• Light, Land, and Lens – Photo Equipment

  

  Monday, May 25, 2026

  Hi, Everyone!

  In the United States today is Memorial Day, when we honor the fallen military personnel who have served in our armed forces to help ensure our freedom is sustained. Thank you to everyone in this role and to the families that have sacrificed over the years.

  Yesterday my wife, Ginny, and I went out birding and taking photos around Fidalgo Island and western Skagit County. I also took some panorama photos as part of my KelbyOne Inner Circle assignment due this week.

  Earlier in the week I was invited to hang some of my photos at the Balance Point Physical Therapy office in Anacortes, Washington. This was quite an honor! Here are the photos on display and available for sale.

  

   

  

  This Week’s Subject: My Photo Equipment

  I thought I’d take some of your reading time to tell you what I use for my cameras, lenses, and media as part of my effort to photograph birds, landscapes, and architecture. My hope is that this gives you a few ideas as you think about your own gear and how it fits the way you like to shoot. So, here goes!

  Camera Bodies

  I rely on three different cameras for my photography. They include:

  • Sony a7 IV 
  • Sony a7R IV
  • Samsung S26 Ultra cell phone

  Each one plays a different role, from serious bird and landscape work to quick photos when all I have with me is my phone. Of note, the camera capability on the Samsung S26 Ultra is incredible…I’ve barely scratched the surface of the photos and videos I can take with this cellphone.

  Lenses

  • Sony FE 4/24–105 G OSS – This lens is my trusty “go‑to” for my photojournalism assignments, event photography, and some landscape work. The zoom range is not quite enough for my bird and wildlife work; however, the 24–105 mm zoom is just about perfect for almost everything else.

  

  • Sony FE 5.6–6.3/200–600 G OSS plus Sony 1.4x Teleconverter – This lens combination is my favorite arrangement for my bird and wildlife photography. I have also used this combination for some of my landscape photography, and I honestly don’t know where I would be today if I didn’t have this lens combo.

  

  • Sony FE 4/70–200 MACRO G OSS II – Of my lens portfolio, this lens is not used very often—to some of my regret. The macro capability alone is excellent and great for photos of flowers, and I just need to motivate myself to use this lens more frequently.

  

  • Tamron 17–28 mm F/2.8 Di III RXD – I obtained this lens for my astrophotography efforts and occasionally for landscape photos when I want a very wide view.

  

  If you are putting together your own kit, you might think in simple terms: one general‑purpose lens you can leave on the camera most of the time, one lens that gets you closer to distant subjects, and then any “specialty” lenses that support the kind of photos you love to make.

  Media

  Both Sony camera bodies have slots for two media cards. I try to balance my media with the same capacity in each slot and preferably the same brand.

  For instance, my current choice for media is:

  • SanDisk 256 GB, Extreme Pro, 200 MB/sec

  

  Of note, I use a 6 mm Brother label tape to mark each chip with the camera body model and whether it is used in the left or right slot. The left slot is the primary storage and sometimes my videos are stored on the right slot. I find that marking the chips ensures I mentally track what is on the SD card for processing and backup storage on a spinning hard drive. If you’ve ever pulled an unlabeled card out of a drawer and wondered what’s on it, a simple label can save you some frustration. I will talk more in future blogs about my SD card storage and labeling practices.

  Next Week’s Subject: My Backup Philosophy and Process

  Staying on top of your backup processes is critically important to ensure you do not lose any of your photos, especially the most important ones. I’ll tell you more about my logic and processes next week.

  How Can I Help You?

  Please be sure to reach out to me at enhayden1321@gmail.com or post a comment in this blog to let me know if there are any topics you would like me to address in future blog posts. It would be my honor to pass along my experience and knowledge and learn some innovative ideas from all of you!

  Thanks for reading! Thanks for your time! We’ll see you next week!

  Ernie

  

   

  Email: enhayden1321@gmail.com | Website: https://risingmoonnw.com |

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RisingMoonNW | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingmoonnw/

   

  25 May 2026

• Welcome to Light, Land, & Lens – Chasing Light in the Skagit Valley

  

  Hi, Everyone!

  Welcome to my blog, “Light, Land, & Lens” where I try to write a “letter” to the reader about my photography, my photographic philosophy, my photo equipment, my software, and many stories about my picture taking in and around my home in the Skagit River Valley and US Pacific Northwest.

  I live in a town called Anacortes, Washington USA. It is a town on Fidalgo Island — part of the San Juan Island Archipelago. Probably one of the most beautiful places on earth — in my opinion.

  

  I am excited to begin this journey and looking forward to your questions, thoughts, and feedback!

  So, without further delay, let’s get started.

  Chasing Light in the Skagit River Valley

  There are places that reward persistence, and then there is the Skagit Valley.

  I’ve returned to the same stretches of field, river, and shoreline here more times than I can count. On paper, it might seem repetitive—same locations, same subjects, same seasons circling back year after year. But in practice, it’s anything but. The Skagit Valley and its surroundings is never the same twice, and the difference is almost always the light.

  Light is the real subject.

  

  It’s easy to think we photograph landscapes or wildlife, but what we’re really chasing is how light reveals them. A stand of trees along a dike road can be ordinary under a flat gray sky, then suddenly luminous when the late afternoon sun breaks through a gap in the clouds. A bald eagle perched high in a cottonwood becomes something else entirely when backlit at just the right angle—edges glowing, presence amplified.

  Those moments don’t happen on demand.

  More often than not, the conditions don’t line up. The forecast looks promising, but the clouds settle in too thick. The tide is close, but not quite right. The eagles are there, but the light is wrong—or the light is perfect, and the birds are gone. If there’s a single lesson the Skagit teaches, it’s patience.

  And patience isn’t passive.

  It means showing up anyway. It means driving out when the weather is uncertain, staying longer than is comfortable, and learning to read subtle changes in the sky. Over time, you begin to recognize patterns—the way marine clouds sometimes break just before sunset, or how winter light hangs low and soft across the fields, giving even midday a sense of quiet drama.

  Even then, nothing is guaranteed.

  Some of my most memorable days in the field haven’t produced a single frame worth keeping. And yet, those days matter. They build familiarity with the land. They sharpen your instincts. They remind you that photography isn’t just about results—it’s about attention.

  Then, occasionally, everything aligns.

  The light opens up. The landscape responds. A bird enters the frame at just the right moment. And for a few seconds, maybe less, you’re not searching anymore—you’re simply witnessing. Pressing the shutter becomes almost secondary.

  Those are the moments we carry with us.

  Not because they’re rare, though they are, but because they’re earned. They come from all the times we showed up when it would have been easier not to. From the quiet mornings, the long waits, the missed chances.

  In the Skagit Valley, light is never just illumination. It’s the difference between seeing and understanding. And it’s always worth the chase.

  

  ########################################################################################################

  I look forward to your thoughts, ideas, comments, and subjects you would like me to write about. My email is enhayden1321(at)gmail.com

  Lastly, may thanks to Ms Abbie Shores for granting me this space in Our Arts Magazine.

  You can see more of my work at my website Rising Moon NW

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  18 May 2026

PLEASE MEET ERNIE HAYDEN

Greetings, Friend! I am Ernie Hayden, an award-winning Pacific Northwest-based wildlife and landscape photographer living in beautiful Anacortes, Washington – right in the heart of the spectacular San Juan Archipelago. My passion for photography runs deep, rooted in the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest I call home, and fueled by a lifelong love of exploring, observing, and capturing the magic of nature.

MY FOCUS & PHILOSOPHY

Birds are my passion, especially the majestic American Bald Eagle and the striking Black Oystercatcher. Whether I am perched on a windswept shore chasing seabirds, hiking lush Pacific Northwest trails to capture wildlife, or rising early to frame the golden light on a rugged landscape or historic building, my goal is to create images that inspire wonder and a profound connection with nature.

I take ‘Bird Portraits’ and ‘Bird Studies’ as my primary and unique genre.

My artistic style combines technical precision (honed with Sony camera bodies and lenses) and creative vision developed over years of professional and personal exploration. I love the challenge of capturing authentic moments in the wild and striking scenes that tell a story.

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: MY INSPIRATION, MY HOME

Living in Anacortes offers daily inspiration. From dramatic coastlines and maritime scenes to forested hills, hidden lakes, and weathered barns full of Pacific Northwest charisma, I strive to showcase this incomparable regional beauty in every frame. Outside of my photographic pursuits, I cherish time spent with my family and exploring local wonders.

SERVICES & PRINTS

Through Rising Moon NW Photography, I offer:

• Limited-edition and open-run fine art prints of my work manufactured to order via Fine Art America, and shipped with a 30-day money-back guarantee for your complete satisfaction.
• Commissioned photo sessions for wildlife, landscape, events, and architectural subjects.
• Licensing opportunities for editorial and commercial use.
• Custom merchandise showcasing my best-loved imagery.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• Gold Winner, 2026 London Photography Awards, People Photography – Fine Art
• Gold Winner, 2026 Muse Photography Awards, Fine Art Photography – Abstract
• Gold Winner, 2026 Muse Photography Awards, Nature Photography – Wildlife
• Gold Winner, 2025 European Photography Awards, Nature Photography – Wildlife
• Silver Winner, 2025 MUSE Photography Contest (Wildlife Category)
• Profiled in the Anacortes American Newspaper, April 2, 2025, following receipt of my Silver Award in 2025
• Regular contributor to the Anacortes American, Skagit Valley Herald, Professional Mariner magazine, and Pacific Maritime Magazine
• Provided the cover photo to my book, Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment, published by Rothstein Publishing in 2000

WHY CHOOSE RISING MOON PHOTOGRAPHY?

My work is trusted by collectors, sponsors, editors, and businesses who share my vision for visually stunning, emotionally powerful images. Each photo is a careful blend of storytelling, artistic composition, and Pacific Northwest spirit – perfect for your home, business, or creative projects.

LET US CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER!

Ready to add a touch of the wild, scenic Pacific Northwest to your space, campaign, or publication?

Browse my portfolio at https://risingmoonnw.com, or follow me on Facebook and Instagram (@RisingMoonNW) for fresh images and behind-the-scenes stories. You can also purchase my wall and desk calendars from my ETSY site at RISING MOON NW ETSY SITE

Questions? Custom project in mind? Interested in prints, merchandise, or booking a session? Contact me directly at Email: enhayden1321(at)gmail.com

Contact me today. I would love to help you bring your vision to life with stunning imagery you will treasure.

Every purchase supports my ongoing work and exploration, and comes with Fine Art America 30-day money-back guarantee.

COPYRIGHT

All images on this website are fully protected by U.S. and international laws, all rights reserved. The images may not be reproduced, edited, copied, downloaded, manipulated, transmitted, or used in any way without written permission from Ernie Hayden or his estate.