I can rationalize a full year membership at Desert Botanical Gardens by simply going a gazillion times in March. Spring is everywhere. Flowers are everywhere. Hummingbirds are all over. Chihully is still there. The spring butterflies are showing off. Go with friends. Life is GOOD!!
As usual, we show up and then disperse. We are like cats stalking a photo prey. There is a reason we call it 'shooting'. So, when people send me their best photos I wonder if they were there with me!
ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/500 at 250mm with Canon EOS Rebel T4i and EF-S55-250mm Canon lens.
Phyllis showed off her hunter prowess by coming up with the best water droplet yet!
ISO 1000, f/18, 1/350 at 105mm with Nikon D200 and 105mm Nikkor macro lens.
ISO 400, f/5.8, -.33EV, 1/1000 at 150mm with Canon Powershot SX40 HS.
ISO 800, f/8, 1/250 at 70mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.
Karen did what we often do . . . start with a lens and just make it work! The 100-400mm lens is great for hummingbirds. As it turns out, it is not too bad for flower close-ups either. Had to chuckle, however, as she backed up down the path to get that little flower!
ISO 800, f/6.3, 1/4000 at 400 with Canon 7D and 100-400mm Canon lens.
We go from 100-400mm lens to a fisheye lens! We are wondrous photographers, this group.
ISO 320, f/9.5, 1/180 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye.
I have never seen this cactus bloom. Not sure what it is as the name I wrote down on from the sign at the Gardens does not look like this plant when I look it up. A very different bloom and rather erotic, don't you think?
ISO 100, f/11, 1/160 at 260mm with Nikon D800 and 70-300mm Nikor lens.
ISO 200, f/7, 1/800 at 180mm with Canon Rebel XTi and 70-200mm Canon lens with 1.4 extender.
ISO 500, f/11, 1/200 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.
I wonder if Jon knows that you get extra points in a competition if you have more than two butterflies in the same image.
ISO 800, f/10, 1/400 at 65mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.
ISO 320, f/8, 1/125 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye.
ISO 800, f/8, 1/2000 at 400mm with Canon 7D and 100-400mm Canon lens.
ISO 800, f/7, 1/400 at 280mm with Canon Rebel XTi and 70-200mm Canon lens with 1.4 extender.
I see you little green bug!
ISO 1000, f/18, 1/350 at 300mm with Nikon D200 and 70-300mm Nikkor lens.
ISO 800, f/8, 1/250 at 70mm with Nikond D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.
Kati used the big blue Chihully starburst to create a sky for the background! Clever.
ISO 100, f/22, 1/20 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.
ISO 320, f/9.5, 1/180 at 105mm with Nikon D600 and 105mm Nikkor lens.
ISO 1600, f/14, 1/250 at 105mm with Nikon D200 and 105mm Nikkor lens.
ISO 3200, f/16, 1/400 with a Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.
ISO 1600, f/14, 1/250 at 105mm with Nikon D200 and 105mm Nikkor prime lens.
The bird below is a Cactus Wren, Arizona's State Bird. You can easily spot these at the Gardens and they are busy building nests.
ISO 100, f/11, 1/50 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.
ISO 1250, f/16, 1/200 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extender.
We hope you enjoyed these photos. We left thousands behind just for you. Perhaps you will find a real good reason to head to Desert Botanical Gardens, have lunch at Gertrude's and look for me in the wildflower garden.