I see a family of raccoons just about every night in my backyard, giving me time to try different lighting at my camera trap. The strongest light in this image is coming from behind the log, but I also have two other reduced-power flashes hanging from tree branches to the right and in front of the raccoon. Now I just need to get her posing with her two young. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/160th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and flash units.

Several years back on Merritt Island in Florida, I met a few armadillos. This guy had no problem with my close approach and kept on doing his thing while I snapped away with my wide angle lens. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 22mm) ISO 800, f/3.2 at 1/320th of a second.

Last week the swallowtails were on duty pollinating the flowers in our gardens. This week it’s the monarchs. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.

A bee appears to be waiting patiently while an eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly fills up on nectar from the bee balm flowers in our front yard. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 500, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.

I’m surprised I don’t get more wild turkeys walking through my camera trap. I see them in the yard quite often but they always seem to sidestep the camera. A few days ago, however, this mother and one of her poults (the name for a baby turkey) obliged. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/160th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flashes.

There is a healthy population of wild burros that roam Box Springs Mountain Park in Moreno Valley, California. I was there some years back and caught these two chasing each other through the wildflower-covered hills. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/13 at 1/80th of a second.

This is the same bear that I posted on Friday. Friday’s shot was with my camera trap. Here are three shots with my long lens, handheld, when he came to visit in the middle of the day to check on the apple tree.
First Shot: Nikon D500 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 200mm) ISO 500, f/2.8 at 1/250th of a second.
Second Shot: Nikon D500 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/400th of a second.
Third Shot: Nikon D500 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second.

It’s been about a month since we’ve seen any bears in the yard, but on Tuesday my wife my father (who had stopped by for a visit) and I watched as a young male approached the apple tree in our backyard and stood up to examine the branches for any fruit. I grabbed my camera a bit too late for the standing shot, but was able to snap quite a few other images of the bear. He then proceeded to head toward the back of the yard and right past my camera trap, setting it off. Unfortunately, he was moving in the wrong direction and I only captured butt shots. This was around 3 in the afternoon. Tonight I decided to check the trap to see if any other visitors had come by and was pleased to see that the same bear returned from the other direction four hours later at 7:30 PM. I suppose he’s determined to be the first one to the apples should they fruit this year. Next week I’ll post some of the shots I got from my normal camera and lens setup. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/160th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flashes.