Talented wildlife photographer Deidre Lantz shares with us her stunning Raven pictures
Hello. Could you please tell us about yourself, your passion for photography and your favorite bird, the Ravens?
Deidre Lantz:
"I’m a photographer from the USA, and my focus is on animals and the natural world. I have an Associate degree in digital photography, and I’m set to get my Bachelor’s degree in biological science in 2015. I’ve been photographing things since I was very little (maybe 5 years old) and my first camera was a tiny pocket camera that used 110mm film. Since then I’ve upgraded to a digital camera. Some of my favorite photography subjects are ravens. They are such fascinating birds. When ravens are seen together in pairs is when they are the most adorable.
They’re typically a male and female bonded pair, and they tend to spend quite a bit of time reinforcing pair bonds, which makes for some pretty interesting pictures A lot of people think that they’re just big black scary birds, but they can be adorable, and if you catch them in the right light you can see iridescence in their feathers. Since moving out of the city, I’ve been able to get out to more natural areas and see animals in their natural habitats.
Some of my favorite nature areas to visit are national parks (like Yellowstone National Park) and wildlife refuges (my favorite is the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge). If I were to give one piece of advice to anyone looking to improve their photography, it would be to have patience and keep shooting. Most of the shots I get are due to luck and just getting outside as much as I can, and to take my camera with me. I’m not a perfect photographer; I’ve had my fair share of missed opportunities. I hope to keep up with my photography hobby, as long as my health and time allow for it!"
Hello. Could you please tell us about yourself, your passion for photography and your favorite bird, the Ravens?
Deidre Lantz:
"I’m a photographer from the USA, and my focus is on animals and the natural world. I have an Associate degree in digital photography, and I’m set to get my Bachelor’s degree in biological science in 2015. I’ve been photographing things since I was very little (maybe 5 years old) and my first camera was a tiny pocket camera that used 110mm film. Since then I’ve upgraded to a digital camera. Some of my favorite photography subjects are ravens. They are such fascinating birds. When ravens are seen together in pairs is when they are the most adorable.
They’re typically a male and female bonded pair, and they tend to spend quite a bit of time reinforcing pair bonds, which makes for some pretty interesting pictures A lot of people think that they’re just big black scary birds, but they can be adorable, and if you catch them in the right light you can see iridescence in their feathers. Since moving out of the city, I’ve been able to get out to more natural areas and see animals in their natural habitats.
Some of my favorite nature areas to visit are national parks (like Yellowstone National Park) and wildlife refuges (my favorite is the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge). If I were to give one piece of advice to anyone looking to improve their photography, it would be to have patience and keep shooting. Most of the shots I get are due to luck and just getting outside as much as I can, and to take my camera with me. I’m not a perfect photographer; I’ve had my fair share of missed opportunities. I hope to keep up with my photography hobby, as long as my health and time allow for it!"
All Images are the property of Dee Otter Photographer (Deidre Lantz) - Visit Facebook Page and DevianArt
great pictures,crows and ravens are some awesome creatures
Spectacular!!!
Really cool. They are so beautiful.
I've seen a crow that looks like that Dalmatian raven. flew off before I could get my camera out so I never got a photo.
My favorite birds...... Silly as it sounds but some how I feel connected to them..
gorgeous captures of them.
Awe-inspiring, sublime images. Magnificent creatures shown with loving detail. Thank you. These images will not leave me.
Hi - I am a state journalist for the progressive hundred year old newspaper, the Capital Times. I write a column for LIVING wildlife in a dying world. At least dying for wildlife. 52% of all non-human life has been exterminated by humans in the past 40 years - a trajectory for a dead planet in much less time going forward. I named my column MADRAVENSPEAK because the raven was the Shamanic messenger who brought the word to indigenous people to guide them. I ask that you let me use some of your pictures in my column ( I am allowed one picture per column every other Sunday). I can attribute the pictures to you and link back to your web site. My archive of 114 columns can be found here: http://host.madison.com/search/?l=25&skin=/branding/ct&k=%22%23ct%22&sd=desc&s=start_time&f=html&q=Madravenspeak
Love these!!
Stunningly beautiful...I LOVE Ravens!
Not just beautiful but smart. A couple of years ago I found myself at the zoo in Heidelberg, Germany, and there were 2 ravens in an enclosure behind some very strong chickenwire, far too strong for them to escape. As I stood there admiring them I noticed that one of them had picked something up in its beak, a piece of twig, and had inserted one end under the edge of the wire and was lifting up the other end. This raven had worked out the principal of the lever!
Raven is the Law....
Beautiful photos
Wonderful photographs of these beautiful birds. I am fortunate to have some of them visit me here in Moosonee and grab pictures of them whenever I can.
Absolutely beautiful photos.
The key phrase, we as humans should pay attention to above is, "They tend to spend quite a bit of time reinforcing pair bonds." One only needs to see how and what nature is teaching us.
They are beautiful ! I love Ravens and enjoy watching them when they come for a visit at my place .
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.
I saw, follow 12 year ago my raven couple , feed them. Give to us many enjoyment dayly
I so love Ravens. Love Crows too. These are like the mafia of the bird world. Thank you for sharing these wonderful birds with us!
AWESOME photos!
Thanks - you made my day!!
Youre a very talented photographer--beautiful shots!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful photographs with us
How stunning! We just came back from Jasper, Alberta - and captured several photos of ravens, though none as beautiful as yours. Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely wonderful! Ravens have been a part of my life, both physically and as spiritual guides as long as I can remember. I watch them all the time pairing, riding thermals, playing with the coyotes and watching over me as I go about my life. Thank you for these stunning photos!
These are absolutely stunning. I watch them at a local lake and area I Iive now and in the past all the time. I love to watch them gather from seemingly no where and then they spiral. One will appear then I know and in matter of minutes there are about 30 spiraling like a funnel and then they will disappear just as the came. At one time in my life I was very ill and dying. Sitting outside on my deck one flew to a top of a digger pine and did the sun salutation, like giving thanks in all four directions then it flew away. Never saw anything like it ever again. I felt so blessed to have witnessed that spiritual act done by a bird.
The expressions and body movements captured here are beautiful to show how intelligent and loving these birds are. I watched a documentary years ago showing that we probably learned our carpentry skills from birds, but just recently have seen a few articles reflecting that the birds are actually smart enough to have learned how to use tools from humans, I am inclined to believe, we could learn from them more than they can learn from us, anyway, great photos, thank you for sharing.
My very favorite bird - you did a great job capturing their personalities.
I enjoy watching them. The photos are beautiful and I can't decide which one I like best, all of them
I love Ravens and they are a daily bonus in my life! Love your stunning photos!
Spectacular photographs! Thank you!
Beautiful, brilliant creatures. You did a great job capturing their essence. Thank you for sharing.
beautiful!
We live in the UK and have to visit more remote areas to see these wonderful birds. Not too far away from us is a place called The Long Mynd, a heath and moorland plateau in Shropshire, where Ravens can be seen. I adore all creatures belonging to Mother Earth, but there is something so very special about the Raven. Such a magestic exquisitely beautiful bird, and extremely intelligent species too. Their beauty is beyond words, but who needs words when we are able to share photographs such as these. Just awesome and I so admire your time spent among these magical creatures and imagine that you already know how honoured you are being able to spend so much time in their presence. Thank you for sharing these stunning photographs with us as they have made my day, Blessings, Jan. )O(
This spring the place we are renting had the old barn roof collapse.
We knew there was a large nest in the center of it - and had to go to see if they were injured.
It turned out to be a raven's nest and it was destroyed. We found 2 juvenile ravens, sadly one was dead. We managed to get the one surviving raven and put it in a box and put it in a safe place as it's parents were still around. As we were placing the box we found 2 more of it's siblings. So in total early this summer we had a family of 5 ravens flying around the property. We were so happy they survived.
I love these.The beauty and the way you captured the composition, texture and spirit speaks for itself.
Precious! I think that I'll come back as one
I boil 2 extra eggs every morning before work and give the yokes to a small group of ravens waiting for me at break time. They respectfully share them.
My very favorite birds. You have captured their essence!!
Raven is the shapeshifter w the whitewolf!
Wonderful photos! Lots of ravens here in southern AZ. Love watching them - friendly and smart.
Lovely!
I love Ravens I had two that would come to the house every year to be fed but the last two years only one is coming and lets us know that it's hear - not afraid at all. Beautiful!
Great shots. Beautiful work.
Wow these are so Beautiful!
Ravens, Rooks ... often connected with “death” but for me they are playful and full of “life”. I like how they dance in the wind, and I’ve seen them spin upside down.
My favourite thing is watching them return to roost in the evening. Cuddle up.
I love these photos and the intent. Thank you.
wonderful photographs. Must require enormous patience. There was a recent photo on facebook, which looks like a very young bird with a long bill. Looks slightly dazed and fierce. A water bird, with very spiky forehead and long feathers. Can you say what it is ?
hello there i am curious if anyone would know how to get ahold of Deidre Lantz so i could purchase one or two of these beautiful images. thanks
Beautiful animals and wonderful pictures!
fantastic portraits - thankyou so much for putting them up! We have plenty of hooded crows in Berlin, Germany, and a few pairs have become my close acquaintances over a number of years.
But jackdaws, rooks, and ravens are rather uncommon, so it is wonderful to see your beautifully caught moments showing character and behaviour of these wonderful birds.
Absolutely marvellous
Magnificent photography
Adpre your work
Love them so much
I recently read that Ravens "actually" use their beaks to point to objects.
Please leave poor Animals alone
Beautiful...stunning...amazing
Beautiful ❤️