Tom Oelschlaeger Photography

07/25/2026

The sun was gone, only early evening light, but just enough to get some flower pics. The advantage of post sunset shooting is the reduction in air movement. These are all composites of up to 180 individual photographs, and they take up to around 10 seconds to shoot them all. The flower needs to pose very still during that time.

Best viewed on a larger screen than your phone.

I like the central stem (where all the action is), but am also drawn to the ripples and folds of the huge petals.

07/22/2026

Flowers happen when they happen, and images must be captured on their schedule. Every day brings something new, something different in the enclosed garden. Sometimes, getting real close reveals detail not seen with a casual look. Other times, pulling back to take in more of a bouquet can be satisfying.

The closer you look at nature, the more you see.

07/21/2026

07/20/2026

For the photographers: Canon R5; RF100-500 w/1.4 tele; iso 2000; F10; 1/1600 sec; 700mm. Monopod used.

Today's excursion involved a very short hike to a padded chair in Helen's enclosed garden. I lazily sat in the shade and just captured images of whatever I could without moving. It was that kind of day.

I managed to get images of one of those moths that looks a bit like a hummingbird, a black butterfly that looks like it just returned from a battle, a giant red flower (hibiscus), a bird and some miscellaneous colorful flowers.

07/14/2026

I went back to the same spot where I thought a green heron might be nesting and sat for too long waiting for it to show up. Changed plans and started walking around in an attempt to find it somewhere around the pond area. These birds are very shy and tend to fly off anytime they see you. I was able to get this shot by finding a very small opening in the growth along the water. The trees kept me mostly hidden while I contorted and shot between the leaves. You can see the leaves as out of focus shaded areas in the image.

For the techs...Canon R5; RF100-500 with 1.4 extender; F10; 1/125 sec; iso 4000

07/12/2026

I was having no luck finding anything to photograph that wasn't green. Dejectedly, I was tromping back along the trail to my car when I caught a bit of a bird in flight across the water (probably more than 200 meters). The bird landed in some thick growth, and I could not even really see it from my distance. I could tell where it was by watching for branch movement, so I pointed my camera there and took some shots. Turns out, I think I discovered a possible nesting site for a kingfisher. These photos are heavily cropped and not really sharp, but I've got the location marked in my memory and I plan to go back and stake out the spot with some heftier gear.

A totally busted day turned out OK in the last half mile.

07/06/2026

Not much happening this morning. I had the whole place to myself.

07/02/2026

Finally had some good luck with a heron shot. I was looking for this guy in the water, but he/she was actually perched right over my head. These birds are cool.

06/19/2026

I was strolling around the backyard garden today. My real interest was in how the tomato plants were progressing, but this group of whatever they are captured me, so I captured them.

06/12/2026

It was blazing hot today... so hot even the insects were hiding from the heat. I roasted along the trail for about 90 minutes and decided I'm too smart, too fat, too old to be out in this heat. I started, as I hiked, daydreaming about my car's air conditioner. Anyway, I did capture a few interesting things, so I share them with you.