Some of the photos are ok, some are blurry. Im having problems controling the autofocus, extending the depth of field and losing color, it washing out in longer shots. I also need to "expose" quicker as moving fish are especially tough and blur easily even when moving the camera in sync. A hot flash bounces back any particals in the water turning the pic whitish. Very tricky. Still though the camera offers nice features and im much enjoying playing with it. I took over 627 snaps and deleted them down to about 125 and here are 15 of the better, more interesting ones especially regarding unique species. I have much to refine in the use but my observation tricks and skills of the past came in handy. The camera is awesome in how long the battery holds up. All the pics were shot on 3 overnight charges. A trip to Wally World got an extra battery for next time and new lens for my mask.
Noted...
Hogsuckers
Stonerollers, common.
Redhorse
Sculpin
Bluntnose Minnows
Madtom (?)
Topminnows: Northern Studfish ( breeding males ), Black Stripped or Spotted
Dace: Rosyside, Blacknose, Southern Redbellied ( in color )
Shiners: Stripe ( common ), Scarlet ( in color ), Whitetail ( in color ), Mountain ( blue shining heads ), Spotfin or Steelcolor ( piced ), Tennessee ( just a touch of color when they got excited ), Telescope (?)
Darters: Orangethroat, Rainbow, Redline, Logperch, Blenny, Greenside, Blotchside, Fantail (?), Snubnose (TN, Cumberland ?), Banded ( 1, i think in the vegetation )
Sunfish: Longear, Bluegill, Rockbass, Smallmouth Bass, LM Bass (?), Redbreast (?)
Chubs: Redtail, Bigeye, Creek
3 sites were crystal clear, the 4th had about 10' of visibility but a few miles downstream with the recent logging, reduced visibilty to only 2 or 3 feet. Sadness, dispair. One critical stretch has economic stimulus money cutting trees and widening a quiet 2 lane to 4 lanes for 3 miles with 4 bridge crossing. Sometimes i worry that we are among the last to see these wonders.
Breadcrumb slimed from a minnow trap, this was some specie of madtom. Very long. ?
Here is a neat Darter, some kind of Fantail. This water was cold, springfed. You can see the promise of egg mimics.
Plenty of Crawdads, they were everywhere. Pretty and handsome markings.
Looks kinda like a Rainbow but i suspect it's an Orangethroat.
Sculpins always ready to snatch and grab. Easy to photograph, laying still in wait.
Off to a new site, one of several fellas laying low under a log.
Handsome Redline, keeping his eye on me.
Orange nosed Snub, exactly which i do not know. Also seen were green nosed Snubs, Cumberland?
I wish i could have gotten a better shot of this shiner. Many were seen and all fast. Probably a Spotfin or Steelcolor but all lacked the bright red nose of Steelcolors i see at home.
Whitetail Shiner, up close and personal. They can be quite beautiful in their pearlescent colors and displayed finage.
These guys are in the fastest, neck twisting water and camoed just like sculpins. Very nervous, hard to get close to. Im told in the spring the males are spectacular.
7 to 10 of these guys in a single stretch. Pods, all busy flipping stones. Nervous but sometimes inquisitive.
A favorite site, today offered a town meeting of Greensides, all gathered alongside a couple monolithic rocks. I played with the macro and telephoto digital zoom to get this shot. He did not want that camera in his face but was content to set a couple feet away and observe the observer.
My favorite Sunfish. Radiant, seeming translucent in the light.
Probably the best focus of the pics, 2 male Rainbows, i wish the far one was a female.
This female redline was marked in a way i have never seen. Rich cream color. I snapped many pics with the camera on top of her. Very patient, but her mate never let me get the shot i wanted. Peeked out from under rocks and skirt away when lifted.
These Chubs had the brightest red tails. I thought they were more located in the top portion of the state, better check the range maps on these. I did not see any Chub nests and none of these were tuberculed. Here at home they are all Rivers.
And so it was.
Edited by Casper Cox, 22 July 2009 - 11:30 PM.