Frogs at Jacobsburg State Park

Located in the Hummingbird area of the park is a small pond with frogs. I went there recently to photograph Hummingbirds, I did not find any birds instead I found frogs.

What’s in Bob’s bag?

  • OM-D E-M1 Mark II
  • M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 300mm F4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
  • M.Zuiko Digital 2X Teleconverter MC-20
  • M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
  • M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
  •  Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head
  • Manfrotto 265CB CF Tripod
  • Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
  • UV Filters

A morning with the birds

What’s in Bob’s bag?

  • OM-D E-M1 Mark II
  • M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 300mm F4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
  • M.Zuiko Digital 2X Teleconverter MC-20
  • M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
  • M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
  •  Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head
  • Manfrotto 265CB CF Tripod
  • Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
  • UV Filters

2020 Aruba Underwater Photo Safari

Aruba is famous for its excellent wreck diving, catering to divers of all levels. Sunken vessels range from tugboats to cargo ships, and even plane fuselages.

Coral reefs lace the island’s leeward shore. Some of the best reef dive sites include Skalahein Reef, Plonco Reef, Barcadera Reef, De Palm Reef, and Mas Bango Reef, which is also excellent for snorkeling.

Snow Geese at Green Pond Marsh

Green Pond Marsh, a small wetland (about 20 acres) in Bethlehem Township, PA is an Audubon Society IBA (Important Bird Area) where over 180 species of birds have been sighted.

The flooded fields of Green Pond Marsh is located on Green Pond Road in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County is one of the best areas for wetland birds in the Lehigh Valley. This area has been attracting birds since the 1970’s. Wet areas such as this provide important resting and feeding stops for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species.

Green Pond Marsh has attracted over 20 species of migratory waterfowl.

 

What’s in Bob’s bag?

  • OM-D E-M1 Mark II
  • M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 300mm F4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
  • M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
  • M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
  • Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head
  • Manfrotto 265CB CF Tripod
  • Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
 

Photographing Backyard Birds

This is the first in a series for backyard bird photography.

The first part of this blog is about how to attract birds to your backyard.  First thing is to build or purchase a bird feeders.  I’m going to show you how to build feeders branches from your trees.  This will  give you a natural setting to place you feed.

To be successful with bird photography you need to some advanced planning. To start you need a feeder to attract the birds. I build my own feeders using natural materials. 

Building Feeders

Plan your feeder to make it look natural. I build them out of drop off wood from my trees.

When you place your feeder keep in mind the angle of the sun and other elements that could cause shadows. Also watch your background, be sure you are not seeing your neighbors house or car.

I have several anchor so I can move the feeders depending on the time of the year.

My anchors are made of one inch black pipe set in cement three feet long placed into the ground 2 feet.

I use Olympus Micro Four Thirds system and the Four Thirds system,, mostly the OM-D EM-1, EM-5 Mark II and now the newest model the OM-D EM-1 Mark II..

  • Olympus OM-D/E-M1
  • Olympus OM-D/E-M1 Mark II
  • OM-D EM-5 Mark II
  • Four Third Lens
    • 50-200mm
    • 75-300mm
    • 1.4 Extender
    • Adapter for Micro Third Lens
  • Micro Third Lens
    • 40-150mm f:2.8
    • 300 mm f:4
    • 1.4 Extender

Aruba Underwater Photo Safari 2018

This was our seventh Aruba Photo Safari. This year we spent more time touring and photographing the island. In the sixteen years I have been visiting Aruba I have never seen the water as rough and currents as strong as this year. Carlos from Mermaid Sport Dives told us it was because of high winds and storms out in the Atlantic.

Barcadera Reef

Barcadera Reef

Dantchi’s Delight Reef

Photos Around The Island

Olympus OM-D/EM1 Mark II in a was PT-EP14 Underwater Housing and PPO-E04 Dome Lens Port use for the underwater photographs. Lighting was two Fantasea Radiant 1600 Video Lights. OM-D/EM1 Mark II was used for all the land photographs.

What’s in Bob’s Bag:

OM-D E-M1 Mark II
M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
ED Zuiko 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens
Zuiko 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Lens
MMF-3 Four Thirds Adapter
EC-14 1.4x Teleconverter
Olympus Tough TG4
Pen E-PL7

For more information Aruba Underwater Photo Safari 2019 visit our website
www.underwaterphotoclasses.com/workshops.html

Barbados Scuba Diving

Aside

Trunkfish

Trunkfish, Lobster Reef, Bridgetown, , Barbados, © 2017 Bob Hahn

Barbados is a small island located in the lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. It was part of Great Britain and is now an independent nation.

I found it a good destination for scuba diving in the Caribbean.  With his visibility of 50 to 75 feet and warm calm water.  Below is a series of photographs taken on my recent trip.  I dove with the ECO Dive located at House of Pillars, Cavens Lane, Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados. (www.ecodivebarbados.com Tel. (246) 243-5816 – Email: dive@ecodivebarbados.com)

We went on four dive sites over two days for first was as Asta Reef in the second was Carlysle Bay Marine Park, this was my favorite diver site on the island with calm waters and 6 shipwrecks in close proximity. We were able see three on the dive. The second day we went to  Shark Reef and Lobster Reef, current was strong on Shark Reef  but otherwise a good dive.

ECO Dive’s boat holds six people which makes it a great place to get personal attention. Andrew Western, Instructor/Manager and Michael Waltress, Divemaster and captain of the boat did a great job showing me where to find good subjects for photography. I highly recommend that if you’re going to Barbados contact them, their service was excellent and Andrew’s knowledge of diving and photography very helpful to great photographs.

Thank you Andrew and Michael.

Olympus OM-D/EM1 Mark II in a was PT-EP14 Underwater Housing and PPO-E04 Dome Lens Port use for the photographs. Lighting was two Fantasea Radiant 1600 Video Lights.

 

 

Columcille Megalith Park

While I was searching for a place to photograph fall foliage I cam access this wonderful park located near Bangor, PA.

A land of myth and mystery located in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania. The park rooted in Celtic spirituality and inspired by the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland. It’s an outdoor sanctuary open to the public as a sacred space for quiet meditation.

St. Oran Bell Tower

St. Oran Bell Tower

 

Thor's Gate, Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor, Pennsylvania, United States, © 2017 Bob Hahn

Thor’s Gate

St. Columba Chapel , Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor, Pennsylvania, United States, © 2017 Bob Hahn

St. Columba Chapel

Megaliths, Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor, Pennsylvania, United States, © 2017 Bob Hahn

Megaliths

Bell, Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor, Pennsylvania, United States, © 2017 Bob Hahn

Bell