Since 2009, the retirement home of Shot On Site Photography... the source of the finest sighthound performance images in the world. As of August 1, 2022, the blog will become much more photo-centric. Not only will I post images from the homestead in the foothills of the Little Florida Mountains, and surrounding environs, but also tips about shooting, editing, archiving, software, hardware and more. The political rants will become few and far between (but not eliminated! It is 2022 after all!)
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Over There.
HT to Richard Hawkins.
Monday, January 29, 2007
The Picture You Get...
It was. But what I couldn't see through the viewfinder were the smaller birds... fleeing for their lives! When I got home and cropped in to the subject I realized this hawk was hunting.
You can't always plan the great shot. Luck has a lot to do with it.
Hunting With Dutch, Take II
Rally (Blue blanket) in the early lead, followed by Phyllis and Mona. Check out the clods of mud flying! All life forms present had a hard time moving with the mud on feet and boots.
Mona, "running cunning". Dutch says she does this a lot... sometimes it works in her favor, sometimes not. This chase went all the way into the brush at the base of the mountains at the 3 minute mark, so we don't know if it worked this time or not.
It was a beautiful day.. the best we've had since we got into New Mexico (the mud notwithstanding!)
More coursing images in album form will follow soon.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
PETA Piper Picked A Peck Of Dead Kittens
There is no doubt that the nazis at PETA are just bad, bad people. And this news item from the United States Sportsmen's Alliance does nothing to dispell that notion.
Two PETA employees went on trial last week for taking dogs and cats from shelters, promising that they would have no problems finding great homes for them. That home would seem to be in heaven.
"The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has issued reports from the trial this week. The reports detail how Ms. Tonya Northcott, an employee at the Ahoskie Animal Hospital, on June 15 sent a mother cat and her two kittens with the defendants who claimed that they would have no problem finding homes for the cats. Northcott explained that the cats had been socialized, played with, and had their shots.
Those cats ended up in a trash dumpster less than an hour later."
Nice folks.
Steve Bodio has had a number of recent posts about this and other AR nonsense. Very good reading... will raise your blood pressure.
A note about the US Sportsmen Association. If you do serious work with your dog, it would be in your best interest to support their efforts by joining. These are the folks who played a major role in the defeat of AB2110 in California. Check them out.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Mountain Album
From Mountains of ... |
Here's a few more shots from my adventure the other day, including a slightly different view of the hawk in front of the mountain.. Full Disclosure Notice: I actually took the mountain hawk picture out the passenger window, one-handed, while driving 45 miles per hour. Light traffic on the highway, fortunately.
I may add more as I take more.
Remember that all these images are protected by copyright, so try and leave them on the website. We are working on a new website for nature and landscape and other art images. They will be available for sale, mounted, framed, matted, etc. and in a variety of sizes. Watch this space for updates
Geezer Dog? Not So Fast My Friend!
Yes. That's Randir. As in ten-and-a-half-year-old Scottish Deerhound, Randir. And yes, that's a blacktailed jackrabbit, who is in no peril whatsoever. But who cares?
I was hoping for a shot like this. Now I'll have to do what I stupidly shot off my mouth to too many people and promised... the unthinkable: I will take him into a show ring in April at the Deerhound National Specialty. I'd say his chances are good in the Veteran classes.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
John Crean, 1925 - 2007
The Bounder motor home revolutionized the design of motor homes throughout the industry. Put very simply, what John did was raise the floor of the motor home. This provided bus-like storage below the floor, and allowed for more functional floor plans and operational features. John developed this motor home with the help of a drafter, and one of our prototype assemblers, in his workshop at home. Within a few years the Bounder motor home was the best selling motor home in the country . . . 90% of the motor homes sold in the country today contain most of the unique features John put in that first Bounder unit.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
And That's Why They Call Them Long Billed Curlews.
Today's image is a roundabout way of saying the hunt pictures were pretty unremarkable. Fanny and Rally did, however, get a decent workout on the single jack we flushed. They were out of position from the get-go, and it was a tail chase all the way. Got a good 60 second run in, though.
When we pulled up to the field I saw this flock of Long Billed Curlews. Biggest flock I've ever seen- probably 25-30 or more. Suckers can get at the good stuff down deep. Strange place for so-called "shorebirds", but it's not the first time I've seen them on this ranch.
Pretty much all the snow is off the mountains, so it was a good thing I made the effort to get out there yesterday. Tomorrow they'll look like they did all last year when we were here.
Told You...
...to be ready for more mountain images. When the sun came out yesterday afternoon, I threw the camera in the car and took a short drive to be closer to the Floridas. Got a bonus with this beautiful Harlan's Red Tailed Hawk. (A melanistic hawk that doesn't have a red tail... go figure.) The large rock in the background is called "Capital Dome".
Going hunting today, and maybe tomorrow, so get ready for some different subject matter!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Cold, Blustery Morning.
Here we go again. Woke up to blowing snow, as our record-breaking Winter continues. The dogs loved it.
This will put more snow on the mountains, so watch for more dramatic images.
Took Randir and Buffy out to the field yesterday... took the camera too, but I forgot to take a card for it. Sometimes it's hard to believe I'm a professional. Missed out on a good shot of a small herd of pronghorn. We'll be here for a month, so there will be more opportunities. We did jump a couple of jacks very quickly. Randir's good for about a hundred yards, and Buffy, her best years apparently behind her, was good for about a hundred more. In a couple of days, when the weather clears, we'll get the good dogs out. More then.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
A New Album
Some images from our first 24 hours at Escapee's Dreamcatcher RV Park in Deming. From the rain when we arrived last night, accompanied by a huge flock of Yellow Headed Blackbirds, to the brooding presence of the cloud shrouded Florida Mountains. And the old car next door.
The previously broken image links have been repaired. Check it out.
Image Of The Day.
Proof that we made it to Deming, NM without any further delays. The Florida Mountains (Flor-EE-dah). Looking like we never saw them last Winter- snow covered. Florida Peak dominates, at nearly 7500 feet. The Floridas are typical of the desert mountains of the Southwest.. rising out of the desert, unattached to any major mountain ranges, and made more dramatic by their isolation.
I'm not sure what's going on with the previous images. They were there when the page was published, then mysteriously disappeared. If they're not back tomorrow, I'll take the posts down and re-edit. You all have to see the RV picture!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Absolutely Last Ice Image. We Promise.
Pictures From the Righthand Seat.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Today's Image.
Icy Photo Album.
For those who want to see more of the icy landscape, I've uploaded a web album. Click on the image.