After five long years . . . finally published as a nature photographer . . . see also "patient endurance"

[Jock Elliott]

The theme of my early morning devotional last Wednesday was "patient endurance." I remember thinking: "doesn't sound like fun to me."

At noon, coming back from a doctor's appointment, the better half says, "better check your messages." There is a call from an editor at The Conservationist Magazine. They have used my photos in a spread on Peebles Island. I submitted them five years ago. Thank You, Your Honor, maybe there is a point to this patient endurance thing . . .

Here are the originals:

Cheers, Jock

 

[Ad Dieleman]

5 years later, wow, well done! They certainly had time to think about it...

 

[tonyturley]

Congratulations, Jock. Those are nice images.

 

[serhan]

Congrats! I was watching Anthony Bourdain's Hudson River episode... He didn't go up that far North but interesting to find out your version of Hudson river... I am still waiting for my local park to be open to enjoy the nature near my home again...

 

[pdurand]

Congrats!

 

[Bobby Tingle]

Congratulations, Jock!!

 

[Luke]

my fave is the woodchuck.....they are just too cute

 

[gryphon1911]

congrats!!

 

[kyteflyer]

Congrats, Jock, well done

 

[Dean Smith]

Congratulations, Jock!

 

[davect01]

Exciting and Congrats

 

[davidzvi]

Congrats. Wonderful images. It's a strange feeling seeing your images in print like that.

 

[Apollo T.]

BRAVO, JOCK
An honor thoroughly earned and well deserved.

 

[Jock Elliott]

Congrats. Wonderful images. It's a strange feeling seeing your images in print like that.

Especially in such an unusual photo layout. I really have to tip my hat to the designer, because whoever did it really helped to capture the "spirit" of Peebles Island in a limited amount of space.

Cheers, Jock

 

[Jock Elliott]

BRAVO, JOCK
An honor thoroughly earned and well deserved.

That cannot pass without a big shout-out to all the folks here -- and you know who you are -- who have encouraged me over the years. Thanks!

But the biggest "appreciation heart" has to go to my better half, aka spotter-in-chief. Every single one of these photos was taken during walks on Peebles Island with her. With her freakishly good distance vision, she often points out items of interest.

It was she who said, "What's that at the end of the dam?"

To which I said, "There's something at the end of the dam?" (I thought it was a rock). Zoom . . . zoom . . . more zoom . . . holy smokes, it's an eagle having lunch! Click.

Cheers, Jock

 

[tonyturley]

From your photos and stories, Peebles Island sounds like an incredible place to have nearby.

 

[bartjeej]

Can't believe these are 5 years old already, I remember you posting them like it was last year. Congratulations, this is really cool!

 

[john m flores]

Congrats, Jock!

 

[drd1135]

Nice. You did that all with FZers. You must be really dangerous with the RX10 iv.

 

[Jock Elliott]

Nice. You did that all with FZers.

Kind of you to notice, Steve. All the photos were the result of taking walks on Peebles Island with the better half (aka spotter-in-chief). Because superzooms are small (relative to almost any DSLR or mirrorless), light, and extremely versatile, I was willing to carry them. The RX10 IV is about a pound heavier but delivers more horsepower, particularly very fast autofocus.

By contrast, check out this thread: Went looking for eagles and found these

Years ago, one of the denizens of Serious Compacts said: "Take a camera everywhere and see what happens." For me, that's a ticket to joy.

This thread is the result of a stroll at Troy NY's Oakwood Cemetery. These are for Luke . . .

The first shot, taken with the RX10 IV, gives me a huge grin. The woodchuck took one look at us and started bookin' for his Safe Place. I love the fact that just one foot is touching the ground. Silly me.

Cheers, Jock