Shooting city birds with a Nikon D700 and Leica M8. Good practice.

Pigeons are waiting for you

Birdwatching and photography go hand in hand although sometimes the photography can be somewhat exotic, requiring longer lenses and well-developed skills to capture that perfect shot.  But you don’t have to travel to the country (or even to a park in the city) to try your hand at bird photography.  Most cities are home to flocks of pigeons, to the extent that they are considered pests.  But pigeons are easy to find and because they have become accustomed to people, one can move in and shoot away without spooking them.

But it doesn’t have to pigeons.  It can be seagulls, sparrows, really any birds that are common in your neighborhood.  For more photos, check out these photos of a child with pigeons in Vancouver, Canada.

The pigeon photos were taken with a Nikon D700 in and Sigma 150mm f/2.8 lens in Bangkok; the seagull with a Leica M8 with a Summilux 75mm f/1.4 in San Francisco.

Looking at me

Really looking at me

Slight difference

Another city bird

Vancouver graffiti as urban art, part II

Jungle cat

Here’s part two of my graffiti photos from my trip to Vancouver.  Again, these photos were taken with a Canon 5D with a Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens.

Tree of life

Fighters

Spiderman

Yell

Vancouver graffiti as urban art

Homeland

Vancouver Canada has some of the best urban graffiti that I’ve seen in a long time.  I’ve  always enjoyed street art for its vitality, color, emotion and design.  While in Vancouver three months ago, I made it a habit to prowl the Gas Town area at sunrise.  At that time of the day, the light adds a glow to photographs.  Three photos show some of the best representations of street art that I saw while there.  Will post others later.

These photos were shot with a Canon 5D and Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens.

The dumpster as art

Groovin' to the music

Flags

Beautiful Canadian Rockies

Low tide

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a few days in Vancouver, British Columbia.  As luck would have it, my friend Remy arrived the day I left.  She spent a great holiday in Vancouver and further east, to the Canadian Rockies. These are some of the GREAT photos that she took.  Spectacular scenery.  Enjoy!

Rail to nowhere

Reflection

Marina view

More photos from Vancouver, another Starbucks

Mini Me

Vancouver was so picturesque, I’ve got more photos!

Gastown Starbucks

Facing the sun

Walking Granville St, Vancouver Canada

Granville St in Vancouver BC is a great street to walk.  From the area of the Pan Pacific Hotel on one end to the ferry dock for Granville Island at the other, there is a lot to see.  Near the Pan Pacific end is Gas Town with its historic buildings.  But try walking up the hill along the Granville St route.  You won’t be disappointed.

Air Canada Business Class Lounge at Vancouver Airport

Sunny day

Sitting here having a light breakfast and I have to say that the lounge is quite nice.  Spacious with good sightlines in all directions.  At this time of day there are hardly any customers so that makes it even nicer.

The blob

The curve

Roaming Vancouver – Cute baby feeding birds

While I was walking around Granville Island munching on a muffin and drinking cafe latte I ran across this little kid feeding the pigeons.  Believe she was around two years old.  Had no fear of the birds at all.

Line up please

And mom

More please

Cruise ship to Alaska from Vancouver

Vancouver is a cruise ship hub for Alaska.  From what I’ve heard, this season’s travel is soon to end.  The terminal at Canada Place is across the street from my hotel and there is a constant flow of people traveling to and from Alaska.

The cruise ships are spectacular, as the photo shows.

Sea cruise

Vancouver Canada – Granville Island public market

To the sea

The public market is one of the highlights of any visit to Vancouver.  Not only is it a great place to buy food, there are many restaurants, shops and other attractions.  You can spend the entire day just lounging around.  Drinking coffee and eating a muffin for breakfast, having salmon for lunch, and crab for dinner.  And shopping or people-watching in between.  And the view of the sea and the mountains is unrivaled.

Sign of the times

Makes you hungry

More