8/2/2025 - Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

I believe I said it in a previous post, but it is worth repeating.  It appears I'm getting more into wildlife photography, particularly birds.  Perhaps it is because I've photographed a large number of the waterfalls that are within a couple of hours of the house or that we've had so little rain that the flow is very low or non-existent, or maybe I'm just opening my eyes to the rest of the beauty in nature.  I don't know, but I'm getting more impressed with the camera and lens combinations that I have each time I go out.  Taking the time to learn how to set the focus the way I want is really paying off as you'll see in the pictures below.  I hope you enjoy them!

Entrance: https://w3w.co/prelude.beans.counterpart
Site Notes: The visitor center is accessible with knowledgeable volunteers.  This area of the refuge is driving only.  No foot traffic allowed and you must stay in your car except at designated spots.  Don't worry though, there is plenty to see!

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:20; Focal Length: 520 mm; Shutter: 1/400 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Same picture as above, I just thought it came out amazing enough to crop it a bit.  It goes back to my statement of how impressed I am with this camera!

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:22; Focal Length: 570 mm; Shutter: 1/320 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:22; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/320 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:23; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/320 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:30; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/500 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:48; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/200 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:51; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/160 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:52; Focal Length: 320 mm; Shutter: 1/250 sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:56; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/250 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:56; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/320 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 11:58; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/400 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 12:01; Focal Length: 490 mm; Shutter: 1/400 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100
Note: No cropping here, the water was right outside the window!

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 12:01; Focal Length: 440 mm; Shutter: 1/400 sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 12:08; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/320 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 12:19; Focal Length: 300 mm; Shutter: 1/500 sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 12:20; Focal Length: 600 mm; Shutter: 1/1000 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100
Note: My first time capturing a Northern Harrier!

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 12:23; Focal Length: 540 mm; Shutter: 1/1000 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100

7/31/2025 - Flowers in the Yard

Saw the gladiola (the first picture) from the window so I decided to go out to get a picture and see what else was blooming.  Turned out to be a good decision...

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 15:58; Focal Length: 180mm; Shutter: 1/320sec; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 15:59; Focal Length: 350mm + crop; Shutter: 1/125sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 400
Note: A tiny rose that we didn't plant.  No idea where it came from...

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:00; Focal Length: 350mm; Shutter: 1/320sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:00; Focal Length: 310mm; Shutter: 1/250sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:01; Focal Length: 270mm; Shutter: 1/500sec; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:02; Focal Length: 180mm; Shutter: 1/400sec; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:03; Focal Length: 180mm; Shutter: 1/200sec; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400

Same as above, just cropped a bit to show the detail in the tiny flowers...

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:04; Focal Length: 200mm; Shutter: 1/200sec; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400

Another one that is just a crop of the previous to show the details...

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:05; Focal Length: 180mm; Shutter: 1/400sec; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 180

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:07; Focal Length: 470mm; Shutter: 1/125sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 400
Note: This is actually on my neighbors yard on the property line.

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:08; Focal Length: 310mm; Shutter: 1/125sec; Aperture: f/6; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Time: 16:09; Focal Length: 600mm; Shutter: 1/80sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 400

7/26/2025 - Chimney Bluffs State Park, Art

This is a bonus post from this visit.  I've decided that I'm going to start putting things that fit into a fine art category as a separate post.  This is my first such post, I hope you enjoy them!

Main Post: 7/26/2025 - Chimney Bluffs State Park

7/26/2025 - Chimney Bluffs State Park

It was a warm day so I thought heading up to the lakeshore would be a good idea, especially since my wife had never been.  Turned out that it would only have been a good idea if we brought some clothes for swimming!  Very hot and humid with no breeze but at least there were beautiful views.  I do wish I knew about the second parking lot that is not only apparently free, but would have allowed us to walk the shoreline to start with.  By the time we got there, we were both ready to just head home.

Parking Location: https://w3w.co/reassured.unicorns.engaged
Site Notes: The trail from the main lot almost down to the lake is paved.  Beyond that, I wouldn't recommend going on the trails as there are several really rough spots that would likely be impassable.

Bonus Fine Art Post: 7/26/2025 - Chimney Bluffs State Park - Fine Art

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 13:31; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/100sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 13:31; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/160sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 100

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 13:42; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/160sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Same photo as the last, I just liked how the mushroom stood out and thought it deserved to be the focus...

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 13:52; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/100sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 13:59; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/200sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:05; Focal Length: 25mm; Shutter: 1/4000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:08; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/8000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:09; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/6400sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:14; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/8000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:14; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/5000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:15; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/8000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:15; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/8000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:16; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/8000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:17; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/4000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:22; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/6400sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:22; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/5000sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:22; Focal Length: 70mm; Shutter: 1/6400sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:23; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/6400sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S;
Time: 14:24; Focal Length: 24mm; Shutter: 1/6400sec; Aperture: f/4; ISO: 400