Had some fun this past week with a rented 600mm lens in the Smokies and at the Hiwassee WR. The lens takes some getting used to and the lighting conditions weren't always the best, but I got a few images that I'm not too ashamed of.

I rented from lensrentals.com and, based on the cost of renting vs buying and the frequency that I need that long a lens, renting seems to be the way to go.

Testing blog posting from iPhone.

Another long spell with no entries. With all the various social media and photography sites it's difficult to remember what I've posted, where and when. ;-)

Google+ seems to really be taking off, I've had over 9000 people circle me there and over 1000 on my Stalking Light G+ page. I've had my FB page much longer and 550 'likes' there. Then of course there are 500px and flickr.

I've been planning out my spring southwest trip and it's shaping up to be a nice one. We'll head out driving a bit of the Natchez Trace, then on to Big Bend and White Sands. After that we'll stop in Tempe for a couple of days before heading up to the Mojave and then Death Valley. From there on to southern Utah to visit Zion and then to see the backcountry sites around Kanab and Page before wandering up to Cedar Mesa and maybe Escalante, Capitol Reef, etc. on the way to Moab.

I put in for a Coyote Buttes North permit via lottery and will try and get a permit for Coyote Buttes South when they come available online in January. We also want to visit White Pocket at the same time. It's going to be a fun trip.

Hope everyone had a nice thanksgiving and is having fun getting ready for the holidays. We have finished our shopping for our 'adopted' family and filled a couple of stockings for some 'elderly' women; generally the 'elderly' folks in need are actually younger than we are but we really enjoy shopping for them.

Here's a belated Thanksgiving shot:

Just got back from a week in the Smokies. The colors were past peak in most places but I was able to squeeze a few images out of the shots I took:

Been way too long since I've posted an entry.

Got the blahs for the hot weather here, got caught up in Google+ and then my son's wedding and a rip to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia.

Enough excuses, here are a few images from the trip:

Still ridiculously hot and humid here, too much so for any camping trips or even hikes.

I'm really liking the TC17E-II teleconverter I got; works great with both my 105mm macro and 70-200mm VR II. With the 70-200mm and it on my D3s it makes a nice butterfly chaser, except that there are almost no butterflies around this year.

Here's a couple of shots of a swallowtail that came by today, hopefully it will cool down soon and more will show up.

If anyone wants a invite to Google+ go here. I had this posted on my FB page but realized that FB blocks the sharing of invitation links from Google+.