June Update

I spent the last few weeks photographing in different locations. Started off out on the Pawnee Grasslands and found a Swift Fox den. Although the location was very cluttered I did manage a number of good shots. From there I traveled to SW Wyoming for raptors and wild horses. I found 7 different nests of raptors and again managed a number of good shots. Last weekend I displayed my work at the Grand Lake Art Festival which is next door to Rocky Mountain National Park. So each morning I went to the park. Although the weather was cool and even snowing, I found some cooperative moose and elk to help me tolerate the weather. Next trip will be back to wyoming for more raptors. http://www.falconphotos.com/New-Images/New-Images/7716894_WrePB#903402587_jbe5G-A-LB

Washington Coast 1st Day

1st day on the beach and we found two adult peregrines that were very cooperative. This female had just finished a bath about 1/2 hour before.

Washington Coast

Starting tomorrow, I will be spending a week along the Washington Coast photographing Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles. I did this last year at this time with my photography buddy Nick Dunlop as the guests of Dan Varland www.coastalraptors.org. Should be a blast.

Another Award

While attending the WPOY awards in London this week. I found out yesterday that my "other" image of a Bald Eagle chasing a Starling http://www.falconphotos.com/Birds-of-Prey/Eagles/Bald-Eagles/7730015_jcXHK#490705863_oa82b
won the National Wildlife Magazine Grand Prize for 2009. This has been a very good week. Especially compared to last week where my father, Leonard W. Palmer passed away on Friday morning. I hope he is watching from above!

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Just spent the last two days in London at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. What a pleasure it has been speaking with so many of my peers at this event and the photos were outstanding in all categories. It is a great pleasure being able to share in this event. My photo (Bald Eagle and Blackbird) won the Bird Behaviour category which is a great honor and I am now even more psyched to continue with my passion.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Today is the day I find out if I won the Grand Prize for my image of the Bald Eagle and the Blackbird. It already won the bird behavior category but has a chance for the Grand Prize. Wish me luck!

August 6th, 2009

Spent the morning up on Mt. Evans. I got up at 4:00 am., a bit too early and arrived about 1/2 hour before sunrise which was good but it was cloudy anyway so I could have slept in for an hour or so. Really windy up on the top and not much to shoot. On the way back down, I saw some pika on some rocks near the road so I decided to photograph them for a while. It turned out to be about 2 hours. I wanted some running shots but it was pretty dark most of the time. Nothing really sharp but a few acceptable running images turned out OK. (See new images on my site). I did see a weasel while I was there but he never came out of the rocks. I still managed to save about 10 images of pika and one marmot for the time spent. The shot of the jumping pika was shot at ISO 1000, 1/640 sec, f5.6 with a 500 mm lens and a 1.4x extender.