Current Favorites: Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography

"What's happening over there?"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:23:08 GMT

Another Squirrel - they're good subjects around here. Always full of tricks & attics. Based upon focal length I believe this shot to be the 70-200VR with my TC-17E II

"The Old Male" is always "game" for food & being a model

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:15:58 GMT

I'm now working with about 3 generations of the visiting squirrels. This is an older un-named male. Shot with the amazing 70-200VR f/2.8 at 150mm

"The Thief" Detail

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:49:51 GMT

Western Scrub-Jay detail. Long story short. I was working on my "natural light" squirrel setup when this bird showed up & stole the peanuts from the squirrels. I'd been trying to catch him/her with the camera for months with no luck. I got two shots in - this one & the second which did not turn out. So this "thief" steals from our local family of squirrels....

"The Thief" full photo

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:49:51 GMT

Huge Bug - - Now identified as a WASP

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:49:52 GMT

Huge scary bug. I have no idea what kind of bug it is. All I know is that it's the only time I've seen one & it was HUGE.
Update 03/03/2008
From the Placerita Caynon Web Site I've found out this about this monster.... "This is a wasp that captures tarantulas, stings and paralyzes them,lays an egg inside of them, and then the baby wasp eats its way throughthe paralyzed spiders body, saving the vital organs for last so thatthe tarantula lives as long as possible"

Rose in the garden.....

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:49:52 GMT

A beautiful pink rose

Red Flower

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:49:52 GMT

Red flower in the garden

Pink Calla

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:49:52 GMT

Pink Calla Lilly that's aged....

Tiny One

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:05:40 GMT

One tiny little Grasshopper that I found in the garden & managed to "talk into" being a model for me for a short while. He/She is only about 10mm or 1cm in body length.

The Red Flower Again

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:14:49 GMT

This Macro was shot with the 300mm f/4 Nikon/Nikko lens. I made it a macro by using the Nikon PK-13 Extension ring/tube. There are many ways to create Macros. This is one of them. Working on controlling my red channel.

Hosta in the shade

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:01:45 GMT

This flower/plant is a "Hosta" about to start blooming. Don't know what the bug is. Anyhow, I love experimenting with techniques. This is shot with my 300mm f/4 lens & a Nikon PK-13 Extension Ring/Tube. It effectively makes the 300mm Telephoto lens into a Macro lens. Handheld - no wonder I have tendinitis & tennis elbow, MF (manual focus). The lens is huge & heavy. Ah well.....

Too Hot Even for "Little One"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:39:13 GMT

May I introduce "Little One". A young squirrel which lives on our property. It's obviously even too hot for him/her. Rather tame, but still a wild squirrel, Little One responds to "Peanuts" & the name "Little One". Due to shear luck did I catch this shot. I guess it's the heat & just having had a really hard day which caused this reaction from Little One. Not ever seen it before.

"Skipper" & the "Society Garlic" Flowers

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:36:40 GMT

I believe this little "bug" is referred to as a "skipper" & the flower is a plant called "Society Garlic" Tulbaghia Violacea is the scientific name.This macro is also done with an Extension Ring/Tube "PK-13" from Nikon

"Skipper"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 19:15:39 GMT

I believe this little "bug" is referred to as a "skipper" & the plant is some Lily.This macro is also done with an Extension Ring/Tube "PK-13" from Nikon

Camouflage

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:17:38 GMT

Camouflage is what this bug has. Bug identified as a Katydid, but found him/her in our garden today & it was a willing subject so I ran for the camera, as I was watering at the time. Came back out with the 105mm Lester A. Dine Kiron Marco lens & snapped away for about 10 minutes. Interestingly enough I went back out a little later & it was still hanging out. So not too traumatized I hope.

Camouflage 2

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:31:23 GMT

No pp on this one. Only gone from Adobe RGB to sRGB RAW to jpg. Only PP was in camera settings.

Camouflage 3

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:17:35 GMT

Cropped, saturation & contrast added

Katydid

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 23:43:04 GMT

Yes, another one. Can't decide which I like best at this time. ;-)

Great Egret at 45 % crop

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:23:41 GMT

Oh I know - - it's too dark! No, it's my vision & I like it like this.

Great Egret at 45% crop

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:23:41 GMT

But I'm fully capable of making a lighter version for everyone else. ;-)

Great Egret uncropped shot

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:23:42 GMT

The un-cropped version of the earlier shots. I used the Nikkor 30mm f/4 AF-S lens with the TC-17E II TC & effectively got to 750mm in 35mm film conversion - - though lens-wise I'm at 500mm this way.

Cooper's Hawk & prey/kill at 45% crop

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:28:28 GMT

I've been trying to catch the resident Cooper's Hawk (now can be confirmed) for a while, with no success. Today, while doing yard chores I heard some screaming & went to investigate & in one of my neighbor's driveways I found this hawk & its kill. Thought it was a squirrel since I had a hard time getting close & it was in a rather dark area in the shade under an oak tree. But this is some kind of bird with a longer slightly curved beak & very colorful - we now believe it to be Red-shafted Northern Flicker based on the colors; brown head/crown, gray face & chest, red mustache (so a male), red wing & tail lining & brown-barred back. This is a large prey, 11-14 inches, which I believe as it was almost as big as the Cooper's Hawk (male 15 inches & female 19 inches according to one of my books).

I'm angry with myself for deciding to use the on board flash - - I got a lot of shots, but most of them with red eyes....... Handheld with the 300mm f/4 Nikkor/Nikon lens.

Cooper's Hawk & prey/kill Red-shafted Northern Flicker

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:39:23 GMT

I've been trying to catch the resident Cooper's Hawk (now can be confirmed) for a while, with no success. Today, while doing yard chores I heard some screaming & went to investigate & in one of my neighbor's driveways I found this hawk & its kill. Thought it was a squirrel since I had a hard time getting close & it was in a rather dark area in the shade under an oak tree. But this is some kind of bird with a longer slightly curved beak & very colorful - we now believe it to be Red-shafted Northern Flicker based on the colors; brown head/crown, gray face & chest, red mustache (so a male), red wing & tail lining & brown-barred back. This is a large prey, 11-14 inches, which I believe as it was almost as big as the Cooper's Hawk (male 15 inches & female 19 inches according to one of my books).

At this point the hawk felt I was too close & flew off to another neighbor's California Oak tree. Luckily landing in a spot where I could locate it & get semi decent shots. This shot is cropped about 40%, - I tried to go closer to the hawk & shot as I had a chance. So this is step by step maneuvering around trying to get a good spot.....

Red - "The Acrobat" Revisited

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:56:36 GMT

"Red" is one of our local squirrels who hang out in our backyard. Here he/she's stealing food from the birds. The squirrel is about 6 feet in the air hanging off it's hind toes....

Composite shot of Breeding Brown Pelican in Malibu Lagoon Reserve

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:17:01 GMT

My First Composite Job.....

This is actually a composite shot. It's the merging of two shots into one. I shot this high speed hand held & in the first shot I managed to cut his/her toes. In the second shot I had all perfectly framed - - & he/she stretches the beak so the top few inches is out of frame. Needless to say I was disappointed. So I made it a lesson in post production & editing. Valuable lesson. I hope it passes your inspection & I'd love to know if you can find my "repair"/fix.....

Male American Kestrel 80% crop

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:22:50 GMT

Now I admit, this shot is not much looking at it, but once you know the background story.....

This is taken while sitting on top of my 1800lbs Warmblood horse about 10 feet in the air. I had to kind of drop the reins, yet control him. Now add to this that I had my American Shetland Pony 2,5 year old stallion on a lead rope, a lead/leash for horses, with me - so I was in fact trying to control two horses while shooting & aiming at this little bird only 9 inches tall far off for the lens I was carrying. This is shot with a super cheap super zoom, the Tamron AF Aspherical XR Di LD (IF) 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 - - not a super sharp lens at all.... This is taken while out on the trail with the two horses & yes I state it again - - I'm on top of the horse with the camera & attempting to control both horses & the camera.

So you judge the difficulty..... All I know is that I now know is that I now just have to start hanging out by the horse path next to the freeway & hope to catch this little bird again with a better lens, tripod & nice weather. Wish me luck. Until this afternoon I'd not ever seen a Kestrel in person, but I'm thrilled to say I correctly identified the bird immediately which means I'm getting more observant.

Koala in Motion

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:56:19 GMT

This koala gave me a show at the L.A. Zoo. Here he/she is ready for an evening "gallop" on the ground & jump up & down the trees. ;)

The Bridge in the Japanese Garden at the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:41 GMT

"Power Napping"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:44 GMT

Seven, yes there are seven, Mallard ducklings taking an afternoon power nap in the Japanese Garden at the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens

"No Way Am I looking the Same Direction"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:46 GMT

Seven, yes there are seven, Mallard ducklings taking an afternoon power nap in the Japanese Garden at the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens

"Deserted At the Huntington......"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:49 GMT

This poor old man (I believe I was told he was 98 years old), had been lost at 11am that morning. It was now well past 5pm, and they had not found him yet, but my camera had......

"The Wave"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:31 GMT

"Alone"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:33 GMT

Sanderlings or Calidris alba

Sanderling or Calidris alba

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:34 GMT

Sanderlings or Calidris alba II

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:36 GMT

Sanderling or Calidris alba III

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:53 GMT

Sanderlings or Calidris alba IV

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:29 GMT

"Tails Up!!!"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:53:51 GMT

Sanderlings or Calidris alba

Black-necked Stilt or Himantopus maxicanus

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:41 GMT

Black-necked Stilt or Himantopus maxicanus II

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:42 GMT

Black-necked Stilt or Himantopus maxicanus III

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:44 GMT

Black-necked Stilt or Himantopus maxicanus IV

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:47 GMT

Eared Grebe or Podiceps nigricollis

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:55:02 GMT

Male in breeding plumage

Water Gardens at Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:58 GMT

"Big Yawn" Black-crowned Night-Heron (BCNH) or Nycticorax nycticorax

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:41:58 GMT

"In Flight" Brown Pelican or Pelicanus occidentalis

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:41:59 GMT

"Got an Itch" Black-crowned Night-Heron (BCNH) or Nycticorax nycticorax

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:42:00 GMT

"Largest Yawn of the Day" Gull

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:42:10 GMT

Black Phoebe or Sayornis nigricans

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:50 GMT

"Dipping Dinner"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:53 GMT

"Displaying in the Golden Light of the Setting Sun"

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:54:56 GMT

Snowy Egret in Breeding Plumage The Snowy Egret is also known in Latin as Egretta thula

"Mom's Getting Dinner" American Coot Chick or Fulica americana

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:42:04 GMT

Parent is diving for algae on the bottom of the lake - - chick is right there ready to feed...

"Dinner is Served" American Coot Chick & Parent or Fulica americana

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:42:06 GMT

Double-crested Cormorant or Phalacrocorax auritus

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:42:09 GMT

Mother shading her two chicks, while her mate is off screen in the tree above...

"Am I Not Beautiful!?!?!?" American Coot Chick or Fulica americana

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:41:56 GMT

"Take Off" Double-crested Cormorant or Phalacrocorax auritus

(Lil Judd AKA LilKnytt Photography) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:42:02 GMT