 1/160 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/40 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/60 sec.

How do you sneak up on a Kookaburra?

I put some of my old glass to the test along with my balance, and sacrificed a little scrapped skin off my knee to get this shot of a handsome kookaburra in Alma Bay on Magnetic Island. This specimen was perched on a rock on the north side of the beach. I really didn't think that I would be able to approach and get a good shot. It required scampering up and over several boulders to get close enough with my trusty old (and focal length challenged) Nikkor 24-mm AI . Anyway I was able to get about 6 to 8-ft away and take quite a few shoots before this beautiful bird decided that he (or she) was uncomfortable and had enough of my antics.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f8, ISO 100, 1/60 sec.

My daughter spotted another Mejiro

In March, my daughter spotted several mejiro checking out the blooms on a tree (plum?) near our house. This shot wasn't as lucky (or as good) as the shot posted last year at Heiwa No Mori Koen, but it's not bad. These little mejiro are fast and don't give you much time to compose. Too bad I didn't have my long zoom with me, but the 105-mm did a fine job and because this lens is super sharp it crops well. The original and cropped version are posted for comparison.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Mejiro (not the station)

Late March the family was visiting the Heiwa no Mori Koen Field Athletic Course (平和の森公園 フィールドアスレチックコース). Before we entered, I spotted a very quick Mejiro (or Japanese White-eye) in a cherry tree enjoying the new blossoms and perhaps finding something to eat.

Luckily, I packed my 80-200 mm lens with me or I wouldn't have been able to get these shots. Even with the extra length, these images were cropped for impact.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/4000 sec. CROPPED

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/4000 sec. UNCROPPED

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/3200 sec. CROPPED

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/3200 sec. UNCROPPED