Tag Archive for: birds

Eye Level With An Egret

It makes no difference if your subject is a critter or a person, eye contact in the photo helps create a more engaging photo. Getting eye level with the subjects creates a connection between them and the viewer. Sounds easy right? As easy as it sounds to just shoot when the animal is looking at you, it practice it is rarely possible to just walk up and shoot an instant masterpiece photo. Getting eye level with and capturing the right type of eye contact for the composition requires thought, a careful approach, and attention not just to the subject, but everything going on around you. Even with birds in flight.

Getting eye level with a bird in flight is not often easy while standing on the ground. However, with a telephoto lens, birds in the distance can appear to be eye level in the photo. I created this image using a photo of a Great Egret taken with a focal length of 520 then I blended texture layers with it to achieve the final look.

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Behind the Shot: Willet on Watch

This lone Willet stood on one leg, patiently, while I composed my shot. At one point it appeared as if he was quite bored with me. Why do shore birds stand, looking out to sea as if on watch?

Freeport, Texas has become a favorite spot for my bird photography. The location along the Gulf coast and proximity to Galveston Island makes it ideal for quick trips to the beach and the Island. When skies are overcast or not impressive, I have a favorite technique I like to use to make what I think resembles a colored pencil drawing.

It involves blowing out the highlights, boosting contrast, clarity and cleaning up a few areas. I used a similar technique on a photo of a Canada Goose with her goslings.

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The Inca Dove’s Call of “No Hope”

I captured this shot while camping in South Llano River State Park outside of Junction, TX. I saw one bird on two occasions and I’m not sure if it was the same one or not. Unlike the White Wing doves that flocked to the bird blind, this little bird seemed shy and content with its solitude. Could we take a lesson from this small bird? Have we learned to be content in our solitude by now or is more isolation required? Or is the Inca’s call of “no hope” our reality?

The Inca Dove or Mexican dove (Columbina inca) is a New World bird first described by the French naturalist René Lesson in 1847. Its soft, whistled coo sounds like “no hope” and is a familiar in many southwestern US cities. These little doves are often seen walking about on lawns with dainty steps, or fluttering up with a rattle of wings. The Inca is covered in tan scaly-looking feathers that blends right in with its suburban desert habitat. They are often seen feeding on the ground in open areas such as barnyards, city parks, gardens, playgrounds and lawns, and even on elevated platform bird feeders.

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Reddish Egret at Sunrise

Are you a photographer/bird watcher too?

 

A Reddish Egret foraging for food at sunrise in Freeport, Texas. I watched it running, jumping, and spinning trying to catch its prey. This is one of my favorite birds that I didn’t know existed until just a few years ago.

I’ve never really been interested in knowing much about birds until I began photographing them. Then, I felt it was important that I be able to identify the subject of my photos. Well, I’ve discovered I really like bird watching! No, I’m not a birder but I aspire to be one!

Camera Settings

  • Exposure: 1/640 sec at f/5.0
  • Focal length: 195 mm
  • Focal length 35 mm: 391 mm
  • Exposure compensation: -3/10 EV
  • ISO Speed: 320
  • Exposure program: Aperture priority
  • Metering Mode: Center-weighted average
  • Camera: Olympus E-M1 Mark II
  • Lens: Leica DG 100-400 f4.0-6.5
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Getting the Best Angle on a Reddish Egret

Sometimes getting into position for a better angle of view requires getting down and dirty. I was really loving the light on the row of posts and the bird. To maximize their impact I needed to move to my left without scaring the egret. So, already sitting in the wet sand, I scooted a few inches at a time, on my backside until I felt I had a better composition. I also had a Grackle and a Great Egret try to get in the shot but since they seemed to detract from the picture, I waited until they left.

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How About a Little Privacy!

This Northern Cardinal really enjoyed his bath–even while being watched.

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Beauty in Everyday Scenes

I made this photo while in Galveston, Texas attending my very first Featherfest. Pictured is a Great Egret in flight. I spotted the bird in a pond while driving along Stewart Road and I pulled off to see what kind of photo opportunities might present themselves. This is the shot that I feel is the best from that stop. In many ways, it was a lucky shot, as I was practicing panning to capture birds in flight. I like the movement conveyed and the way the sunlight is backlighting the bird.

A flying egret is not an uncommon sight along the coast, especially in the spring. Being a common sight is precisely why they are often overlooked and dismissed. We sometimes become so used to having a thing around that we stop truly seeing it and maybe even stop looking. This work reminds me to stop and look for the beauty in everyday scenes around me.

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Step Lightly

Step Lightly depicts a Northern bobwhite as he walks gingerly across the red dirt toward a watering hole. Sitting in a ground-level blind, I was able to get eye-level with the bird to get my photo. Then I employed several techniques to create this work of digital fine art.

Photography Prints
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House Finch Pair

I made this photo from a photo blind during our visit to San Angelo State Park in Texas. While these birds are common and almost everywhere, it was rare for me to be able to get both a male and female in the same shot.

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Last Visit to Lagow Ranch

Back from Galveston Featherfest and still going through the many photos I made while participating in some great field trips–one of which, was to the Lagow Ranch near Anahuac, Texas. The Lagow Ranch is a working ranch with fields, pasture, brackish marsh, and a fresh water reservoir. Located between the main and East units of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, the ranch has been maintained for many years to provide excellent habitat for wildlife. The reservoir has large patches of open water and Sea Cane which attracts water loving birds as well as songbirds migrating through the area.

 

We saw several good birds, alligators, turtles and nutria. Thanks to David for the perfect outdoor potty with a view!

Chip, our guide and was very knowledgeable–since it is his ranch. He mentioned they are getting out of the eco-tourism business due to the amount of time and effort required. This ranch has been on my bucket list so I am glad I got to tour it before the business shuts down. Wishing you and your family all the best, Chip!

 

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