Slideshow presentation and discussion for students of Dianne Carroll-Burdick’s PO 101 (Photography 1) class at Grand Rapids Community College.

Slideshow presentation and discussion for students of Dianne Carroll-Burdick’s PO 101 (Photography 1) class at Grand Rapids Community College.

My photo of the ice Phoenix bird at night (carved right on the Reds on the River deck by the Ice Gurus during the festival) will be featured on a new Rogue River Winery wine label for a year. Additionally, the photo will be displayed in their soon-to-be-opened business in the Promenade of Rockford building, and used (with photo credit) for 2013 promotions for the Winery.

And now I have bragging rights for the year! Looks like I better stock up on a case (or two) of wine…

Armed with snacks and plenty of gear, I headed out to Muskegon. I slowly drove around the area where the birds are said to frequent. After searching for about 40 minutes, suddenly there was a flash of WHITE – and the beautiful, large owl flew up out of an embankment and soared over the open water!  Because it has not snowed yet (thankfully!) I was then able to easily track the white bird against the brown brush and grasses.

The winds were howling and despite the fact it was a somewhat warm afternoon, I found myself bundled up in parka, hat and thick fingerless gloves. Keeping an eye carefully on the location where the owl landed, I attempted to sneak up on it on foot with my 500mm Sigma lens. Since it was so windy, the roar helped to buffer my approach. No sooner than I was just about in place, when a car drove by and scared the owl off… over onto the other side of the lagoon. DRAT!

Quickly returning to the car, I drove over near where the owl sat, watching with keen eyes towards the road. The next 20 minutes or so were spent slooooowwly creeping / inching up towards the bird. Each time it turned the back of its head towards me, I’d sneak up another inch or two! Finally, I was within a range to get a more intimate view of the owl. The low sun was filtered through high clouds making for perfect lighting conditions. One look into those large beautiful yellow eyes which gazed back at me – and I was in love.

I hope to get back out to see the owl – other birders have reported seeing two or three in the same location. According to the USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System Field Notes, “Snowy owls’ favorite prey are small rodents called lemmings, which are notorious for boom and bust population cycles. Biologists think the owls’ “irruptions” south from the Arctic occur when lemmings are in short supply. Here’s a map of snowy owl sightings in the Lower 48 so far this fall: http://g.co/maps/r9ub2.”

Today, I learned my photo (of which you see posted here) has been chosen as a finalist in the Forests category of the 2011 Rainforest Alliance Photo Contest.

There are 25 finalist in five categories. One person in each category will win a Fuji camera package. However, the GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a six-day, five-night eco-tour for two to Guatemala to see the rainforest.

I really, truly need your help, dear readers. My image is Forest #5 – and I hope you find it worthy of your vote!

Please vote here:
http://my.rainforest-alliance.org/site/PageNavigator/photocontest2011_vote.html

One vote per email address only. Winners will be notified on or around December 7, 2011.

For those of you wondering, I took the photo in a corn field right near my home in Courtland Township, Michigan this past spring of 2011. The sunset was on fire that evening, and everything reflected into a deep puddle in the field.

Thank you for your support! See the other finalists and vote here!

Note: In 2009, a different image of mine made it to the top 16, and I earned first place in the wildlife category (and received a Fuji camera). Now I want to go all the way!

In preparation for the interview, I was then asked to send in 15 images for the Our Pros, Your Photos review by Sigma Pro David FitzSimmons, whose work includes two decades of experience with a focus on landscape photography. He’s currently working on two books and conducting a nationwide tour of photography workshops.

The interview was released on October 31, 2011 at Sigma’s website and can be watched here:

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/our-pros-your-photos-critique-landscape

The segment is about 15 minutes in length, but our phone conversation lasted well over an hour. I wish to thank David for his time and thought-provoking insight, as well as Jack Howard, Sigma’s New Media Specialist, who arranged, facilitated and produced the video.

On Monday, November 28 – I will be participating in a mid-morning/lunch hour holiday sales event, at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Just look for the conference room directly across from the main Gift Shop on the first floor – I’ll be there with a full selection of cards, matted prints, calendars, books and a few other items!

Please call 616-486-5910 (The Specialty Shop at the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion) for more information.

Niedzwiecki in Nature Booth at OLC

Come celebrate a 36+ year shopping tradition! Premier local artists, unique handcrafted gifts and home decor, cookie booth, fresh poinsettias, wreaths, holiday decorations, homemade refreshments, baked goods, silent auction, and raffle. Call 616-866-2427.

I quickly grabbed my gear and headed off for a darker location with less distractions from city lights. Unfortunately here in lower Michigan we have too much light pollution. However – I did manage to make it to a spot near Conklin that afforded a view of the northern skies without too much external interference. Unfortunately, the light show had subsided quite a bit, but I was still able to capture the ambient glow through a series of long timed exposures.