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Owls Nest Photography

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Welcome to my photography site. I am new to the world of DSLR photography, but I am loving every minute of it! There is so much to learn and I feel like I have found the right place here at SmugMug to grow my hobby.
I love wildlife and nature photography and get out in the country surrounding my Tennessee home as often as possible.
I hope you enjoy my galleries and please comment if you like.

Slideshow

Featured Galleries

Shot of the day : Photos that have a special meaning to me each day.

Shot of the day

Photos that have a special meaning to me each day.

Updated: Nov 18, 2009 1:52am PST

Most Popular Photos

Fall colors finally arrive in Middle Tennesse! This is our sugar maple tree.

This is a Goliath Birdeater Tarantula. It is the largest spider in the world. They can be as large as 12 inches in leg span.
They are native to South America.
Despite its name, they do not eat birds. Its main diet is crickets and small reptiles. It is one of the few tarantulas that can catch, kill, and eat a full grown mouse.
This fellow is on display at the Nashville Zoo. He was difficult to photograph due to the glare of the lights on the glass of his display case, but I couldn't help but give it a shot. He's very impressive and also very creepy!

Another shot of the cat who came to visit us on Halloween.
It's been over a week since my new friend showed up at my bird feeder and he has been by to visit each day!
I checked with my neighbors to see if he belonged to any of them. Some said that they had also seen him around, but no one claimed him.
Each day I have found myself looking forward to where I would see these beautiful green eyes looking at me from around the yard. He is still very cautious, and will not come to me, but I have put some food out for him which he will come and eat as soon as he feels that the coast is clear for him! I thought this might give the birds at my feeder a break from his hunting, but he seems to be a very independent minded fellow so I am not sure about that!
At least I know that he has a full stomach on these cold nights.
My next question is do I name him or just leave him a man of mystery?

A Great Blue Heron watches the sun rise over the lake.
Best viewed in XL.

Hyacinth Macaws at the Nashville Zoo.

The Cat Who Came For Halloween!

Yesterday I decided to go sit outside with my camera and see if I could get any shots of the birds at the feeder. When no birds showed up I began to look in the tree close to the feeder to see if there was any activity there. Looking back at me from the top of our storage shed under the tree were these beautiful green eyes!
"Well hello there Mr. Cat and where did you come from?"
It seems he was watching the feeder also, but I suspect not for the same reason I was.
I had never seen him before so I decided to see if I could get some shots of him. I slowly started to walk toward him, talking quietly to him as I went. He seemed to be the strong, silent type. Not big on conversation but very attentive. He never took his eyes off me as I approached. I decided to move around to the side of him for another angle, and the spell was broken. He ran across the roof of the shed and jumped onto a branch in our neighbors tree and disappeared. He seems to be a fellow with "street sense."
Late yesterday afternoon I looked out of the kitchen window and there he was again in the same spot. Now I have a decision to make. The cold weather will be here soon, should I leave out food for him? I hate to think of him being cold and hungry. I'll see if he keeps paying us a visit.

This fellow hitched a ride on our truck yesterday! He was the biggest grasshopper I have seen in years. I just had to get some shots of him!

Giant in the shadows.
This is the second of these giant grasshoppers I have ran across this month! This fellow was inside our garage on top of a box looking out the window. I knew he wouldn't make it much longer locked in the garage, and with our chilly mornings he wasn't trying to get away from me, so I picked him up and took him outside to one of our shrubs and put him on it. He perked up a bit and started crawling around the shrub. Hope he makes it with the cold weather setting in. I don't know what happens to grasshoppers during the winter, but I have enjoyed seeing these big fellows during the month!

"The Enforcer"
This fellow was at the entrance to the children's petting area at the Zoo. He looks like he is taking the sign seriously! Also great balance on that fence!

Chinchilla snacking on some raisins at the Nashville Zoo.

African Serval taken at the Photo Safari at the Nashville Zoo.

Butterfly wing closeup taken at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.

Tunnel view, behind the waterfall in the Opryland Hotel atrium, Nashville, Tennessee.

Dogwood berries in early morning sun.

I went into the backyard yesterday and there were about 20 of these beauties on our butterfly bushes. It was so nice to walk among the bushes with them flying around me. Then I realized I needed to be shooting this! One last glimpse of them before the fall cold takes over.

"Best Friends"

Our cat Nolan and our schnauzer Pebbles have been buddies since the first day they saw each other!
One of the many things I enjoy about SmugMug is getting to see everyones "fur children"!

Fall color surrounds the bank and peeks through the fog on Percy Priest Lake.
Best viewed in XL.

Early morning coffee and doughnut run! Shot through the truck window.

Banded Rock Rattlesnake

The Banded Rock Rattlesnake lives at higher altitudes in dry, rocky areas. It is found in Western and Central Mexico, North to Central New Mexico and Southeastern Arizona. It rarely exceeds 2 feet in length.
Photographed at the Nashville Zoo.

Scarlet macaw at the Nashville Zoo.

Fifty-Fifty

So far this fall we have had some beautiful color changes. But there are still alot of trees and flowers that are still hanging on to their original colors. Everything is still about fifty-fifty!

Green Basilisk Lizard

The Green Basilisk Lizard is found in Mexico, Central and South America. They are 2 - 3 feet long with most of the length in the tail.
They spend much of their time in trees near water. If they drop out of a tree into the water they can run 15 - 20 feet across the top of the water! They are able to do this with the help of fringes of skin on the toes of their rear feet.
This shot was taken at the Nashville Zoo.

White-cheeked Gibbon - sucking his thumb - at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. I went into the valut for this, one of my favorite shots! Best if viewed LG or XL

Chevy Corvette drop top "in flames" at the Goodguys Hot Rod & Custom Car Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee.

Spiny Tailed Iguana

The Spiny Tailed Iguana is native to Mexico and Central America.
It can grow to over 4 feet in length and has been recorded as the fastest running lizard on earth, approaching 22 miles per hour.
This fellow is on display at the Nashville Zoo.

Leopard Slug at the pond.
Stretching out to nearly six inches long, the leopard slug is easily the largest terrestrial mollusk found in Eastern North America.
Gardners who are bothered by slugs should be happy that the leopard slug preys on other slugs.

Elephant Ear series #1. "Close"

Another shot of the hitchhiking grasshopper. I like his antenna.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, atrium view.
The hotel opened in 1977 and now has 2,881 rooms.
It is the largest non-casino hotel in the world and the largest hotel in the United States outside Las Vegas.
This shot was taken from the balcony of one of the garden suites.

Lantana looking up.

These are two of the three Clouded Leopard cubs born in May at the Nashville Zoo. They are very beautiful and constantly in motion. These two were wrestling while I was there shooting.
The birth of the three cubs introduced new genes into the American population of clouded leopards for the first time in twenty years.

On of the two marble lions that guard the entrance to the Croft Center at the Nashville Zoo. The Croft Center holds the zoos offices, public meeting rooms, access to the amphitheater where the Photo Safaris and animal shows are held and on the bottom level is The Unseen New World exhibit that houses reptiles and other assorted creepy crawly critters.

Elephant Ear Series #2. "Closer"

Sunrise on the street where I live. Saw this when I went out to get the newspaper this morning. A nice way to start the day!

Eagle Owl.

Our American Beautyberry shrub is loaded with berries this fall!

Lantana, early November.

This was taken in the atrium at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.
Best viewed in LG or XL.

I know this picture apperars fuzzy but it is not my fault, it's the tarantulas!
This is an adult Trinidad Chevron Tarantula which has spun its web against the glass of its display case at the Nashville Zoo.
Native to Trinidad and Tobago they are fast and somewhat aggressive when disturbed. In the wild that are a tree living species that build their web among the leaves. When mature their body measures around five inches long.

Galleries

Fur Children : These are some of the wonderful animals that have touched our lives currently and throughout the years. There are not enough words to express how much joy and love they give us!

These are some of the wonderful animals that have touched our lives cu ...

Updated: Nov 23, 2009 3:14pm CST

Shot of the day : Photos that have a special meaning to me each day.

Shot of the day

Photos that have a special meaning to me each day.

Updated: Nov 18, 2009 3:52am CST

Classic Cars : A collection of antique cars and trucks, custom, American muscle, and hot rods that have been taken at various shows. Enjoy!

A collection of antique cars and trucks, custom, American muscle, and ...

Updated: Nov 10, 2009 1:15am CST

Hummingbirds : After finally getting my first hummer capture on 8/23/09 I realize what a challenge these little guys are going to be to get good shots of them. But boy what fun it is to try!

After finally getting my first hummer capture on 8/23/09 I realize wha ...

Updated: Nov 01, 2009 4:11am CST

Around Tennessee : This gallery will have new additions often. I have new shots and also some old scanned photos that will be added. A great state to call home!

Around Tennessee

This gallery will have new additions often. I have new shots and also ...

Updated: Oct 27, 2009 4:02am CST

Photo Safari 2009 - Animals In Action : All of these photos were made at the Nashville Zoo on September 12, 2009. The zoo has a wonderful program called Photo Safari that a small group of photographers can take part in a couple of times a year. You can get very close to the animals and it is a wonderful opportunity for great shots! These are some of my favorites! Hope you enjoy them.

Photo Safari 2009 - Animals In Action

All of these photos were made at the Nashville Zoo on September 12, 20 ...

Updated: Oct 20, 2009 9:13pm CST

Wild Birds :

Updated: Oct 05, 2009 5:00am CST

Stones River National Battlefield & Cemetery : Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee preserves the site of the American Civil War Battle of Stones River on more than 450 acres. More than 81,000 men fought a fierce midwinter battle here from December 31, 1862 to January 2, 1863. The Confederate Army withdrew after the battle and ceded control of Middle Tennessee to the Union.The Stones River National Cemetery - 6,850 interments, 2,562 unidentified - is within the park.
On summer, and occasional spring and fall weekends living history programs are presented. In July each year re-enactors have an artillery encampment featuring cannon firing by several guns. Ranger programs and living history presentations are offered on the anniversary of the battle.

Stones River National Battlefield & Cemetery

Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee preserves ...

Updated: Sep 16, 2009 2:11am CST

Wildlife : These are critters from my backyard and around Tennessee. All photos were made with a Nikon FG 35mm SLR or Nikon D60 DSLR.

These are critters from my backyard and around Tennessee. All photos w ...

Updated: Aug 25, 2009 4:03am CST

Insects Etc. : A collection of tiny creatures that fly, slither, creep & crawl.

A collection of tiny creatures that fly, slither, creep & crawl.

Updated: Aug 10, 2009 12:10pm CST

Moon Shots : Photographs of the Moon in various phases.

Photographs of the Moon in various phases.

Updated: Aug 07, 2009 1:03pm CST

Flowers :

Updated: Aug 06, 2009 8:54am CST

Zoos : In 1990 The Nashville Zoo opened in Joelton, TN. It was a beautiful location, although it was not in the Metro Nashville area. In 1996 the City of Nashville donated the Grassmere location to the zoo and it has been their home ever since. Also a beautiful location, upon compleation of all of the additions planned it will become one of the largest zoos in the United States.
All of these photos were made at both locations using a Nikon FG 35 mm SLR for all of the shots in the Joelton location and some of the early ones at Grassmere. The remainder were shot on a Nikon D60.

In 1990 The Nashville Zoo opened in Joelton, TN. It was a beautiful lo ...

Updated: Jun 20, 2009 8:17am CST

Lighthouses : In 1998 I took a trip to Maine to travel the coast and visit the lighthouses. It was a very memorable trip. What a beautiful area of our country! Here are some of my favorite shots of the lighthouses. All photos taken with a Nikon FG 35mm SLR.

In 1998 I took a trip to Maine to travel the coast and visit the light ...

Updated: May 30, 2009 10:19am CST

Murfreesboro Tornado : On Good Friday, April 10,2009, an F4 tornado tore through the city of Murfreesboro, TN. These are photographs of the aftermath.

Murfreesboro Tornado

On Good Friday, April 10,2009, an F4 tornado tore through the city of ...

Updated: May 28, 2009 5:43pm CST

Photo Safari 2008 : These photos were made at the Nashville Zoo Photo Safari in September of 2008. It was the first one of these programs that I attended and I knew that I would get to as many of them as I could in the future. What a great opportunity for photographers and what a great zoo! Enjoy!

Photo Safari 2008

These photos were made at the Nashville Zoo Photo Safari in September ...

Updated: May 26, 2009 9:41pm CST

Photo Safari 2009 - Birds : All of these photos were made at the Nashville Zoo on May 16, 2009. They have a wonderful program called Photo Safari that a small group of photographers can take part in a couple of times a year. You can get very close to the animals and it is a wonderful opportunity for great shots! These are some of my favorites! Hope you enjoy them.

Connie

Photo Safari 2009 - Birds

All of these photos were made at the Nashville Zoo on May 16, 2009. T ...

Updated: May 26, 2009 8:33pm CST

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