Chickens

Proud as a peacock, a rooster parades about its pen an hour after crowing in another summer day on a small family farm north of Custer.

I grew up with a chicken coop full of chickens. My kids were excited when we had a place to have some of our own. This rooster was looking rather regal tonight.

This rooster on Morton Road, owned by Mark and Katie Cooper, is definitely the cock of the walk! He thinks he is hot stuff and wanted me and the rest of the world to know it. F2.8 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

My kids love our chickens. This is one of David Benjamin’s favorites. He suggested I make a portrait of the two of them for my photo of the day. How could I resist those beautiful faces?

After chasing the rooster that had gotten loose all around the yard at Shoup's farm, I set my focus on this beautiful hen. I loved the contrast between her gorgeous black and white feathers and her bright red face. By getting my 200mm telephoto macro lens right up against the fence of the chicken coop and setting my aperture to F2.8, I was able to make the fence in the foreground totally disappear and the shallow depth of field made the fence in the background very soft and not nearly as distracting. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

The kids love gathering the chicken eggs. We hope to set up a stand at the end of our drive one year with fresh produce and farm fresh eggs.