NW Nebraska Turkey Quest

by John Brunjes Posted on May 13, 2012
Three Merriam's wild turkeys harvested on our first morning hunt in NW Nebraska near Chadron. The Merriam's subspecies is a beautiful bird with extensive white in the tail fan. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 G.

 

A young buffalo on the prairie outside of Chadron, NE. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

A cock pheasant in the prairie grasses. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

A lonely road in NW Nebraska. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 G.

 

One of a pair of upland sandpipers we encountered on the prairie. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

A buffalo feeding. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

Young male pronghorn antelope. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

Stars begin to make trails in a 10 minute exposure of the Nebraska sky. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VRII.

 

A male pheasant displaying this spectacular colors. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.
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Western Kentucky

by John Brunjes Posted on May 13, 2012
A male dickcissel sings from his perch at Doug Travis WMA in western Kentucky. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

Much of my work takes me to western portions of Kentucky in the spring and summer.  This is a collection of photographs from a recent spin out west.

 

A sandhill crane at the West Kentucky WMA. Sandhill cranes are uncommon in western portions of the state and really unusual in May. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

Bomber, a competitor in the Lincoln Trail AKC field trial at West Kentucky WMA retrieves the flier in the first series of the open stake. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 300mm f/4.

 

A sandhill crane at West KY WMA flies. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

A male dickcissel in a wheat files near Doug Travis WMA. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII.

 

 

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Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Glow 2012

by John Brunjes Posted on April 28, 2012
Some of the balloons lit up during the Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Glow 2012. The balloon glow was part of the festivities that lead up to the 2012 Kentucky Derby. The event is held at the Kentucky Expo Center and Fairgrounds and drew huge crowds. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VRII. 1/50 sec, f/4, ISO 8000

 

Balloon teams work to fill their balloon before the beginning of the Balloon Glow. Nikon D4 with 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII. 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 4000.

 

One of the balloons being inflated at the 2012 Balloon Glow. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII. 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2500.

 

Balloons light up in unison. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 g. 1/50 sec, f/3.5, ISO 720.

 

A detail shot of one of the many balloons. While all balloons lit in unison only a few times, each balloon had to use their burner regularly to maintain it's fullness. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8. 1/50 sec, f/2.5, ISO 900.

 

Reporters Renee Murphy and Claudia Coffey from Louisville Channel 11 News broadcast live from the Balloon Glow. The crowd was so close to them, I'm not sure how they were able to actually do their job. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII. 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2800.

 

One of the balloons being buffeted by the wind. Winds picked up and balloon pilots had to deflate their balloons earlier than planned. Of special note in this picture....this picture was shot at ISO 25,600. The D4 is truly an amazing machine!!! Click on this image to enlarge.Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VRII. 1/80 sec, f/4, ISO 25600.
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