Point-and-Shoot Nature Photography by Ethan Winning- powered by SmugMug

Most Popular Photos

Praying Mantis (Litaneutria viridis)

You can't tell me that this wasn't an inspiration for the bar scene in Star Wars. This is one of the few macros that I have taken, and this green mantis was kind enough to sit in a flower put for 10 minutes while I took a series of pictures to be certain that I got the eyes. I have no idea as to genus, and this one was no more than four inches, but for all I know it was just a puppy. I'm no entomologist, and there are 2,000 species which doesn't help. Anybody want to take a crack at it?

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar waxwings roost in large flocks, but they blend in with the branches to the extent that they're easily missed. They love pyrocantha berries and often get schnockered on them and are unable to fly.

Almost!

On this particular field day, I took 188 pictures. I kept nine, four of those of wildflowers. One day I'm going to figure out which way the redwing - or other bird - is going to take off. Taken with the S3IS which is actually faster than my SX10, but all my point-and-shoots are sooooo slow compared to my SLRs. Put the fun back into your frustration.

Japanese Iris #3

Iris Sanguinea found in drier areas such as Walnut Creek, CA. I'm having better luck with DOF with the Japanese Iris than other flowers. Perhaps it's because they're usually 2-3 feet off the ground, and I can set speed and aperature to take advantage.

Red-tailed Hawk

This red-tailed hawk was sitting on a pole which stretches out over part of the pond ... and his hoped-for lunch.

Female Variegated Meadowhawk in the genus Sympetrum (Plate 31)

NOTE: I would very much like to donate this photo to Wikipedia since this is not represented but getting it into Wiki seems impossible if not governmental. Any suggestions?

Male Redwing Blackbird (2009)

More accurately, I should call this the California Bi-colored Redwing Blackbird (Subspecies). In all my years in California, the only time I saw a tri-colored (normal) redwing was up by Susanville, and that was in 1966.

Mourning Dove As Audobon Would Have Painted Him

Juvenile Black-Capped Night Heron and Great Blue Heron

I thought the smaller was a female green heron, but Peeter pointed out that green herons don't have red eyes. Anyway, these two were oblivious to one another.

Black Phoebe

Every Phoebe on this first "page" was photographed in a different location and over a 12 month span.

Red Winged Darner Dragonfly - Libellula saturata

The trick is to wait until it's 105° and even dragonflies are too tired to fly. Been waiting almost a year for this one. (Remember, I'm point-and-shoot only. Even PS can't turn the dragonfly around and make it face the camera. That took another week of photo shoots.)

The Journey Begins

All you need is a purpose, a direction, and a rubber duck.

Japanese Iris Duo

Nothing was done to this photo other than minor cropping. It does indeed look like a watercolor, and although it's an iris, I'm leaving a copy in this gallery. Besides, there are too many good comments already posted. But don't miss the irises in the other gallery.

Male Green Heron

I'd say about a 7½ in an Adidas.

Great Blue Heron Closeup (Ardea herodias)

Walnut Creek Marshlands

Western Fence Lizard

Even though he's sitting on a rock, there is no Western Rock Lizard, so...

Your Bio

Welcome to my site, dedicated to fairly eclectic point-and-shoot digital nature photography. In 2000, I stored my SLRs and all their ancillary equipment, today using a Canon SX10 and nothing else.

Digital SLR or P&S, what I've found is that most people lack is the ability to see. Nature is all around you: a flock of 50 cedar waxwings in an alder, but you have to look up; a praying mantis in a flower pot, but you have to look down; and a hummer protecting his territory, but you have to listen. And then there's dumb luck.

Feel free to leave comments, correct my identifications, and if you have questions, click on "Email Me." All photos are copyrighted © by Ethan Winning, Walnut Creek, California.