Sunset at MIller's Lake

Sunset at Miller’s Lake using a 600mm Lens

Capturing the Golden Hour: A Memorable April Tour

Sunset happened after a wonderful photo session of birds on our April Tour. The sky was a canvas of vibrant hues, a perfect backdrop for the day's final shots. As the sun dipped near the horizon, it cast a golden glow over the landscape, enhancing the beauty of the avian subjects we were so eager to capture.

My favorite shot was taken using a 600mm telephoto lens. I was trying to get birds in front of the sun but to no avail. However, I love this shot. The Pattern of the clouds and the sun large in the frame make this shot one of my favorites.

I also shot this scene using a 24mm lens, resulting in another very nice shot. The wide-angle perspective captured more of the stunning sunset and the serene environment. While I appreciate the broader context of this photo, I prefer the intimacy and detail of the telephoto shot.

Join us in 2025 and experience similar opportunities. Whether you're an avid bird photographer or love nature, our tours offer a chance to capture unforgettable moments and hone your photography skills in some of the most beautiful settings imaginable.

2025 Spring Tours

Miller’s Lake Sunset taken at 24mm

An Owl Eating Crawfish

Owl eating crawfish

As Louisianians, we have a fondness for consuming crawfish. Interestingly, we are not alone in our appreciation for this delicacy - even our winged companions seem to share our love for it. During one of my outings, I came across a duo of Owls who were taking turns catching crawfish from the nearby lake. They would either consume it themselves or offer it to their partner. I have witnessed similar behavior at Lake Martin before, where a group and I once observed an Owl repeatedly diving into the water for over an hour to catch and devour crawfish.

Owl Duo

Infrared photograph of a Tupelo Tree at Millers Lake

Infrared photograph of a Tupelo Tree at Millers Lake

Description

There is a nice stand of Tupelo at Miller’s Lake and the spring tours where we photograph the many birds there, also features photographing these beautiful trees. This striking infrared photograph captures the beauty of a lone Tupelo tree at Miller’s Lake. Rendered in high-contrast black and white, the image transforms the familiar landscape into an almost dreamlike scene. The tree’s foliage appears luminous against the deep, inky sky, while dark, dramatic clouds add depth and texture. In the distance, a few birds glide across the lake, enhancing the sense of tranquility.

The photograph was made with a wide angle lens to capture the essence of the Lake. A shutter speed of 1/1000s was chosen to minimize the effect of movement of the boat we were in. An aperture of f16 was chosen to render everything sharp and a iso sensitivity of 400 was selected to achieve a proper exposure.

Infrared photography thrives in bright conditions, making late morning and early afternoon ideal times to shoot when standard photography struggles with harsh light. This image was taken in the early afternoon, using a Nikon D800 modified for infrared by Kolari Vision. The combination of the camera’s sensitivity to infrared light and the lake’s striking tupelo trees creates a surreal and captivating composition.

The black & white conversion was done in Lightroom Classic after processing with DXO pure raw to reduce the noise and correct the lens aberations from the vintage 24mm Nikkor lens.

Kolari Vision infrared photography