Wikimore

Long-time Wikimedian who decided, a few years ago, to try to take better pictures to contribute to Commons. I feel like I've learned a lot from this community, and continue to do so. Always welcome photography tips/constructive criticism.

Though I take pictures of lots of things, a few areas of concentration are the New York City area in general, protests, conventions (not so much in 2020), and birds (much more so in 2020). If you're in NYC (or coming to NYC) and want tips or to plan a photography outing, let me know. There are several Wikimedian photographers here.

My main camera is an Olympus OM-D E-M5 mark ii (micro four-thirds format). I like it, but don't know if I can recommend the format any longer. Olympus announced in 2020 that they plan to get out of the camera game. The future of its camera business seems unclear at the moment, possibly being transferred to another company, and Panasonic is the only other company making the gear (with some compatibility issues around the way they do their image stabilization). I hope it'll look up, but we'll see.

This is my main account for contributing to Wikimedia projects. From March-July 2021, I contracted with the Wikimedia Foundation, researching the impact of Suggested Edits on Commons. My WMF account is User:Rhododendrites (WMF), which is now inactive. Edits I make through this account are strictly as a volunteer.

Rhododendrites

rhododendrites AT gmail DOT com

(FP-VI-QI)

 
Featured Pictures - the birds
Image 1Short-billed dowitcher in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge East Pond
Image 2Immature mute swan in Prospect Park
Image 3Gray catbird with a chokeberry in Prospect Park
Image 4American robin
Image 5Gray catbird in Prospect Park
Image 6Golden-crowned kinglet at a banding station
Image 7American avocet fishing in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 8House sparrow mother with chicks
Image 9Field sparrow in Central Park
Image 10Dark-eyed junco in Brooklyn
Image 11Three ring-billed gulls in Red Hook
Image 12Gray catbird in Central Park
Image 13Female northern cardinal in Central Park
Image 14Bay-breasted warbler in Central Park
Image 15Male house sparrow in Prospect Park
Image 16Red-tailed hawk yearbook photo, class of 2022, Central Park
Image 17Immature cooper's hawk in Prospect Park
Image 18Warbling vireo singing in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 19Song sparrow on Lookout Hill in Prospect Park
Image 20American avocet
Image 21Eastern kingbird
Image 22Female hooded merganser resting on the Central Park Reservoir
Image 23European starling in Central Park
Image 24Ring-billed gull preening/bathing in Marine Park
Image 25Male northern shoveler in Marine Park, Brooklyn
Image 26Black-and-white warbler in Prospect Park
Image 27Palm warbler in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 28American coot in Prospect Park
Image 29Mandarin duck drake in eclipse plumage in Royal Lazienki Park
Image 30Lincoln's sparrow in Brooklyn, NYC
Image 31Snowy egret
Image 32Cedar waxwing in pokeweed in Prospect Park
Image 33Ring-billed gull in flight over Red Hook, Brooklyn
Image 34Black-capped chickadee at a feeder in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 35Close-up of a white-throated sparrow in Central Park
Image 36Mute swan and cygnets on a duckweed-covered pond
Image 37Huge flock of gulls just after they were spooked by something during a horseshoe crab feeding frenzy in Cape May, New Jersey
Image 38Piping plover chick in Queens
Image 39Ospreys in a nest on Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Image 40Scarlet tanager eating a berry in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 41Black-capped chickadee eating seeds in Central Park
Image 42Semipalmated plover in Queens, NYC
Image 43Northern mockingbird on a fence in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Image 44Tufted titmouse perched in Central Park
Image 45Fish crow cawing in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Image 46Blackpoll warbler in a flowering dogwood tree in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 47Western kingbird at Bush Terminal Piers Park
Image 48Anna's hummingbird in Pacifica, California
Image 49Ring-billed gull coming in for an unwelcome landing
Image 50Tufted titmouse with a seed in Prospect Park
Image 51Semipalmated sandpiper at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 52Baltimore oriole (immature/female) in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 53Palm warbler perched in Prospect Park
Image 54White ibis in Ocean City, New Jersey (I kind of prefer the uncropped version)
Image 55Common grackle showing off its iridescence in Central Park
Image 56Snowy egret in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 57Female American redstart in Brooklyn, NYC
Image 58Broad-billed motmot at the Arenal Observatory
Image 59Great black-backed gull in Quogue, NY
Image 60Cape May warbler in Prospect Park
Image 61Chipping sparrow on a grave in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 62Male northern flicker in Manhattan, NYC
Image 63Hermit thrush at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Image 64Brown thrasher (snow-nosed variety) in Central Park
Image 65Male brown-headed cowbird in Prospect Park
Image 66Red-tailed hawk, fearsome predator
Image 67Great blue heron lurching its head back to swallow a brown watersnake in Green Cay Wetlands
Image 68Rehabilitated eastern screech owl
Image 69Yellow-bellied sapsucker in Central Park
Image 70A rescued Eurasian eagle-owl
Image 71Great egret stabbing the water in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 72First winter laughing gull in Riverhead, New York
Image 73Northern shoveler pair "shoveling" together in Marine Park, Brooklyn
Image 74Female wood duck
Image 75First-winter American herring gull, Brooklyn
Image 76Western tanager which popped up in NYC, far from its usual range
Image 77Least sandpiper in breeding plumage in Queens, NYC
Image 78Piping plover in Queens
Image 79House sparrows in Central Park
Image 80American oystercatcher family portrait on Fort Tilden beach
Image 81Veery in the Central Park Ramble
Image 82Killdeer at the South Cape May Meadows
Image 83European starlings on a birdhouse on Staten Island
Image 84Yellow warbler in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 85Tropical kingbird in the rain by Lake Arenal
Image 86Ring-billed gull in a rainbow over Niagara Falls
Image 87Ring-billed gull in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Image 88Downy woodpecker foraging in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 89American robin making a dog whistle-like alarm call in Prospect Park
Image 90Lesser yellowlegs in Queens, NYC
Image 91Mourning dove perched in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Image 92Purple martin in flight in Cape May, New Jersey
Image 93Western gull sitting on a boat in San Francisco Bay
Image 94American tree sparrow in Central Park
Image 95House wren doing its best eel impression guarding its nestbox.
Image 96Green heron in Prospect Park
Image 97Pine siskin in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 98Tufted titmouse floofed up in Central Park
Image 99Pine warbler in Brooklyn, NYC
Image 100Male black-throated green warbler in Prospect Park
Image 101Juvenile Forster's tern calling for its parent in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 102Marsh wren singing at Hammonasset Beach State Park
Image 103Glossy ibis in Queens, NYC
Image 104Redhead in Central Park
Image 105Wood duck drake vocalizing in Central Park
Image 106White-breasted nuthatch on a suet feeder in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 107Black-crowned night heron in Prospect Park
Image 108Blue jay in Prospect Park
Image 109Downy woodpecker with a leaf on its nose in Prospect Park
Image 110Golden-crowned kinglet
Image 111Great kiskadee in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Image 112Juvenile eastern kingbird
Image 113Eastern wood pewee in Central Park
Image 114Lesser yellowlegs at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 115Northern rough-winged swallows in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 116Semipalmated sandpiper vocalizing in Queens, NYC
Image 117White-breasted nuthatch doing its nuthatchy pose in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 118Northern flicker looking out from its nest in the Central Park North Woods
Image 119Marsh wren singing at Hammonasset Beach State Park
Image 120Northern mockingbird in a "tail up" display in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 121Red-necked phalarope at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 122White-throated sparrow in Prospect Park
Image 123American woodcock in Bryant Park
Image 124Cedar waxwing in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 125Blue-gray tanager in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Image 126Gray catbird watching a hawk fly overhead in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 127Juvenile American robin
Image 128Male yellow-rumped warbler singing in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 129Male northern cardinal in Central Park
Image 130Blue jay fledgling calling for its parent in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 131Tree swallow on a nest box in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 132Juvenile yellow-bellied sapsucker in Prospect Park
Image 133Western kingbird at Bush Terminal Park
Image 134Northern waterthrush in Central Park
Image 135Palm warbler in a meadow in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 136Brown creeper about to be released at a bird banding station in the United States
Image 137Female Blackburnian warbler in Brooklyn, NYC
Image 138Great blue heron on frozen pond in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 139American goldfinch in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 140Ovenbird in Prospect Park
Image 141Apricot Mandarin duckling in Royal Lazienki Park
Image 142Female brown-headed cowbird chattering in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 143A rescued American kestrel that couldn't be released so is now serving as an "ambassador" bird
Image 144Rufous motmot, Costa Rica
Image 145House finch with a sunflower seed at a feeder in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 146Eastern wood pewee in Prospect Park
Image 147Ruby-crowned kinglet in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 148Juvenile yellow-crowned night heron at Plumb Beach
Image 149Winter wren in Prospect Park
Image 150Mute swan cygnet pontoon on a duckweed-covered pond
Image 151Red-tailed hawk rescue
Image 152Pine warbler perched in Prospect Park
Image 153Northern cardinal female in Central Park
Image 154Canada goose gosling in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 155Common grackle in Prospect Park
Image 156Lesser yellowlegs wading at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 157Immature herring gull manipulating a clam in Marine Park, Brooklyn
Image 158Dark-eyed junco at Bush Terminal Park
Image 159Great blue heron in Green-Wood Cemetery
 
Featured Pictures - everything else
Image 1Ash tree behind a columbarium in Mount Auburn Cemetery
Image 2Condenser at the defunct Chestnut Hill Pumping Station
Image 3Crook Point Bascule Bridge in Providence. It's been stuck in the open position for 50 years. A local landmark, but slated for destruction soon.
Image 4City Hall Station in Manhattan, abandoned since 1945 because it looked cool but didn't
Image 5Bluebells in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 6Redbeckia occidentalis
Image 7Small milkweed bug in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 8Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Image 9A mural of patients in the long-defunct Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital
Image 10Abandoned van by Gerritsen Creek
Image 11Great golden digger wasp in Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 12Maroon Bells. Easily one of the most awe-inspiring natural scenes I've experienced.
Image 13Blue dasher with Arrenurus water mites in Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 14Sukkah at Congregation Emanu-El of New York
Image 15Clouded sulphur in Brooklyn, NYC
Image 16Immature male blue dasher
Image 17Lincoln Center during Pride at dusk
Image 18Male zabulon skipper in Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 19Quarry in Makhtesh Ramon
Image 20Burberry rainbow cape at the Camp: Notes on Fashion exhibition
Image 21Saint Christopher Street in Valletta
Image 22Quogue Village Wetlands Preserve
Image 23Coleus
Image 24A [pretty dodgy] bridge along a cliff path at the edge of Makhtesh Ramon
Image 25Male monarch butterfly on Tithonia
Image 26Nine-banded armadillo in Costa Rica
Image 27Optical illusion on the floor of the Florence Cathedral
Image 28Salix catkins
Image 29Orchard orbweaver
Image 30Eastern gray squirrel in Central Park
Image 31Maroon Bells
Image 32Monarch butterfly caterpillar on butterfly weed
Image 33Pond sliders in Prospect Park
Image 34Baird's tapir mother with baby in Costa Rica
Image 35Bow Bridge in Central Park (panorama)
Image 36Panorama of the Apennine Colossus in Tuscany
Image 37Two juvenile Nubian ibex
Image 38Tiger bee fly
Image 39Cattlianthe Gold Digger ‘Orglade's Mandarin’ orchid
Image 40Hell Gate Bridge
Image 41Lower Manhattan panorama
Image 42Crocuses in early spring.
Image 43Duomo Firenze terrace
Image 44A cavapoo dog chasing a malipoo dog with a ball
Image 45Pipevine swallowtail
Image 46Eastern amberwing
Image 47Northern flatid planthopper nymph
Image 48Male elephant seal resting between fights in Ano Nuevo
Image 49Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco (18-frame panorama)
Image 50Monarch butterfly
Image 51Proboscis bats in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Image 52Toronto Reference Library interior from the top floor
Image 53Large milkweed bug
Image 54Pearl crescent on purple coneflower
Image 55Bigfin reef squid at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Image 56Castle Square, Warsaw
Image 57Red admiral butterfly on purple coneflower in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Image 58One World Trade Center through the Oculus
Image 59Group photo of four pears
Image 60Hell Gate Bridge walking path on Randall's Island
Image 61A mural of patients in the long-defunct Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital
Image 62Pond sliders (red and yellow) and a river cooter fighting for basking space
Image 63Hudson Yards in New York, taken from the top of Hudson Commons (9-frame panorama)
Image 64Wonder Wheel sign on Coney Island
Image 65Moss-covered oak trees in the Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Image 66Coney Island Mermaid Parade (no, this is not a picture of Rhododendrites)
Image 67Window in a cafe in San Gimignano, Italy
Image 68Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Katowice
Image 69American lady butterfly on a purple coneflower
Image 70Female eastern amberwing
Image 71TWA Hotel
Image 72California sea lion in La Jolla. My first experience seeing wild sea lions in person. It was ... loud. This one just looked downright majestic in the sun.
Image 73Twice-stabbed stink bug on meadow anemone
Image 74Waldemarsviken in Stockholm
Image 75Moschino fall 2014 ready-to-wear ensemble in the Camp: Notes on Fashion exhibit at the Met
Image 76Panorama of the once-active waterfront of Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Image 77Eastern cottontail portrait in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 78Northern dog-day cicaca exuvia on a flower in Green-Wood Cemetery
Image 79Prospect Park Vale of Cashmere covered in lesser celandine, with a leucistic white squirrel in the distance
Image 80Black Lives Matter mural in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Image 81Florence seen from the Duomo terrace
Image 82Male familiar bluet
Image 83Open Ocean exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Image 84Manhattan at night, looking north from Rockefeller Center
Image 85Oculus
Image 86Abandoned car in Marine Park, Brooklyn
Image 87Rooftop farm on the Lower East Side
Image 88Female Huron sachem in Brooklyn, NYC
Image 89Arenal volcano
Image 90Frizzle sizzle
Image 91Male eastern amberwing dragonfly in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Image 92The Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn is known for lots of elaborate Christmas lights, earning the nickname "Dyker Lights"
Image 93Daubeny's water lily
Image 94Male tiger swallowtail butterfly in Central Park (missing its tails)
Image 95Eldridge Street Synagogue
Image 96Glass blower. This was moments before he accidentally dropped it. Heartbreaking (and vasebreaking). Talented folks here, though, and I actually went back a while later and took a class. Got a piece of lit up frozen spaghetti to prove it.
Image 97Eastern cicada killer perched on a black-eyed susan
Image 98Fulton Center skylight
Image 99Pier 66 and Hudson Yards
Image 100Left by Gucci/Dapper Dan, 2018. Right by Louis Vuitton/Kim Jones, autumn/winter 2018-19, Camp: Notes on Fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Image 101An island (with ospreys) in Trustom Pond in the fog
Image 102Familiar bluet in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image 103Defunct Chestnut Hill Pumping Station in Boston
Image 104The Seaside Sanatorium in Connecticut
Image 105Composite of a clementine with/without peel
Image 106Jun Takahashi dress for Undercover in the Sleeping Beauties exhibition at the Met
Image 107Alexander Hamilton Custom House Collector's Room ceiling. Had to be a bit obnoxious to get this one, setting up a little tripod in the center of a crowded room and actually getting down on the floor to frame it. Who doesn't like a nice ornate ceiling with a nautical theme, though?
Image 108Memorial to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, taken just after Stonewall Inn was designated part of a National Monument
Image 109Common buckeye in Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis
Image 110Meadow in the morning in the Great Smoky Mountains (with namesake smoke)
Image 111White (leucistic) eastern gray squirrel perched on a tree in Brooklyn
Image 112Red squirrel in Lazienki Park
Image 113Comme des Garcons at the Met
Image 114Magnolia x veitchii bud
Image 115California sea lion nap time at La Jolla Cove
Image 116Makhtesh Ramon
Image 117Boston Public Garden
Image 118Chinese mantis ootheca in Marine Park, Brooklyn
Image 119Mantled howler monkey with baby in Costa Rica
Image 120Staszic Palace, Warsaw
Image 121Bee balm seedhead
Image 122Algal mat in Marine Park, Brooklyn
Image 123Juvenile Nubian ibex on a wall at the edge of Makhtesh Ramon
Image 124Camp: Notes on Fashion at the Met
Image 125Red-legged grasshopper feeding on a flower in Tennessee
Image 126Ship in the San Francisco Bay fog. Got lucky with the dramatic fog on this one, which opened up just enough to frame the ship in light.
Image 127Sarracenia leucophylla
Image 128Raccoon in Central Park
Image 129Stata Center at MIT
Image 130White (leucistic) eastern gray squirrel with a peanut
Image 131Razor clamshell dress from spring/summer 2001, in the Sleeping Beauties exhibition at The Met
Image 132Sasheer Zamata at a Time's Up event during the Tribeca Film Festival
Image 133Abandoned building in Floyd Bennett Field
Image 134Green iguana panorama in Palm Beach County
Image 135Strawberry poison dart frog in Costa Rica
Image 136Rice paper butterfly with light shining through in Butterfly World, Florida
Image 137Triq San Patrizju facing the Basilica Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta, Malta
Image 138Hell Gate Bridge, with a scow being towed along the Hell Gate section of the East River
Image 139Fork-tailed bush katydid close-up in Walland, Tennessee
Image 140Sunset sky over Governors Island, NYC (panorama)
Image 141Northern elephant seals in Ano Nuevo, California
Image 142Monarch butterfly
Image 143Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge East Pond
Image 144Eastern chipmunk with stuffed cheeks in Prospect Park