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Aussie Wild Photography Birds Wildlife

Here we go folks 2018.

Surf Scooters slipping between swells
Surf Scooters slipping between swells

Here we go heading into the year 2018. Wow did the time fly in ’17 as we went head first into the world of art shows and selling my images. This consumed a vast amount of my attention on top of spending time out in the field. I also have a full time job (REI) in the mix and our fishing travel business www.flyfishislablanca.com . My wife and I learned a lot during 2017 and like most endeavors occasionally found out how to do things the hard way but it has all been worth it. The people we have befriended and the riches of knowledge we have gained in both business and the wild, priceless.  All in all we are very happy as we jump into this coming year and I look forward to more consistent posts here as I’m increasingly disenchanted by the social media platforms that are pay to play. Here I will be sharing images, videos, short stories, interesting facts, photography tips and equipment information. Occasionally I will just open up my heart and mind and lay it down how I see it.  There is so much I want to share with anyone whom wants to take the time to read, view and interact with me. What you will not get here is specific locations of any wildlife, advertising or promoting products for my profit. There will be times that I could offer some of my prints for clearance, scratch and dent or discount offers. Other than that the links to my online store will always be there. Now what I’m really excited about starting to share here is the images that are documentation type with a story to tell. Not every photo we take as photographers should end up on the wall and most do not. The good ones are very,very rare, the bad ones are plentiful and the interesting not so perfect ones somewhat regular.

Okay well I’m getting all my ducks in a row here and I look forward to interacting with anyone whom is interested in what I have to say or my photography during 2018.

Cheers

Randall

Surf scooters slipping between swells
Surf Scooters slipping between swells
Categories
Badgers Videos

American Badger Digging Den

American Badger in the business of digging a new den. This Badger I ran into was looking to shelter from an oncoming storm front. It is a harsh life in areas where badgers live. Open prairies and grasslands are unsheletered suffering extremes of dry, hot, wet or cold. Beneath the soil these animals can ride it out for a while. I have often found Taxidea Taxus already in their den area but to find one digging its home is very special.

Categories
Photography

Hiking Drakes Estero Trail, Point Reyes

#nationaltrailsday So disappointed to not hike yesterday but hopefully I can get some answers about my Achillies heel pain tomorrow. So at the moment sidelined to the bench I did some archiving and sorting of old photos and came across a couple that made me stop and reflect on a few things. (and I thought best to bore you all with them too). Anyway hiking is something Kate and I have always done since we have been married. Around Mt Tamalpais, West Marin and Point Reyes we have been beating the paths for over 12 years. A blip in time for some folks and when you work at REI you hear trail stories from beginners to life timers. One thing I have always done is carry a camera. Mostly small digitals starting with small Canon S100 to the G series and now DSLR’s. These days with multiple larger lenses, tripods and other equipment it can be a mission. Still it is worth it to catch moments in time that may really be part of history in years to come. The Drake’s Estero and Tomales Point trails were some of the first hikes we ever did here and are favorites when visitors are in town. One photo that sparked this post is of the Estero trail and shows the land slide that happened during the wet weather caused by El Nino in 1998. This photo taken in April 2006 shows the bare earth 8 years afterwards. The land slid 200ft towards the bay. It is still there but now covered in growth. You see it as you come out of the pine forest and over the pedestrian bridge on the left hand side. The Drakes Estero trail has been procured over the last years and I’m not so much in love with the beaten path. All of its fancy gravel, drainage and gates but with the pressure of tourism and a gigantic city 90 mins away what do you expect. Still once you get to where the beef cattle roam you can twist your ankles and walk in cow pads to your hearts content. You can see anything from coyotes, great horned, barn and burrowing owls, bobcats, badgers, seals and more. It all depends on the luck of the day! Happy Hiking!

Land slide, El Nino 1998, Drakes Estero Trail
Land slide, El Nino 1998, Drakes Estero Trail